Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

Danzo nodded slightly when he saw him return.

"It's good that you're back. You don't need to worry about the rest. Someone will definitely pay the price for this."

"Any clues?" Xuan Yue asked.

Danzo's voice was extremely cold, "I sacrificed three undercover agents, but I've found a clue that's inextricably linked to a grain merchant in the Land of Fire..."

"On the surface, they sell grain, but they also run an intelligence business."

"However, I haven't made a move against him yet. I want to see who betrayed the information to him."

Xuan Yue nodded, "I'll do it myself then."

Danzo then revealed a slight smile, admiring Shimura Gengetsu's decisiveness.

In life and in business, you have to be ruthless.

However, the smile vanished the next second.

Shimura Gengetsu waved his hand and walked towards the door, saying, "I'm going to find Yekura first. Just let me know if you hear anything."

"Wait, I still have something to say." Danzo hurriedly stopped him.

Shimura Gengetsu reluctantly walked back and sat down on the sofa again. "Old man, is there anything else?"

"Just how strong are you now?" Danzo asked seriously.

“Hmm…” Shimura Gengetsu hesitated for a moment, glanced at the system panel, and tentatively said, “I’m invincible below the Kage level? Above the Kage level… old man.”

He suddenly jumped up. "You don't mean for me to assassinate the third generation of Old Deng, do you? Not now, wait a few more years."

Danzo was speechless. "What are you thinking? How could I possibly let you kill Hiruzen Sarutobi? If you have a stain on your record, how will you ever become Hokage?"

"That's fine then." Shimura Gengetsu breathed a sigh of relief. "Anyway, as long as it's not a Kage-level character, I'm confident."

"Are you really that strong now?"

This time, it was Danzo who didn't believe it. Ever since Uchiha Shisui stopped being Shimura Gengetsu's teacher, he had never had an accurate grasp of his grandson's progress.

It wasn't until Xuan Yue killed two Jonin from Iwagakure that he suddenly realized that Xuan Yue had grown to this level.

Faced with his questioning, Xuan Yue was also troubled, "Does Root have any elite Jonin? Why don't we just have him fight me?"

Danzo shook his head. "There are indeed two, but their methods are only suitable for killing, not for sparring."

"Anyway, I sparred with Uchiha Shisui half a year ago, and he was no match for me. Now I can win even more easily. You don't believe me, do you?" Xuan Yue was also giving up.

“In that case…” Danzo pondered, “then it is indeed suitable to carry out this mission.”

"Xuan Yue, during the Chunin Exams, I need you to kill as many opponents from other ninja villages as possible to dampen their arrogance."

Danzo snorted coldly, pressing his hand slightly on the armrest. "Hiruzen has always been too weak in dealing with the outside world, but he doesn't realize that only by showing his strength can he instill fear and better maintain peace."

"But once you complete this mission, your future life will be in danger. The higher-ups of other ninja villages will definitely see you as a thorn in their side."

"That's why I repeatedly confirmed whether your strength was sufficient to deal with these crises; you should at least be an elite Jonin."

"Of course, if you are unwilling to accept the mission, I will not force you."

After speaking, Danzo fell silent, giving Shimura Gengetsu ample time to think.

However, Shimura Gengetsu didn't take it seriously at all, waving his hand dismissively, "I thought it was something serious. Is it really that simple? It's just killing people. Don't worry, I guarantee I won't leave any survivors when I encounter them."

"Aren't you worried about your safety in the future?" Danzo couldn't help but ask.

Shimura Gengetsu chuckled, "Don't worry, my Body Flicker Technique is comparable to Uchiha Shisui's. As long as I don't want to fight, escaping will be no problem at all."

"Unless the Fourth Raikage comes to kill me personally, no one can do anything to me."

Gengetsu Shimura's greatest trump card is actually his talent as the Dark One of the Ninja World. Hiding in the shadows, even if the Fourth Raikage were to come, he could still escape smoothly.

"Good, as expected of my grandson!" Danzo slammed his fist on the table. "Since that's the case, then show your strength completely and let the five great nations know your name as a genius. Let's see who Hiruzen Sarutobi can push forward and steal your Hokage position!"

Becoming Hokage had become Danzo's obsession, but he also knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi was too skilled and it would be too difficult to remove him from power.

Last time, when I drove Orochimaru away, I didn't even seriously injure him; I just used Jiraiya to easily resolve the situation.

Gengetsu Shimura became his greatest hope. If Gengetsu could become Hokage under his tutelage and surpass Hiruzen Sarutobi, wouldn't that mean...?

Was the Second Hokage's choice a mistake?

