Scolding Danzo

Seeing the blame falling entirely on the Third Hokage, and even risking him being labeled as jealous of talent, Danzo, as his close comrade, could no longer hold back and snapped:

"Hatake Sakumo abandoned his mission in a previous operation to save the lives of his fellow ninjas, which is a grave taboo for any shinobi! You are an outsider; you have no right to interfere in the internal affairs of Konoha!"

"Oh? Then I would like to ask Lord Advisor, were those fellow ninjas not ninjas of Konoha?"

"Hmph! Naturally, why even ask?"

Ye Ning burst into laughter, clutching his stomach:

"Hahahaha, Lord Advisor, if you hadn't said that, I would have thought Hatake Sakumo saved ninjas from an enemy nation. So, they were ninjas from his own village after all!"

After laughing for a while, Ye Ning managed to restrain his mirth and said with a straight face: "My apologies, I just thought of something funny."

"If that is the case, I have another question for Lord Advisor. I heard that back in the day, you and the Third Hokage were teammates in the same squad. So, if you were to encounter a situation like Hatake Sakumo's, between the mission and the Third Hokage, what choice would you make?"

"As a ninja, I would naturally prioritize the mission!"

"Oh... I see. It seems Lord Advisor is indeed a qualified ninja."

Ye Ning raised an eyebrow, his tone becoming increasingly sarcastic. "Setting everything else aside, I want to know why the status of a ninja's mission is something even the villagers can know about?"

"I recall that ordinary villagers shouldn't have access to information regarding ninja missions. Or has the rule in Konoha changed without my father or me knowing?"

At this point, Ye Ning's tone shifted sharply, and he demanded sternly: "Why are the villagers allowed to criticize a hero who won the war and slander a hero of the Land of Fire as they please? Or is it because of your own selfish interests, fearing that he might threaten your status, that you have resorted to such dirty and despicable tactics?"

"Lord Advisor, you must understand: Hatake Sakumo is a ninja of Konoha, and more importantly, a hero of the Land of Fire! I, Ye Ning, the future heir to the Daimyo, will never allow a hero of the Land of Fire to be smeared by a few petty people!"

His words were resonant, powerful, and impassioned.

Ye Ning, who had originally only intended to disgust the Third Hokage and Danzo, found himself empathizing with Hatake Sakumo's perspective, and a surge of genuine anger rose within him.

His words elevated the entire incident to a new level, causing even the Daimyo, who had been watching the show, to involuntarily straighten his face and grow serious:

"Third Hokage, I do indeed require an explanation for this matter."

Admittedly, the Daimyo and his son had no business interfering in Konoha's affairs, but once it escalated to the level of a hero of the Land of Fire, he, as the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, certainly had the authority to intervene.

Both the Third Hokage and Danzo were left speechless.

They had never imagined that a mere brat could utter such words.

He was using the weight of the state to pressure them.

Even seasoned politicians like the Third Hokage and Danzo could only lament his sharp tongue.

Moreover, their methods of suppressing Hatake Sakumo were indeed indefensible.

Even if ordinary ninjas noticed something amiss, they lacked the specific details of the mission and would not stand up for Hatake Sakumo, nor did they have the standing to speak. The only people in the village who could clear Hatake Sakumo's name were either the elders in league with Danzo or the Sannin who had made a name for themselves in the Shinobi World during the war in the Land of Rain.

But as it happened, the Sannin were not concerned with Konoha's trivialities; one was still in the Land of Rain teaching children, one was suffering from Hemophobia and locking himself at home, and the only one who could be considered normal was stepping further into experiments for eternal life.

The Third Hokage's original intention might have been to suppress Hatake Sakumo's reputation to keep him quiet, but Danzo had been thinking of a total kill.

In Danzo's scheme, once the matter fermented, the ninja saved by Hatake Sakumo would jump out to accuse him, and Hatake Sakumo's reputation would be completely ruined. Even if he could survive the internal torment and struggle to recover, he would never have a chance to become Hokage with his reputation in tatters.

The plan was beautiful, and had nothing gone wrong, it would have been a perfect suppression.

Yet, a roadblock had jumped out halfway to speak up for justice.

And it just so happened to be someone with the power to clear Hatake Sakumo's name.

A perfect strategy had just gone down the drain!

Danzo glared at Ye Ning, frantically weighing his options in his mind.

If he stopped now, he would be unwilling, but if the Daimyo insisted, he had no good way to proceed. Besides, after this, a stain had been cast on Hatake Sakumo's perfect career; while his goal hadn't been maximized, it had been partially achieved.

After weighing the pros and cons, Danzo decisively left the situation to the Third Hokage and played dumb.

Deep down, however, he harbored a grudge against Ye Ning.

Although neither the Third Hokage nor Danzo spoke for a moment, Ye Ning held the winning hand and was certain they would back down.

This tactic—standing on the moral high ground combined with the classic "setting aside... and talking about" combo—was unstoppable.

Forget the Third Hokage and Danzo; no one could handle this technique.

Except, of course, that brute Madara Uchiha.

Ye Ning figured that if he stood in front of Madara Uchiha and said such things, Madara Uchiha would likely throw a disdainful "Mere gravel, speaking without shame" and slap him away.

But it was more than enough to deal with the Third Hokage and Danzo.

The identity of the Daimyo's son is truly...

So satisfying!

As expected, the Third Hokage lowered his head:

"Regarding this matter, Danzo and I were indeed completely unaware. I will issue a notice to clarify this immediately. At the same time, I will conduct a thorough investigation to see who is spreading rumors behind our backs. Such rumors are unforgivable!"

"Well, don't let our great hero of the Land of Fire feel discouraged."

The Daimyo waved his hand, effectively closing the matter.

Whew.

That feels good.

Ye Ning let out a long sigh of relief, feeling much better inside.

He simply couldn't stand those two guys, the Third Hokage and Danzo. One had his heart blinded by the position of Hokage, stopping at nothing to achieve his goals, while the other had his eyes gradually clouded by power, becoming increasingly weak and completely devoid of the ambition he held as the Shinobi Hero in his youth.

Forcing the White Fang to his death... driving away the Sannin... exterminating the Uchiha Clan... handing over the corpse of Hizashi Hyuga...

Do you see any of this as something a human would do?

Despite being the greatest village in the Shinobi World, it had grown weaker and weaker under their relentless, day-and-night meddling, to the point where Ye Ning wished he could just slap them both to death.

Now, at least, there was a good start.