Yongye spread his hands, looking utterly unconcerned.
"Forget it, then."
"Have fun on your own."
"I'll go over to the Land of Earth."
"That crafty old fox Ōnoki knows talent when he sees it. He'll take in a once-in-a-lifetime genius like me."
Tsunade flew into a rage. "You're going to defect?"
Yongye looked at her with disdain. "Konoha's been devastated. Every nation will be coming after the Land of Fire next. Konoha might not even survive. How can I defect from a village that's gone?"
Tsunade's heart lurched.
He wasn't exaggerating.
With Konoha in this state, the other four great nations would never pass up their chance. The barbarians of Kumogakure, the dirt clods of Iwagakure, the paupers of Sunagakure, the madmen of Kirigakure—they would close in like sharks scenting blood.
If Konoha could repel the first wave, fine. If not, it would become prey for all the other nations to carve up.
Fear gripped Tsunade. She gritted her teeth.
"Fine."
"One year!"
She would put this brat to work and get through the crisis. Everything else could wait.
Yongye held back a laugh and put on a serious face as he spouted nonsense.
"One year was the price a moment ago!"
"I wasted all that breath. I need something to show for it."
"Now the price has gone up!"
"When we do it, you have to obey me completely, just like Ayame!"
Tsunade sprang to her feet in fury!
She had read the reports about Ayame. She had cringed at them and looked down on her for it. How could she, the Fifth Hokage, do the same?
"Absolutely not!"
"I'd rather die!"
Yongye looked at her and shrugged. He pulled his hand from his pocket and brushed nonexistent dust from his clothes.
"The enemy's here."
"Deal with him yourself."