Wonderful, just wonderful

Kakashi's little eyes were filled with big questions.

Right after the war ended, his father became a celebrated hero, and for a while, plenty of ninjas came to visit every day.

But when rumors about his father started spreading through Konoha, those visitors seemed to vanish into thin air. Even after the Hokage Building issued a statement to clear things up, hardly anyone came by anymore.

Seeing so many unfamiliar faces at home was a rare thing these days.

"Kakashi, come over here."

Sakumo beckoned Kakashi over.

Having Kakashi meet his friends was only part of it. Mostly, Sakumo wanted to show him off in front of them.

With a son as exceptionally talented as Kakashi, a father like him deserved to bask in a little reflected glory!

Kakashi hesitated, then obediently walked over, though his cool little face betrayed a hint of awkwardness and confusion.

So this was the young Kakashi?

Ye Ning's eyes lit up.

Come to think of it, Kakashi already had those dead-fish eyes as a child...

Ye Ning had always thought he'd gotten them from reading Icha Icha Paradise!

After briefly introducing Kakashi to everyone, Sakumo beamed with the pride of a doting father.

"Well? My son's pretty great, isn't he?"

"Yeah, he inherited your talent. Congratulations."

"Mhm, he's pretty good."

"...Hmm?"

Everyone's reactions were rather subdued.

Sakumo had wanted to show off his son's talent, but he'd chosen the wrong audience.

One had only recently lost his beloved, one had never even considered marriage or children and thought only of his research, and one had been single for years. None of them cared in the slightest!

Sakumo was instantly at a loss.

So he'd been talking to a brick wall?

"Never mind. Kakashi, sit down and have a bite."

Kakashi had already gotten over his earlier awkwardness. His dark, jade-like eyes blinked as he looked over everyone at the table from time to time, lost in thought.

"What did you say?!"

The Third Hokage stared wide-eyed at the Anbu Ninja before him, his face full of shock.

"You mean Tsunade and Orochimaru, along with Ye Ning, all went to Hatake Sakumo's home?"

Feeling the Third Hokage's agitation, the Anbu Ninja instinctively lowered his head. "Yes, Lord Hokage. It seems they went to Hatake Sakumo's home to drink together. I was afraid they'd notice me if I got too close, so I could only observe from outside the house."

The Third Hokage sighed anxiously and waved wearily for the Anbu Ninja to leave.

In ordinary times, a gathering like this would have been nothing more than friends having a meal together. The Third Hokage wouldn't have read anything into it.

But these were not ordinary times.

The rumors from a month ago had only just died down.

For the past month, the Third Hokage had been on alert,

afraid Ye Ning would make a move.

As the Third Hokage saw it, Ye Ning's presence in Konoha was simply part of the Land of Fire Daimyo's plan to gain control of the village step by step.

Speaking up for Hatake Sakumo was another part of that plan.

He knew Sakumo's personality better than most.

If Ye Ning, the man who had saved his life, made a move, Sakumo would very likely be won over.

But nothing had happened in the past month.

The Third Hokage had thought the matter was over, but today's gathering with Tsunade and the others had stirred his anxious suspicions all over again.

"Hiruzen, what's got you looking so troubled?"

Just when the Third Hokage was most worried, Danzo arrived.

As soon as he opened the door, Danzo noticed the Third Hokage's dark, sour expression.

"Danzo, you came at just the right time."

The Third Hokage lowered his voice. He needed Danzo's advice now. "Today, Tsunade and Orochimaru went to see Sakumo. Ye Ning was there too."

At those words, Danzo's face darkened.

But it wasn't because Tsunade and Orochimaru had gone to see Sakumo. It was because the Third Hokage had mentioned Ye Ning.

Hearing that name reminded him of the humiliation he'd suffered that day.

No one had ever dared to speak to him like that before!

"I'm afraid the Daimyo is about to make his move. If Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Sakumo all side with the Daimyo, sooner or later Konoha will belong to him!"

"Wishful thinking! I won't allow him to lay a finger on Konoha!"

Danzo's face was cold, his eyes filled with malice. "Leave this to me. I'll make Ye Ning understand, and I'll make the Daimyo understand too: Konoha is not theirs to meddle with!"

"Hiruzen, I told you long ago: as long as we control Ye Ning, the Daimyo won't dare interfere in Konoha's affairs again!"

"But..."

"Hiruzen, you're too soft! I'm doing this for Konoha!"

The Third Hokage fell silent.

They'd had countless arguments like this over the years.

At the heart of it, they were simply different people.

Danzo was more stubborn than the Third Hokage, and naturally more extreme in how he did things.

But their past arguments had always ended with the same words: "I'm the Hokage," and "You'll regret this."

This time, though, the Third Hokage had been swayed by Danzo.

Given the situation, if Ye Ning was allowed to act without restraint, Konoha really might change hands!

The Third Hokage's resolve was visibly wavering, and Danzo pressed his advantage. "You can see the situation for yourself. Ye Ning is a destabilizing influence in Konoha. If we don't rein him in, and he joins forces with ninjas like Hatake Sakumo and Tsunade, your days as Hokage will be numbered! I'm doing this entirely for Konoha!"

"We absolutely cannot harm Ye Ning! A complete falling-out with the Daimyo would be disastrous for Konoha!"

Those words completely changed the Third Hokage's mind.

Danzo gave a cold smile. "Don't worry. I won't hurt him. I'll just invite him to spend some time at my Root headquarters."

That was where their conversation ended.

For once, the Hokage's office door was left in peace.

If Ye Ning had been lucky enough to hear the whole conversation, he probably would have called it wonderful.

The thought processes of two politicians really were different from those of ordinary people.

Sometimes their logic was so baffling it made you laugh and cry at the same time.

A casual action could somehow be interpreted in completely different ways by these two politicians.

Then they'd make irreversible decisions and claim it was all for Konoha's sake.