Old Ginger is Spicier

The next day, Li Yu arrived at the gates of Konoha Village to await the arrival of the Land of Wind delegation. He noticed that several members of the Uchiha Police Force had been added to the gate, significantly tightening security.

Li Yu waited for a full three hours, growing somewhat impatient, before he finally saw three figures wearing Sand Ninja headbands appear at the Konoha gate, followed by five Anbu ninjas from the Hokage Office.

"You're finally here. Wasn't it said you'd arrive early in the morning? Why are you so late?"

"Lord Nawaki, we are not late. We arrived at the agreed-upon time."

Hearing this, Li Yu felt that something was amiss. The time difference provided by the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was far too great. He felt secretly annoyed, thinking, Old man Third is trying to give me a show of force, deliberately playing me.

A Sand Ninja behind them heard the Anbu address Li Yu and asked with a sarcastic, mocking tone, "So you are Senju Nawaki? You don't look very old to me."

"Does my age have anything to do with these negotiations? You should understand what you are here in Konoha for."

"You—"

Li Yu turned and walked away without another word, not bothering to look at the colorful expressions on the Sand Ninjas' faces.

At this moment, the lead Sand Ninja stepped forward a few paces and said respectfully, "Konoha truly is full of talent. I wonder which of Konoha's clans you belong to?"

Li Yu was surprised; even after being humiliated like that, someone could still keep their composure so well.

"Senju Nawaki, of the Senju Clan."

"May I ask your name?"

"Ebizo, advisor to the Sand."

"Oh, I didn't expect you to come yourself. It seems the Land of Wind takes these negotiations very seriously."

"Indeed. This matter is beneficial to both the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind."

He led the delegation to a Konoha reception room, where the village's negotiation experts had already been waiting for a long time.

As the one who had defeated the Fourth Kazekage, Li Yu served as a deterrent. He didn't want to interject too much, only stepping in at critical moments to hold the floor and reach an agreement as quickly as possible so he could report back to the old man.

He was also busy wanting to go back and check on the construction of the Senju Clan's land; he really didn't want to waste too much time on negotiations. Based on the original plot, the content of such talks always boiled down to matters of interest, which didn't offer much benefit to his own clan.

After three days of intense discussion, a result was finally reached. Li Yu took the findings and went to the Hokage Office once more to see Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Lord Hokage, the negotiations are complete, and my mission is finished."

As he handed over a scroll and prepared to turn around and leave, he was called back.

"Nawaki, wait a moment. Don't be in such a hurry to leave."

"Lord Hokage, is there anything else? I haven't been home in days, and I'm in a rush to get back and sleep with my wife. Three days of shouting and arguing at the negotiations have given me a headache."

"The capable work hard; there aren't many ninjas as excellent as you left in Konoha."

Sarutobi Hiruzen wore a smug smile. He waved his hand to dismiss the Anbu ninjas in the room, took a deep drag from his pipe, and exhaled, as if he had made a certain decision.

"Nawaki, the commotion your Senju Clan has caused this time is not small. Many people in the village are dissatisfied, but I have suppressed all of it for you."

Hearing this, Li Yu couldn't help but sneer inwardly, Old man Third, you suppressed it? Hmph, I see it as a forced compromise you made after assessing the situation. You've held it in for so long without mentioning it, and now that you bring it up, it's clearly not simple. I'm just waiting to see what move you'll make.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat up straight, put down his pipe, and said with a grave expression, "Although these voices of dissatisfaction have been suppressed, they still exist within the village. To convince the villagers of the Senju Clan and stop the gossip, this negotiation with the Land of Wind is a very good start."

Li Yu's eyes lit up, followed by a faint smile. Here it comes, the fox is about to show its tail. He then put on an expression of earnest attention.

"The Land of Lightning has declared war on the Land of Fire. The Konoha defense forces on the border have already clashed with the Cloud Village ninjas several times. Konoha is in a precarious position. The negotiations with the Land of Wind have just ended, and Nara Shikaku has yet to return from the border."

"The battle with the Hidden Stone Village in the Land of Earth has not yet ended. Namikaze Minato's team successfully destroyed Kannabi Bridge, cutting off the Hidden Stone's supplies and gaining a huge advantage on the front lines."

"But the Land of Lightning front is in dire straits. Konoha is already... sigh."

Sarutobi Hiruzen secretly observed Li Yu's expression, only to find him still in a state of indifference, showing no intention of taking the bait. He thought to himself, This Nawaki really can keep his cool. He just won't bite. I've said this much already. No wonder he was able to reorganize the Senju Clan right under the village's nose, leaving the big clans in the village in a bind with no way to handle him.

After waiting a while longer and seeing that Li Yu remained unmoved, like a stone that couldn't be penetrated by oil, he chuckled.

"Fortunately, Tsunade agreed to go to the front lines two days ago to lead the team and stop the Land of Lightning's forces. She departed yesterday."

"What? She left?"

Li Yu could no longer maintain his composure. His face showed shock and utter disbelief.

Seeing Li Yu's reaction, Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a knowing smile. Trying to play me, kid? Let's see how you handle this.

Li Yu quickly calmed his mind, his heart filled with mixed emotions. So he was just playing me for a fool the whole time, using an information gap to catch me off guard. Ginger really is spicier when it's old.

"Since Lord Hokage has already made the decision, I also request to join the war against the Land of Lightning to assist Tsunade."

"Oh, you want to go too? That's excellent. Since you are so eager to contribute to the village..."

"Heh, there is a very important Anbu mission that requires a ninja with excellent strength to complete. The front lines naturally have Tsunade; I still have great faith in the strength of the Senju Clan."

When Li Yu heard this, his heart sank. He realized, This is bad. His worst fear had come true: many members of the Senju Clan had likely gone to the front lines with Tsunade, and now he was being assigned a special mission.

He gritted his teeth. Old man Third is truly something. This Anbu mission is definitely not simple. The Senju Clan has just started to show signs of recovery, and now we're being sent to the battlefield. Is this the fate of the Senju?

"This special Anbu mission is exceptionally arduous. The rank is provisionally set at SS-rank, the highest-level mission in Konoha's history."

"It is to be carried out by one person: travel to the rear of the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning to conduct harassment operations. No support, no supplies. You are to alleviate the pressure on the front lines, and the mission will continue until the war ends."

As the Deputy Captain of the Anbu and a ninja of Konoha Village, Li Yu had no choice but to accept the direct commission from the Hokage.

Before he left, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, even added, "You are truly worthy of being someone who inherits the Will of Fire of Konoha Village."

Stepping out of the Hokage Office Building, Li Yu looked back at the structure. One really cannot underestimate the characters in Naruto; if you aren't careful, you'll be played.

Ginger is indeed spicier when it's old. Using such a method to exhaust the ninjas of the Senju Clan, and employing schemes that were impossible to refuse—open plots where one knew there were problems and immense threats, yet still had to charge forward without hesitation.

It was no wonder that the Uchiha Clan within the village wanted to become Hokage; any clan that did not submit to the Hokage would see their numbers dwindle throughout the long river of history until they withered away.

"Hmph, I won't let you old fogies have your way. You think you understand me, Li Yu, but you know nothing of what I intend to do, nothing of my true strength, while I know plenty about you."

He clenched his fists tightly. "Since you've made your move, I'll take it. Strength is my foundation."

After muttering these words to himself, Li Yu shed his troubled expression, his mood greatly improved as he quickly departed from the vicinity of the Hokage Office Building.