Chapter 470: Haven

"Lian… sir, let's withdraw quickly!"

A Fei, who was hiding underground, hurriedly stuck his head out to warn them, and in his haste almost blurted out Lian Ye's name.

Lian Ye looked at the many Elite Jonin before him and the three watching shadows, and without any hesitation he agreed to A Fei's suggestion.

It wasn't his desire to run; it was A Fei's proposal.

If Ban Daye has a problem, go find him!

Now he can finally abandon the mission and run away openly.

"You wait; I'll be back!"

Lian Ye suddenly tossed a smoke bomb onto the ground, and his whole body was instantly enveloped in smoke.

"Stop him quickly; don't let him escape!"

Third Raikage shouted anxiously, his figure turning into a blue lightning that surged into the smoke.

Unfortunately, he was still a step too late.

As the smoke cleared, only Third Raikage remained in the arena.

"Damn! He got away again!"

Fourth Mizukage had already anticipated this; if the mysterious person didn't have any way to flee.

Last time, they left him behind.

"Hokage, Wind Shadow, I think you need to give us an explanation."

Fourth Tsuchikage, with a darkened face, looked at the two who had been idly standing on the outskirts, as well as the Konoha Ninja and Sand Hidden Village Ninja far away who had never participated in the support.

These two villages, under the banner of the Ninja World Alliance, have never taken any substantive action.

Every time the mysterious person arrives, they cower in the back and never intend to lend a hand.

Their performance couldn't be more theatrical.

If the Konoha Village and Sand Hidden Village ninjas had provided support just now, the mysterious person wouldn't have been able to escape so easily!

"Hey, hey, hey, what do you mean?"

Tuan Cang hadn't spoken yet, but Sha Men couldn't hold back.

"You youngsters, do you even know how to respect your elders? When I became Wind Shadow back then, you were still nursing in your mother's arms."

"Can't you see that the Hokage and I were preventing the mysterious person's strategy of luring the tiger away from the mountain?"

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang looked at Sha Men in surprise, not understanding why he was defending himself.

"If we all acted like you and went to encircle the mysterious person, we'd truly fall into the trap!"

Sha Men looked at the puzzled three and spoke at length.

"Can any of you guarantee that the mysterious person has no accomplices? Since he can produce that white humanoid creature, he can also create other companions…"

The three newly appointed were stunned by his words.

The point is, it sounds very reasonable.

Indeed, who can be sure that the mysterious person secretly capturing the Tail Beast is the only one?

If they all go after the mysterious person, they might truly fall for his trick!

"Wind Shadow senior's words make sense!"

After Sha Men's three‑inch unbreakable tongue swayed them, the few fully "understood" the two's well‑intended scheming.

No wonder the Second Kazekage has survived until now.

Sha Men looked at the three's dawning realization and couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

They're just a few newly appointed youngsters; I've taken more losses over the years than the amount of salt you've ever eaten!

Isn't swindling a few people just a matter of snapping them up?

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang stared at Sha Men with a shocked expression.

No wonder he's an old‑school Shadow‑level from the generation of Teacher Feijian; his experience far exceeds that of us juniors.

Just by moving his lips, he managed to frighten the few.

No wonder Sunagakure is still presided over by the Second Kazekage.

Sha Men, seeing Tuan Cang's shocked look, felt a bit proud.

He defended the Hokage here; not only did he learn the mysterious person's identity, but he also wanted to use this chance to get on Konoha's good side.

In a while he'll retire, so he's first building good relations with Konoha; this counts as an inauguration gift for the next Wind Shadow.

Besides Konoha and Sunagakure, other ninja villages lack this foundation!

Who let the old‑school Shadow‑level strongmen of the other villages all die out?

Obviously, Sha Men's move indeed won Tuan Cang's favor.

After all, who doesn't like a smart person?

It's just that Tuan Cang currently has no mind to converse with Sha Men.

He recalled the secret signal Lian Ye made with his left hand when tossing the smoke bomb.

That gesture is exclusive to their squad.

To confirm his suspicion, he brushed off Sha Men with a few words and returned to the Konoha team, finding Zhuan Qin Xiaochun.

Zhuan Qin Xiaochun had naturally noticed Lian Ye's gesture earlier; seeing Tuan Cang approach, she whispered.

"Tuan Cang, did you also see it?"

Hearing that, Zhi Cun Tuan Zang realized he hadn't misread; Lian Ye truly left him a message.

The two found an empty corner and began to converse.

Only a bewildered Yuanfei Rizhan and Shuihu Menyan remained.

"What are they saying?"

"I don't know."

On a reef in the sea not far from Water Country.

"Lord Lian Ye, the mission failed again, what should we do?" A Fei said with a panicked expression.

He didn't expect his perfect plan to fail just like that.

"What a pity, brother."

Lian Ye removed his mask and pretended to speak regretfully, but his mouth corner wouldn't stay down.

A Fei was immersed in the sorrow of the mission's failure and didn't notice Lian Ye's expression.

Otherwise they'd definitely ask him what he's laughing at?

Ban Daye's assigned mission failed, which is a pity, but his plan succeeded.

Can't we just be happy?

"Lord Lian Ye, can we really complete the task assigned by Lord Ban on our own?"

A Fei is just a Bai Jue, the help he can give Lian Ye is limited.

They feel very guilty about this.

If they were stronger, it might not have happened.

"Alright, don't be too sad," Lian Ye said with a smile, "Go to Rain Country and call Shanjiaoyu Banzang for me; that guy is my helper."

A Fei's eyes lit up at the words.

Turns out Lord Lian Ye had already found a helper, and they had been worrying for half a day.

"Lord Lian Ye, I'm going right now to fetch Shanjiaoyu Banzang for you!"

After speaking, A Fei immediately sprinted at full speed toward Rain Hidden Village, needing to call Lian Ye's helper in the shortest time possible.

Lian Ye watched A Fei's silhouette until it vanished, then lay on the reef sunbathing.

He alone dealing with the Ninja Alliance is indeed somewhat strenuous.

He had just made an agreement with Shanjiaoyu Banzang, so it would be better to call him over directly for help.

When the two face the Ninja Alliance, Ban Daye will feel better upon hearing the news.

As long as the two ease a bit, the mission failure is reasonable, right?

Hmm, we can't let Shanjiaoyu Banzang attack with poison!

Otherwise, what if we accidentally wound a Konoha ninja later?

He couldn't possibly give the antidote in person, could he?

Now he'll sunbathe and rest first; tonight he has a meeting with Tuan Cang.

Before leaving, he deliberately made a small‑team exclusive hand sign to Zhi Cun Tuan Zang.

Worried that Tuan Cang didn't see it clearly, he did it twice.

Since the squad disbanded, he hasn't done this gesture for a long time.

It's been many years.

Basically it means to have Tuan Cang come to Xiao Shu Lin in the evening and wait.

……

……

ps: Starting Tuesday I won't be working overtime; let's see if I can keep the third watch, ying ying ying…