The Aftermath

After sorting through those irritating matters, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no choice but to consider another important question.

That question was Yun Yan's true strength.

Danzō and Root's attempt to probe him had clearly failed. They had actually resorted to something as underhanded as poison when dealing with Yun Yan, and it had not even worked. Yun Yan had seen through it and dealt with it from the very beginning.

From start to finish, they had failed to uncover Yun Yan's true strength.

But whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, when Yun Yan later came here to make trouble for Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had inadvertently revealed his true strength.

Judging from the pressure Yun Yan had displayed, the brat had already reached Kage level.

Kage level. Kage level.

Repeating those words in his heart, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, deeply troubled.

The Uchiha Clan had actually produced a Kage-level powerhouse, and he was an especially troublesome little bastard. This was far too difficult to handle!

The only good news was that Uchiha Yunyan did not seem close to his clan. The Uchiha Clan had never valued that brat from the beginning, and they probably still did not even know they had gained a Kage-level powerhouse.

The fact that the brat was not close to his clan was a blessing amid misfortune.

With his heart still filled with tangled irritation, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head slightly and saw Kakashi still standing nearby, apparently waiting for his orders.

When he saw Kakashi, Hiruzen Sarutobi paused slightly.

"By the way, Kakashi, when you were in Yun Yan's courtyard, you exchanged blows with him for an instant to stop him from killing that Root ninja, didn't you?"

At Hiruzen Sarutobi's question, Kakashi nodded.

"That is correct, Lord Hokage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned serious.

"Describe the exchange in detail. Do not leave out a single detail."

Kakashi did not hide anything and recounted that brief exchange in full detail.

He told him everything he could: Yun Yan's unusual high-speed movement technique that fused Wind Release into the air and turned him into a breeze, how Kakashi's Chidori had been shattered in a moment of daze, how by the time he regained his senses, the Root ninja's head had already been taken, and so on.

It was not as though Kakashi was intentionally exposing Yun Yan's secrets. Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Hokage and Kakashi's superior. Since he had asked, Kakashi could only answer honestly.

Once the account was finished, Hiruzen Sarutobi's frown deepened.

He realized that he might still have underestimated Yun Yan.

He had assumed that the brat had only recently reached Kage level and had started acting arrogant after attaining that rank.

But judging from the details of his brief clash with Kakashi, Yun Yan was probably not merely someone who had just entered Kage level.

Those newly entering Kage level would inevitably have somewhat unstable strength. How could they so easily crush Kakashi?

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew Kakashi very well. He knew that his subordinate and junior was quite capable. Though Kakashi had not reached Kage level, with his many methods, he could still hold off a Kage-level opponent for a while.

Yet when he truly faced Yun Yan, Kakashi—a ninja who could fight anyone for a time—had been crushed in an instant.

The more Hiruzen Sarutobi thought about it, the more terrifying it became.

After pondering for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to catch onto something.

Oh... Kakashi had probably held back.

If he had not held back, why had Kakashi used Chidori instead of Lightning Cutter?

If Kakashi had held back, then being crushed in an instant made sense.

For a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have found a reasonable explanation. He looked at Kakashi with a meaningful expression.

As for Kakashi, he felt somewhat uneasy under Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze. But years of life as a ninja kept him composed, and he did not reveal the slightest trace of guilt.

Thinking he had seen through the truth and mistakenly underestimating Yun Yan's true strength, Hiruzen Sarutobi was no longer quite as worried.

His mood improved a little. He felt that Yun Yan was still someone who could be dealt with, suppressed, and controlled.

With that in mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi waved at Kakashi, signaling him to withdraw.

Kakashi immediately obeyed and returned to the ranks of the ANBU ninjas hidden around the area as guards.

This matter seemed to have ended completely, but it had not truly ended yet.

After sitting there blankly for a while longer, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that he still needed to give Danzō a reminder and tell him that he had failed again.

At the same time, Hiruzen Sarutobi genuinely intended to warn Danzō that he could not make another move against Yun Yan.

This time, it was not a provocation. Hiruzen Sarutobi was serious this time. He truly did not intend to let Danzō keep causing trouble.

