"Don't worry, Uncle Raikage. I'm someone who'll shoulder Kumogakure's future. I know what I should do."
Ziyun curled his lip. Stay in his room on this trip to Konoha? How was he supposed to cause trouble then?
"Hehe, that's my nephew for you." The Third Raikage grinned at Ziyun's words, greatly reassured.
In fact, after Ziyun defeated Orochimaru, the Third Raikage had intended to groom him as the next Raikage.
His talent had already far surpassed that of the Raikage's own son, Yotsuki A.
By the Hidden Cloud Village's rules, the Raikage relied neither on bloodline nor reputation, but on his fists.
Whoever had the stronger fists became the Raikage.
That was also why the Hidden Cloud Village rarely suffered internal strife.
Accept your losses and stand straight when you take a beating. If you weren't strong enough, you should stay put and stop dreaming of becoming a Kage.
Konoha had too many people who wanted to be Hokage, and no clear standard for choosing one. That was why it had so many messes.
After two or three days on the road, the Third Raikage, Yeyue Ziyun, and Dodai arrived in Konoha Village.
"Hello, Third Raikage. My name is Hatake Sakumo. I'll be responsible for receiving you."
The one assigned to receive Ziyun and the others upon their arrival was none other than Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha, who had yet to make a name for himself.
Hatake Sakumo became famous for facing the Third Kazekage in the Second Shinobi World War.
In that battle, he fought three opponents alone, killed Sasori's parents, and defeated the Third Kazekage, the Strongest Kazekage, making a name for himself in one stroke.
But the Second Shinobi World War had yet to begin, and Hatake Sakumo's name had not spread. The Third Raikage therefore felt no particular wariness upon meeting him.
The White Fang of Konoha then looked Ziyun over with a hunter's gaze fixed on its prey, making Ziyun very uncomfortable.
At the same time, Ziyun activated his Observation Haki and soon sensed at least five or six pairs of eyes watching him from the shadows.
Just what I'd expect from you, Hiruzen Sarutobi. You've already started before we've even entered the village?
But I can't just let you watch me for nothing, can I?
"Hatake Sakumo, aren't you Konoha's Anbu Captain? Why have you come out to receive us?"
Ziyun looked Hatake Sakumo up and down, then spoke with a puzzled expression.
Hatake Sakumo stiffened. At the same time, Ziyun sensed that the people watching him from the shadows were also taken aback.
How does this guy know Captain Hatake's identity?
In his office, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was spying on them with the Telescope Technique, was also stunned.
Hatake Sakumo's identity as Anbu Captain had always been confidential. Only the higher-ups and Anbu members knew.
How did Yeyue Ziyun, a newly graduated Genin from the Hidden Cloud Village, know about it?
"As expected of Yeyue Ziyun, the Hidden Cloud Village's number-one genius. You're right, I do work in the Anbu. But this time, I'm receiving you as a Jonin assigned to reception. Please rest assured, Konoha is very sincere about forming an alliance with the Hidden Cloud Village."
The smile on Hatake Sakumo's face grew brighter, but inwardly, he was panicking.
The moment the Third Raikage and Dodai heard that he was the Anbu Captain, their faces darkened.
"Actually, it doesn't have much to do with being a genius. Someone told me... Oh, sorry, that slipped out wrong. I just guessed, so don't mind me."
Ziyun hurriedly covered his mouth, as though he had said something he shouldn't have.
Hatake Sakumo froze on the spot.
Just a guess?
Like hell I believe you!
It looks like this Yeyue Ziyun is much more troublesome than I imagined.
Seeing Hatake Sakumo looking as though he were questioning his life, Ziyun's lips curled into a smile.
Go ahead and guess. Knowing Hiruzen Sarutobi, this will definitely stick in his mind.
Who knows which unlucky major Konoha clan will end up under Hiruzen Sarutobi's suspicion afterward?
What Ziyun didn't know was that Hiruzen Sarutobi was already agonizing over it.
"It seems Konoha Village has a spy planted by the Hidden Cloud Village, and that spy holds a fairly high position."
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi had reached a conclusion.
Otherwise, how could Yeyue Ziyun, a newly graduated Kumogakure Genin, know that Hatake Sakumo was the Anbu Captain?
A spy must have leaked the information.
Damn it, I must root out this spy when the time comes!
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his fist on the desk.
