Chapter 94.2- One Thousand Hands

“Ceremonial fan? You held it and you don’t realise the value of what you held?” His benefactor asked, the old man’s form now stepping into the light.

“Yeah, can you just get to the point?”

“I suppose now that you have completed your part of the bargain, you can be let into the secret. This, my foolish boy, is one of the treasured tools of the Sage of Six Paths himself. And adding this to my collection means I now have nine out of twelve of his great tools.”

“Nine? I only helped you steal four things."

"Did you assume you were the only one to ever take up my missions? In truth, you just happen to be the most successful. Your compatibility with the eye is worthy of note.”

“So you need me to get the remaining three and then what happens?” He asked, feeling a familiar feeling well up in his stomach. This was a good gig. A very good gig. Each theft he’d had to commit had been rewarded with a million and a half ryo. Four thefts meant six million. Of course, he hadn’t been living like a monk all that while so he had only four million left to his name. Another four and a half million would go far, but if he wanted to maintain his present lifestyle he’d need more.

“I like you, boy. You remind me of a different version of myself. Of what I could have become if I never managed to find glorious purpose.” The old man said.

“Always happy to help, you know? Whether it be stealing or giving reminders. I’m down for it all” He said. The old man scoffed.

“Of course. Now tell me that you weren’t trying to find out what would happen once I gathered the set so that you could use that as a bargaining chip to have your pay increased.” The old man said, and he froze on hearing the words. He slowly craned his neck towards the old man standing above him. Could he—

“Read minds?” Kira snapped up in alarm, turning and beginning to run out of the cave. What the actual—

Kira, missing nin of Kirigakure would be found dead a matter of days later and his bounty would be collected not long after that.

XXXXX- SHORIRAMA SENJU (ONE MONTH AFTER THE BOMBING OF KONOHA)

“So you want an entirely new Hokage tower?” Shika asked, looking doubtful about the proposition.

“I think this one is functional for the time being, and it would make sense to have this converted for a different purpose after I move out, but yes. I want to move the administrative heart of Konoha.” I said.

“Where?”

I pointed at the spot I’d already marked out on the map. We had finished clearing all the rubble and now it was time for reconstruction in the civilian district to begin in full swing.

“You want to move the Hokage tower to the middle of the civilian district?” She asked.

“Exactly. The tower is many things— but I think more importantly than any other tole it serves is the role it serves as the heart of the village. For too long has the heart of the village been separate from her civilian n population.”

“I don’t think they’ll appreciate you making the civilian district even more cramped as much as you think they will. These are merchants. If you want them to like you, give them a tax break or something.” She said.