Clash

Hatake Sakumo's tone grew lighter. "All right, those were the main things I wanted to talk to you about. That's all. Go enjoy your time off."

With that, he waved and left using the Body Flicker Technique before Qianye Lan could even say goodbye.

Seeing Hatake Sakumo leave in such a hurry, Qianye Lan lowered the hand he had been about to wave and returned to Kushina's side.

When Kushina saw Qianye Lan return, she leaned over and asked, "Lan, what did Mr. Sakumo want with you?"

Qianye Lan answered truthfully, "Just an extra reward for catching those two spies. Nothing else. Let's go."

Kushina nodded, then pulled Qianye Lan along to the place where they had arranged to meet Uchiha Mikoto.

Uchiha Mikoto had already been waiting there for quite a while. Seeing them, she greeted them. "Kushina, Qianye Lan."

The two smiled in response.

Upon seeing Uchiha Mikoto, Kushina immediately abandoned Qianye Lan and went over to link arms with her.

The two girls leaned their faces close together, whispering.

Qianye Lan followed behind them with his hands in his pockets.

They arrived at the barbecue restaurant and had just sat down to order.

As it turned out, they ran into Hatake Sakumo and Kakashi.

Kushina took the initiative to greet him. "Mr. Sakumo."

Hearing her voice, Hatake Sakumo turned toward it and spotted Kushina and the others.

He gave them a gentle smile and greeted them as well. "Kushina, you're all here."

Then he walked over with Kakashi beside him, introducing him as he went. "This is my son, Kakashi Hatake."

Qianye Lan and the others greeted Kakashi too. Kakashi returned their greeting with a cool expression.

After exchanging brief greetings, the two groups each found seats to have their meals.

Neither intended to eat together.

After watching Kushina order more than ten servings of barbecue, Uchiha Mikoto asked worriedly, "Won't that be too much?"

Kushina patted her small chest and said, "Don't worry. This might not even be enough."

Uchiha Mikoto continued, "But you didn't eat this much the last time Mr. Sakumo treated us."

Qianye Lan reassured her, "Don't worry. The two of us can eat a lot."

Looking at the dubious Uchiha Mikoto, Qianye Lan said nothing.

After all, practice was the sole criterion for testing truth.

Soon, the dozen-odd servings of barbecue were brought out.

Looking at the mountain of meat, Uchiha Mikoto had her doubts.

Could they really finish all this meat?

Qianye Lan and Kushina did not disappoint her.

The two tore through the food, snatching up the meat almost as soon as it was cooked.

The sight left Uchiha Mikoto questioning everything.

Looking at the dazed Uchiha Mikoto, Kushina smiled and said, "Mikoto, why aren't you eating?"

Only then did Uchiha Mikoto snap out of it and pick up her chopsticks to eat.

In the end, they ordered several more plates of meat before they were barely full.

Under the owner's enthusiastic gaze, Kushina paid the bill and left with a flourish.

In the Hokage Office, the atmosphere was nothing like the cheerful mood among the three.

The tension here had reached freezing point.

The Third Hokage held the latest intelligence, his expression dark. The Anbu beside him hardly dared to breathe.

The intelligence indicated that both the mysterious disappearance and deaths of all the Anbu protecting Kushina and the leak of Tsunade's fear of blood were inextricably linked to Root, the organization founded by his old friend.

The Third Hokage put it down and rubbed his temples, his head aching. He told the Anbu beside him, "Have Danzo come here."

The Anbu nodded and left.

The Third Hokage took out his pipe and puffed on it.

Whenever he felt unsettled, he liked to relax and numb himself this way.

An unknown amount of time passed, and the tobacco in the Third Hokage's pipe had burned out.

Only then did Danzo walk into the Hokage Office.

"What is it, Hiruzen?" He plopped into a seat and asked.

The Third Hokage flung the intelligence straight at him. "I expect a reasonable explanation."

He slowly leaned forward, staring fixedly at Danzo.

Unfazed by his stare, Danzo leisurely picked up the intelligence, glanced at it, and said, "Hiruzen, this was all part of my plan."

With that casual remark that it had all been part of his plan, he brushed aside the enormous losses the village had nearly suffered.

The Third Hokage looked at Danzo expressionlessly.

His old friend now felt somewhat unfamiliar to him.

Finally, the Third Hokage took a deep breath and said, "Danzo, in my capacity as Hokage, I have decided to remove you from your post."

Danzo stood up in agitation. "Everything I did was for the village! I deliberately used that information to lure out the spies from Kumogakure and Sunagakure!"

The Third Hokage sneered. "In recognition of your outstanding contributions to Konoha, please take some time off to rest."

With that, he summoned two Anbu and said, "Take Lord Danzo away to 'get some proper rest.'"

He placed particular emphasis on the words "get some proper rest."

Seeing the two Anbu, Danzo knew this would not end amicably today.

He shot the Third Hokage a dark look, then left with the two Anbu.

Watching his retreating figure, the Third Hokage's expression shifted uncertainly. He did not know whether being softhearted this time was right or wrong.

In the end, he let out a soft sigh.

After leaving the Hokage Office, Danzo told the two Anbu beside him, "You don't need to follow me anymore. I'll go back and rest on my own."

Seeing their hesitation, he said in an icy tone, "Do you think your personal information is really a secret to me?"

The two Anbu stiffened, then left helplessly.

Danzo smiled smugly. Just as he had expected, Hiruzen had compromised again this time.

He muttered to himself, "I'll let Hiruzen save face this time and go back to the clan compound to rest for a couple of days."

The Yamanaka Flower Shop.

Kushina picked up a potted flower and asked Qianye Lan, "Lan, what do you think of this flower?"

Qianye Lan glanced at the potted flower and gave an all-purpose response. "Pretty nice."

Not getting the answer she wanted, Kushina turned to Uchiha Mikoto and asked, "Mikoto, what do you think?"

Uchiha Mikoto answered, "I think this flower is lovely. It suits you."

Kushina immediately smiled and told the shopkeeper, "I'll take this one."

After paying, the three left the flower shop. It was now afternoon.

Just as they were about to say goodbye, two strange people passed by them.

Dressed in green bodysuits, they walked down the street on their hands.

They paid no attention whatsoever to other people's stares.

They shouted, "Youth!"

Qianye Lan stared at the two, dumbfounded. "Are the youth father-and-son duo really this over the top?"

Kushina's little mouth fell open in astonishment.

Seeing how surprised the two were, Uchiha Mikoto smiled and asked, "Is this your first time seeing them?"