No Way, No Way?

Done!

Looking at the scroll in his hands, Ye Ning smiled with satisfaction.

The ninjutsu recorded inside didn't include devastating techniques like the Eight Inner Gates or Flying Thunder God, but it did contain the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique, and Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags—all the techniques he wanted. That was more than enough.

Given the temperament of the Third Hokage and Danzo, Ye Ning was already quite satisfied to have gotten his hands on so many techniques.

"Now that the Scroll of Seals has been delivered to Your Highness, this year's funding for Konoha—"

"There's one more thing..."

The Daimyo nodded in satisfaction and raised one finger, still wearing a genial smile.

One more thing?

Danzo's face instantly darkened, and even the Third Hokage couldn't help feeling a little resentful.

"Well, it's very simple. My son has wanted to become a ninja since he was little, so giving him the status of a ninja should be a small matter, right?"

"Also, little Tsunade should be in the village, shouldn't she? It's been a long time since this child last saw her. So there shouldn't be a problem with him staying in Konoha for a while to strengthen the bond between the siblings, right?"

Huh?

That was all?

The Third Hokage and Danzo exchanged glances, both stunned.

When the Daimyo had said there was one more thing, they'd assumed he was going to find another excuse to make things difficult for them. They hadn't expected it to be something so simple.

Leaving his only son in Konoha...

Though he couldn't understand the Daimyo's train of thought or what he was really up to, the Third Hokage readily agreed. Compared to borrowing the Scroll of Seals, this really was a small matter.

It was just that Tsunade's current condition...

A trace of worry stirred in the Third Hokage's heart.

Tsunade's emotions were rather unstable at the moment. Even he, her teacher, didn't dare show his face around her, lest he incur her wrath. If Ye Ning's arrival could help Tsunade emerge from the shadows, that would be a good thing. And if he could cure her illness, all the better.

Otherwise, the Medical Department might really be left without a leader.

Ye Ning had no objections either. After all, this had already been agreed upon before he came.

Growing up in the Daimyo's family had taught Ye Ning more about the world—even details that had never been mentioned in the original story.

Take Tsunade's background, for example.

Ye Ning had never imagined that Princess Tsunade wasn't merely a princess in name, bestowed with the title by the Daimyo. She was a real princess.

Senju Hashirama's son, whose existence had never been revealed in the original story—in other words, Tsunade's father—had married the previous Daimyo's only daughter, who was the current Daimyo's older sister.

As their only daughter, Tsunade had naturally inherited her mother's title of princess.

And he was Tsunade's younger brother.

When Ye Ning first learned this, he was astonished for quite some time.

"Then, Your Highness, when do you plan to return to the Capital City? To prevent what happened last time from happening again, I'll dispatch an elite team of ninja to escort you all the way back."

"Wait."

Ye Ning raised a hand, interrupting the Third Hokage.

Everyone's eyes immediately turned toward Ye Ning. Even the Daimyo looked at him in confusion.

What was he trying to do?

This wasn't in the script!

Although the Third Hokage and Danzo were both looking at him, Ye Ning had the Daimyo's protection behind him and wasn't the least bit intimidated. Instead, he smiled.

"Actually, I have a question I'd like to ask the Third Hokage. Would you be willing to answer it?"

Though the Third Hokage was a little puzzled, he still gave Ye Ning a kind smile. "Of course."

"Back in the Capital City, I heard that a very powerful ninja had emerged in Konoha. I think his name was... What was it again?" Ye Ning pretended to ponder, tapping his head, then suddenly exclaimed, "Right, Hatake Sakumo. There's a ninja by that name, isn't there?"

The Third Hokage sensed that something was wrong and instinctively replied, "That's right."

"I heard that Hatake Sakumo... was a great hero who helped win the war, wasn't he? I believe he made a tremendous contribution during the war against the Land of Wind?"

None of this was a secret to the Daimyo.

After all, wars against other ninja villages only began after the Daimyo had been informed, and reports on the battles were also sent to him. It was just that the Daimyo had never paid any attention to such matters before.

"That's right. Sakumo made a considerable contribution on the battlefield in the Land of Wind."

At that, the corner of Ye Ning's mouth lifted in a subtle smile. "Then something doesn't add up. There's something I really can't understand!"

"On my way from the village gate to the Hokage Building just now, I heard quite a few rumors. They all seemed to be criticizing this Hatake Sakumo. Why would the villagers—and even other ninja—be talking about a man who'd distinguished himself on the battlefield?"

"Those things they were saying didn't sound very complimentary!"

Ignoring the increasingly dark expressions on the Third Hokage and Danzo's faces, Ye Ning went on, "Could it be that Konoha is killing the donkey after it's done the millwork? Or is this just how Konoha treats its heroes? Or perhaps... Hatake Sakumo offended the Third Hokage somehow, and this is your way of suppressing him?"

"Surely not! The esteemed Third Hokage wouldn't be so petty, would he?"

The Daimyo, who had been about to leave, suddenly took an interest. As if he'd just heard some juicy gossip, he watched his son's performance with great enthusiasm.

The Third Hokage and Danzo, meanwhile, had both turned black as coal.

This was naturally Danzo's doing.

Although the Third Hokage had rebuked Danzo for his despicable conduct a few days ago, after thinking it over, he had still tacitly approved of Danzo's actions.

Sakumo had only just returned to the village yesterday, and he'd also abandoned a mission, giving Danzo an opening to attack him. That was why rumors about Hatake Sakumo had begun circulating in the village today.

Who would've thought the Daimyo and his son would catch them in the act!

No matter how many excuses they had, this sort of behavior was ugly and despicable!

It would be all too easy to brand him, the Third Hokage, as a jealous man who couldn't tolerate the talented.

What's more, Ye Ning's sarcastic tone and snide remarks were downright unpleasant.

His usually calm expression was on the verge of slipping into a grimace.

Watching the Third Hokage's reaction, Ye Ning couldn't help laughing to himself.

I've only made a couple of sarcastic remarks, and you're already rattled?

I haven't even gone all out yet. You're not much of a Third Hokage, are you?

Ye Ning had brought this up purely because of his personal feelings. In his eyes, Hatake Sakumo's suicide was utterly absurd. A top-tier ninja who had just rendered great service had been driven to his death by these two despicable men standing before him. How tragic was that?

With such a vile scheme, there was no need to think twice: just pin the blame on Danzo.

But Ye Ning didn't believe the Third Hokage knew nothing about it. He might even have helped fan the flames behind the scenes.