Chapter 30

Uchiha Yi had barely taken a few steps when he spotted two familiar figures sneaking out. One was Tsunade, and the other was Shizune, holding a little pig with a helpless look on her face.

He had known Tsunade would try something like this. "Shizune, hurry up. Don't let that brat catch us. Over four billion ryo—staying here is too dangerous!" Tsunade urged in a low voice. "Yes, Lady Tsunade!" Shizune hurried after her, light on her feet and quick in her movements.

But just as they thought they had slipped away unnoticed, a lazy laugh suddenly came from behind them. "Oh? Isn't this Lady Tsunade? Sneaking out in the middle of the night to admire the moon?"

Tsunade's expression froze.

Crap. We've been blocked.

She turned and swept her gaze around, locking onto Uchiha Yi in the distance. She cursed under her breath. "You brat are really a pain!" Gritting her teeth, she threw out that line, kept a stiff face, and turned back toward the inn. Shizune hurried after her.

This time, Tsunade finally understood—there was no way she was getting away.

Early the next morning, Uchiha Yi dragged Tsunade out of bed. After packing up, the group set off for Konoha Village.

Tsunade was anything but peaceful along the way, constantly trying new ways to slip off. Once, she even directly exchanged blows with Uchiha Yi.

Uchiha Yi did not activate his Sharingan. Relying solely on the physical strength enhanced by Level Five Eight Gates, he fought Tsunade head-on in a pure taijutsu match.

As for the result, the fact that Tsunade became obediently silent afterward told them all they needed to know.

Still, it had only been a sparring match of fists and feet. Neither of them had used their true strength.

Though she had agreed to return and was already on the road, Tsunade had no intention of moving quickly. She deliberately dawdled, stretching what should have been a six- or seven-day journey into nearly a month before they finally ambled into Konoha.

Over that month, Tsunade did repay quite a few gambling debts. She still owed four billion.

To pay it back, Tsunade could think of every trick imaginable.

For example, whenever she got tired of walking, she insisted she needed some "motivation" before she would take another step—just like that, ten million ryo went into her pocket.

Another time, Uchiha Yi offered to treat her hemophobia, and Tsunade refused on the spot. It was only after spending one hundred million ryo on information that he finally understood **

What hemophobia did Tsunade have? Nawaki's death had simply hit her too hard, leaving her unable to get past it. She had merely used it as an excuse to leave Konoha.

After learning this, Uchiha Yi said nothing, but inwardly felt speechless.

Sure enough, once fictional characters became real people, plots were only good for reading. Believing them too much was just setting yourself up.

Inside the Hokage's office in Konoha, the Third Hokage smiled so broadly that his face was full of wrinkles, nodding over and over. "Uchiha Yi, well done. I now officially notify you—you are a Konoha jonin."

Tsunade snorted beside him and cut in sarcastically. "Brat, you planned this from the start, didn't you? If I'd known, I..."

She did not finish, but Uchiha Yi knew perfectly well that what she wanted to say was, "Pay more." After all, they had already settled the terms on the way back.

If she became the Fifth Hokage, five hundred million of her debt would be erased.

If she also arranged his marriage to the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan, the entire debt would be wiped clean.

Honestly, to preserve her title as the "Gambling Goddess," Tsunade was determined to pay off every last debt. She refused to damage her reputation no matter what.

Uchiha Yi could not be bothered with Tsunade's complaints. He knew there was nothing else for him to do. As soon as the Third Hokage finished giving his instructions, he was the first to leave.

She had agreed to return to the village, and they had not delayed on the road.

But Tsunade deliberately dragged her feet, making it impossible to move quickly.

What should have taken six or seven days at most was forcibly dragged out to nearly a month before they reached Konoha's gates.

It was worth mentioning that during that month, Tsunade did repay quite a few gambling debts. She still owed four billion.

To pay it off, that woman could think of every trick imaginable.

For instance, whenever she got tired of walking, she claimed she needed a little motivation before her legs could move.

And just like that, ten million ryo was gone.

Another time, Uchiha Yi said he would treat her hemophobia on the road.

Tsunade refused without a second thought.

It was only after spending one hundred million on "information" that Uchiha Yi finally understood—

That woman Tsunade did not have hemophobia at all!

Maybe she had once had it, but that was because Nawaki's death had dealt her too great a blow, leaving a shadow in her heart.

Disheartened, she used hemophobia as an excuse and simply ran away from Konoha.

After learning the truth, Uchiha Yi felt like his balls ached.

Fuck!

Sure enough, once fictional characters became real people, plots and all that were only good for reading.

You really could not believe all of it!

Konoha, Hokage's office. "Mm, Uchiha Yi, you did well. I now officially notify you that you are a Konoha jonin."

The Third Hokage smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits, finding Uchiha Yi more and more pleasing to look at.

Tsunade gave a cold laugh beside him. "Brat, so this was what you were after. If I'd known, I..."

She did not say the rest.

But Uchiha Yi understood. What she wanted to say was—pay more.

They had already discussed it on the way back.

If she became the Fifth Hokage, five hundred million of her debt would be reduced.

If she also helped arrange his marriage to Hinata, every debt would be forgiven.

