47. Shocked High-Level Officials

"Have the investigations into Ye Yuexin's father's background been completed? Report."

In the Konoha high-level conference room, the three Konoha elders and the Third Hokage were discussing the war situation.

The Third Hokage suddenly asked the person beside him.

As soon as the words fell, an Anbu operative appeared in an instant.

"Lord Third, according to the investigation, Ye Yuexin's father, Ye Yueming, is currently traveling in the Land of Snow to write a screenplay. It seems he has already signed a contract with a film production team. No irregularities have been discovered at this time."

"Ye Yueming is a native of Konoha, born and raised in the village."

"He never studied at the Ninja Academy, but instead spent his childhood helping his father run a medicinal herb business."

"His mother, Keiko, died in childbirth. After his father passed away, he seemed to be deeply affected and developed a love for travel."

"He later closed the pharmacy and obtained strict travel permits from Konoha Village. Ye Yuexin was brought back by Ye Yueming six years ago."

"Because he was only an infant at the time, the Security Department did not conduct a special mental screening. Instead, after interrogating Ye Yueming, they helped Ye Yuexin register as a Konoha resident."

"According to Ye Yueming's statement at the time and a search of his mental memories, Ye Yuexin's mother was a woman Ye Yueming rescued during one of his travels."

"Memories show that the woman was a ninja. The two developed feelings for each other during that time, which led to the birth of Ye Yuexin."

"However, neither party knew the other's true identity. There is nothing in Ye Yueming's memories regarding the woman's background."

"Ye Yueming left Konoha to travel again after caring for Ye Yuexin until he was four. He has currently traveled through 32 countries. Judging by his route, he seems to be searching for Ye Yuexin's mother, though he has had no results."

After the Anbu operative finished the report, the entire conference room fell silent.

The only sound was the crackling of tobacco burning in the Third Hokage's pipe.

It was no wonder the Third Hokage had begun investigating Ye Yuexin's family; the things Ye Yuexin had done were simply too shocking for them.

The first time was fine.

Although shocking, it was acceptable. After all, Konoha was a place that never lacked geniuses.

But this latest mission had exploded among Konoha's high-level officials like a bomb.

A genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy had managed to take down two elite jonin in a single mission.

And these were no ordinary elite jonin.

One was a powerful jonin who possessed the secret Swift Release technique and had completed many S-rank missions alone.

The other was even more terrifying—a member of the Rock Village's Earth Style Group who held a high reputation.

He was a veteran elite jonin. If one were to judge solely by his mastery of Earth Style, he could even be considered quasi-Kage level.

Yet, both had been defeated by a genin from their own Konoha.

Such a feat could no longer be explained by the word "genius."

Even the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara, who founded Konoha and dominated the ninja world, would have been no more than this.

Therefore, it was clear that Ye Yuexin was far more than just a simple Konoha genius.

Their attitude toward Ye Yuexin was no longer as simple as it had been before, when they were solely focused on creating another Konoha hero.

Because the bar for Ye Yuexin had been set at a different height.

He could grow into a hero like the First Hokage who blessed Konoha, but he could just as easily grow into an Uchiha Madara capable of destroying the village.

Konoha no longer had a powerhouse like the First Hokage to defend against someone like Uchiha Madara.

That was why the high-level officials were so anxious about the intelligence regarding Ye Yuexin's relatives.

It was only because Ye Yuexin was currently still within a controllable range.

They needed to thoroughly vet Ye Yuexin's background before they could set their minds at ease.

After all, from what they could see, Ye Yuexin still had quite a few companions in Konoha.

However, it seemed there were even members of the Uchiha clan among those companions.

Thus, every high-level official in the conference room was deep in thought.

Meanwhile, Ye Yuexin had no idea that the entirety of Konoha's leadership was agonizing over him.

After Kurenai Yuhi finished washing the laundry, she began wiping the floor.

In Japanese-style rooms, floors are not cleaned with mops, but with semi-damp towels.

Watching Kurenai Yuhi busy at work with her cute little bottom stuck out, Ye Yuexin joined in.

