At this critical juncture, the title of Jonin was no honor-it was a death warrant.
"Becoming a Jonin is a good thing, anyway." Raito forced a faint smile and changed the subject. "Are Uncle Masano and his family doing all right?"
Ever since leaving Konoha, the people Raito had worried about most were Masano Shimozuki and the family who had raised him.
But he could not take them with him. That would only hurt them.
To protect them, Raito did not even dare contact them directly. He could only send them some money through secret channels while pretending he had severed ties with them long ago.
Only then would the people looking to deal with Raito leave that ordinary Chunin couple out of their schemes.
Hayate sighed. "I knew you had a conscience, kid. You wouldn't forget Uncle Masano."
"He's come to see me several times and even made a fuss with the higher-ups to ask about you. But he's just a Chunin whose words carry no weight. What could he accomplish?"
"As long as they're all right! Hayate, you have to pass a message along for me. Tell them never to mention my name again. They should pretend they never raised an ungrateful bastard like me. That's the only way they can live in peace!"
"I understand."
Hayate nodded, his gaze complicated. "That money that mysteriously arrived before-you arranged that too, didn't you?"
Raito said nothing, tacitly admitting it.
"I understand all your difficulties, but Raito... there's something I have to beg you to do!"
Beg me?
Raito froze. Hayate had always been a proud man. When had he ever used the word "beg"?
"What is it? As long as it's something I can do."
"Lord Danzo hopes... you can publicly support his bid to become the Sixth Hokage