Thirty: Still Trying to Escape

Feeling Shen Ye's exhaustion, Bai Dun turned and ran toward the village, completely abandoning the dignity and principles expected of a shinobi.

For a moment, Shen Ye couldn't figure out what this guy was up to. Just as Bai Dun was about to disappear from sight, Shen Ye finally caught on.

"A proper Chunin, and you just run away? You really don't have an ounce of shame."

Shen Ye hurried after him. If he really let the guy get away, his secrets wouldn't stay hidden.

Watching the direction Bai Dun had fled, Shen Ye threw two marked shuriken in quick succession. They whistled past Bai Dun's ears.

"So his shuriken skills really are as clumsy as the rumors say. No wonder his classmates made him a laughingstock."

"Flying Thunder God Technique!"

Shen Ye crossed his hands in front of his chest and channeled his chakra, teleporting straight to the marked shuriken.

Before Bai Dun could react, Shen Ye was already standing in front of him, a mocking smile on his lips.

"Weren't you trying to escape? How'd you end up running right into me?"

Before Bai Dun could say a word, Shen Ye's hand grew enormous. He seized Bai Dun in his palm and hurled him toward a thorn-covered tree trunk in the distance.

A gruesome sight filled Shen Ye's view. He took a deep breath, then turned and left the forest.

As he walked, the image of Bai Dun's death kept circling through Shen Ye's mind.

He'd been prepared to fight for his life ever since arriving in this world, but actually killing a shinobi with his own hands still left him feeling unsettled.

He returned home in a daze, exchanged a brief greeting with Tsunade, then went straight to his room and shut the door.

Tsunade glanced toward Shen Ye's room and shook her head helplessly.

"What happened to that brat out there? Why is he suddenly so down? Never mind. I'll leave him alone."

A few days passed, and Shen Ye had recovered from the shock. In the Ninja Academy classroom, he acted as though nothing had happened.

Sunlight streamed into the classroom. Shen Ye leaned lazily against the window, already nodding off.

A sudden, loud commotion outside made Shen Ye shake his head awake and look toward the door. A familiar figure stood there.

"Shen Ye, get out here! Don't think I don't know you're the one who did this!"

Danzo shouted as he stormed into the classroom, but the teacher in front stopped him.

Danzo was powerful, but everyone had their own duties. Even the leader of the Anbu couldn't simply barge into the Ninja Academy and do as he pleased.

Shen Ye scratched his head. Bai Dun's death had come to light, and Danzo had immediately identified him as the culprit.

After all, Bai Dun's mission had been to watch Shen Ye from the shadows, so his death had to be connected to him somehow.

"Teacher, I'll go out. It's broad daylight. He can't just kill me, can he?"

"If anything happens, run back to the classroom. I can protect you."

Shen Ye nodded and sauntered out. The other students watched him disappear with astonished expressions.

For the leader of the village's Anbu to be this furious with him, had Shen Ye really caused some huge mess lately?

Shikaku and Minato exchanged a glance and nodded, ready to rush out at a moment's notice.

"Shen Ye, you've got some nerve. You even dared to kill an Anbu member. I'm arresting you right now."

"Give it a rest, Danzo. What does an Anbu member's death have to do with me?"

"You..."

Danzo was at a loss for words. He couldn't exactly tell them he'd sent Bai Dun to spy on Shen Ye.

With no contact between them, Bai Dun's death had nothing to do with Shen Ye, and Danzo had no grounds to take him in.

"You just wait!"

After leaving that threat, Danzo headed straight out of the Ninja Academy. From the direction he was going, he seemed to be heading to the Hokage Office to demand an explanation.

Shen Ye wasn't worried at all. The Third Hokage was a sly old man with plenty of tricks. Even if he suspected Shen Ye, he wouldn't do anything.

After Danzo left, Shen Ye didn't return to class.

He'd planned to enjoy a nap in the lovely sunshine, but Danzo had ruined it.

"Teacher, I've had a bit of a fright. Could I go home and get some rest?"

"Shikaku, Minato, go with Shen Ye. I'm worried there could be danger on the way."

The teacher knew Danzo was the kind of man who never let a grudge go, so he sent Shikaku and Minato to escort Shen Ye safely home.

Once they left the academy, Shikaku and Minato couldn't contain their curiosity. They peppered Shen Ye with questions about what had happened.

Shen Ye told them an Anbu member had died, but left out everything that had happened between him and the man, making sure to clear himself of any involvement.

"So that guy must be behind it. How can the village's old fossils not see it? This could've been settled so easily."

"Yeah. We still haven't caught the enemy we ran into, and now an Anbu member's been killed too."

"But this might be a good thing. Danzo will join the search for him, which should save us a lot of time."

Shen Ye gave a perfunctory nod, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Who exactly was that man they'd encountered that day?

As far as he could remember, he'd run into that man more than once. Aside from one genuine clash, the man had always been quiet, but his eyes never left Shen Ye.

Had that man discovered the system in Shen Ye's mind? Surely no one in this world could do that.

"You two be careful, too. We still haven't caught that person. I'll head back now."

Shen Ye stood outside his home and watched Shikaku and Minato disappear around the corner. He didn't open the door, instead turning and heading toward the forest.

Bai Dun's death had been exposed, and the Third Hokage would surely send shinobi to look for clues. Shen Ye needed to go over and steer them in the right direction.

Sure enough, several shinobi had surrounded the edge of the forest. They all wore masks and appeared to be Anbu.

Shen Ye watched from a distance, not daring to approach recklessly.

With Danzo leading them, these people had already made Shen Ye their number-one enemy. Even if they couldn't attack him freely in the village, they certainly wouldn't treat him kindly.

"Looks like I'll have to find another way to steer them. I wonder what that old Third Hokage is up to."