Sunagakure's Upheaval

Granny Chiyo was very old.

She was already in her sixties. She had thought she would spend the rest of her life alone, but when she saw the young, strong body behind her, her heart still fluttered despite herself.

"What do you want to do to this old woman?!" she cried in terror.

Do my ass. You're yelling like it's real!

Ye Liang instinctively knocked away the Shuriken flying at him, then, still shaken, pinned Granny Chiyo to the ground.

Just now, at the same moment Chiyo screamed.

A Shuriken had shot toward his face along her finger. If Ye Liang had not reacted quickly enough, his face would have been ruined by now!

"Damn it, you really were the ones who killed the Fourth Hokage! This old woman knew it long ago! You people from Konoha are no good at all! I never should have wasted my breath on you!"

Granny Chiyo thrashed around, trying to escape Ye Liang's grasp, but it was useless.

"The Fourth Hokage is dead?"

Question marks filled Ye Liang's head.

"No wonder all the villagers were hostile when we entered the village. Their leader was dead!"

Ye Liang suddenly understood.

Still, he found it strange. The Fourth Kazekage was someone on the same level as Hiruzen Sarutobi. How had he died so easily? And according to Chiyo, the Kazekage had even been killed by him!

Ye Liang shook his head.

"I don't know what you mean, but the Kazekage's death truly has nothing to do with us. We only arrived in the Land of Wind today."

"Pah! Still trying to deceive this old woman? What kind of people do you Konoha lot think you are? Do you think an old woman like me doesn't know? You're all ruthless, vicious people!"

After saying that, Granny Chiyo spat at Ye Liang, clearly refusing to believe him.

Ye Liang was helpless.

He gently wiped the saliva from his face and released Chiyo.

"If I'm not mistaken, you should be Sunagakure's advisor, Granny Chiyo."

"How did you know?"

"Never mind how I knew. I also know that the reason you hate Konoha so much is entirely because your son was killed by Konoha ninja. But that was a personal grudge. Could you please not make trouble for the friendly relations between our two villages?"

"What do you know!"

"I know everything!"

Ye Liang shrugged.

Chiyo's son had also been a Jonin of Sunagakure. He should have been in the prime of his life when he suddenly encountered Sakumo Hatake, who had come here on a mission.

Sakumo Hatake was Kakashi's father, and also the famed White Fang of Konoha!

That man was not someone easy to deal with. Rumor had it that he had slaughtered no fewer than a thousand ninja on the battlefield. The bastard was a downright ruthless man!

Yet Chiyo's son had run into someone that terrifying!

Running into him would have been one thing, but her son was a complete weakling who insisted on stirring up trouble.

In the end, not only did he die, but he also got his wife, who had been on the mission with him, killed as well. Two corpses, two lives.

That was why Granny Chiyo hated Konoha so much, especially after seeing the White Fang of Konoha's son—Kakashi—today!

"I understand! Hiruzen, that old man, must have told you, right? That makes sense. Since he sent you as an envoy to Sunagakure, he naturally would have told you all this."

"Fine. That's exactly it!"

Ye Liang answered helplessly. This was the only explanation he could give now.

"We arrived in Sunagakure today. If you don't believe me, you can have someone investigate the neighboring villages. We left traces of having stayed there."

"Besides, your village already seems to have stabilized somewhat. The Kazekage must have been dead for some time, so this has nothing to do with us!"

"It really wasn't you? Could it have been the Transformation Jutsu?"

"If you insist on arguing, then there's nothing left to discuss!"

Ye Liang turned to leave. If she was determined to believe it was them, there was no point explaining further!

"Hey! Wait."

Chiyo finally hesitated.

Just as Ye Liang had said, if she wanted to know whether they had carried out the assassination, she only had to investigate the neighboring villages. Besides, there was no reason for them to come and walk into a trap.

"You believe me now?"

"Mm!"

"Then tell me properly. Why did you suspect us from Konoha? It really doesn't make sense." Ye Liang asked patiently.

Chiyo did not answer Ye Liang's question. Instead, she led him before a cabinet.

She took out three keys from her clothes and opened the cabinet.

It had a special lock!

Inside was a Leaf forehead protector marked with a slash.

"This is?"

Ye Liang picked up the forehead protector and finally understood why Sunagakure had suspected Konoha.

It was the forehead protector of a Rogue Ninja from Konoha!

The slash represented a Rogue Ninja, while the leaf was Konoha's symbol!

"This was found at the scene, so we suspected that Konoha was responsible."

"So that's how it is!" Ye Liang nodded. "I already know who attacked your Kazekage, but I don't know his motive!"

"Who was it?"

"I can't tell you yet! But as long as you follow my plan, I can guarantee that we'll catch him!"

Chiyo nodded.

As long as Ye Liang could guarantee they would catch the culprit, this matter could be completely resolved.

She was Sunagakure's advisor. Naturally, she did not want this incident to lead to an all-out war with Konoha, because their village would definitely be the one to lose!

"Then I'll return to prepare the plan. If anything comes up afterward, I'll have someone notify you."

"Alright."

Ye Liang nodded and quickly returned to their lodging.

The inn.

Ye Liang called Kakashi out and gave him a few instructions before falling into a deep sleep.

The next morning.

"I'm going back to hand in the mission. Since you want to have fun here for a few days, enjoy yourselves properly." After giving them a few instructions, Ye Liang headed toward the village gates.

What was going on?

He was just leaving like that?

Obito was a little dumbfounded.

He sat atop a pile of sand, unable to say anything for a long while.

"Since Teacher agreed to give us a long break, let's have some fun." Rin Nohara said happily.

"Mm." Kakashi nodded as well, though an imperceptible meaning flickered in his eyes.

"I don't know why Teacher didn't tell Obito. Isn't he the core of this mission?" Kakashi shook his head. But since it was Ye Liang's intention, he did not dwell on it.

After making a plan, the group headed straight for Sunagakure's market.

The vendors from before were still there, but when they looked at Kakashi and the others, a trace of gloom appeared in their eyes.

"Boss! Didn't Advisor Chiyo say it had nothing to do with them? Why are we still arresting them?"

"Don't ask so many questions. It's an order from above!"

"From above? Got it!"

Taking advantage of Kakashi and the others letting their guard down, several vendors immediately launched an attack.

"Fire Style—Great Fireball Technique!"

Obito immediately counterattacked. Although Ye Liang had told them to enjoy themselves, Obito had always felt that something was strange about this, so he had stayed on guard.

Kakashi also used a Lightning Style technique. Its power was considerable, but the vendors dispersed it with Shuriken in an instant.

"Shuriken actually broke through Lightning Style? How is that possible?!"

Obito Uchiha was dumbfounded!

Then he saw Kakashi and Rin get knocked unconscious by the other side in an instant.

"Rin!"

"Damn it! You dare touch my woman? You're courting death!"