The Secret of His Ability

Hearing the Anbu Ninja's request, Takizawa Dan felt his heart tighten.

Generally speaking, being summoned by the Hokage or the Konoha High Command was never a good thing!

Hadn't Uchiha Itachi been summoned by the Anbu just once, only to come back, kill his entire family, and flee?

Hadn't the Hyuga Clan been called in for a talk with the Third Hokage just once, and then Neji's father died...

Based on the rules of the ninja world, Takizawa Dan had concluded that if he didn't want to die without knowing why and hoped to quietly make it to the end, his best bet was to be content with doing nothing.

With that in mind, Takizawa Dan put on a feeble air and said to the Anbu Ninja, "Sorry, brother, I just finished a match and I'm still exhausted... Could I go home and get some rest first?"

He wanted to dodge this if he could and avoid attracting Tsunade's attention!

But the Anbu Ninja clearly didn't see it that way. He had come to find Takizawa Dan under orders.

The Anbu's rules were extremely strict, and results were all that mattered. If he failed to bring Takizawa Dan back, that meant he'd failed his mission, and the punishment would be severe...

Thinking this, the Anbu Ninja shook his head and said firmly, "No. This is a summons from Lord Hokage, and you're trying to refuse it just like that? Are you even a member of our Konoha Ninja Village?"

Takizawa Dan thought, What does accepting a summons from the Hokage have to do with whether I'm a member of the Konoha Ninja Village...? But since the other man had put it that way, he had no choice but to go along.

Besides, there was definitely more than one Anbu Ninja nearby.

Although Takizawa Dan couldn't sense them directly, Anbu Ninja never worked alone. They always operated in teams. There were probably several of them lurking nearby, watching his every move!

Choosing to resist now would be tantamount to asking for death.

"Fine, no problem. I'll go with you."

Takizawa Dan nodded, straightened his clothes, and put all his ninja tools back in his pockets. Then he gave the Anbu Ninja a look to show he was ready.

The Anbu Ninja nodded and led the way, discreetly using a jutsu to tell his companions hidden in the shadows that everything was normal and there was no need to worry.

He was relieved that Takizawa Dan had made the sensible choice and come quietly instead of resisting. Otherwise, he would have had to use force and kill Takizawa Dan on the spot!

After all, although the Anbu were nominally under the Hokage's direct command, they had in fact long since fallen under Shimura Danzō's control. Danzō was nowhere near as kind to Takizawa Dan as Tsunade was. He had wanted him dead for a long time!

This boy knew to keep a low profile and hide his strength. Clearly, he had sinister ambitions. He absolutely couldn't be allowed to live!

But since Tsunade was the Hokage, Danzō couldn't openly oppose her over someone she wanted to summon. After all, he only wanted to protect Konoha; he wasn't trying to plot against the village or start an internal conflict.

So Danzō's instructions regarding Takizawa Dan were simple: if he came along obediently, there was no need to act, and everything would proceed as usual. But if he put up strong resistance, kill him on the spot!

For the sake of the village's prosperity and stability, Danzō was capable of doing something like that!

Of course, as far as this Anbu Ninja was concerned, he didn't want Takizawa Dan to die either. It would be a shame for such a talented young man to die at the hands of his own people.

Takizawa Dan knew nothing about the Anbu Ninja's thoughts. He simply watched his surroundings warily, prepared for anything unexpected.

Soon, the Anbu Ninja brought Takizawa Dan up to the stands.

As soon as Takizawa Dan appeared, everyone present turned their eyes toward him!

The Hokage and the Anbu were all staring at him, and the pressure they seemed to be exerting made him feel a little uncomfortable!

"Lord Hokage, as you instructed, I've brought him here. Please give me your orders!"

The Anbu Ninja bowed and spoke respectfully to Tsunade.

"Mm, thanks for your effort. You may go."

Tsunade waved a hand, dismissing him.

After the Anbu Ninja left, Tsunade beckoned warmly to Takizawa Dan. "Come on, Takizawa Dan. Sit beside me..."

"Oh..."

Takizawa Dan obediently walked over to Tsunade.

"Takizawa Dan, you're far too bold! You're standing before Lord Hokage, yet you haven't shown the slightest courtesy. You just walked right up to her?"

Danzō stepped forward, his expression furious. "What were you thinking?"

Looking at Danzō's outrage, Takizawa Dan immediately understood. So the old bastard was behind this.

Seriously... Why hadn't Sasuke hit him harder later on?!

"Shimura-kun, let's forget the formalities. I don't like making too much of a show of things."

As she spoke, Tsunade stepped forward and put a hand on Takizawa Dan's back.

"Come on, don't mind them. Come over here with your big sister."

Since Tsunade had taken the initiative to smooth things over for him, Takizawa Dan was happy to accept. He smiled and nodded, then let her guide him.

Looking at Tsunade up close, especially at her full, snow-white chest, Takizawa Dan couldn't help sighing inwardly.

It was unbelievable. Just looking at her, it was hard to imagine that this was a fifty-year-old woman!

With Tsunade protecting him, Takizawa Dan had safely escaped the situation. Before leaving, he stuck out his tongue in Danzō's direction. Thanks to the angle, neither Tsunade nor the other senior officials saw it.

Only Danzō met Takizawa Dan's gaze. Seeing Takizawa Dan humiliate him like that, Danzō was so furious he nearly exploded!

But he couldn't react. He had no proof, and if he did anything, he'd only make himself look petty and small-minded.

Even so, though he couldn't act just then, Danzō gave Takizawa Dan a warning look.

The unspoken message was clear: Just you wait, brat. Don't let me find an opportunity, or you'll pay for it!

But Takizawa Dan didn't seem bothered in the slightest by Danzō's hostility.

The old bastard already wanted him dead. It made no difference whether it happened sooner or later.

Once Tsunade had taken her seat on the platform and had Takizawa Dan sit beside her, she smiled and asked him:

"Takizawa Dan, your performance just now was really impressive. Can you tell me when you became so strong?"

At Tsunade's question, the other senior officials also turned skeptical gazes toward Takizawa Dan.

After all, Takizawa Dan had previously been a well-known failure, yet he'd made a spectacular showing in the Chunin exam arena.

No matter how you looked at it, it was hard to believe.