At the camp.
The delivery workers were already resting.
But Kuro and Sei were still waiting by the campfire.
The moment Rokuro landed on the ground, Sei respectfully stood up and bowed to him.
Right now.
He didn't dare to underestimate Rokuro anymore.
Setting aside the fact that Kuro had just told him that the mountain bandits ahead had already been completely slaughtered by Rokuro, just Rokuro's ability to mold earth into living creatures was enough to leave him utterly shocked.
Rokuro looked at the highly respectful Sei, tossed the two bags of valuables he was carrying over to him, and said, "Carrying these things is too troublesome for me. How about you exchange them for cash for me?"
Sei didn't even peek inside. He caught the bags and nodded. "Rest assured, Lord. I will take these. Once we arrive at the royal capital, I will give you the cash equivalent based on their value!"
Rokuro was very satisfied. "Very good, then it's decided. I'm going to rest first!"
Sei bowed respectfully. "Please rest, Lord. I have already prepared a place for you to sleep."
Finished speaking.
Sei pointed to the side of the campfire.
There was a bed made of straw mats, and a small blanket had been thoughtfully placed on top of it.
Last night.
Rokuro definitely did not receive this kind of treatment.
Today, the moment he showed his true strength, his treatment instantly skyrocketed.
Rokuro cast a glance at the fawning Sei, curled his lip, and walked over.
However!
He didn't go straight to sleep.
Instead, he sat down by the bed and called out to Kuro not far away, "Master, if we report this mission to the old man, do you think it will be upgraded to a B-Rank?"
Kuro cast a glance at Rokuro and snorted coldly. "An upgrade? There'd be a ghost if Lord Hokage didn't teach you a lesson. Don't even dream about an upgrade; just wait to be scolded when we get back!"
Rokuro didn't care at all and snorted back. "Would the old man dare? Right now, I am an elite of Konoha. If he makes trouble for me over such a minor matter, isn't he afraid I'll file a complaint against him?!"
Kuro was speechless.
With Rokuro's strength.
Inside Konoha Village, he was indeed a key figure being nurtured.
Even if Hiruzen punished Rokuro, it would probably just be a painless slap on the wrist.
Geniuses!
Always had some privileges!
Kuro thought for a moment and sighed. "Forget it, I'm too lazy to manage you anyway. Compared to me, your strength is already much more comprehensive. It seems the only thing I can actually teach you now is Taijutsu!"
Rokuro smiled. "The student surpasses the master; what's wrong with that?!"
"It is indeed not bad!" Kuro nodded, sized up Rokuro, and suddenly said, "I heard Lord Hokage wanted to take you as his disciple, but you refused him."
Rokuro picked up a wooden stick beside him, poked the campfire to make it burn brighter, and said, "Although I am somewhat selfish, I can still feel who genuinely treats me well. The old man just wanted to use that relationship to tie me to Konoha. But you are different, Master; you truly treat me well!"
Kuro was silent for a while and smiled bitterly. "You don't need to flatter me so much. I just wanted someone who could inherit my ninjutsu and see me off on my final journey!"
Rokuro shrugged. "Perhaps, but your kindness to me is real, isn't it? The old man and Lord Danzo probably both just see me as a tool!"
Kuro fell silent.
In the eyes of Konoha's higher-ups.
Ninjas were originally just tools.
It was just that some tools were handy and needed to be properly maintained.
As for those that weren't handy, the higher-ups wouldn't feel sad even if they died.
Himself!
Wasn't he exactly the same?!
Before taking Rokuro as his disciple.
His sole mission was to continuously execute task after task.
Danzo clearly knew his ninjutsu couldn't be used frequently, yet he still continuously assigned him missions.
If it weren't for Rokuro.
He would probably have to keep working until his body was completely destroyed, leading to his death.
After a long silence.
Kuro suddenly reached up and took off his mask, revealing a heavily wrinkled face.
Listening to Kuro's voice.
He was clearly in the prime stage of his life.
Yet his physical appearance looked like an old man in his seventies or eighties.
Rokuro looked at Kuro's face and frowned. "Master, exactly how old are you right now?!"
Kuro put the mask back on and said calmly, "I'm almost fifty, probably forty-eight or forty-nine. This is the aftereffect of overusing the Violent Body Flow Ninjutsu. Originally, if I kept going, I would definitely die within three to five years. Now that you're here, kid, I can retire peacefully. I estimate I can live for another ten years!"
Having said that!
Kuro looked at Rokuro and said, "Your ninjutsu talent isn't bad either. Try not to use the Violent Body Flow Ninjutsu if you can avoid it. You can just keep it as a trump card to use in critical moments of crisis!"
Rokuro nodded. "I know. Since I understand Medical Ninjutsu, I am even clearer on the dangers of the Violent Body Flow Ninjutsu than you are, Master. Look, didn't you see that I refrained from using it entirely during the battle this time?!"
Kuro froze for a moment, then shook his head. "I actually forgot that you kid are also a Medical Ninjutsu genius. It seems my worrying was completely unfounded. You'll definitely live much longer than I will!"
Rokuro chuckled, stood up, walked over to Kuro's side, and said, "Give me your hand. Let me check the specific condition inside your body. Later on, I'll think of a way to restore your youth!"
Kuro laughed out loud and reached out his hand. "Then I won't hold back. I'd like to enjoy this retired life a bit longer too!"
Rokuro held Kuro's hand and began checking the condition of his body.
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