"Ahem... Sorry. Please follow me. We prepared rooms for your party some time ago."
Realizing he had lost his composure, Hatake Sakumo quickly schooled his expression and led Ziyun's party of three to the rooms prepared for them.
"Compared to the Hidden Cloud Village, Konoha really is prosperous..."
At the sight of Konoha's streets, the Third Raikage, Ziyun, and Dodai couldn't help marveling.
Of course, they kept those thoughts to themselves.
Compared to Konoha, the Hidden Cloud Village was practically the outskirts of a town.
"Dodai, I'll be responsible for negotiating and discussing matters with Hiruzen Sarutobi. You must keep Ziyun safe."
After reaching their rooms, the Third Raikage put down his luggage and gave Dodai his instructions.
"Rest assured, Lord Raikage. Even if I have to give my life, I'll keep Ziyun safe!"
Dodai spoke with absolute conviction.
The Third Raikage nodded, then followed Hatake Sakumo to the Hokage's office to discuss matters with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Teacher Dodai, let's go look around Konoha. There seem to be lots of fun things here. It'd be a shame not to."
As soon as the Third Raikage left, Ziyun made the suggestion to Dodai.
"Ziyun, you can't act recklessly. This is an enemy village. The ninja they sent to receive us is the Anbu Captain. For all we know, he's lurking somewhere else. Didn't Lord Raikage say we had to be careful in Konoha?"
Dodai solemnly rejected Ziyun's suggestion.
"You make it sound like the room isn't in Konoha's territory. It's all the same anyway, and we can take the opportunity to observe Konoha."
Hearing that, Dodai thought Ziyun had a point.
It would be a shame to come to Konoha just to hide in their rooms. They could take this rare opportunity to record information about Konoha and its geography.
"Just like in the Hidden Cloud Village, you're popular wherever you go, kid."
Out on the street, Dodai couldn't help remarking on the Konoha girls blushing at Ziyun along the way.
Wherever they went, Ziyun drew the eyes of young girls and a chorus of admiring exclamations.
Unlike the dark-skinned majority of the Hidden Cloud Village's ninja, Ziyun was relatively fair-skinned and had delicate features.
With the added halo of "the Hidden Cloud Village's number-one genius," he naturally stood out in a crowd.
After all, Konoha High Command never exposed its dirty dealings to the civilians.
From the civilians' perspective, the alliance between the two villages was an important decision the great Third Hokage had made for the village's long-term interests.
They would never have guessed how much scheming and confrontation lay beneath the table.
Instead, they had a favorable impression of "the Hidden Cloud Village's number-one genius," whom Konoha had promoted so heavily.
"Of course... If it weren't written this way, how would the readers immerse themselves? Readers are getting pickier and pickier these days."
Ziyun spread his hands and sighed.
"You're saying things I can't understand at all again."
Dodai scratched his head and gave a wry smile.
It wasn't the first or second time he had heard Ziyun say something so out of the blue, so he was used to it.
But looking up at Konoha's bustling streets, Dodai couldn't help feeling sad for the Hidden Cloud Village's children.
Gradually, a trace of shame climbed into his heart like a vine.
"We've failed them. When will the Hidden Cloud Village's children have the same conditions as Konoha Village's?"
Dodai sighed.
With such good conditions, it was no wonder Konoha had always had the most talent among the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
If the Hidden Cloud Village's children could grow up in an environment like this, they wouldn't be much worse off than Konoha Village's children.
"Teacher Dodai, you can't say things like that. This is Konoha Village, you know. Uncle Raikage warned us over and over."
Seeing this, Ziyun reminded Dodai with a smile.
Ever since entering Konoha Village, Ziyun had kept his Observation Haki active.
No matter where he went, four or five presences always followed him from the shadows, sticking to him like glue that he couldn't shake off.
"My mistake, my mistake."
Hearing that, Dodai realized he had said something he shouldn't have.
He looked around nervously and, finding nothing unusual, quickly clamped his mouth shut.
Not long afterward, just as Ziyun and Dodai passed a corner, Ziyun suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
She looked much like Uchiha Sasuke would in later years, but her face was full of gentleness, giving her the air of a quiet young lady.
That kind of temperament was a complete rarity among the proud Uchiha Clan.
She was unmistakably Uchiha Mikoto in her youth.
Noticing Ziyun's gaze, Uchiha Mikoto gave him a gentle smile, even as her heart tightened.