It wasn’t stealing; it was simply taking it in secret.

Ten minutes later.

Kisame arrived at the Hokage Rock, standing atop the massive statue of Hiruzen Sarutobi, looking down upon the Hokage building below. To the right of this building lay the Sarutobi clan's estate. Though it was nearly midnight, the place was brightly lit and bustling with activity.

Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi ascended as the Third Hokage, the Sarutobi clan had experienced rapid growth. Over the past twenty years, it had become the most populous clan in the Leaf Village. In the original story, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, the Sarutobi clan's fire-style ninjas lined up in droves—a formidable force.

By contrast, the old estate of the Senju clan, situated to the left of the Hokage building, appeared much more desolate. Not only were the lights off, but the grounds were far smaller than those of the Sarutobi clan. This was due to the First Hokage’s philosophy: over the decades, clan members had abandoned their surname, blending the Senju bloodline into the many households of the Leaf. As a result, countless civilian prodigies emerged, and exceptional ninjas sprang up like mushrooms after rain, ensuring Konoha’s strength remained unrivaled among the five great ninja villages.

Such was Hashirama Senju’s vision.

Yet the price was steep—once vast and glorious, the Senju clan was now reduced to a single member: Tsunade.

In a flash, Kisame descended, his toes lightly tapping the rock face to slow his fall, before leaping down into the Senju ancestral estate.

Though he had found nothing in the weapons warehouse, luck was on Kisame’s side this time—Tsunade was apparently not home, likely out dining and drinking or gambling at some casino.

Considering how quiet the house was, without even a man around, it was hardly surprising she preferred not to sleep here.

Kisame lowered his footsteps, quietly crossing the courtyard. Despite Tsunade’s frequent absences—even from the village—the ancestral estate was tidy, clearly maintained by regular cleaners.

If the Thunder God Sword was truly here, it would be no surprise if it were stolen. Most simply lacked the nerve, and even if it were taken, discovery was likely.

But Kisame had that nerve—in abundance. He would simply walk off with the sword and flee, unconcerned about being found out.

He crept to the master bedroom door, sending out a chakra thread through the crack to investigate inside. But he found no one sleeping, nor did he locate the Thunder God Sword.

Unperturbed, Kisame moved to the guest room’s door, when suddenly he heard the sounds of water and someone humming softly.

It was Shizune.

She was bathing in the bathroom.

It seemed that ever since her promotion to chunin, she had been studying and training under Tsunade’s guidance.

A perfect opportunity!

Realizing Shizune was bathing, Kisame felt a surge of delight—now was the time to steal the Thunder God Sword.

He quickly moved on, continuing his search.

Soon, Kisame found the Senju clan's shrine—the place for ancestral worship and memorial tablets.

Sure enough.

He gently pushed the door open and immediately saw numerous tablets: Hashirama Senju, Mito Uzumaki, Tobirama Senju, as well as Tsunade’s parents and her younger brother Nawaki.

Kisame’s gaze swept across the tablets, then his pupils contracted and he paused.

Each tablet was accompanied by a commemorative item—for Nawaki, a bloodstained forehead protector; for Mito, a metallic octagon; for Hashirama, a lifelike wooden statue of an Arhat.

And for Tobirama Senju, there was a deep blue sword hilt, seemingly ordinary at first glance.

But Kisame knew this was his target—

The Thunder God Sword.

Without hesitation, Kisame walked over, picked up the hilt, and claimed it with ease.

Though powerful, the Thunder God Sword was ill-suited for Tsunade, who favored her fists above all. Thus, she had placed it here, as a tribute to her great-uncle Tobirama Senju.

Now, it had fallen into Kisame’s hands.

After stowing the Thunder God Sword, Kisame turned his attention to Hashirama Senju’s tablet. Unfortunately, he found neither the massive storage scroll nor the great Senju sword—wherever Tsunade had hidden them, they were not here.

He wished he could search every inch of the estate, but tonight there would be no such opportunity.

Someone was coming.

Kisame turned, seeing Shizune standing in the doorway, hair still damp, wrapped in a bath towel, a poisoned kunai clenched in her hand.

“Who are you? Why have you trespassed here?” Shizune’s voice was clear and sharp, her gaze fierce.

“You’re asking me? I’m here for the Thunder God Sword.” Kisame showed not the slightest hint of panic.

His voice was markedly different from usual, sounding like a middle-aged man, and his tone was as casual as greeting a neighbor.

“Take it? Is this sword yours?” Shizune’s brows knitted as she pressed him.

“No.”

“Then isn’t that theft?”

“Not theft—just secretly taking it. So it’s really just taking.” Kisame defended himself with a straight face.

“Are you mocking me?”

Shizune, furious, hurled the kunai at Kisame’s chest.

At that moment, with a swift motion, Kisame raised the Thunder God Sword, infusing it with his chakra. A golden light burst forth from the hilt, instantly forming a blade of shimmering gold.

With a crack, Kisame swung the sword. The incoming kunai snapped in two and fell to the floor.

It cut through iron like mud.

Such was the Thunder God Sword’s power—able to transform external chakra into lightning chakra, forming a unique golden blade.

Utterly destructive.

“I’ll say it again: I’m here to secretly take the Thunder God Sword. If you pretend you never saw me, it won’t count as theft.”

As he spoke, Kisame walked over to the tablets, raising the sword.

With more chakra infused, the blade erupted with golden light, extending over a meter, ablaze like golden fire.

“What are you planning?” Shizune, sensing danger, braced herself.

“I order you: return to your room and sleep, pretend nothing happened tonight, and I’ll leave. Otherwise, I’ll tear this shrine apart. If Tsunade sees her relatives’ tablets destroyed and their ashes scattered, I expect she’ll be furious.”

Kisame’s threat lingered in the air as he pointed the Thunder God Sword toward Nawaki’s tablet, poised to strike.

Shizune was startled, one hand clutching her towel, the other raised to stop him.

“Stop! I… I accept your terms.”

With that, she backed out of the shrine, returning to her room.

After a while, all was quiet outside.

The door creaked open.

Shizune, now dressed, rushed back into the shrine. The mysterious ninja in the black cloak was indeed gone.

Thankfully, he had kept his word and left the tablets untouched.

She had to inform Lady Tsunade immediately.

With that thought, Shizune closed the shrine’s doors and ran out to find Tsunade.

In a nearby shadowed alley,

A faint rustling.

Kisame shed his cloak, resuming his true appearance.

Fortunately, Tsunade hadn’t been home—had it been her instead of Shizune, Kisame would not have escaped so easily.

With Tsunade’s fierce temper and refusal to be threatened, she might well have dismantled the shrine herself, just to keep Kisame from fleeing.

“A close call,” Kisame mused, stepping from the alley and quietly returning to his hotel.