Honestly, to preserve the title of "Gambling Goddess," Tsunade was determined to repay everything, desperately clinging to that so-called gambling integrity of hers.

Uchiha Yi ignored Tsunade's complaints. Knowing there was nothing else for him to do, he left first as soon as the Third Hokage finished speaking.

But he had barely left the Hokage's office and had not even made it home when someone suddenly appeared halfway there and blocked his path.

The man wore a mask that left only the area below his eyes exposed.

Torune Aburame?

The name immediately sprang into Uchiha Yi's mind the moment he saw him.

Sure enough, the man's next words confirmed his guess. "Uchiha Yi, Lord Danzo requests your presence."

Heh, Danzo?

Uchiha Yi did not want to bother with him at all. "No time."

He left after saying that, leaving Torune Aburame stunned.

He had considered that Uchiha Yi might refuse, but... this reaction was completely beyond his expectations. "Uchiha Yi, don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. No one can defy Lord Danzo's orders."

"Heh, really? So what if I defy them? Are you planning to make a move right here?" Uchiha Yi curled his lips, his eyes full of disdain. "Since you refuse to appreciate kindness, don't blame me."

Torune Aburame raised a hand, and a swarm of insects surged toward Uchiha Yi. "Fuck, don't you know bugs are what I hate most?"

As the insects lunged at him, Uchiha Yi did not even raise his eyelids.

The next second, the densely packed swarm burst into flames. In the blink of an eye, they were burned into ash, without even a trace of smoke left behind.

Torune Aburame's pupils contracted sharply. Before he could think, his body instinctively sprang backward.

But Uchiha Yi did not pursue him. He could not even be bothered to give him another glance before turning and leaving.

Torune Aburame stood where he was, his expression extremely ugly.

That attack had been too bizarre. More importantly, they were still inside Konoha Village. If they caused a major commotion, neither side would be able to clean it up.

He stared at Uchiha Yi's back for several seconds, then finally gritted his teeth. He did not attack again, instead turning and disappearing into the forest.

Not long after, Torune Aburame returned to Root's base and reported everything that had happened in detail. "Fire that appeared out of thin air?"

Danzo narrowed his one exposed eye, the wrinkles on his face shifting. "Did you see clearly? He did not form any hand seals?"

"No, he did not."

Danzo did not respond, his mind racing.

What exactly was that flame? Ordinary Fire Release could never achieve something like that.

Could it be some unknown bloodline limit?

He had long stopped taking Uchiha Yi seriously. At present, that brat was far from the most important matter to him.

Ever since the Third Hokage's battle with Orochimaru, Danzo had seen things clearly—the old man's body was deteriorating day by day, his decline obvious to the naked eye.

This was the opportunity he had waited decades for.

He had coveted the Hokage's position for far more than a day or two.

So during this time, all his attention had been focused on that matter. Who was Uchiha Yi? He had forgotten him completely.

But a month ago, the situation had suddenly changed.

That day, Uchiha Yi had appeared from who knew where, and the Third Hokage had personally received him in the Hokage's office.

No one could find out what the two had discussed behind closed doors.

Danzo had immediately felt something was wrong.

He had always been suspicious, constantly feeling that someone was trying to ruin his plans.

And today, Uchiha Yi had actually brought Tsunade back.

That snapped the string in Danzo's heart tight.

Danzo knew Tsunade's face all too well.

For her to appear at a time like this, it was most likely just as he suspected—

The Hokage's position.

Now the old man could no longer sit still.

He wanted to pry something from Uchiha Yi and find out what that woman was planning.

But the result was far from what he had expected. "This Uchiha Yi is a little strange."

A cold glint surfaced in Danzo's eyes.

Though he could not figure out what had been discussed during that secret meeting, his instincts told him it was absolutely connected to that brat.

He had only just begun considering it.

Then the news brought by his subordinate added fuel to the fire. "Uchiha Yi has been promoted to jonin?"

How was that possible?

A few days ago, he had only been a newly promoted chunin. How had he gone out for a trip and returned as a jonin?

The more Danzo thought about it, the more wrong it felt. "It seems I need to speak with him face-to-face."

Night fell.

Uchiha Yi stayed at home.

He did not leave behind a Shadow Clone Technique, nor did he rush back to the Land of Snow.

He felt certain that someone would come knocking in the next few days.

Maybe even tonight.

His gaze shifted toward the courtyard.

At some point, three people had appeared there. "Uchiha Yi, Lord Danzo requests that you come with us."

"Heh, that old dog still hasn't given up?"

Uchiha Yi curled his lips, every word full of barbs.

The three men immediately exploded. "Brat, you dare insult Lord Danzo? You're dead!"

"You worthless fool!"

"Uchiha Yi, you're finished!"

The three shouted in low voices, their movements swift and decisive.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

In only a second or two, they had surrounded Uchiha Yi.

Uchiha Yi did not rush to act.

He swept his gaze over the three men's positions, one eyebrow lifting slightly. "This formation... could it be..."

The more Danzo thought about it, the stranger it seemed. "It looks like I'll have to personally test the waters."

As night settled in, Uchiha Yi remained in his own house.

He had not left a Shadow Clone Technique in the village while going off to the Land of Snow, because he knew someone would probably come looking for him in the next few days.

Maybe even tonight.