Konoha: Who's the good guy?

After saying goodbye to Minato Namikaze, Kei Yamanaka strolled back home.

They secretly used the secret technique of the Yamanaka clan to connect to the perception barrier that covered the entire Hidden Leaf Village through the back door.

Following the chakra of Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and Genma Shiranui, they easily found the three of them eating yokan (sweet bean jelly) and watching the rain under the awning outside the sweet bean shop.

He used his summoning technique to summon the crow he kept in the Konoha Bird Summoning Beast Breeding House, the one most familiar with the village environment, and sent it to call the three little ones over.

This crow is different from the 'Swift Type' crow that was summoned and possessed in the Tea Country Town and the Spirit Island.

Its IQ is significantly higher than that of its kind.

After just a few casual teasings in my spare time, I was able to say little blessings like "Wishing you prosperity" and "May you always be smiling."

It can also understand and execute some simple instructions.

My favorite thing to do is to wander around Konoha Village during the time when the animals are allowed to roam freely in the animal enclosure. If I see someone with food, I'll use those few words of blessing to sneak over and grab a bite.

This results in it being nearly half again as large as its kind, round and plump, and its flight speed being much slower than its kind.

Seeing that it was clever, the mountain scenery not only didn't dislike it, but also gave it a special name, "Gai Liuzi".

only......

"Holy crap, should I run away?"

Yamanaka Kei stared blankly at the vanished spirit communication array.

Unconvinced, he dipped his finger into the blood from the reservoir again and performed the psychic spell once more.

Unfortunately, the sweet-talking, chubby little black guy I remembered still didn't appear.

With a hint of uncertainty.

Shan Zhongjing tried to communicate with the other crows.

The cawing of crows immediately echoed throughout the mansion.

"Dead?!"

Yamanaka Kei casually dispelled the summoning spell and stood up from the ground, looking completely bewildered.

Since it's not his problem.

That must mean there's something wrong with the summoned beast.

There are only two possibilities why the summoned beast did not respond to the summoning spell.

One possibility is that they are within a sealed barrier or are bound by a seal; another is that their souls have already returned to the Pure Land.

Who the hell would have the time to seal away a fat crow?

so......

His car was perfectly fine, so how did it suddenly disappear?

When he came back yesterday, he took his eagle, the 'Hibiscus', to the bird spirit animal breeding house for foster care.

The staff didn't tell him either!

What happened during this period from noon yesterday to now?

wrong......

Images flashed through the memory palace in Yamanaka's mind.

The details of the expressions on the faces of the staff members who greeted him yesterday were magnified before his eyes.

I was in a hurry to go to the Hokage Building with Minato to hand in the mission, so I didn't pay much attention.

Looking at them now, it seems like their eyes are all a bit evasive?

One or two might be accidents, but no one dares to look him in the eye. What else could this be but a problem?

"What the hell! I pay so much money to the animal shelter every year! And they didn't even tell me they died?! (╬◣д◢)"

The more I thought about the scenery in the mountains, the angrier I became.

Some even suspected that his summoned beast had disappeared because of a problem with its enclosure.

Forget about making special breakfast items for now, he quickly got up and went out again, heading straight for the northeast of Konoha.

The Konoha Bird Summoning House is located in the northeast corner of the village, built against the broken wall of Shadow Rock.

When the weather is fine, you can always see flocks of birds and spirit beasts, either soaring and frolicking freely in the sky or resting on a certain spot on the broken wall.

Today, due to the weather, most birds stayed in their enclosures to avoid the rain.

Even from a distance, you can hear the chirping of many birds.

Yamanaka Keigo had just stepped into the gate of the animal shed.

I haven't had a chance to ask a question yet.

Upon seeing him, the staff at the animal shed immediately bowed at a 90-degree angle without saying a word.

The person in charge of the animal shed even ran over to bow and apologize without even raising his head.

