Ambition Drives Progress

"Absolutely no outsiders can be allowed to learn Kirigakure's secrets."

"Otherwise, the situation may very well spiral beyond my control. I will never allow that to happen!"

Obito Uchiha hid in the shadows, watching the scene as he thought to himself.

After the battle ended, Mei Terumi volunteered to patrol the village in case Orochimaru caused trouble.

Yagura saw no issue with the request and agreed.

But was Mei Terumi's true purpose really to patrol?

Of course not. She was merely using it as an excuse to look for Ye Liangnai.

Ye Liangnai's sudden departure might not have been a big deal on an ordinary day.

But today was different. Orochimaru's appearance had instantly increased the chances of Ye Liangnai encountering danger countless times over.

Little Ye, you mustn't let anything happen to you! Mei Terumi prayed inwardly.

And when Ye Liangnai, humming a tune with a carefree expression, ran into the deeply worried Mei Terumi, quite a spectacle unfolded.

"As an Anbu member, how can you run around the village? Do you know how dangerous that is?"

"Ye Liangnai, do you know what you did wrong?"

Mei Terumi rebuked him with icy eyes, her face frosty.

Ye Liangnai was briefly stunned when he heard that. Then he immediately lowered his head and admitted, "I know I was wrong!"

He was not foolish enough to contradict Mei Terumi in front of all those Anbu and damage her authority.

In front of outsiders, he should admit his mistakes when he had to, because they were merely superior and subordinate.

At home, they were sister and brother. There, he could argue with her however he liked.

Though he did not understand why Mei Terumi was reacting so strongly.

He had only taken a stroll around the village. Could he really have run into danger? Did she have to be so harsh?

Still, no matter what, his attitude when admitting fault had to be good. That was the only way to give Mei Terumi an out.

"Hmph. It's good that you know you were wrong. Come back with me."

"I'm going to teach you a proper lesson on what a qualified Anbu member should be like!"

Mei Terumi snorted and had several Anbu behind her escort Ye Liangnai back.

At home!

"Sis, did something happen in the village? Why are you so serious?"

Ye Liangnai rubbed his arm. Those two Anbu had used quite a lot of force—he had nearly had his arm torn off.

"Orochimaru infiltrated the village just now. How can I not be serious?"

"You were running around like that. If you had run into him, would you still have kept your life?" Mei Terumi said irritably, frowning.

"Th-That really was dangerous. I was reckless, reckless!"

Ye Liangnai clicked his tongue and put on a frightened look.

When he went out to recruit Kimimaro, he had known there was a chance he might encounter Orochimaru.

That was why he had been very careful.

Fortunately, his luck was good. He had not encountered Orochimaru along the way.

But if he really had run into him, all he could have done was use the Mist Concealment Technique to stall for time and run.

He was no match for a Kage-level expert like Orochimaru.

"Then why did you rush out in such a hurry? What was worth taking such a risk for?"

Mei Terumi finally got to the point.

Hearing that, Ye Liangnai smiled and carefully explained how he had recruited Kimimaro Kaguya and Yuki Haku.

"You... You... You're far too bold! Aren't you afraid the Mizukage will find out?"

"Secretly releasing remnants of the Kaguya Clan and Yuki Clan is a capital crime!" Mei Terumi said in shock, pointing at Ye Liangnai while lowering her voice.

"Heh, it's all worth it, isn't it, Sis?"

"If we want to change Kirigakure, we can't do it without our own people."

"Only when we possess enough strength will we have the right to speak."

"The Mizukage and the council of elders led by the Great Elder—none of them are weak. If we want to contend with them, we have to become stronger too!"

Ye Liangnai grinned and spoke quietly as well.

At that moment, Mei Terumi seemed to see two words in Ye Liangnai's shining eyes: ambition!

"Sis, don't you think there's something wrong with the Mizukage?"

"At least judging from what he has done over these past years, he is no longer a qualified Kage."

"If he continues to lead Kirigakure, the village's conflicts will only deepen!"

"I've never heard of any ninja village persecuting its own people and weakening its own strength. He—"

Before Ye Liangnai could finish, Mei Terumi interrupted him.

"Shh, stop talking. I know what I'm doing, but now isn't the time!"

"When the right time comes, I'll make my move."

"Little Ye, if you do something like this again, you must discuss it with me first."

"Revitalizing Kirigakure isn't something for you alone to shoulder, understand?"

Mei Terumi spoke seriously, a sharp gleam flashing in her eyes.

Seeing her like this, Ye Liangnai smiled!

He had seen ambition in Mei Terumi's eyes as well!

The two of them were quite pleased!

But Orochimaru was frustrated!

He had originally planned to take advantage of Kirigakure's internal turmoil and see if he could stir something up.

Instead, he gained nothing, fought Yagura, and fled in a miserable state.

It was an enormous loss.

The next day!

Ye Liangnai had received three days off and was earning Enhancement Points by practicing his sword swings when an unexpected visit from Zabuza interrupted him.

"May I ask why Jonin Zabuza has suddenly come to visit?"

For someone as solitary as Zabuza to take the initiative to visit someone's home was quite rare.

"I want to see your Mist Concealment Technique. I can sense that your mastery of it surpasses mine!"

Zabuza got straight to the point and stated why he had come.

"You flatter me, Jonin Zabuza. How could a mere genin like me deserve such praise?" Ye Liangnai said with a smile, wearing an obviously modest expression.

"You do deserve it! If you're a man, be direct and give me a clear answer!"

Zabuza frowned, clearly disliking Ye Liangnai's evasive attitude.

"If that's the case, then I'll make a fool of myself!"

"I've long admired your Silent Killing Technique as well, Zabuza!"

As soon as Ye Liangnai finished speaking, he released a cloud of mist that enveloped Zabuza, so quickly that his Hand Seals were almost impossible to see.

"Such fast Hand Seals! He's several times faster than me!"

Although Zabuza knew Ye Liangnai was extraordinarily talented and had prepared himself mentally, he was still shocked by Ye Liangnai's strength.

"Then, Jonin Zabuza, be careful!"

"From this point on, do not trust any of your senses. Use your mind's eye to perceive my presence!"

Ye Liangnai's voice drifted through the air, ethereal and impossible to locate.

"I can't sense him at all! Interesting. It seems I came to the right place!"

Zabuza immediately extended his senses, only for them to feel as though they had struck iron walls in every direction.

His mist-based perception could not spread at all, and that instantly excited him!

Even someone of his level could not sense anything.

Ye Liangnai's Mist Concealment Technique truly had something special about it.