Kurenai Yuhi's Decision

Returning side by side with Tsunade, Hikari raised his brows slightly as he looked at the awakened Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki. Then he returned to his spot, lay down, and went to sleep.

With his keen eyesight, he could clearly see that the two were distracted. Especially when they saw him return with Tsunade, the looks in their eyes were decidedly strange.

But they were his big brother's good buddies, so Hikari could only pretend not to notice.

Accompanied by faint snoring, Hikari drifted into dreamland.

Tsunade, lying beside him, could not fall asleep no matter what.

Thinking of Hikari's thoughts from earlier, Tsunade felt that her ability to hear other people's inner voices seemed to have its downsides too.

Thinking it over carefully, if Kurenai Yuhi had been here, Tsunade would naturally have called her to go out with her. Of the four people around her now, after considering them all, Tsunade still found Hikari more pleasing to the eye.

Just what did this guy mean toward her?

With that question in her heart, Tsunade gradually fell asleep.

Seeing that she had fallen asleep, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki pretended not to notice and honestly kept watch.

In terms of status, Tsunade was the Hokage. And in Kotetsu Hagane's heart, Tsunade was no different from his own younger sister-in-law. Under such circumstances, as the big brother, suffering a little was nothing.

Not far away, Might Guy slept like a dead pig, completely oblivious to anything unusual.

"Daimyo's Mansion is up ahead!" Aoba Yamashiro said, holding a crude map and pointing at it.

Kurenai Yuhi and Genma Shiranui stood beside him, studying it.

"According to Lady Tsunade's instructions, once we enter Daimyo's Mansion, the three of us will split up to investigate. As for the specific rendezvous point, I'll have to trouble Jonin Kurenai to leave some markers. Genma and I will find you then!"

Kurenai Yuhi nodded. "No problem."

Genma Shiranui obediently followed orders.

Aoba Yamashiro continued, "There have been changes at Daimyo's Mansion. From what I can tell, at least two squads of jonin are guarding the Daimyo. But our target this time is not the Daimyo—it is those nobles. As long as we find out where the problem lies, this mission will be more than half complete!"

"Most importantly, preserving ourselves remains our priority. If we are caught by the Daimyo's men, then once the Daimyo pins a charge on us, not only us—even Lord Hokage will be unable to bear the consequences."

Many things could not be laid out in the open.

For example, the relationship between the Daimyo and the ninja village appeared harmonious, but it was more of a relationship of mutual restraint.

The Daimyo controlled wealth, while the ninja village controlled ninja. Only when the two joined together did they form a complete nation.

This mission was mainly to gather intelligence.

And because this was Daimyo's Mansion, the three of them absolutely could not expose their identities. Compared to other places, this mission placed even stricter demands on them.

Looking at the map, Kurenai Yuhi lightly brushed back her long hair before suggesting, "I should already be known here at Daimyo's Mansion. Because of Asuma, the Daimyo's Twelve Guardian Shinobi will probably pay more attention to me. I'll follow the plan and draw those ninja's attention. You two investigate more thoroughly inside."

"Sounds good!"

That was exactly what Aoba Yamashiro had been waiting to hear.

Kurenai Yuhi was a jonin, after all. Even with Tsunade's instructions, once they arrived here, Aoba Yamashiro could only use a little scheme to get Kurenai Yuhi to volunteer. Otherwise, he truly had no way to command her.

After all, the nominal captain of this operation was still Kurenai Yuhi. Aoba Yamashiro was merely one of her subordinates.

Rank could crush a person.

"Fine. I'll enter the city first. As for how you two get in, that is none of my concern. Once inside, I'll just act like I came here to sightsee. No matter how overbearing the Daimyo is, he cannot stop me from coming here for a visit, can he?"

Genma Shiranui looked at Kurenai Yuhi with admiration.

There were far fewer female ninja than male ninja in the ninja world.

Female jonin were even rarer.

For Kurenai Yuhi to become a jonin, she lacked neither courage, resolve, nor strength.

"Once you two have gathered the intelligence, wait for Lady Tsunade to enter the city and give it directly to her. There will be too many people around me then, making it easier to expose flaws. Besides, doing so would be redundant. Lady Tsunade will make the final decision. Do you understand?"

"Understood! The success or failure of this matter rests with you, Jonin Kurenai!" Aoba Yamashiro clasped his fists in salute and watched Kurenai Yuhi leave.

Only after she had gone did Genma Shiranui speak up.

"What a fine woman. How did she end up with that bearded Asuma? Heaven really is unfair. A handsome man like me does not even have a partner. Sigh!"

"Give it a rest!" Aoba Yamashiro shot Genma Shiranui an irritated glare. "The mission comes first. Besides, Jonin Kurenai is a jonin. No matter how much beard Asuma has or how ugly he is, he is still beyond our comparison. I have a feeling this operation may end with nothing to show for it!"

At those words, Genma Shiranui could not help scratching his head.

"If that happens, the two of us will really be humiliated!"

Aoba Yamashiro shook his head. "Let's just do our best. This is Daimyo's Mansion, not another country. We cannot expose our identities. Remember to put away your forehead protectors and anything else that could easily reveal who we are."

Daimyo's residence.

The Daimyo, his hair streaked with white and his face aged beyond his years, possessed a rather effeminate appearance. Holding a folding fan, he sat quietly while a ninja knelt on one knee before him.

Unlike the effeminate manner he displayed before Danzo in the original story, the Daimyo now was merely somewhat effeminate. Yet the occasional vicious glint flashing through his eyes made it clear that he was no ordinary man.

"What does Danzo mean?"

The ninja remained on one knee, every movement proper and precise, looking like nothing more than a tool.

"My lord said that if the Daimyo can depose Tsunade and support him instead, then from now on, Hidden Leaf Village will be willing to obey the Daimyo's every command!"

The Daimyo gently waved his folding fan. A cruel look emerged in his eyes, making the maid behind him shudder involuntarily.

"So in Danzo's heart, this Daimyo can no longer control Hidden Leaf Village?"

"This subordinate would not dare. Lord Danzo meant that Hiruzen Sarutobi's faction is best at obeying in public while defying in private. They do not properly carry out the Daimyo's orders, and he cannot stand to see it. That is why he wishes to step forward and ease the Daimyo's burdens!"

"Heh, anyone can say pretty words." The Daimyo reached out and picked a grape from the fruit platter beside him, placing it into his mouth.

"I have heard of the reputation of the Darkness of the Shinobi."

"Tsunade is Hashirama Senju's granddaughter. With that status, moving against her will come at a great cost."

"If Danzo merely intends to fool me with these pretty words, then you should return as soon as possible!"

"Compared with him, I still prefer Tsunade. Do you understand?"