After all, Yun Yan was already Kage level. How could a Kage-level opponent be so easy to deal with? This matter had to be considered carefully, and Danzō needed to keep himself in check.

Having made up his mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the dead Root ninja's head from before him and left his office.

Ah, right. Much like the last time he went to see Danzō, he went alone and in secret, without allowing the ANBU guarding the area to accompany him.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi left his office, Yun Yan returned home as well.

There was nothing unusual at his home. The corpses and everything else had long since been cleaned up, leaving no trace behind.

The moment Yun Yan entered his room after returning, he found that his timing was perfect. Izumi had just finished cooking, and dinner had been laid out across the table.

What more was there to say? Time to eat.

So Yun Yan temporarily put those messy matters out of his mind, sat down comfortably in his seat, and began eating dinner with Izumi.

Although quite a few unexpected incidents had happened before dinner today, this meal was no different from usual. It was still peaceful and warm.

During dinner, Yun Yan had hesitated over whether to tell Izumi about these matters and let her know the current situation.

But after thinking it over, Yun Yan still did not want to break this warm atmosphere.

Forget it. I'll wait a little longer. I'll tell Izumi when the time is right. Until then, she should not be dragged into those troublesome problems.

In the end, Yun Yan was more protective of Izumi. He did not want her worrying herself sick all day.

While Yun Yan and Izumi's dinner was warm and pleasant, the atmosphere between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō elsewhere was anything but.

The location was still Danzō's home, and the people were still Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived carrying that dead head and bluntly explained what had happened, Danzō's mood became extremely foul.

He had failed. Failed again.

This time, he had even used the deadly poison Orochimaru had left behind. He had thought victory was assured, yet he had still failed!

Upon learning what had happened and seeing his subordinate's head, Danzō was in a terrible mood.

But what came afterward was even worse.

Hiruzen Sarutobi then gave Danzō a merciless scolding, harsh enough to be unpleasant to hear, and sternly ordered him never to make another move against Uchiha Yunyan.

Yes, Hiruzen Sarutobi's attitude was exceptionally harsh this time, and his expression was resolute. It was different from last time.

Naturally, Danzō was unwilling to accept it. He had always been prejudiced against the Uchiha Clan, and after failing against Yun Yan again and again, how could he be willing to stop?

Thus, Danzō once again argued with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

And Danzō gave the same old reasons: the Uchiha Clan had to be eliminated, Uchiha Yunyan was a tremendous threat who had to be thoroughly removed, Hiruzen was too soft-hearted and would eventually cause trouble if this continued... and so on.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was sick of hearing that nonsense. Naturally, he did not give Danzō a pleasant look.

And Hiruzen Sarutobi dealt with Danzō the same way he always did.

With a single sentence—"I am the Hokage"—he shut Danzō up for the nth time, turning Danzō's face livid and driving him nearly mad with rage.

Looking at Danzō, whom he had always kept suppressed, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt nothing but disdain.

Of course, Hiruzen Sarutobi understood the principle of following the stick with a carrot. After so sternly ordering Danzō to stop, he gave him a reason to do so.

The reason was simple: Yun Yan had already reached Kage level. Someone like that was not easy to deal with, and the matter required long-term planning.

Upon hearing this, Danzō's eyes immediately widened. Part of his attention was diverted, and he no longer looked quite so enraged and twisted.

Most of his attention was now focused on the fact that Uchiha Yunyan was Kage level.

After learning this and confirming it again with Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō's face immediately darkened.

No wonder. No wonder he had failed twice in a row. That brat had unknowingly become Kage level. Now it made sense.

Having been given a reason he could accept, Danzō's mood improved somewhat.

At the same time, he could somewhat accept Hiruzen Sarutobi's order to stop.

After all, dealing with an elite jonin and dealing with a Kage-level opponent were entirely different matters. The plans, methods, and measures required would be entirely different as well.

Danzō felt that he needed to draw up a new plan. He also needed to raise Uchiha Yunyan's danger and threat level to the highest possible rank, classifying him as a long-term target who absolutely had to be eliminated and dealt with through careful planning.