Chapter 515: Do You Want to Retire?

Summoning Technique: Three-Tails!

Since the Nine-Tails is still inside Xuanwo Mizuto, Lian Ye can only release the Three-Tails for now.

As for that Nine-Tails fellow, it can only be released before Aunt Mizuto dies.

Anyway, it's been sealed for such a long time, missing a few years doesn't matter…

The Three-Tails was originally resting in a lake in Fire Country, and in the blink of an eye it was summoned by him.

At this moment the Three-Tails is not controlled by the Sharingan, yet it dares not show any displeasure, not even moving a muscle.

There's no choice; the guy in front of me is too powerful.

Even someone like Madara Uchiha was taken down by him, let alone me, just a feeble tailed beast.

The fates of the other tailed beasts were witnessed by the Three-Tails.

It doesn't want the same fate as its companions, nor to die again just days after being revived.

It can only tremble and stare at Lian Ye, not knowing why he summoned it.

Hopefully he won't act against it.

If the person before it intends to kill it, it can only close its eyes and welcome death.

Now all the Three-Tails can do is pray silently, seeming no longer the powerful beast people speak of.

Lian Ye looks at the meek Three-Tails before him and feels a deep terror in its eyes.

It seems this guy has been scared stiff.

"Three-Tails, I summoned you to tell you," he says calmly. "From now on you are free again; from now on the Ninja World will have no one hunting you."

"Of course, provided you do not actively attack humans."

Hearing this, the Three-Tails gapes in shock, its massive turtle-like face showing an incredulous expression.

"You… are you really saying that?!"

It never imagined that the human before it would want to let it go!

Logically, shouldn't it be sealed inside a human, subjected to endless sealing?

After all, the other tailed beasts suffered the same fate.

This guy can't be joking again, can he?

Clearly, the Three-Tails doesn't seem to fully trust Lian Ye's words.

A treacherous and cunning human must be plotting other schemes!

It doesn't hold much goodwill toward the human who dared to seal it.

If it hadn't been unable to defeat Senju Hashirama, these years wouldn't have been so miserable.

First it was captured, then sealed inside a jinchuriki, and finally, after much struggle, it broke free and hid.

In the end it was discovered by Lian Ye and finally cut by Madara Uchiha into Blood Mist.

Just days after revival, it was summoned again for control, witnessing Lian Ye and Madara's great battle firsthand.

Now, suddenly summoned, it is told it will regain its freedom.

Anyone would find that hard to believe immediately…

"No trick—you're free to go now."

Lian Ye naturally wouldn't idle and joke with the Three-Tails; whether he has such a twisted taste is unknown.

"Then I leave?"

Seeing Lian Ye not joking, the Three-Tails tentatively asks.

Speaking, it carefully steps back a few paces.

Realizing Lian Ye offers no resistance, it immediately turns and sprints away at full speed.

Fearing it might slow down, Lian Ye suddenly changes his mind.

Thus the Three-Tails runs for hundreds of li, and upon seeing Lian Ye not pursuing, it is moved to tears.

"Wooo… Freedom, I'm finally free!"

Now among the nine great tailed beasts, only it and half of the Nine-Tails remain; the others have become fodder for Outsider Demon Statues.

"You rest easy; I will inherit your will and live on!"

The Three-Tails glances at the sky, then dives into the sea depths.

The Ninja World is too dangerous.

Before Lian Ye grows old, it doesn't intend to appear again; otherwise another sealing would be disastrous.

Hokage Office.

"Is the Three-Tails matter resolved?"

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang looks up at his flamboyantly entering friend and says softly.

"Resolved, that guy just pranced away."

Lian Ye recalls the Three-Tails' earlier escape and chuckles, shaking his head.

"Since it's handled, I'll issue a notice to other villages not to scheme against tailed beasts."

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang drafts a document on the spot.

Konoha will certainly warn other ninja villages not to plot against tailed beasts.

Otherwise, after Lian Ye lets one go with his front foot, they'd snatch it back with the rear—what's the point of releasing a tailed beast?

Lian Ye offers no objection, quietly watching Tuan Zang write and stamp, then handing the document to the ANBU.

It is worth mentioning that Yuanfei Rizhan has already resigned.

After serving many years as Hokage Assistant, he has no real authority, spending each day in the office laboriously handling paperwork.

Occasionally clashing politically with Tuan Zang, he ultimately ends up being crushed by a higher‑ranking official.

He's neither the Hokage nor does he have any real authority.

Relying only on Teacher Feijian's teaching of that bit of Will of Fire, he could never willingly continue to be a workhorse.

To be honest, the fact that he could endure working for free as a workhorse for so many years means his Will of Fire is already strong enough.

If it were Lian Ye, he would have quit on the spot.

Since the free labor fled, all the Village's affairs, big and small, fell on Tuan Cang's shoulders.

He can only work day and night handling paperwork, only for the documents on his desk to refresh automatically the next day.

On top of that, being middle‑aged makes him a bit powerless, so his speed in handling state affairs slows more and more, and he gradually begins to entertain thoughts of retirement.

Although Tuan Cang wants to retire, it certainly isn't now.

At least he has to wait a few more years…

Frankly, after finally achieving the lifelong dream, how could it end so quickly?

"What's the matter you called me for?"

Lian Ye, seeing Tuan Cang finish the paperwork, finally asked the question that had been nagging him.

If this guy summons him over, something troublesome must have happened.

But he doesn't understand what in the Ninja World now could make Tuan Cang think it's unmanageable.

"Does the Village have a suitable candidate to succeed the Hokage?"

Lian Ye, who had just lifted his teacup to drink, was nearly choked by the tea upon hearing that.

"What did you say?!"

Did Tuan Cang get his head caught in a door? Or was his brain injured by Madara Uchiha's divine lightning strike?

He actually dared to say that…

Logically, shouldn't he stay in the Hokage's seat until the day he dies?

Who doesn't know that the person most eager to become Hokage is Zhi Cun Tuan Zang himself.

Yet now he wants to try to find a suitable successor.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang, watching Lian Ye's shocked expression, twitched the corner of his mouth slightly.

Why does this guy have such a huge reaction!

As the Third Hokage, he is looking for a suitable heir for the Village.

Is there any problem?

"I'm asking, does the Village have a suitable candidate to inherit the Hokage position?"

Tuan Cang repeated his earlier statement.

His becoming the Third Hokage was due not only to his own excellence but also partly to Lian Ye's influence.

If he hadn't suggested it to Teacher Feijian, he might not have become Hokage.

Now that he's looking for a new successor, he must ask Lian Ye for his opinion.

"Do you want to retire?"