Chapter 173: I Hate Those Who Spread Rumors About Their Companions

The others saw that Lian Ye was not hiding anything and instantly grew curious.

They exchanged glances and finally nodded.

"Lian Yejun, could you tell us who the woman you like is?" Zhuan Qin Xiaochun suddenly asked.

The rest cast their gazes toward him, wanting to know his answer.

"The woman I fancy..." Lian Ye froze halfway, staring blankly at them, "What do you mean?"

These guys were already jittery at the start, and now they ask such an incomprehensible question?!

Could it be that they've been on the Battlefield too long, their nerves highly strained, causing a stress reaction?

No, even so, it's impossible for all five of them to go crazy!

A ninja's endurance isn't weak, especially for these few.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang noticed Lian Ye's feigned bewilderment and snorted coldly, "Stop pretending; we've already seen through everything!"

"Lian Ye, just tell us obediently, which family's woman could keep you away from camp for ten days," Ri Zhan echoed.

After acknowledging Tuan Cang's viewpoint, the more they looked, the more they felt that was indeed the case.

"Indeed, Lian Yejun, what stage have you reached?"

Children in the Ninja World mature early and take such matters for granted.

Moreover, they're all fourteen or fifteen, so curiosity about this is inevitable.

Even Uchiha Jing couldn't help asking a couple of questions.

Seeing everyone chattering, Lian Ye realized, and, with a grim face, said nothing.

Damn it, who the hell is spreading rumors behind us?!

These days, he has been developing Poison to counter strong men, without even a moment to rest; each day he's either researching or on the road catching Lab Mice.

After ten hard days, it turned out he was rumored to have left camp to find a partner.

These guys are just bored to death!

"Heh, I really did go out to find a partner," Lian Ye replied with a cold face.

Hearing this, the others instantly got excited, not noticing his grim expression at all.

"Lian Yejun, which family's woman..." Ri Zhan stopped mid-question when he suddenly noticed Lian Ye's darkened face.

He thought to himself, "It's ruined!"

He swallowed subconsciously and, without showing any emotion, put distance between himself and them.

The other few also sensed the odd atmosphere and silently shifted their seats backward.

Only Tuan Cang kept babbling, "Hmph, I knew it would be like this! I was the first to make this guess, and I didn't expect it to be spot on!"

Ri Zhan and the others looked sympathetically at the smug Tuan Cang, thinking to themselves that this guy was doomed!

Tuan Cang suddenly realized the atmosphere was off and asked, "Why is nobody speaking?"

The crowd kept their heads down, staring at the campfire in silence, as if they hadn't heard his question.

"Lian Ye, how did they..." he turned to ask Lian Ye beside him, then saw a pair of crimson Three Tomoe Sharingan; his body froze, trapped in Genjutsu.

Lian Ye said, "Why did someone suddenly spread rumors? It turns out it was that guy Tuan Cang!"

Truly, he's worthy of being the future Pot King; at this age he already grasps the essence of rumor-spreading, making false news sound real!

No wonder Qimu Shuo Mao chose to commit suicide...

When rumor-spreading backfires on oneself, Lian Ye naturally wouldn't let Tuan Cang get away; he must give him a harsh lesson!

Tuan Cang's Genjutsu World, Hokage Office.

"I called you here today to announce something important," Qianshou Feijian said, "Regarding the successor to the Hokage..."

Tuan Cang, Lian Ye, and Ri Zhan stood upright.

"These years, I've watched Tuan Cang's outstanding performance, and his achievements have greatly pleased me," Qianshou Feijian said with admiration.

Tuan Cang clenched his fists excitedly, breathing a bit fast, "Thank you, Teacher, for the praise!"

He hadn't expected Teacher Feijian to have been observing him in secret; it seemed the Hokage Position was about to fall onto his head.

"Lian Ye and Ri Zhan, from now on you must learn well from Tuan Cang, understand?" Qianshou Feijian said softly.

"Understood..."

Tuan Cang saw the two's unwilling expressions and instantly felt a wave of satisfaction, his mouth stretching almost to his ears.

Hahaha, I always said I'd become Hokage!

Lian Ye, Ri Zhan, you will watch how the Village flourishes under my leadership!

Just as Tuan Cang was smug, Qianshou Feijian announced, "From today, Lian Ye is the Third Hokage, and Ri Zhan is the Fourth Hokage!"

Hearing this, Tuan Cang was instantly stunned.

"Teacher, what does this mean?!"

Qianshou Feijian didn't even glance at him, placed the Hokage Hat on Lian Ye's head, and left the Hokage Office.

"Teacher, Teacher, don't go!"

Tuan Cang's tears welled in his eyes; his performance clearly surpassed the two, so why couldn't he become Hokage?!

"Hahaha!" Lian Ye and Ri Zhan couldn't help bursting into laughter.

"You... what are you laughing at?!" Tuan Cang, angry, pointed at the two, gritting his teeth, "Did you guys fiddle with it? The Hokage should clearly be me!"

Lian Ye and Ri Zhan exchanged glances and couldn't help laughing again.

"Damn it, you two bastards!" Tuan Cang, furious, raised his fist intending to give them a lesson.

He took two steps before being blocked by the suddenly appearing ANBU.

"Throw this assassin of the Hokage out of the Hokage Building!" Lian Ye waved his hand.

The ANBU immediately escorted Tuan Cang out of the Hokage Office.

"Let go of me, let go quickly!"

Tuan Cang was thrown out of the Hokage Building; he knelt on the ground unwillingly, tears streaming down his cheeks and dripping onto the floor.

"Why, why is it like this…"

He didn't understand why Teacher Feijian wouldn't let him become Hokage; obviously he was the most outstanding!

"Tap tap tap—" a series of footsteps came.

Tuan Cang saw a pair of feet appear before him, and instinctively looked up at the newcomer.

There stood Qianshou Feijian, arms crossed over his chest, staring at him.

"Teacher Feijian, why won't you let me become Hokage?!" Tuan Cang clutched Feijian's thigh, feeling deeply aggrieved.

Qianshou Feijian's eyes flashed with a hint of disgust, and he said coldly, "I hate those who spread rumors about comrades behind their backs!"

Hearing this, Tuan Cang froze on the spot.

For some reason, he suddenly recalled the incident years ago on the Battlefield when he speculated about Lian Ye's romantic interest…

"People like that are unfit to become Hokage!" Qianshou Feijian shouted, "And you, Zhi Cun Tuan Zang, are exactly that kind of person!"

"Teacher, that was only my speculation, I didn't spread rumors…" Tuan Cang felt the world collapse, and hurriedly began to explain in panic.

Qianshou Feijian ignored him, pried his hands apart, and turned away.

"Teacher! Teacher! Teacher!"

Tuan Cang watched Qianshou Feijian's departing back, his face showing despair.

……

In the real world.

"Wuwuwu, I'm wrong, I'm really wrong!"

Everyone looked at the sobbing, snot‑filled, tear‑streaming Tuan Cang with sympathy, not knowing what he had encountered in the Genjutsu…

Lian Ye's mouth twitched slightly upward; indeed, this was the most effective way to counter Tuan Cang's Genjutsu.