"Jonin Yamanaka! I am deeply sorry! Your summoning beast 'Kairu-ko' unfortunately encountered an accident while it was out for a walk twelve days ago! Because I was taken to the Anbu for questioning and our staff were also given a confidentiality order, we were unable to inform you of this news in time. This was our mistake! We will seriously reflect on our actions and do our best to compensate you to make up for your grief over losing your summoning beast. Please believe us..."

After the person in charge finished a series of apologies, he hurriedly took out an envelope that had been prepared in advance from under the desk on the side and respectfully presented it with both hands.

Judging by its thickness, it must be around 50,000 taels.

Yamanaka Kei has ten crows boarded at the animal shelter, and the annual boarding fee for them is about 80,000 taels.

That is to say, it costs eight thousand taels of silver a year to raise one crow.

Don't think it's cheap.

Currently, the war orphans in Konoha Village only receive 600 taels of silver a month for living expenses, and the cost of fostering a crow summoning beast is higher than their living expenses.

He had been raising this beast for three years, and it had cost him about 24,000 taels of silver in total. Including the cost of hatching and training the spirit beast, the total expenditure was about 30,000 taels of silver.

This compensation of 50,000 taels is indeed considered a show of sincerity, by normal standards.

"...The Anbu? What happened?"

Looking at the group of staff who remained bowing, Yamanaka Kei hesitated several times before finally letting out a helpless sigh.

He came here full of anger.

But their reasons and attitude were fine, and since there was covert intervention and a request for secrecy, it's really not their fault.

What should I do?

"Your summoning beast flew over the Hokage's office building near the end of outdoor time and collided with the Hokage's assistant who jumped out of the window, and unfortunately died."

The person in charge looked both terrified and pained.

He really bled this time!

He was taken away by the 'Anbu ninja' who came to his door, and was also suspected of deliberately attacking the Konoha leadership.

He was almost scared to death on the spot.

If it weren't for the reverse hypnosis and memory reading that confirmed he had no intention of harming Konoha's high-ranking officials, it would all have been an accident.

Whether he can come back is another matter!

Even so, the breeding house compensated the Hokage's assistant with a large sum of money.

But who can be blamed for this?

Is the crow flying too low, making its defenses insufficient?

Or is it because the Hokage's assistant jumped too high, wearing a steel helmet?

"Twelve days ago? Danzo?! I just left the Hokage's office, and he killed my summoning beast? Are you sure it was run over and not stabbed with a kunai?"

The anger that had subsided in the mountains suddenly surged up again.

Danzo, that old bastard, is targeting him, isn't he?

It must be!

Given that this guy flies at the same speed he normally does when he strolls around Konoha, how could he possibly kill someone if he crashes into them?

"It's said that the Hokage's assistant was in a hurry to carry out a secret mission and left in a flash, still wearing a combat helmet. Your summoning beast just happened to be there..."

"Did you bump into a helmet?"

"Yes, please accept our condolences. Also, regarding the compensation for the Hokage's assistant, our breeding center has already completed the process, and you do not need to bear any responsibility. Please do not worry."

"Compensation? That old bastard still has the nerve to ask for compensation?!"

The mountain scenery was completely astonishing.

His summoned beast was killed by Danzo with a steel helmet, and that guy even turned against the Heavenly Gang and demanded compensation?

"Ahem... Yamanaka Jonin, these are the ashes of your summoned beast. Would you like to take them with you, or bury them in our summoned beast cemetery?"

When the person in charge of the animal husbandry heard Yamanaka Kei cursing Danzo, he shuddered and promptly changed the subject.

He really didn't want to go to the "Anbu" again, so no matter whose fault it was, no matter who was responsible, he just wanted this mess to end as soon as possible!

"...Let's go to the cemetery."

Looking at the white urn in the person in charge's hand, which was not much bigger than a cigarette box, Yamanaka felt angry, frustrated, and speechless.

He was the one who gave Danzo the entry for "out-of-the-box thinking".

He was also the one who caused the death of the summoned beast.

Damn it!

I'm so angry!