That scene from back then... still keeps replaying in his mind. Danzo has asked himself more than once, if he hadn't hesitated back then, perhaps everything would have been different.

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs" or "regret pills" in this world.

Seeing that the old man was deep in thought, Shimura Gengetsu quietly left the office and quickly went to the room where Yekura was.

Although she has the right to move freely, Yokura still locks herself in her room most of the time.

Today is no exception.

Shimura Gengetsu didn't even knock; he just pushed the door open and entered, shouting as soon as he stepped inside:

"Waaaaah, Ye Cang, I've been bullied! You have to avenge me!"

Chapter 58 Ye Cang Returns Home and Prepares to Move

Six months may not change anything, or it may change a lot.

At least Yekura's house has changed a lot.

This room used to contain only basic furniture: a bed, a cabinet, a table, and a stool.

Now, many more household items have been added to the room, making it look much cozier, like a warm little nest for a single woman.

Seeing Shimura Gengetsu barge in shouting, Yekura didn't even look up, continuing to knit her sweater, and said calmly, "Is there anyone in Konoha who can bully you? You should be grateful that you don't bully others."

Icebergs eventually melt, and Yekura is a passionate person at heart.

After spending half a year together, her attitude towards Shimura Gengetsu had completely changed, at least when facing him.

However, she also learned a lot about Shimura Gengetsu's affairs and character.

This is a little devil, far more arrogant than those few Wind Shadow Heirs of the Sand Kingdom, so naturally no one would believe his nonsense.

“They’re not from Konoha, they’re from Iwagakure.” Xuan Yue picked up her personal water cup and drank it all in one gulp. She sighed and continued, “I went out on a mission a few days ago, a mission to escort supplies, and I ran into an ambush by Iwagakure on the way.”

Yekura finally stopped, looked up at Shimura Gengetsu with concern, and after carefully examining him, asked, "Are you alright?"

"No."

Gengetsu Shimura shook his head. "The two Jonin leading the team were killed by me, but it took quite a bit of effort."

Ye Cang snorted coldly, "On the surface, he's upright and honest, but behind the scenes, he's always up to no good. That's Onoki's style."

Gengetsu Shimura's lips twitched.

If the second half of the sentence hadn't been included, he would have thought Yekura was mocking Hiruzen Sarutobi.

However, there's nothing wrong with describing Onoki this way.

They were the first to provoke a war with Konoha, and then led nearly 10,000 Iwagakure ninja to ambush the Third Raikage. When they saw that the situation was not good, they betrayed their ally, Sunagakure. Now the two sides are locked in a fierce battle.

Even in the future, when the ninja world enters a period of peace, he is still not well-behaved.

After Orochimaru's plan to destroy Konoha, Iwagakure became the first village to invade Konoha, but was repelled by Hakumo Hayato. They also frequently hired the Akatsuki organization to do many shady things.

It can be said that Onoki has always played the role of a troublemaker in the ninja world, and is a prime example of someone who is old but does not die, and is a thief.

"Ye Cang, I want to learn the Scorching Release from you." Xuan Yue didn't bother with any more pleasantries and went straight to the point. "This time I discovered that ordinary escaping techniques ultimately have flaws, and only bloodline limits can break through these limitations."

“Scorching Release, huh…” Yecang seemed lost in thought, remaining silent for a long while before finally nodding.

"With your mastery of the transformations of fire and wind attributes, you have a high chance of learning the Scorching Release technique. I will teach you."

"Hehe, you're so good to me." Xuan Yue cheered and jumped into Ye Cang's arms, finding a comfortable angle to lie down.

Yekura couldn't help but smile.

This little rascal is finally starting to look like a child.

"Ye Cang."

Gengetsu Shimura suddenly spoke up, "You've stayed in Root long enough, don't you really want to leave?"

Ye Cang's expression became complicated.

She understood what Shimura Gengetsu meant by "going out"—it meant making a complete break with the past.

but

After experiencing betrayal, she really didn't want to be a ninja anymore.

As if sensing Yekura's dilemma, Shimura Gengetsu looked up, but... his expression was obscured.

"Ye Cang, you don't need to think so much. I've already said it before, I'm not recruiting you for Konoha's sake, but for my own."

"I need your strength, I need your help in the future, but only for me, not for Konoha."

"But what if you become Hokage?" Yekura said calmly, "Like Rasa, we were originally comrades-in-arms, but he still chose to betray me without hesitation."

"You're comparing me to that kind of trash?" Shimura Gengetsu was unhappy and sat up abruptly.

"Nothing will change even if I become Hokage. In fact, once I become Hokage, I will be invincible in the ninja world. Why would I need to sacrifice you for any benefit?"

"Whether the five major powers will still exist by then is another matter entirely."