No sooner had Ye Fan finished speaking than he sensed several hostile presences emanating from all around him.
He did not even need to look to guess that they were guard ninjas hidden nearby.
The atmosphere instantly turned tense.
A vicious glint flashed across Inuzuka Goya's face.
"The Inuzuka Clan has been making quite a few moves lately!"
Ye Fan's seemingly casual remark startled Inuzuka Goya.
But Ye Fan's next words made Inuzuka Goya calm down again.
"Does my existence damage the Inuzuka Clan's image in Konoha?"
"Inuzuka Goya, you want to drive me out of the Inuzuka Clan only to put an end to those rumors outside."
"But have you considered how the villagers will talk about you if you throw me out of the Inuzuka Clan just like that?"
"Will they call you wise and mighty, or will they say you betrayed your word and bullied an orphan?"
Ye Fan's words were incomparably sharp.
He gave the other man no face at all.
So what if he was the Inuzuka Clan head?
Thanks to the memories he had obtained from Kurenai Yuhi, Ye Fan, who had never cared much about the Inuzuka Clan, learned about Inuzuka Goya's recent movements.
The Third Hokage had already assigned secret missions to several Jonin: keep an eye on Inuzuka Goya's actions lately.
Kurenai Yuhi was among those Jonin.
If not for Kurenai Yuhi's memories, Ye Fan truly would not have guessed that Inuzuka Goya harbored the ambition of turning his clan into Konoha's foremost clan.
It was precisely because of that ambition that it was not difficult to understand why Inuzuka Goya detested Ye Fan so much.
Ye Fan's existence had given others something to mock and gossip about regarding the Inuzuka Clan.
At that moment.
Inuzuka Goya's face darkened even further, becoming downright terrifying.
Yet Ye Fan's words had reminded him of something.
Now truly was not the time to strike Ye Fan from the clan records, but he was equally unwilling to simply let Ye Fan do as he pleased.
Especially given Ye Fan's current behavior.
He clearly did not regard him, the clan head, with any respect.
Inuzuka Goya pondered what method he could use to punish Ye Fan.
But Ye Fan's next words caught him off guard again.
"Is it difficult?"
"You obviously don't like the sight of me, yet you can't do anything about me."
"Let me guess. Are you figuring out how to punish me right now?"
Ye Fan gave a wicked smile. Then his tone shifted, and his voice abruptly turned cold.
"Inuzuka Goya, I'll give you two choices!"
Though Inuzuka Goya said nothing, the look in his eyes clearly asked:
What choices?
Ye Fan continued.
"The first choice is to find someone to secretly get rid of me. As long as I'm dead, all the problems troubling you will be solved."
At those words, surprise and suspicion flashed across Inuzuka Goya's face.
He had never expected Ye Fan to say something like that.
And in such a calm tone, at that.
Was he not afraid of death?
"You know my situation. I don't have a shred of chakra now, so getting rid of me would be easy. The difficult part is how to do it without exposing your identity!"
"You also know this is Konoha, where security is extremely tight. I don't need to explain further. If the matter is exposed, I'm afraid your days as clan head will be over too!"
Ye Fan calmly analyzed the pros and cons for him.
"What is the second choice?" Inuzuka Goya could not help asking.
If the risk had not been so great, Inuzuka Goya truly would have ordered someone to secretly eliminate Ye Fan.
Anyone who stood in the way of his ambition was his enemy!
"The second choice is for you to give me some money and benefits. As long as you satisfy me, I can voluntarily leave the Inuzuka Clan.
"That way, you can gain a good reputation for caring for an orphan of the clan while also getting rid of me, this nuisance. Better yet, you won't need to worry about anyone making an issue of this in the future."
Ye Fan paused before adding:
"Even if this reaches the Hokage, you can say it was my own idea and wash your hands clean of all negative consequences."
Inuzuka Goya frowned.
Ye Fan's proposal was indeed not bad.
He simply could not understand why Ye Fan was being so cooperative.
Shouldn't he have been reluctant to leave the Inuzuka Clan?
Did he not know what it meant to lose the protection of a clan?
Ye Fan gave him ample time to think before speaking again after a while.
"You can't accomplish great things by hesitating. Haven't you decided yet? Will you find someone to get rid of me, or will you have a proper talk with me?"
After remaining silent for a long while, Inuzuka Goya finally spoke.
"How much money do you want?"
Hearing that, Ye Fan chuckled, wearing the expression of someone whose scheme had succeeded.
"Don't worry. I just want financial security for the future, so I won't ask for much. Now then, shall we discuss the details properly?"
Inuzuka Goya found himself hating this boy more and more.
He was fucking infuriating!
He was obviously trying to squeeze him dry, yet he somehow made it sound perfectly reasonable.
By the time Ye Fan left the Inuzuka Clan head's residence, it was already evening.
Riding on Laiyun's back, he wore a smug smile and hummed an indistinct tune as he happily headed off into the distance.
Unlike Ye Fan, Inuzuka Goya's face was shrouded in gloom that refused to dissipate for a long time.
This Ye Fan was fucking good at bargaining.
And he had even hypocritically claimed that he would not ask for much.
Bullshit!
He was more ruthless than a crooked merchant.
Yet he had perfectly grasped Inuzuka Goya's bottom line.
Leaving him no choice but to spend money to settle the matter.
After returning home.
Ye Fan did not hide anything and briefly told Kiba Inuzuka and Hana Inuzuka about the deal he had made with Inuzuka Goya.
As expected, both of them were stunned.
"Ye Fan, you... you..."
Hana Inuzuka was so angry that she could barely speak. She paced back and forth beside the table several times.
"Brother Ye Fan, why did you make such a decision? Isn't staying in the Inuzuka Clan good?"
Kiba Inuzuka's face was full of sorrow.
"Ye Fan, why didn't you discuss such an important matter with me beforehand?"
Hana Inuzuka stamped her foot in anger.
"Sister Hua, don't be so angry. It was my fault for not discussing this with you in advance."
"But Sister Hua, you should also look at it from my perspective. Many people in the Inuzuka Clan do not welcome me. If I keep staying, I will only become someone they exclude."
"I don't believe you haven't heard what those people say about me behind my back, Sister Hua. Rather than keep enduring humiliation in a clan like this, why can't I choose my own path?"
"Sister Hua, I'm no longer the child who needs your protection in everything. So what if I no longer bear the name Inuzuka? Would you stop recognizing me as your younger brother because of that?"
"Sister Hua, you always encouraged me to stand on my own. That is what I am doing now."
"In the future, I hope to protect you and protect Kiba."
"Only by leaving the Inuzuka Clan can I grow up..."
Everything Ye Fan said was both heartfelt and reasonable.
"Ye Fan!"
Hana Inuzuka bent down and pulled Ye Fan into her arms.
"Brother Ye Fan!"
Kiba Inuzuka moved closer as well.
The three of them embraced together.
Before you continue