We of the Uchiha Clan Will Never Intersect with Him

!?

What is the meaning of that finger?

Wagging a finger at a man to say he's no good—that's really pushing it, isn't it?

What?

He's only twelve?

Oh, never mind then.

Ye Ning pretended he hadn't heard Tsunade's mockery.

Ignoring that final jab, Ye Ning had to admit that Tsunade's analysis was spot on. Although he was well aware that his own weaknesses were genjutsu and taijutsu, he was still somewhat shocked.

The battle just now had been brief, and for the most part, it had been Tsunade attacking while he fled.

Even so, Tsunade had been able to pinpoint his flaws in that short span of time.

Is this the observational skill and judgment of a ninja?

Hiss... terrifying!

"Alright, let's go. I'll treat you to some barbecue. Training starts tomorrow!"

Tsunade yawned, stretched lazily, and then, with a slight curl of her lips, looked back and said:

"Tell me, you aren't that frail, are you? Can you still walk?"

Ye Ning's forehead darkened with lines.

That phrasing was incredibly ambiguous!

It was just a bit of chakra and physical exhaustion, not like he'd been drained dry by her!

Ye Ning rolled his eyes and followed behind Tsunade as they walked out of the ruins.

Both of them wisely chose not to mention the house again.

Since it had collapsed to this extent, surely they couldn't expect two lazy people to rebuild it?

As for where to sleep tonight...

With so many empty houses in the Senju Clan Grounds, it wasn't as if there would be nowhere to stay, right?

"Hokage. Tsunade and Ye Ning have left the Senju Clan Grounds together, and they seem to be... chatting and laughing."

Third Hokage looked out through the bright window and nodded in silence.

Ever since the end of the Second Shinobi World War, Tsunade had locked herself away in the Senju Clan Grounds upon returning to the village, refusing to let anyone visit. She had essentially closed herself off, only emerging once or twice to buy sake.

The loss of her younger brother, her clansmen, and her lover one after another—the blow had been far too heavy.

Perhaps Ye Ning's arrival was a good thing.

At the very least, with Ye Ning's company, Tsunade seemed a bit happier now.

If only Tsunade could walk out of her grief...

Third Hokage sighed softly and waved his hand:

"Go and summon the heads of all the major ninja clans."

"Everyone, I've called you here today because there is something I need to make clear."

Third Hokage scanned the clan heads seated around the long table, weighing his words before speaking:

"As you should all be aware, the Daimyo paid a sudden visit yesterday. Although the Daimyo left Konoha under the escort of Anbu ninjas, his only son has remained in Konoha."

Third Hokage placed special emphasis on the words "only son" to ensure the clan heads understood the weight of Ye Ning's status.

Seeing that the clan heads were lost in thought, Third Hokage continued:

"The Daimyo's only son is named Ye Ning, and he is now a ninja of Konoha. I must remind you all that Konoha's stable development relies on the full support of the Daimyo. Therefore, I hope that for the sake of your own clans, and for the sake of Konoha as a whole, you will try your best to avoid unnecessary conflicts with Ye Ning."

"Should a conflict arise, report it immediately. I cannot bear the Daimyo's wrath, and neither can Konoha."

As he spoke, Third Hokage's gaze fell upon Uchiha Fugaku.

At this moment, Uchiha Fugaku was only twenty-two years old, and he was the only person present who had not come in the capacity of a clan head. However, although he had not yet officially become the head, he was already responsible for most of the Uchiha clan's affairs and had long since accumulated significant prestige among the Uchiha clansmen.

His succession as clan head was a foregone conclusion.

For Third Hokage, among all the clans in Konoha, the one he worried about most was the Police Force controlled by the Uchiha.

As for the other clans, once he had given them a warning, they would basically never take the initiative to provoke Ye Ning, but the Uchiha were a different story.

Heaven knows what these emotionally unstable madmen might do.

Moreover, the Police Force was the department most likely to come into conflict with Ye Ning.

Once something happened during a conflict, the Daimyo wouldn't care which clan or department had caused the trouble; he would simply vent his fury on Konoha.

Therefore, he had to keep a close eye on the Uchiha.

It would be best if they never crossed paths at all!

Uchiha Fugaku keenly sensed the strange look in the Third Hokage's eyes, his brows furrowing almost imperceptibly.

He loathed that kind of gaze.

From childhood to the present, he had seen that look countless times.

Whether it was the higher-ups of Konoha, ninjas from other clans, or even the villagers themselves, without exception, they all wore that same expression.

He wanted to change things, yet he felt at a loss as to how.

Of course, he understood clearly what those ninjas and villagers feared, and he understood what the Third Hokage was worried about at this very moment.

Without waiting for the Third Hokage to speak, Uchiha Fugaku took the initiative:

"My Uchiha clan will never have any contact with him. Please rest assured, Lord Hokage; upon returning, I will strictly restrain my clansmen."

With Uchiha Fugaku's guarantee, the Third Hokage finally breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as the fellows from the Uchiha clan didn't go looking for trouble, surely no one else would be blind enough to provoke Ye Ning, right?

The Third Hokage's expression tightened as he suddenly thought of his own arrogant, good-for-nothing son.

If there was anyone else who might provoke Ye Ning, it had to be that troublesome son of his!

If that little brat ever crossed Ye Ning, he wouldn't even have a place to go to cry!

Konoha, barbecue restaurant.

The corner of Ye Ning's mouth twitched for the umpteenth time.

Ever since he met Tsunade, this kind of situation had occurred inexplicably often.

A table full of alcohol and only five plates of meat—are you sure you're treating me to barbecue and not just looking for an excuse to drink yourself?

Ye Ning instinctively leaned back, eyeing Tsunade across the table with vigilance:

"I'm warning you, if you get drunk this time, don't try to force drinks on me again. If we both pass out here, there won't be anyone to take you home."

"Relax, relax. Besides me, someone else is coming to drink this, too. It's not just me," Tsunade said with a look of disdain, picking up a bottle and downing it in one go. "Look at how scared you are."

"Someone else is coming?"

Ye Ning was full of confusion.

He didn't recall Tsunade inviting anyone else.

How could there be someone else coming?

Could it be Jiraiya?

That doesn't seem right; isn't Jiraiya far away in the Land of Rain at this time?

"Stop guessing. That guy actually has a bit of a connection to you."