Ninja Hound Protects Its Master

Upon entering the room, Ye Fan saw Konoha's leader—the Hokage.

"Hokage-sama!" Hana Inuzuka greeted him respectfully while signaling Ye Fan beside her to stand properly.

At that moment, Ye Fan was sizing up the elderly man before him. Sparse gray-white hair, a face lined with wrinkles and wearing a peaceful smile, a pipe clenched between his lips, white smoke drifting from it.

"Hana Inuzuka, what brings you here so late?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept over Ye Fan before finally settling on Hana Inuzuka. Though his eyes did not appear large, a sharp glint flashed through them.

"Hokage-sama, it is actually my younger brother, Inuzuka Ye Fan. He has something he wishes to ask of you," Hana Inuzuka hurriedly said.

"Oh?" Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze toward Ye Fan again. He knew this boy well: he had failed the Ninja Academy's assessments for consecutive years and held the record for the most absences.

Feeling the Hokage's scrutinizing gaze, Ye Fan stepped forward and stated his purpose directly. "Hokage-sama, I would like you to approve an official document allowing Laiyun to formally become my Ninja Hound."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flickered several times before shifting to Laiyun, the Ninja Hound behind Ye Fan.

He knew this Ninja Hound even better. It had originally belonged to Aoi Inuzuka, and a few days ago, it had risked its life to deliver an important letter.

Thinking of it now, it was truly a pity about that girl Aoi Inuzuka. Not only was she capable, but she also held considerable prestige within the clan. If she had not been killed, given her influence in the clan, she certainly would not have allowed Inuzuka Goya to act so recklessly.

"If I remember correctly, this appears to be Aoi Inuzuka's Ninja Hound." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was low. After a brief pause, he continued, "Besides, this seems to be an internal matter of the Inuzuka Clan. Why bring it here?"

Hana Inuzuka was about to interject, but Ye Fan beat her to it. "I don't like Inuzuka Goya! And as a member of Konoha, Laiyun has the right to decide who it belongs to. This is not an internal matter of the Inuzuka Clan. It is Konoha's business."

Hearing Ye Fan say that, Hana Inuzuka was startled. She had never imagined he would openly declare his dislike for the clan head.

Just as she was about to observe the change in the Hokage's expression, she heard the Hokage's laughter first.

"Hehe! Well said!" Hiruzen Sarutobi actually voiced his praise.

Ye Fan's words had struck right at his heart. If everyone in the Inuzuka Clan possessed such awareness, there would not have been any secret collusion with Danzo.

Furthermore, from Ye Fan's words just now, combined with the ANBU's investigation over the past two days, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already confirmed one thing: there were major divisions within the Inuzuka Clan, and Inuzuka Goya was not particularly popular.

"Something this minor should not have troubled the Hokage-sama in the first place." Ye Fan spoke again, successfully pulling Hiruzen Sarutobi from his thoughts. "Laiyun has already decided to follow me. That should have been a matter between us, but my reputation in the Inuzuka Clan is not good. Many even believe that my existence has disgraced the Inuzuka Clan. I will not repeat their mocking words, but I do not want to hear them use those same insults against Laiyun."

"Laiyun may be a Ninja Hound, but no one can deny that it is part of Konoha. It has made outstanding contributions to Konoha. I do not want to hear anyone slander a hero of Konoha. They can say whatever they want about me, but I will not allow them to speak ill of Laiyun."

Ye Fan's words rang out forcefully. Not only was Hiruzen Sarutobi, who did not know him well, moved by them, even Hana Inuzuka beside him wore a look of utter shock.

It had to be said that Ye Fan's remarks were indeed infectious.

Cough, cough!

Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed twice to conceal his brief lapse of composure. After pondering for a moment, he said solemnly, "Konoha belongs to everyone. The Will of Fire must be passed down from generation to generation. Inuzuka Ye Fan, I approve your request!"

"Thank you, Hokage-sama!" A curve rose at the corner of Ye Fan's mouth. He had not expected this old man to be so easy to talk to.

With the Hokage's approval, no one would be able to make an issue of Laiyun again, especially those people in the Inuzuka Clan.

Ye Fan and Laiyun left the Hokage Building, but Hana Inuzuka did not come out with them. Hiruzen Sarutobi had kept her behind alone, apparently to ask her some questions.

After several days of recuperation and treatment, Laiyun's injuries were nearly healed. However, Ye Fan still had Laiyun keep its bandages on, as he did not want Laiyun's recovery speed to cause unnecessary trouble.

Riding the tall, imposing Laiyun with the little Ninja Hound Dark Shadow in his arms, Ye Fan headed toward the Ninja Academy in a highly conspicuous fashion.

"Isn't that the dead last from the Inuzuka Clan? How does he have such a huge Ninja Hound?"

"I bet he is just putting on a show. He cannot even graduate from the Ninja Academy, so what is there to show off?"

"How did the Inuzuka Clan produce someone like him? What a disgrace to the clan."

"..."

As he walked along the street, whispers drifted over from all around him.

ROAR!

Suddenly, Laiyun let out a thunderous roar, like a muffled clap of thunder erupting from a clear sky, instantly frightening those who had been gossiping.

Laiyun's eyes gleamed fiercely as it lowered its center of gravity, looking ready to pounce and devour someone.

Now that it had become Ye Fan's Ninja Hound, Laiyun could not tolerate those who slandered its master behind his back. Its innate wildness made it unconcerned with directly giving those people a warning.

As though deliberately cooperating with Laiyun's display, Ye Fan released his own imposing aura as well.

Naturally, those people could not tell the difference. They assumed the suffocating pressure was Laiyun's doing, and one by one, their faces went pale as they became too frightened to utter a word.

"What is going on here?" At that moment, patrolling ninja hurried over.

Ye Fan immediately withdrew his aura and said with a smile, "Nothing happened. Some people were not careful with their words just now and startled my Ninja Hound."

Upon hearing Ye Fan's words, the people on both sides of the street nearly exploded with rage. What did he mean, they had startled his Ninja Hound? His Ninja Hound had startled everyone!

Although they wanted to argue, Laiyun had not withdrawn its fierce glare. Its posture seemed to say: Let's see who dares keep showing off?

Seeing that nothing had happened, the patrolling ninja gave a few reminders before turning and leaving.

Ye Fan glanced over the people on both sides and said in a pretentious manner, "How strange. I clearly heard dogs barking just now. Why is it so quiet now?"

Upon hearing that, those who had mocked Ye Fan behind his back turned livid. They were not fools; how could they fail to realize that Ye Fan was indirectly calling them dogs?

What made it worse was that they had no way to refute him!

After all, a dog really had barked just now!