Slander! This Is Slander!

Five days after the Journalist Team returned to the village.

The Land of Wind special edition of Shinobi World Daily came out, focusing on the country's customs and culture.

Its profile section declared that the Daimyo of the Land of Wind was unhappy with Sunagakure's habit of slacking off while collecting funding.

As for the Third Kazekage, the Daily Newspaper claimed that the so-called strongest Kazekage had risen to power through strength alone. Sunagakure ninja, represented by Jonin Rasa, supposedly missed the rule of the previous two Kazekage. The Third Kazekage had recently stopped appearing in public, suggesting he had been stripped of power.

Our reporter interviewed Jonin Rasa personally. Regarding his strength...

In matters of the heart, Sunagakure had an open-minded culture. Though Jonin Rasa was unmarried, he had several lovers. When asked whether he had someone special in mind, he gave an ambiguous answer...

Sunagakure, the Kazekage Building.

Chiyo and the other village leaders read the latest issue of the Daily Newspaper. Rasa's face, in particular, had turned livid.

What do they mean I miss the previous two Kazekage? Was I even born back then?

What do they mean we've stripped the Third Kazekage of power? Why don't we know about it?

*What do they mean I have several lovers? I'm Chovy! I was just too embarrassed to tell everyone about Karura and me. White Fang, you **!

Slander. Pure slander!

"So what do we do now?"

Ebizo was the first to ask. They still couldn't find the Third Kazekage, and with this paper out, the unrest in the village would be hard to contain.

"Ban Shinobi World Daily from entering the village. It'll look like we have something to hide, but it's all we can do now."

Chiyo had a headache too. When newspapers first became popular, the village had wanted to make its own. Unfortunately, funding and materials were hard enough to secure. Given the village's literacy levels, a mission bulletin was about all they could write.

As for hiring someone from another village? What fool would pass up countries with better living conditions to rush through a sky full of yellow sand and settle in Sunagakure?

Now that the enemy controlled such a powerful weapon, Sunagakure could only sit there and take the blows. It was infuriating.

As if external troubles weren't enough, trouble was brewing at home too. The Third Kazekage still hadn't returned, and unease was spreading through the village. Worse, Chiyo's grandson Sasori had vanished around the same time.

Chiyo kept praying it wasn't the worst-case scenario.

"We can't worry about everything now. Send more people to keep searching. If we still can't find the Third Kazekage, Rasa, you'll become Kazekage and declare war on Konoha!"

The veteran Chiyo made the decision, and naturally, no one else dared object.

Pakura, her smooth back exposed, looked at Rasa with resentment. But with the village on the brink of upheaval, she could only set her ambitions aside for now.

While Sunagakure was at its wits' end, the culprit was leisurely sharing his thoughts.

"Yan, this job is incredible. The look in Rasa's eyes when he wanted to hit me but couldn't? That felt even better than landing a Thousand Years of Death."

After teaching Yan swordsmanship, Sakumo put away his blade and cheerfully told him about his trip to the Land of Wind.

[Successfully challenged Hatake Sakumo (Konoha's White Fang). Received 50 Gold Coins.]

Yan sat on the ground, unsurprised by Sakumo's reaction. As a ninja, he'd had to sneak in carefully. A reporter had other priorities: ask questions openly, then make just the tiniest little edits when writing the story.

Yan opened his system panel and checked his current Gold Coins.

[Gold Coins: 7,500]

Yan had already squeezed every member of the Night Organization dry. He'd have to save up the remaining 2,500 bit by bit.

"Yan!"

Anko's voice came from the distance, interrupting Yan's thoughts.

Anko ran up to them, greeted Sakumo first, then turned to Yan.

"Orochimaru's Sensei is looking for you."

It probably wasn't urgent. Otherwise, Orochimaru would have sent his White Snake to find him.

Yan stood, said goodbye to Sakumo, and followed Anko to see Orochimaru.

All the way there, Anko kept showing off how hard she'd been practicing Ninjutsu such as Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.

She also told Yan how much fun she'd been having doing experiments with Teacher Orochimaru.

"Why don't you do experiments with us?"

Anko sounded a little disappointed. Yan scratched his head. "I work on inspiration. If you put me in a lab, I'd probably mess up a dropper."

As they spoke, Anko brought Yan to the Hokage Building.

Yan walked into the Hokage's Office and looked around. The Third Hokage, Orochimaru, Fugaku...

