Ninja Hound Protects Its Master

Entering the room, Ye Fan met the leader of Konoha Village—the Hokage.

"Lord Hokage!" Hana Inuzuka greeted respectfully while signaling for Ye Fan beside her to stand properly.

At that moment, Ye Fan was studying the old man before him. Sparse gray-white hair, a wrinkled face carrying a gentle smile, and a pipe between his lips, puffing out white smoke.

"Hana Inuzuka, what brings you here so late at night?" After Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept over Ye Fan, it finally settled on Hana Inuzuka. Though his eyes did not seem large, a sharp glint flashed within them.

"Lord Hokage, it is actually my younger brother, Inuzuka Ye Fan. He has something he wishes to ask Lord Hokage for help with," Hana Inuzuka hurriedly said.

"Oh?" Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze to Ye Fan again. He knew this young man well: for years, he had failed to pass the Ninja Academy examinations and had even set the record for the most absences.

Feeling the Hokage's scrutinizing gaze, Ye Fan stepped forward and stated his purpose directly. "Lord Hokage, I would like you to approve an official document making Laiyun my ninja hound."

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flickered a few times before shifting toward Laiyun, the ninja hound behind Ye Fan.

He knew this ninja hound even better. It had originally belonged to Aoi Inuzuka, and several days ago, it had risked its life to bring back an important letter.

Thinking about it now, it truly was a pity about that girl Aoi Inuzuka. Not only was she capable, but she also held great prestige within the clan. Had she not been killed, with her influence in the clan, she would never have allowed Inuzuka Goya to act so recklessly.

"If I remember correctly, this appears to be Aoi Inuzuka's ninja hound." Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke in a low voice. After pausing briefly, 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 do not like Inuzuka Goya! And Laiyun, as a member of Konoha Village, has the right to decide where it belongs. This is not an internal matter of the Inuzuka Clan. It is Konoha Village's business."

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

Just as she was about to observe the Hokage's reaction, she unexpectedly heard the Hokage laugh first.

"Hehe! Well said!" Hiruzen Sarutobi actually praised him aloud.

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

"Such a small matter should not have troubled Lord Hokage in the first place." Ye Fan spoke again, successfully pulling Hiruzen Sarutobi back 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 people even think my existence has disgraced the Inuzuka Clan. I will not repeat those mocking remarks. I simply do not want to hear them use the same slander against Laiyun."

"Laiyun may be a ninja hound, but no one can deny that it is a 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 of Laiyun that way."

Ye Fan's words rang forcefully. Not only was Hiruzen Sarutobi, who did not know him well, stunned, but even Hana Inuzuka beside him wore an expression of shock.

It had to be said that Ye Fan's speech was indeed infectious.

Cough, cough!

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

"Thank you, Lord Hokage!" Ye Fan's lips curved into a smile. He had not expected this old man to be so reasonable.

With the Hokage's approval, no one could make an issue of Laiyun again, especially those people from the Inuzuka Clan.

Ye Fan and Laiyun left the Hokage's office building, but Hana Inuzuka did not come with them. Hiruzen Sarutobi had kept her behind alone, apparently to ask her about something.

After several days of recuperation and treatment, Laiyun's injuries were nearly healed. However, Ye Fan still had Laiyun wrapped in bandages. He did not want Laiyun's recovery speed to cause unnecessary trouble.

Riding the tall and imposing Laiyun, with the little ninja hound Shadow in his arms, Ye Fan swaggered toward the Ninja Academy.

"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—what is there to show off?"

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

"..."

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

ROAR!

Suddenly, Laiyun let out a thunderous roar, like a muffled clap of thunder on a clear day, instantly frightening those who had still been talking.

A fierce gleam appeared in Laiyun's eyes. It lowered its center of gravity, assuming a posture ready to pounce and bite.

Now that it had become Ye Fan's ninja hound, Laiyun could not tolerate those people slandering its master behind his back. Its wild nature made it unconcerned with directly giving them a warning.

As if deliberately cooperating with Laiyun's display, Ye Fan also released his aura.

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

"What happened here?" Just then, patrolling ninja hurried over.

Ye Fan immediately withdrew his aura and said with a smile, "Nothing happened. Some people just failed to watch their words and startled my ninja hound."

Upon hearing Ye Fan's words, the people lining both sides of the street nearly exploded with rage. What did he mean, they had startled his ninja hound? His ninja hound was the one that had startled everyone!

Though they wanted to argue, Laiyun had yet to withdraw its vicious glare. Its stance seemed to say, Let me see who dares to keep showing off?

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

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

Hearing this, those who had mocked Ye Fan behind his back turned livid with anger. They were not fools—how could they fail to realize that Ye Fan was indirectly calling them dogs?

What made it even more frustrating was that they had no way to refute him!

After all, a dog really had barked just now!