The Showdown

Tsunade walked upstairs, pushed open the door, and flipped the light switch, revealing a spacious and clean bedroom.

The furnishings in the bedroom were simple: just a bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and a small bookshelf.

The bookshelf held a few books and various scrolls, and outside the bedroom window, there was a small terrace used for drying clothes.

Collapsing onto the clean, tidy bed, Tsunade let out a sigh of satisfaction as the fresh bedding carried the scent of sunshine.

Too many things had happened today; she had only just left Konoha during the day, and by night, Minato and the others had encountered an assassination attempt, leaving her feeling mentally exhausted.

Damn that Danzo!

She had finally made up her mind to leave for a while, but now, how could she bear to leave?

Although Danzo was the only rotten apple among the high-ranking officials, after an incident like this, she didn't dare to leave so easily anymore.

Forget it...

It seems this is heaven's will!

In that case, no matter how the future unfolds, at the very least, it won't be entirely my fault, right?

Tsunade thought silently, her mind a mess of chaotic threads, until she drifted into a deep sleep without realizing it.

Perhaps due to the comfort of the bed, she slept very, very soundly...

The next day, at the academy.

"Nono, would you mind if we talked alone?"

At noon, Minato waited at the corner of the school hallway, his gaze fixed quietly on Nono as she walked out of the classroom.

His gentle voice made Nono pause, a flash of surprise in her eyes; she hadn't expected Minato to suddenly seek her out.

She still didn't know the news that Danzo had been taken out.

After all, he was an advisor to the Hokage—such a big shot that ordinary people struggled to even catch a glimpse of him, so how could he just kick the bucket so easily?

Therefore, faced with Minato suddenly approaching her, her heart skipped a beat.

There was shyness, there was anticipation, but mostly, there was nervousness and wariness.

Speculating on Minato's intentions, Nono nodded slightly.

The two arrived at the roof of the school building, which was completely deserted.

According to those romance books Danzo had bought, many confession scenes took place on the roof of a school building!

Nono secretly studied Minato's profile, trying to read something in those azure eyes.

Could Minato be planning to confess?

At that thought, she felt her cheeks burning slightly.

No, no, no, calm down, Nono, don't lose your composure...

"You... you must have been sent by Danzo, right?"

Just as Nono was lost in her wild thoughts, Minato finally spoke in a soft voice.

The moment he spoke, he shattered all her fantasies and pulled her back to reality.

I've been found out...

Nono froze imperceptibly, her brain instantly regaining its rationality; her romantic delusions were suppressed in an instant, and her poker face appeared perfectly calm.

What should I do?

Should I come clean?

Yes!

In less than a second, she made her decision.

Earlier, when Minato looked at her, there had been scrutiny in his eyes.

Now that he had chosen to bring it up, it was highly likely he had found concrete evidence.

He wasn't asking a question; he had come to her with the answer already in hand.

Continuing to play dumb would only make him distrust her even more.

Now that her identity was exposed, regardless of what happened to her later, this was likely the only chance she had to free the orphanage from Danzo's threats!

"I'm sorry..."

Nono lowered her head slightly: "I had no choice, but please believe me, I have no intention of harming you."

"No need to be so nervous, I'm not blaming you."

Seeing Nono's frank admission, a smile appeared on Minato's calm face: "Would you mind telling me the reason why?"

"I... I am from the orphanage."

Minato's peaceful attitude made Nono quietly heave a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, he isn't angry!

Minato really is such a considerate person...

"Half a year ago, Shimura Danzō came to the orphanage for an inspection, claiming he wanted to select talented children for special training. In the end, he chose me. Because he didn't look like a good person, I didn't want to agree at first."

Nonō said, her small face dimming: "But he is the advisor to the Hokage; a single word from him could cut off the orphanage's funding. Everyone was already struggling to get enough to eat, and if the funding were cut off as well..."

"I see..."

Minato Namikaze nodded. This was about what he had guessed; such were the only tactics Shimura Danzō possessed.

"What was the mission he gave you?" Minato asked again.

Nonō glanced at Minato cautiously: "Can I use this information to make a trade with you?"

"What do you want to trade for?"

Minato couldn't help but chuckle inwardly; he could roughly guess her request.

Nonō said without hesitation: "I hope to trade for Tsunade's protection of the orphanage! Don't let Shimura Danzō lay a hand on the orphanage!"

"Is that all?" Minato confirmed.

This time, Nonō hesitated.

She actually hoped that Tsunade could help the orphanage, at least enough so that everyone could be well-fed and clothed.

But on second thought, with so many mouths to feed at the orphanage, it was likely not something one person could support alone.

"If... if I add another piece of information, can you make sure everyone at the orphanage is well-fed and clothed?"

After struggling for a long time, she asked with embarrassment.

"I can."

Minato agreed without any hesitation: "Can you tell me now?"

Nonō looked up in surprise. Minato had agreed so readily that she couldn't help but doubt the sincerity of his words.

However, she had no other choice now but to resign herself to fate and pray that Minato would keep his word.

"The mission Shimura Danzō gave me was... to gain the favor of Minato Namikaze."

As she spoke, she lowered her head in embarrassment, the tips of her ears turning slightly hot.

"That was the only mission he gave me, but I kept finding excuses to delay it. Don't misunderstand, it's not that I don't like... no, I mean... I just feel that this isn't right. Feelings should be something much purer."

"I understand."

Minato nodded: "And the other piece of information?"

"I suspect that Shimura Danzō is very likely to be detrimental to Kushina, or even to you. Although I'm not entirely certain, I feel it's necessary to be on guard."

"From my previous contact with him, Shimura Danzō seems to have a very strong obsession with becoming the Hokage, and he indiscriminately harbors hostility toward anyone who might stand in his way."

Nonō looked at Minato uneasily. She had originally intended to keep this information as a final trump card in case he refused to help the orphanage.

"I see..."

Minato paused, then cleared his throat and said with a straight face: "Well then... student Nonō, thanks to the intelligence you gathered while undercover, the missing-nin Shimura Danzō was executed last night!"

Nonō was stunned: "Eh?"

"It means that bastard has been taken care of, along with Root."

Minato chuckled: "Come to think of it, this is all thanks to the information you provided."

"Ho, how is that possible?"

Nonō stammered: "He was the advisor to the Hokage! Could it be the Hokage... besides, I haven't provided you with any information before..."

"Who says? Didn't you tell me with your eyes, and didn't I tacitly understand what you meant?"

Minato blinked, his tone light: "I can't go into the specific details with you, but Shimura Danzō is indeed dead."

"Then... does the trade for food and clothing still count?"

Nonō asked hesitantly. After she finished speaking, she felt she was being too shameless and lowered her head in shame.

"Well... I suppose there's no helping it, since it was a promise, right?"

Minato laughed lightly, his sunny smile seemingly warming the cold air around them by several degrees.

Nonō stared blankly at the boy before her, a thousand thoughts surging through her heart.

In a daze, a sudden heat welled up in the corners of her eyes. Her vision blurred, and tears uncontrollably slid down her cheeks.

After all, she was still just a five-year-old child. When the grievances and pressure she had been under recently were suddenly released, Nonō could no longer control her emotions and burst into tears.

Fortunately, while she couldn't control her emotions, she could still control her body.

Before her tears could even hit the ground, she threw herself into Minato's arms.