Wait. Fugaku was here too?

"Yan, Orochimaru says he wants to take you out of the village for a while."

The Third Hokage's words startled Yan. Had Orochimaru gone mad from all those experiments? Was he planning to take me away and study me?

"While looking through ancient texts, I found several Uchiha ruins in the Land of Fire. There may be records there that could help with my experiments."

Orochimaru paused. "I remember you're interested in ancient texts and history too, so I thought I'd take you along to broaden your horizons."

Yan looked at Fugaku. Fugaku nodded. "It'll do you good to get out and see more of the world."

That was what Fugaku said, but really, he just wanted Yan out of the house so he could spend some time alone with Mikoto.

The situation wasn't good, but they'd be staying within the Land of Fire. One of the Sannin would be with Yan, and they were only visiting abandoned Uchiha ruins.

What danger could there be? It wasn't as if the ghosts of dead Uchiha would come looking for revenge.

Yan wanted to explore the history of the Shinobi World, so he had no reason to refuse.

"Hey, can I come too?"

Anko spoke up pitifully, hoping Orochimaru would take her along.

Orochimaru looked at the Third Hokage. The Third Hokage looked at Yan. Noticing both their gazes, Yan helplessly met Anko's pleading eyes.

Oh well.

Yan raised a hand and imitated the Treasure Skin Rat, giving Anko's forehead a light flick. "Next time. I'll bring you something tasty when I get back."

After a little coaxing, he finally managed to cheer Anko up.

The Third Hokage watched the two of them and suddenly thought of Biwako.

It's been ages since I took Biwako out. Maybe in the next few days...

"Lord Third Hokage? Lord Hokage?"

"Ahem." Coming back to himself, the Third Hokage stamped the travel documents and handed them to Orochimaru, then reminded Yan to be careful.

After agreeing on a departure time, Yan went home with Fugaku.

"By the way, Yan..."

Yan, busy packing, looked curiously at Fugaku, who had stopped mid-sentence.

Fugaku had wanted to talk to Yan about... that matter.

After all, Lianping hadn't sounded like he was lying. Fugaku had also heard that the boy had been drawing something called a doujinshi.

He'd drawn Kinkaku and Ginkaku as star-crossed lovers. It was deeply worrying.

Yan's interaction with the Mitarashi Household's daughter hadn't looked like the rumored indifference to women, but Fugaku had heard some Nobles liked both men and women.

How was he supposed to bring up something like that?

What's wrong with him? Yan ignored the deep-in-thought Fugaku and concentrated on packing.

Just then, Mikoto came in carrying something wrapped in cloth strips and handed it to Yan.

Yan unwrapped it. Inside was a brand-new sword.

Simple red patterns on the scabbard and hilt seemed to flow together.

"This is..."

"It's a gift for you. Your brother-in-law and I had it made for you. It contains Chakra Metal. We were afraid you'd go looking for trouble with it, so we planned to wait until you graduated.

But since you're leaving the village, and your birthday is just a month away, we're giving it to you early."

Mikoto gently took Fugaku's arm. Warmth flickered in Yan's eyes as he looked at Fugaku. So he'd been trying to give me a present.

Honestly, the Uchiha must inherit their awkward pride. Now I've got sand in my eyes.

Fugaku saw the look in Yan's eyes and knew Yan had misunderstood. At this point, though, all he could do was nod sagely.

"The sword doesn't have a name yet. You can name it."

Yan held the sword level and drew it a few inches. The exposed blade gleamed with a piercing chill in the sunlight streaming into the room.

After a moment's thought, Yan settled on its name:

Crimson Sky.

The next day, Yan gathered his gear and slipped quietly out of the house. He wasn't used to goodbyes.

Fugaku and Mikoto, both up early, watched Yan in secret. Only after he left did they look away.

Emotion welled up in Fugaku's chest, and his hand drifted unconsciously to Mikoto's waist.

"We have the house to ourselves for a while. Let's sleep a little longer."

Mikoto nodded, her cheeks flushed.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya perked up when he noticed Yan leaving the village!

Lately, so many readers had been buying Playboy Ninja not for his Icha Icha Paradise, but for the doujinshi Yan updated whenever he felt like it.

Hmph. I, Jiraiya, admit your work has visual impact, but I won't lose.

Jiraiya decided to put out extra updates while Yan was away. The first step was gathering more material.

Heh heh.