Luzhen's Guess?

Wooden Leaf Camp.

Inside the Commander's Tent.

"You shouldn't suspect someone who just saved the entire team. If they found out, who knows how big a scene they'd make!"

Hatake Sakumo stared sternly at Nara Shikamaru, wondering how this guy could have such high IQ but lower EQ than his own.

"I'm not suspecting him. Don't you think Watanabe Yūske is far too mysterious?"

Perhaps because Kurenai Yūhi had already left, Nara Shikamaru spoke with far fewer reservations. "He's clearly so powerful, so why has he kept such a low profile all these years, willingly remaining an ordinary Special Jonin?"

"You investigated him?" Hatake Sakumo asked in surprise.

"Not exactly. My clan sent word that the Third Hokage's newly accepted disciple possesses an incredibly remarkable Kekkei Genkai. Perhaps we could obtain—or rather, learn—a way to improve our clan's secret techniques through his Kekkei Genkai."

Your clan controlled shadows while his controlled threads. What could they possibly have in common?

"And what did you find out?"

Hatake Sakumo's curiosity had been piqued, and he pressed on.

"Watanabe Yūske's parents were both refugees. They were forced to leave their hometown only after the First Shinobi World War and settle in the Land of Fire. According to records from that time, their former hometown was in the Land of Rivers—the battlefield between Konoha and Sunagakure back then."

"Setting that aside, do you know who invented Puppet Technique?"

"The Second Kazekage Shamon?" Hatake Sakumo blurted it out without thinking, but suddenly sounded less certain.

"Yes, that's what the records say. But what if Puppet Technique had already existed during the Warring States Era, or even earlier, only to suddenly be lost later? What if the Second Kazekage happened to obtain it by chance?"

"Hahaha, you aren't trying to say that this Puppet Technique was passed down by Yūske's ancestors, are you?" Even Hatake Sakumo's expressionless face broke into laughter.

"Don't laugh just yet. Going back to yesterday's attack—you know Shūji, right?" Nara Shikamaru asked solemnly.

"Sunagakure's next Kazekage candidate, the Third Kazekage's disciple, and an Elite Jonin." Hatake Sakumo quickly retrieved the intelligence on Shūji from his mind.

"Right. According to Shinku's account, Shūji was controlled while fully conscious, then used all his strength to stab Ebizo directly with a kunai. Only afterward did Shinku have Hyuga Reon seal his chakra.

Do you think even Chiyo, the top puppeteer of the present day, could accomplish that?"

Nara Shikamaru analyzed further.

"..." Hatake Sakumo fell silent.

"To answer the question Shinku asked earlier about Shūji and Ebizo—what if Shūji was blocking his path? Or what if someone used his hand to get rid of Shūji? Or perhaps he himself...

And as for Ebizo, there has been no news that he has died. Or perhaps Sunagakure has an even bigger scheme: let Watanabe Yūske earn military merit, gain the support of more ninja, and become the Fourth Hokage?"

Nara Shikamaru fired off question after question like a barrage, leaving Hatake Sakumo speechless and dumbfounded.

If Yūske had been here, he might have said, "Luzhen, you really have quite the imagination."

"This is all just your speculation, isn't it?" After hearing so much, Hatake Sakumo was nearly dizzy.

"Whether it is or not, someone definitely leaked information about Sunagakure's attack on the supply convoy this time. I'm merely guessing at one possibility, that's all."

"Maybe it was a coincidence?" Hatake Sakumo asked uncertainly.

"There aren't that many coincidences." Nara Shikamaru sighed.

"Don't tell anyone about what we just discussed."

"What do you take me for? It's just Shinku's side..."

"If she were the kind to tell others, she wouldn't be Kurenai Yūhi." Nara Shikamaru trusted Kurenai Yūhi quite a bit. "If we really do uncover a spy, I'm willing to apologize to Yūske."

"Good! Even though he doesn't know about this, your little stunt has made me somewhat hesitant to put him to heavy use. You'll have to give him some compensation too." Hatake Sakumo spoke seriously to Nara Shikamaru.

Outside the tent.

Yūske was unfamiliar with the place and knew few people here, so he asked around for Tsunade's whereabouts.

At that moment, Tsunade was focused on treating severely wounded ninja. Since he had nothing else to do, Yūske found a place to sit and kept staring at Tsunade.

"What are you looking at?"

Before long, Tsunade noticed Yūske staring at her. It had been a long time since they had seen each other, and a delighted smile appeared on her face. She rose and walked toward him.

"It's been a long time. Congratulations on successfully ending the Land of Rain Battlefield."

Yūske congratulated Tsunade first. Tsunade rolled her eyes, thinking that only Yūske would put it that way. If Jiraiya had said it, she would have sent him flying with a punch long ago.

"Here, Teacher Hiruzen told me to give this to you."

Yūske took a scroll from his clothes and handed it to Tsunade. She accepted it casually and tucked it into her clothes. Then, with neither of them having anything to do, the two wandered around the camp.

"When are you going back?"

Perhaps it had been too long since they last met, but Tsunade did not even know what to talk about.

"I'm not going back."

Yūske continued smiling as he looked at Tsunade, a trace of anticipation in his eyes.

"?"

Tsunade stopped walking and looked at Yūske in confusion.

"After taking on the Escort Mission, I applied to Teacher Hiruzen to come fight on the Front Lines."

Yūske spoke to Tsunade with a serious expression.

"I've grown quite a bit. You might not be able to beat me anymore."

At those words, veins bulged on Tsunade's hand, as though she were about to send him flying just as she had sent Jiraiya flying. Then she suddenly thought of Jiraiya. That idiot had actually stayed in the Land of Rain to care for three brats, all to make up for the harm the village had caused the Land of Rain.

And after the Land of Rain withdrew from the war, Orochimaru had gone to the Land of Earth front.

It was not so bad for Yūske to stay here. At least she could still keep an eye on him.

Then Tsunade's gaze abruptly sharpened.

"If you want to beat me, make a name for yourself first."