Shocked High Command

"Have you finished investigating Ye Yueming's background? Give us your report."

The three Konoha elders and the Third Hokage were discussing the war in the Konoha High Command's conference room.

The Third Hokage suddenly turned to the side and asked.

As soon as he spoke, an Anbu appeared.

"Lord Third Hokage, according to our investigation, Ye Yuexin's father, Ye Yueming, is currently traveling in the Land of Snow and writing a screenplay. It seems he has even signed a contract with a film production crew. We haven't found anything suspicious so far."

"Ye Yueming was born and raised in Konoha. He never attended the Ninja Academy, but helped his father run a medicinal herb shop from a young age."

"His mother, Keiko, died in childbirth when she gave birth to him. After his father passed away, he seemed to take it hard, and Ye Yueming developed a love of traveling."

"After that, he closed the shop and obtained the strict travel documents required to leave Konoha. He brought Ye Yuexin back to the village six years ago."

"Since Ye Yuexin was only an infant, the Security Department didn't subject her to any special psychological screening. They questioned Ye Yueming, then registered Ye Yuexin as a resident of Konoha."

"According to Ye Yueming's account at the time and the examination of his memories, Ye Yuexin's mother was a woman he had rescued during one of his travels."

"The memories showed that she was a ninja. The two had fallen in love in secret and had Ye Yuexin."

"Neither of them knew the other's identity. Ye Yueming's memories held no information about the woman's identity."

"Ye Yueming left Konoha to travel again when Ye Yuexin was four. He has visited thirty-two countries so far. Judging by his route, he seems to be searching for Ye Yuexin's mother, but he hasn't found any leads."

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

The only sound was the crackling of the tobacco as the Third Hokage smoked his pipe.

It was no wonder the Third Hokage had begun investigating Ye Yuexin's family.

What Ye Yuexin had done was simply too shocking for them.

The first time had been all right.

It had been shocking, but still understandable. After all, Konoha was a place full of talent.

But this latest mission had exploded like a bomb among Konoha's leadership.

A newly graduated Genin had taken out two elite Jonin in a single mission.

And neither was an ordinary elite Jonin.

One was a powerful ninja with a secret Swift Release technique who had completed many S-rank missions alone.

The other was even more formidable: a member of Iwagakure's Earth Style Group, a unit renowned throughout the village.

He was also a veteran elite Jonin. In terms of Earth Release mastery alone, he could practically be considered a pseudo-Kage.

And now, a mere Genin from Konoha had defeated them both.

Talent alone could no longer explain something like this.

Even the First Hokage, who had founded Konoha and subdued the Shinobi World, and Uchiha Madara had hardly been more impressive.

It was clear now that Ye Yuexin was more than just a Konoha prodigy.

Their attitude toward her had changed. They were no longer simply hoping to create another hero for Konoha.

That was because Ye Yuexin now stood on an entirely different level.

She could grow into a hero like the First Hokage, who would bring prosperity to Konoha. But she could just as easily become another Uchiha Madara, capable of destroying an entire village.

Konoha no longer had a First Hokage who could stand against a powerhouse like Uchiha Madara.

That was why Konoha's leadership was so concerned about Ye Yuexin's family.

For now, Ye Yuexin was still within their control.

They would need to thoroughly investigate her background before they could put their minds at ease.

After all, from what they could see, Ye Yuexin already had many close ties in Konoha.

And some of those ties seemed to include members of the Uchiha Clan.

So everyone in the conference room was deep in thought.

Meanwhile, Ye Yuexin had no idea that all of Konoha's leaders were agonizing over her.

After Kurenai Yuhi finished washing the clothes, she started wiping down the floor.

Japanese homes weren't cleaned with mops. The floors were wiped with a damp cloth.

Watching Kurenai Yuhi busy herself with her cute little backside sticking up, Ye Yuexin joined in.

As they cleaned, they chatted about what to have for lunch.

It was a pleasant, leisurely moment.

"Third Hokage, Ye Yuexin poses too great a potential threat to Konoha. Leave her to me."

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

The Third Hokage glanced at Danzo. No one understood his old comrade's intentions better than he did.

He exhaled a cloud of smoke and said calmly, "Danzo, Ye Yuexin hasn't done anything to harm Konoha, at least not yet. I think we should trust her."

"Judging by the way things are going, once she grows up, she'll be a force for Konoha's prosperity, just like the First Hokage."

"Hmph." Danzo gave a derisive snort. "Have you already forgotten what the Anbu just reported? Her mother was a ninja of unknown origin. Can you be sure how she feels about a mother she's never even met?"

Once again, the Third Hokage and Danzo disagreed.

The two elders beside them maintained their usual wait-and-see attitude.

"But she already has deep ties to people in Konoha."

"Didn't you hear the mission report? When they were in danger, she didn't abandon her companions, even though she'd only just met them. That proves she's inherited the Will of Fire."

"Hmph, then you—"

"That's enough, Danzo. Isn't a ninja who could become as powerful as the First Hokage worth taking a little risk for?"

The Third Hokage slapped the table and stood up.

But this time, when Danzo saw the Third Hokage's firm stance, he didn't back down as usual.

Instead, he said bluntly, "The Uchiha Clan. Sarutobi, don't forget the Uchiha Clan."

"Ye Yuexin is very close to the son of the Uchiha Clan's current leader. Have you forgotten Second Hokage's analysis?"

Sure enough, the mention of the Uchiha Clan silenced the Third Hokage.

Although Kagami Uchiha had kept him from developing too much of a prejudice against the Uchiha, he still harbored some reservations.

After all, the Uchiha's true nature was becoming increasingly clear.

"What do you want? I absolutely will not hand Ye Yuexin over to you."

A hint of amusement flashed in Danzo's eyes.

"I'm not asking you to give in completely. The village can continue training Ye Yuexin, but Root must get involved as well. That way, if anything unexpected happens, we can minimize the damage."

The Third Hokage slowly sat back down and thought it over for a long while.

"Fine."

After the meeting, Danzo returned to Root Base.

"Bring me the detailed report on Ye Yuexin's latest mission," he ordered a Root ninja.

Danzo had already read the report many times.

But every time he read it, he was shocked all over again.

After reading through Ye Yuexin's report once more, Danzo's eyes filled with greed.

The report stated in detail that both elite Jonin had died from thin, shallow cuts to the neck.

Danzo had even ordered an identical throwing knife to be made.

But the results had been disappointing.

He was desperate to learn the secret behind Ye Yuexin's throwing knives.

Just as he was desperate to learn the secrets of the Sharingan.

In fact, he wanted the secret of the knives even more than he wanted the Sharingan.

After all, the Sharingan's abilities couldn't be replicated, and he wasn't the only one in Konoha researching them.

But Ye Yuexin's throwing knives could be replicated.

Even with Ye Yuexin's current Chunin-level strength, she could kill elite Jonin.

Danzo didn't know what would happen once all of Root mastered that technique—or who would be able to stop him.

He had already investigated Ye Yuexin thoroughly.

He had even tracked down the blacksmith who made her first throwing knife.

The records showed that Ye Yuexin had no Kekkei Genkai, and that the knives were made of ordinary metal that could simply conduct chakra.

So Danzo instinctively assumed that Ye Yuexin's throwing knives were a technique she had invented herself.

A ninja technique anyone could learn.

In the gloomy confines of Root Base, an ambitious plot was taking shape. In that setting, ambition only seemed to swell further.