Missing?

"Um... Your Majesty, I think I'd better go back to my own place. After all, I'm more used to it there..."

Takizawa Dan had barely finished speaking before he tried to seize the chance to slip away.

Although this body of his was only thirteen years old, his soul certainly wasn't! Inside resided a seasoned, middle-aged shut-in!

If Tsunade really made him live with her, Takizawa Dan couldn't guarantee what he might end up doing!

If certain things were to actually happen...

The consequences would be unimaginable!

That was why Takizawa Dan just wanted to bolt right now!

However, Tsunade was displeased. She reached out and grabbed him by the collar, then said with a look of dissatisfaction, "What do you think you're doing? Did I say you could leave? Leaving without a word in front of the Hokage—what kind of manners are those?!"

Takizawa Dan grumbled inwardly, Didn't you just say you didn't like tedious formalities and that I shouldn't worry about those details...

Though he thought this, Takizawa Dan acted very obediently on the surface and nodded.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong..."

Seeing Takizawa Dan admit his mistake so readily, Tsunade's expression softened considerably. In truth, she wasn't really angry; she just felt that this little guy always acted so serious and calculating, so she wanted to tease him and see him flustered.

Now that her goal was achieved, Tsunade was satisfied.

"Alright, Takizawa Dan, from today on, you don't need to call me 'Your Majesty' anymore. Everyone else calls me that, and I'm sick of hearing it all day!" Tsunade waved her hand impatiently.

"Then... what should I call you?" Takizawa Dan was dumbfounded.

They had only just met, and she wanted to change how he addressed her?

Why did he feel like this was so embarrassing...

"Just call me by my name, call me Sister Tsunade!" Tsunade said breezily. "We're master and student, after all. Others can't call me that, but you can! It's more affectionate!"

"This... alright then."

Takizawa Dan had no choice but to agree.

"Good, good. You've lived alone all these years, so your place must be very lonely, right? From today on, just come live with me. Don't worry, I'm not the only one at home; Shizune is there too. Or, if you feel awkward, there's always that little pig, Tonton, to keep you company~"

Perhaps sensing Takizawa Dan's discomfort and assuming he was just shy about living with her, Tsunade patted his head to comfort him.

This made Takizawa Dan's eyes light up.

That was true; he wouldn't just be with Tsunade, but also her assistant, Shizune.

Although living with just the two of them would be dangerous, it would be much better with three people...

Besides, both of them were great beauties.

Living together would certainly be a feast for the eyes.

"Um... alright then, I'll be troubling you, Lady Tsunade."

"You child, why are you being so polite? You're one of our own in Konoha Village, after all."

Seeing Takizawa Dan agree, Tsunade was overjoyed.

In her eyes, Takizawa Dan was not only talented and remarkably mature, but also sensible and obedient. Most importantly...

He was very handsome!

Indeed, this was an era where looks reigned supreme. Someone like Takizawa Dan could rely entirely on his face to win Tsunade's favor, even prompting her to invite him to move in...

Of course, if Tsunade knew that an old pervert actually lived inside this boy's body... she probably wouldn't have made such a request.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Tsunade couldn't wait; she pushed Takizawa Dan toward her home.

She wanted to finalize this while he was still in agreement!

With every push, her chest inevitably brushed against Takizawa Dan's back from time to time.

Takizawa Dan felt the soft, marshmallow-like sensation against his back, his face flushing red. He didn't dare think too much about it, pretending to be oblivious as he let Tsunade lead him away from the scene...

The sight of Tsunade and Takizawa Dan leaving so intimately was witnessed by all the examinees.

Everyone looked at Takizawa Dan's retreating figure with complex emotions!

Who could have imagined that Takizawa Dan, who had just been considered the biggest loser in Konoha Village, would undergo such a earth-shattering transformation, to the point that even the Fifth Hokage, Lady Tsunade, was personally escorting him and acting so affectionate?

Those who had previously looked down on Takizawa Dan and mocked him repeatedly were slapped hard in the face; their faces stung as if they had actually been struck!

Moreover, Takizawa Dan had been summoned by Tsunade immediately after his match, and the tournament had ended for the day right after...

Anyone who wasn't a fool knew this had everything to do with Takizawa Dan.

He was the first and only examinee in Konoha's history to change the entire Chunin Exams through his own efforts!

"Hmph, interesting!"

Sasuke and Neji both looked in the direction where Takizawa Dan had disappeared, the corners of their mouths curling up.

For the first time, they both had the same target to chase!

As Takizawa Dan vanished, Danzo quietly slipped into the shadows.

At this moment, the smile he had used for his disguise finally vanished completely.

In its place, an incomparably cold killing intent surged forth!

Takizawa Dan, this boy must not be allowed to live!

If he were allowed to grow and flourish, Konoha would never be able to control him, and he would surely become a calamity in the future!

Therefore, he must be completely eradicated now, while his footing is still unstable!

After some thought, Danzo summoned an Anbu ninja.

"Go and fetch Miki Ichiro. Isn't that fellow the teacher of Hyuga Niuda? Now that Takizawa Dan has cut off his path to climbing up the Hyuga clan, he must be harboring resentment. We shall give him a hint and let him willingly act as our scapegoat to kill Takizawa Dan, ridding Konoha of this trouble!"

If Miki Ichiro were still alive at this moment, he would surely be incomparably shocked.

Because his goals and intentions were already clearly known to Danzo, who even planned to use this to discard him once he had served his purpose!

It had to be said that the Anbu's intelligence network was truly unfathomable!

However, the Anbu ninja, who would normally have received the order and departed immediately, remained standing in place with a look of hesitation.

This caused Danzo to knit his brows, sensing that there had been a change in variables.

"What is it? Why haven't you left yet? Has some problem arisen?" Danzo asked with a frown.

"Lord Danzo... Miki Ichiro suddenly went missing yesterday, and there has been no word of him since..."

The Anbu ninja shook his head as he spoke.

His secret identity was that of Miki Ichiro's friend, though Miki Ichiro did not know that he was actually an Anbu operative.

It was precisely because of this special relationship between the two that Danzo had intended to use this ninja to persuade Miki Ichiro to deal with Takizawa Dan.

"What?!" Danzo's eyes widened instantly. "You say... Miki Ichiro has gone missing?"