Reporting to the Hokage

Shen Ye scratched his head in embarrassment, seemingly unable to come up with any way to refute the situation.

After all, the most miraculous ocular techniques in the entire ninja world were located in Konoha, and he just happened to encounter them one after another.

"Actually, I have my reasons; I didn't truly intend to peep at you."

Yue Xing shot Shen Ye a glare. Originally, this was an unforgivable act, yet at this very moment, she found herself unable to muster even a shred of anger toward him.

Regardless of anything else, this guy had just saved her life; it was only right and proper to keep his secret for him.

Seeing the expression on Yue Xing's face, Shen Ye felt increasingly awkward, and before he knew it, his face began to flush slightly.

"Why did you suddenly blush? Don't worry, I won't expose you."

"We should leave here quickly; it will be disastrous if that guy recovers and realizes what happened."

Yue Xing nodded. Lingering here was not the safest course of action, and besides, the matter regarding the Anbu needed to be reported to the Third Hokage.

Worried that Yue Xing might still be feeling frightened by what had just occurred, Shen Ye reached out and took her hand.

Feeling the sudden contact on her hand, Yue Xing froze for a moment, but she did not pull away from Shen Ye.

As they moved through the woods, Yue Xing's attitude toward Shen Ye began to shift bit by bit. No matter how she looked at it, she couldn't bring herself to think of him and that peeping tom as the same person.

Subconsciously, Yue Xing hoped that the guy from that day had been Jiraiya.

Before long, Shen Ye and Yue Xing entered the village, heading straight toward the Hokage's office without a moment's hesitation.

From afar, Tsunade caught sight of the two of them.

Why are those two holding hands? I must follow them and find out what's going on.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes and followed silently behind Shen Ye.

Because they were too focused, neither Shen Ye nor Yue Xing noticed Tsunade trailing closely behind them.

"Shen Ye, Yue Xing? Why are you two together?"

The voice coming from the left made Yue Xing panic, and she quickly pulled her hand away from Shen Ye.

Shen Ye grinned and raised a hand to scratch his head to ease the awkwardness, turning his head to see that it was none other than the Third Hokage.

"Lord Third Hokage, we have a very important matter to report to you, though we didn't expect to run into you here."

"Oh? Tell me what happened."

The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe. In his mind, he didn't believe these two children had anything of great importance to report, as they were still students at the Ninja Academy.

Shen Ye let out a long breath and looked up at Yue Xing.

Tsunade, who had been following the pair, sensed that something was amiss and quickened her pace to reach Shen Ye's side.

"Just outside the village, Yue Xing was ambushed by a member of the village's Anbu who wanted to gouge out her Byakugan for his own gain."

Tsunade frowned; she hadn't expected to hear such news the moment she arrived.

She looked up at the Third Hokage and noticed that his face remained expressionless, as if he had already anticipated such an event.

"I am already aware of this matter. You three should head back now; I will handle it."

With that, the Third Hokage turned and walked toward his office, leaving the three of them standing there, staring at each other.

As Sarutobi Hiruzen's back receded into the distance, Shen Ye frowned.

The Sarutobi Hiruzen he had known was indeed someone who put the village first, but he was also selfishly devoted to the village's interests.

"I don't believe for a second that this old guy will handle this properly. Let's go find Danzo."

Shen Ye pulled Tsunade and Yue Xing toward the Anbu headquarters, completely unconcerned about what might happen next.

Tsunade and Yue Xing exchanged glances, feeling that Shen Ye's approach was a bit too abrupt; this was a matter only the Third Hokage could handle with ease.

"I have a premonition that we will see the Third Hokage there."

"That old guy might already be in his office, ready to watch the show. The Anbu is the most critical part of the village; he won't offend them just because of us."

Yue Xing frowned; what Shen Ye said made sense.

The Anbu was an organization that had slipped out of the Hokage's direct control, yet it still served the village.

"You three little ones couldn't resist coming to see for yourselves, could you?"

"Lord Third Hokage, you are here too."

"I have already spread the word throughout the village about the Anbu rogue ninja. I will never forgive anyone who lays a hand on their own village comrades."

Shen Ye nodded. The image of Sarutobi Hiruzen in his mind shifted slightly; he wasn't just a cold, heartless machine for protecting the village.

However, at that moment, Danzo, who had been in charge of the Anbu, suddenly rushed out and ran a few steps to stand face-to-face with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The air was thick with tension, and Shen Ye sensed a pressure rising around them.

"On what grounds do you think there is a rogue ninja in my Anbu? Based on the one-sided words of these two children?"

The Third Hokage smiled, channeling his chakra to surround Shen Ye and Yue Xing, easing the pressure on them.

"Stop shouting; you're scaring the children."

Danzo turned his head, his eyes fixed firmly on Shen Ye.

"It must be this guy who brought the enemy into the village; nothing happened at all before he appeared."

"Bullshit! Shen Ye is just a child, how could he possibly bring an enemy into the village?"

Having heard about what happened to Yue Xing, Tsunade was already worried about Shen Ye's safety, and now that he was being slandered by Danzo, her temper naturally flared up.

The Third Hokage, however, wore a smiling expression as he walked calmly between Shen Ye and Danzo.

"Since I have already agreed to let this child settle in the village, I will not harbor any suspicions toward him. Besides, he just saved the little princess of the Hyuga Clan."

Yue Xing nodded and quickly stepped forward; at this moment, she was likely the only one who could prove Shen Ye's innocence.

"I bear witness! Shen Ye almost got hurt just now trying to save me, and that guy already admitted that he was a member of the village's Anbu."

Danzo was rendered speechless for a moment. In truth, he had already known the answer in his heart; he simply didn't want to be bested by this child.

Shen Ye's lips curled upward slightly as he looked at Danzo with a provocative gaze.

He knew that a battle between him and Danzo would happen sooner or later, and as for the outcome, it would depend on how Danzo performed.

You brat, one day I will crush you in the palm of my hand.

With so many people around, Danzo could only curse Shen Ye ten thousand times over in his heart.