The two of them chatted about what to have for lunch while they cleaned.

It was very pleasant.

"Sarutobi, Ye Yuexin poses too great a potential threat to Konoha. Leave him to me."

In the conference room, Danzo was the first to stand up and speak.

The Third Hokage glanced at Danzo, his eyes narrowing slightly; no one knew the thoughts of this old partner better than he did.

Exhaling a cloud of smoke, the Third Hokage said indifferently, "Danzo, Ye Yuexin has not done anything to harm Konoha, at least not yet. I believe we should trust him."

"Judging by the current situation, once he matures, he will undoubtedly become a presence that benefits Konoha, just like the First Hokage."

"Hmph," Danzo snorted with a sneer. "Have you already forgotten the report the Anbu just delivered? His mother was a ninja of unknown origin. Can you guarantee what his feelings are toward a mother he has never even met?"

The views of the Third Hokage and Danzo had diverged once again.

The two elders standing nearby maintained their usual wait-and-see attitude.

"But he still holds deep bonds with the people of Konoha."

"Didn't you hear the mission report? When faced with danger, he did not abandon the companions he had only just met. This proves that he has already inherited the Will of Fire."

"Hmph, then you take—"

"Enough, Danzo. Is a ninja who could become as powerful as the First Hokage not worth us taking a little risk?"

The Third Hokage slammed his hand on the table and stood up.

However, this time, upon seeing the Third Hokage's firm attitude, Danzo did not choose to back down as he usually did.

Instead, he said directly, "The Uchiha. Sarutobi, do not forget the Uchiha Clan."

"Ye Yuexin has a very deep friendship with the son of the current Uchiha Clan head. Have you forgotten the analysis of our teacher, the Second Hokage?"

Sure enough, the moment the Uchiha Clan was mentioned, the Third Hokage fell silent.

Although he did not hold as deep a prejudice against the Uchiha as others did, thanks to Uchiha Kagami, there was always a lingering knot in his heart.

After all, the true nature of the Uchiha had been becoming more and more apparent lately.

"What do you want? It is absolutely impossible for me to hand Ye Yuexin over to you."

Hearing the Third Hokage say this, a hint of a smile flashed in Danzo's eyes.

"I am not unwilling to compromise. Ye Yuexin can continue to be trained by the village, but the Root must also be involved. That way, if an accident occurs, we can minimize the damage."

The Third Hokage slowly sat back down in his chair and pondered for a long time.

"Very well."

After the meeting adjourned, Danzo returned to his Root base.

He said to a Root ninja, "Bring me the detailed report of Ye Yuexin's mission again."

Danzo had already read this file many times.

Yet, every time he read it, he was shocked anew.

After finishing the file on Ye Yuexin once more, Danzo's gaze revealed a hint of greed.

The report stated in great detail that both elite jonin had died from thin, precise slashes to the neck.

Danzo had ordered his men to forge an identical throwing knife, but the results were negligible.

He now desperately wanted to know the secret behind Ye Yuexin's throwing knives.

It was just like his desire for the secrets of the Sharingan.

In fact, this was even more urgent than his desire to obtain the Sharingan.

After all, the abilities of the Sharingan were impossible to replicate, and he was not the only one in Konoha researching them.

But Ye Yuexin's throwing knife technique could be copied.

If Ye Yuexin, with his current strength as a chunin, could kill elite jonin, Danzo did not know who would be able to stop him once his Root agents had all mastered such a jutsu.

He had already investigated Ye Yuexin thoroughly.

He had even investigated the blacksmith who had forged Ye Yuexin's first throwing knife.

The data showed that Ye Yuexin definitely possessed no bloodline limit, and the throwing knives were merely ordinary metal capable of conducting chakra.

Therefore, Danzo subconsciously assumed that Ye Yuexin's throwing knife technique was simply a jutsu he had invented himself.

It was a ninjutsu that anyone could learn.

In the dim space of the Root base, an ambitious conspiracy was being planned. In such an environment, the seeds of ambition seemed to swell even further.