Danzo's Renewed Effort

Namikaze Yoru, laden with a full haul of specialties from the Land of Water, set out on the road back to Konoha.

He had traveled light on the way there, but now he was bundled up with bags and parcels, looking every bit like a traveling merchant returning with a full load.

When he passed through the border checkpoint of the Land of Water, he ran into that same Mist patrol squad from before.

"Greetings again, honored ninja-sama. Hard work at the post." Namikaze Yoru called out warmly, his face wearing the practiced, familiar smile of a businessman.

The Mist Jonin leading the squad sized up his bulging luggage, a hint of surprise in his voice: "Business went well, huh? Heading back so soon?"

"Thanks to your kindness, it's just a small trade. Sold out, so I'm heading home." Namikaze Yoru rubbed his hands together and chuckled. "I'll be back in a while, and I'll have to rely on you all to make it convenient again."

The Mist ninja waved it off dismissively: "No need for that with legitimate merchants. We're always welcoming."

As if suddenly remembering something, Namikaze Yoru pulled a delicate porcelain bottle from his pack:

"This is the last bottle of the special edition 'Sidan Kang.' Please, you must accept it. As for the effects..." He gave a meaningful smile. "You'll know once you've used it."

As he handed the bottle over, his fingers pressed lightly and imperceptibly against its surface.

The Jonin took the bottle, felt a slight weight in his hand, and immediately understood. Something was clearly hidden in the base of the bottle. He pocketed it without changing his expression.

He cleared his throat, his face betraying nothing, and gave a slight nod: "No need for this. Travel safely. The border has been unsettled lately."

"Got it. Thanks for the warning, sir." Namikaze Yoru took the hint and passed through the checkpoint without issue.

This whole act not only confirmed his identity and smoothed over relations, but also paved the way for future dealings.

The return trip went smoothly, without a single ripple.

In fact, before he even reached Konoha, he had already sold off most of the Land of Water specialties he was carrying.

Entering Konoha, the gate guards merely checked his documents as routine and let him through.

He didn't bother setting up a stall for the remaining goods; instead, he found a shop and offloaded them casually.

Thanks to the war-torn, isolated economy, the exotic crafts and specialty dried seafood from the Land of Water were in high demand.

Making another tidy profit, Namikaze Yoru stared at the haul from just one round trip and began to question his career as a ninja.

On this mission, he had not only gathered intelligence but also made a killing through cross-border trading, earning far more than usual.

In high spirits, he even started mulling over whether he could develop this "international trade" as a side gig.

Turning into a quiet alley and confirming no one was around, the disguised Namikaze Yoru shed his traveling merchant getup.

Reappearing as a Konoha Chunin, he headed to the Hokage Building to submit his intelligence. As a long-term mission, it wasn't fully closed out, but the intel he brought back was enough for Konoha to analyze.

However, this commotion naturally didn't escape certain eyes.

"Outrageous!" Inside the Root base, Danzo slammed his hand heavily on the table, furious. "What does that brat think a ninja mission is? A trading game?"

An Anbu ninja knelt on the ground, reporting cautiously: "According to the investigation, Namikaze Yoru did complete the intelligence-gathering mission, and... he turned a considerable profit."

"Profit?" Danzo sneered coldly. "A ninja should prioritize the mission. And he, under the guise of a mission, plays at being a merchant! What kind of nonsense is this!"

Root, as the organization most fond of using spies in Konoha, treated ninja as mere tools—summoned at will and dismissed at will, with no room for personal thoughts.

Namikaze Yoru's behavior struck him as far too unorthodox, not to mention that his original intent had been to put the man in a difficult position, or even have him die on the mission.

What infuriated Danzo even more was that his planted informants in Kirigakure had reported back, completely unable to detect how Namikaze Yoru had operated, or how he had extracted intelligence from the Mist.

This method of playing by no rules deeply displeased him.

"He needs to be taught a lesson." Danzo's face darkened, a cold glint flashing in his single eye. "He must understand that in Konoha, those who defy Root's will won't have an easy day."

Just then, another Root ninja hurried in and whispered a few words in Danzo's ear. Danzo's face cycled through shades of green to white, then white to red—a truly spectacular display.

It turned out that the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, upon learning of the matter, had not criticized Namikaze Yoru at all. Instead, he praised him for "adapting flexibly and opening new avenues for the village."

A thought then took shape in Danzo's mind. He summoned a trusted subordinate and gave a few low-voiced instructions.

Vague words like "Kirigakure" and "leak" could be heard.

Meanwhile, Namikaze Yoru was at home, happily counting his money. He suddenly sneezed and rubbed his nose: "Strange, who's talking about me?"

But he quickly dismissed the thought and let his mind wander, pondering how to maximize profits on his next trip to the Land of Water.

The next day at noon, the fatigue from the journey let Namikaze Yoru sleep in, a rare luxury.

Around midday, as he prepared to head out, he took a small, exquisite box from his pack and tucked it into his pocket.

"Haven't seen her in a while. Time to make my presence known." He muttered to himself, heading toward the Senju Compound.

Arriving at the large mansion, Namikaze Yoru knocked for a long time, but no one answered.

Just then, a neighbor lady hanging laundry poked her head out and said, "Are you looking for Tsunade? There have been a lot of injured needing treatment lately. She left early this morning."

Namikaze Yoru thanked her and turned toward Konoha Hospital.

Along the way, he even hummed a little tune, unconsciously rubbing the small box in his pocket.

The familiar smell of disinfectant filled Konoha Hospital. Namikaze Yoru walked with practiced ease toward Tsunade's usual office.

Through the half-open door, he saw Tsunade focused on reviewing medical records. Sunlight streamed through the window, spilling over her golden hair and highlighting the soft lines of her profile—a breathtaking sight.

Namikaze Yoru knocked lightly. Already aware of his presence, Tsunade looked up, a flicker of fluster in her eyes before quickly returning to her usual composure:

"Back already? Did the trip go smoothly?"

"Mm, just got back." Namikaze Yoru said with a smile as he walked into the office, naturally taking a seat beside her.

"This time when I went to the Land of Water, I saw this and thought it would suit you perfectly."

He slid the small box in front of Tsunade. She raised an eyebrow at him, then opened the box, a flicker of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Inside lay a bracelet strung with deep-sea pearls and a single blue crystal. Each pearl was round and lustrous, complementing the blue crystal perfectly.

"Not a bad eye." Though Tsunade's tone was flat, Yoru noticed the slight upward curve at the corner of her mouth.

"Let me put it on for you?" Yoru asked tentatively.

Tsunade didn't answer, but she extended her wrist toward him.

Yoru carefully fastened the bracelet around her hand. Their fingertips brushed lightly, yet both pretended nothing had happened.