I Don't Bother You, Yet You Bother Me?

It was already late at night when Ye Ning left Sakumo's home, and Tsunade, as expected, was drunk again.

The first time he had to look after a drunken Tsunade, he felt annoyed; the second time, he was speechless; by the third time, he had grown accustomed to it.

Ye Ning hoisted Tsunade onto his back with clean, practiced movements and began the slow stroll toward home.

Although a person is heavier when drunk, his recent physical training made carrying Tsunade an effortless task.

"Tell me, Tsunade, is that stuff really so good? The others barely touched it, but you drank the most by far."

Carrying the curled-up Tsunade, Ye Ning spoke as if to himself.

He didn't expect a response, but the road was long, and he felt it would be strange to walk it in total silence.

"Sakumo only had two bottles to look after Kakashi, Orochimaru didn't drink much either, and Kurama Dequn just ate the food and barely touched the alcohol. You're the only one who went crazy and downed over a dozen bottles. If you don't get drunk, who will?"

"Mmm..."

"Don't you 'mmm' me. I'm telling you, if you get this drunk again, I'm not helping you. Next time, I'm just dumping you on the street to sleep."

After finally getting Tsunade settled, Ye Ning felt no urge to sleep.

Perhaps stimulated by the sight of Tsunade's two exaggerated watermelons, he couldn't drift off at all, so he climbed out of bed and went into the courtyard to study ninjutsu.

But soon, Ye Ning discovered two uninvited guests.

Dressed in Anbu attire, they had blended perfectly into the shadows, appearing abruptly in the courtyard and giving Ye Ning a start as he studied his techniques.

After clearly seeing the uniforms on these two, Ye Ning frowned.

Anbu?

Ye Ning was well aware that Anbu ninjas had been silently monitoring him from the shadows all along.

However, he also knew that the Third Hokage couldn't possibly be at ease, so being watched was inevitable.

He couldn't be bothered to expose them.

But even with the surveillance, those Anbu ninjas had never dared to approach the Senju Clan Grounds. Had the sun risen in the west today?

Ye Ning rolled his eyes, not taking these two Anbu ninjas seriously at all, and continued his own train of thought.

With the time it would take to deal with Anbu ninjas, he could probably research a Lightning Release ninjutsu.

???

The two Root ninjas exchanged glances, staring at each other in confusion.

They had come under Danzo's orders, intending to wait for Ye Ning to ask them their business before revealing their purpose. They had even used the Body Flicker Technique specifically to intimidate him.

But Ye Ning didn't react at all; let alone being intimidated, he didn't even spare them a glance.

This wasn't how the script was supposed to go!

Two strangers with ill intent suddenly appear in your home, and you don't even look at them or give a reaction?

Having executed countless missions, the two Root ninjas were, for the first time in their lives, completely bewildered.

Since the formation of Root, they had never been ignored during a mission. Even their colleagues in the Anbu sometimes had to cooperate with their operations—when had they ever been treated like air?

Seeing that Ye Ning truly had no intention of acknowledging them, the two Root ninjas looked at each other, and one of them finally spoke up: "Ye Ning!"

"If you have something to say, say it. Don't make noise."

Ye Ning waved his hand impatiently and glared back at them.

He had finally managed to get Tsunade settled so he could rest; if these two woke her up, wouldn't he be the one suffering for it?

The Root ninjas were stunned again.

Wait, what kind of attitude is that!

We are Root ninjas, Root!

Subordinates of Lord Danzo!

Can you show a little respect for our work?

Seemingly realizing that Ye Ning could not be treated like an ordinary person, the Root ninjas stopped wasting words:

"Ye Ning, Lord Danzo requests your presence."

Hearing this, Ye Ning finally showed a reaction.

Danzo?

Root ninjas?

Ye Ning suddenly realized.

He had wondered why the Anbu ninjas, who usually hid like turtles in the shadows to monitor him, would suddenly reveal themselves and even trespass into the Senju Clan Grounds. It turned out they had mistaken their target.

But why would Danzo want to see him?

Ye Ning tilted his head, puzzled.

He didn't think Danzo was inviting him for a late-night snack and tea at this hour.

What else could he do?

Attack him?

Had Danzo lost his mind?

Danzo might be dark and twisted, but surely he wasn't stupid enough for that?

To lay a hand on the Daimyo's only son—any high-ranking official with a brain wouldn't make such a decision unless they were completely senile.

Could it be an attempt to take revenge?

It was only a bit of sarcasm and mockery from a month ago; surely he wasn't that petty?

Ye Ning curled his lips, a playful smile appearing:

"Danzo invites me? What if I say no?"

"How bold! You dare to address Lord Danzo by his name!"

"Although Lord Danzo instructed us not to hurt you, do not be ungrateful!"

???

Now it was Ye Ning's turn to be bewildered.

Wait, were these two Root ninjas alright?

They were going to police him for calling Danzo by his name?

Forget calling Danzo by his name; even if he called Sarutobi Hiruzen by his name, would he really dare to blame him?

Ye Ning laughed in disbelief: "I'll be ungrateful then. Come on, let me see what you can do to me."

Danzo, oh Danzo, I don't know whether to admire your courage or call you a fool.

I wasn't looking for trouble with you, yet you actually came looking for trouble with me?

Have you been the Hokage assistant for so long that you really think you're a big shot?

Ye Ning sat where he was, amused, not even bothering to move: "'Lord Danzo invites me,' indeed. I'm not indulging that bad habit of his. Go back and tell him I'm waiting right here; tell him to come see me himself."

"How bold!"

One of the Root ninjas seemed to be a die-hard, fanatical subordinate of Danzo. Hearing Ye Ning belittle him so, he could no longer suppress his anger, gripping the short blade at his waist as if he might strike at any moment.

The other Root ninja seemed calmer, frowning as he said: "Lord Danzo has extended an invitation; please do not make things difficult for us. Otherwise, we may have to resort to force."

Ye Ning shook his head slightly, watching these two Root ninjas with interest, his eyes filled with undisguised mockery.

Come to think of it, these two Root ninjas were actually quite clever.

They knew Tsunade was dead drunk and wouldn't hear a thing; otherwise, they probably wouldn't have dared to show their faces at all.

"Offense taken."

The more composed Root ninja set aside his look of hesitation, stepped forward, and together with Danzo's fanatical follower, began to close in on Ye Ning step by step.

They were naturally aware of Ye Ning's identity.

Unless absolutely necessary, they did not want to lay a hand on Ye Ning.

But the orders of Lord Danzo could not be failed!