Identity Confirmation

"What happened? How could this be?"

"A powerful chakra magnetic field has manifested around that guy; he is in complete control of everything within his immediate vicinity."

"Does that mean the two of us have no chance of getting close to him?"

Shen Ye did not answer Minato's question. Instead, he stepped forward until he was a centimeter away from the magnetic field, crossing his arms over his chest to watch the guy in front of him in silence.

Right now, he only wanted to confirm this guy's identity.

If he were a member of the Anbu, Shen Ye would drag Minato away immediately and report the matter to the Third Hokage.

If he were that person who had been hiding in Konoha all along, the two of them would have to prepare to give it their all.

"You seem to have been observing me the whole time. You appeared the moment I walked into the forest."

"Of course. In order to complete the mission Danzo gave me, my eyes haven't left you for a second."

Shen Ye frowned. This explanation still wasn't enough to convince him; the fact that he and Danzo were at odds was no longer a secret in the village.

"Are you unaware that your teammates were killed by someone hiding their identity within the village? What is the meaning of pinning everything on me?"

"Hmph, I am merely carrying out the orders of Lord Danzo. As for the deaths of others, what does that have to do with me?"

The corners of Shen Ye's mouth curled upward slightly. He nodded at the man, turned around, and bolted in another direction. Although Minato didn't know what had happened, he followed closely behind without hesitation.

The Anbu guy stood frozen in place, unable to understand why Shen Ye had suddenly chosen to flee.

There was no communication along the way until the ninjas of Konoha appeared in their line of sight, at which point the two slowed their pace.

"Shen Ye, what happened?"

"He is one of Danzo's subordinates. Fighting him would benefit neither of us. It seems I need the Third Hokage to uphold justice for me."

Shen Ye and Minato quickened their pace to reach Jiraiya and Tsunade.

"Why have you two little ones appeared here? The Third Hokage clearly told you not to participate in this battle."

"Sister Tsunade, this battle is not just for Konoha; it is also to clear the names of myself and Brother Jiraiya. Therefore, I must participate no matter what."

Tsunade shook her head helplessly. She knew Shen Ye was incredibly stubborn; even if she told him to return to the village now, it would be to no avail.

Conversely, separated from the main force of Konoha, the two little ones would be in even greater danger.

"Don't fall behind!"

The situation was tense. After giving a few instructions, Tsunade continued to move forward with the team. According to intelligence, the guy was not far ahead.

Time ticked by, and everyone kept their nerves taut, ready to enter combat at any moment.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the area. Tsunade raised her hand to signal the team to stop, and the group fanned out, surrounding Minato and Shen Ye in the center.

"It looks like a barrier. That guy clearly made full preparations for us."

"Leave the barrier to me. As long as I find the focal point, I can break it easily."

A plain-looking ninja emerged from the crowd. Shen Ye had no impression of this guy at all, but the massive pack on his back caught his attention.

With a few leaps, he appeared at the edge of the barrier and pulled several small devices from his pack, arranging them neatly.

"Ninja Art: Barrier Destruction Technique!"

A silent battle began quietly. The surrounding air rippled, and in Shen Ye's perception, the barrier seemed to be gradually fading away.

Both Tsunade and Jiraiya were observing the surroundings with intense focus. Even as the barrier was about to vanish, there was not a hint of abnormality on their faces.

Is this the composure a true ninja must possess? Unflappable in the face of change!

"It seems we still have much to learn. This isn't just a time for the two of us to seek glory; learning is what matters most."

Minato nodded. At first, he had simply thought that Shen Ye was so eager because he wanted to prove his innocence.

Now, it seemed his own thinking had been a bit too simple, and he couldn't help but hold Shen Ye in even higher regard.

The ninja with the pack returned to the team, the surrounding barrier completely vanished, and Tsunade organized the team to continue moving forward.

Based on Shen Ye's knowledge of the area, continuing forward would soon lead them out of the forest and into the territory of other factions.

If he really ran into the territory of another faction, the capture operation would undoubtedly become more difficult.

At the edge of the forest, a man stood silently on a treetop with his arms crossed, his eyes fixed firmly on the Konoha ninjas.

"I've been hiding for so long; I've finally waited for you to find me."

"There doesn't seem to be any conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure. Are you trying to start a war?"

"I have already defected from that useless village. Remember my name: Wu Tian!"

Tsunade frowned. The final judgment for such a rogue ninja would not be left to Konoha; in terms of both emotion and reason, he should be handed over to Iwagakure for the final verdict.

"Wu Tian... I've never heard of this ninja before. Even his defection hasn't been announced by Iwagakure."

"I see. This guy must be a mediocre ninja, so we don't need to worry about anything."

Jiraiya nodded, fully agreeing with Shen Ye's assessment.

One must not be careless, but one must not overestimate the enemy either. Everything must be handled according to the most realistic situation.

However, in Shen Ye's view, Wu Tian had absolutely no chance of winning.

Facing a squad composed of so many ninja, let alone this nameless ninja, even the Tsuchikage would have a fight on his hands here.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow River!"

Without giving anyone a chance to think, Wu Tian quickly formed hand seals, summoning a swamp of mud beneath Shen Ye's feet.

Shen Ye instantly felt a sense of weightlessness beneath him, his body stumbling as he nearly toppled over.

Fortunately, Minato was quick-witted and grabbed Shen Ye's arm, the two of them swaying for a moment before steadying themselves.

Tsunade and Jiraiya leaped up onto the tree trunks, looking down at the spots where they had just been standing.

"Attacking with such ruthless decisiveness—it looks like we've run into a troublesome opponent this time."

"We've been partners for so long; what kind of opponent haven't we encountered? What is there to worry about?"

Tsunade shot Jiraiya a glare, then pushed off hard with her feet, charging toward Wu Tian.