Chapter 132: Contradictions Appear, Tuan Zang Gains Merit and Returns

Leaving the clan territory, Shisui obeyed the Third Hokage's order, sent people to keep watch on Tuan Zang, and it was an open, legitimate surveillance.

Tuan Zang's reaction was not what Yan Shifan and Sima Yi expected; even with the Third Hokage's order, he still did not intend to leave Konoha so easily.

Shisui neither concealed anything nor forced a request; he simply forwarded Tuan Zang's reaction to the Hokage Tower.

Zhuan Ren Xiaochun and Shui Tuo Men Yan received the news and felt a heavy weight in their hearts.

"Tuan Zang still won't give up~"

Shui Tuo Men Yan sighed; after working together for so many years, they could not possibly be unaware of Tuan Zang's thoughts.

Zhuan Ren Xiaochun had no such sentiment and simply said, "Rizhan is in a deep sleep; we cannot let Tuan Zang stay in Konoha under any circumstances."

Having said that, she invoked the Hokage's authority to dispatch ANBU agents to reiterate the Third Hokage's order.

Tuan Zang was not surprised by the urging; in front of the ANBU and Police Department personnel he explained, "Both elite squads died on the way, and with only this few people from Root, how can we arrive safely? I need time to prepare."

Tuan Zang knew Shinzusuke's eight-man formation well: two elite Jonin, four Jonin all from the Sarutobi Clan, not weak in strength, one reconnaissance‑special Jonin, one medical‑special Jonin; the eight worked with great cohesion, operating within the borders, and this configuration was already immensely powerful.

Aside from Wood Release, he had already exhausted all his tactics, yet could only return empty‑handed; however, according to information his subordinates gathered, the forces that ambushed Shinzusuke came in three waves, which cannot be a coincidence—there seem to be many who share his thinking.

Within Konoha, there are so many ambitious ones; if he left now, wouldn't that endanger Konoha? For Konoha's sake, he must stay!

Tuan Zang puffed out his chest, his face radiating righteousness.

The ANBU knew they could not sway Tuan Zang; they simply relayed the message, and seeing Tuan Zang's justified stance, they returned to the Hokage Tower to report.

Zhuan Ren Xiaochun and the other felt their heads spin like a whirlwind.

"Tuan Zang does have a point," Shui Tuo Men Yan said after a moment of silence.

"What reason does he have? Does he really think we don't know about the things he's done?"

Zhuan Ren Xiaochun was angry, but after speaking she fell silent.

Why not question Tuan Zang about Shinzusuke's ambush and threaten him to set out immediately? Because it could indeed be him; if we point it out, and Tuan Zang is forced into a corner and decides to leave outright, the outcome is uncertain.

With that thought, the two, helpless, could only send someone to convey the message again.

"Give him one day to prepare; if he still feels the guard is insufficient, we can mobilize some ANBU to accompany him."

But would Tuan Zang be willing to leave? After a day, he again claimed that the ANBU had departed, leaving no one to guard the Hokage, and that Konoha might fall into chaos, thus continuing to stall.

The two dared not force him; they reluctantly acquiesced, but kept sending ANBU to press the matter.

Two more days passed, and Tuan Zang began mobilizing the already small Shimura Clan as guards, using that as another pretext to delay.

Zhuan Ren Xiaochun, unable to bear it any longer, called Shisui directly and, in an instructive tone, said: "Tuan Zang is defying the Hokage's order, refusing to set out; you bring the Police Department people to make him depart immediately. If he uses insufficient guard as an excuse, assign some Police Department personnel to accompany and protect him; regardless, he must leave the village today."

Zi Lai Ye had already arranged for Naruto; on a chosen day he will go ahead to the Hot Springs Country defense line to oversee the situation. They can no longer delay.

Shisui's expression remained calm, and in an official tone he replied, "Tuan Zang's assistant's reasons are valid; I have no authority to force him to set out immediately. As for the Police Department, we only handle internal security; without a direct order from the Hokage, we cannot dispatch them elsewhere."

Bang—"Uchiha Shisui!"

Zhuan Ren Xiaochun was stunned, then enraged; she hadn't expected Shisui to dare defy her order. Though she usually clashed with the Police Department, as the Hokage's assistant she relied on the Hokage's authority, and Shisui had never spoken to her that way before.

"Uchiha Shisui, the Hokage is only slightly unwell, and you have exposed your true nature. How could Rizhan be so blind as to trust you, a Byakugan wolf!"

Shui Tuo Men Yan's expression changed; he immediately interjected, stepping in front of Shisui to advise, "Rizhan also issued the order to keep an eye on Tuan Zang. Now Tuan Zang is lingering at Root, refusing to carry out the command, which threatens the village's safety. Isn't the Police Department's duty to protect Konoha?"

Shisui was indifferent; the three assistants each harbored ulterior motives—Tuan Zang hoped to stall and seize the chance to rise, Shui Tuo Men Yan and Zhuan Ren Xiaochun aimed to provoke a clash between the Uchiha and Tuan Zang, but unless the Third Hokage awakens and directly orders him to act, he will not get involved.

"The Hokage's order is naturally important; I have already sent people to keep an eye on Tuan Zang's assistant. However, he is still the Hokage's assistant and has a legitimate reason to prepare. If there is no direct Hokage order to act against an assistant..."

Shisui said, suddenly looking at the two, "If he can bypass the Hokage and act against Tuan Zang, then he can naturally act against the other two as well."

Realizing this, Zhuan Ren Xiaochun was instantly dumbfounded; seeing the two fall silent, Shisui called out and vanished in an instant.

Shisui's repeated refusal infuriated Zhuan Ren Xiaochun, whose eyes betrayed a murderous glint.

"Damn little brat, are all Uchiha so disrespectful? He even dares to act against me; Fugaku never even dared to speak like that!"

Shui Tuo Men Yan glanced at Zhuan Ren Xiaochun, slightly frowning, and advised, "He does have a point; we should keep them out of this to avoid self‑inflicted trouble, and the priority is to get Tuan Zang out quickly. Since the Police Department has reservations, how about using the ANBU?"

Zhuan Ren Xiaochun sighed, shaking her head repeatedly, "Tuan Zang's prestige within the ANBU surpasses ours; issuing orders is fine, but forcing him to fight could be unpredictable as to who we could handle."

Many ANBU orders were issued by Tuan Zang; many have carried out missions under his command. With the Third Hokage unconscious and the ANBU commander dead, Tuan Zang's command authority became supreme.

If the Third Hokage had not publicly assigned Tuan Zang the task of leaving the village, Tuan Zang would have already taken over the ANBU and suppressed the two.

"This"

The two were headache‑stricken, and at that moment an ANBU member came to report.

"Assistants, the Hokage has awakened; please proceed to the Sarutobi Clan lands."

"Rizhan has awakened!"

Both were delighted, and Zhuan Ren Xiaochun let out a long sigh of relief; she hadn't imagined that the Third Hokage had been unconscious only a few days, yet everything went wrong, and the previously obedient Uchiha Shisui even dared to directly refuse their orders.

"We must make Rizhan see through the Uchiha brat!"

Saying that, the two immediately headed to the Sarutobi Clan lands, only to find that Shisui, who had just left, had already arrived there ahead of them.

In addition, Zi Lai Ye, Sarutobi Asuma, and several medical ninjas were present.

"Apologies, Third Hokage, Tuan Zang refuses to leave for these reasons. He is, after all, the Hokage's assistant; I cannot force him to depart, so I must reject the order from the Zhuan Ren assistant."

The two had just entered the room when they heard Shisui making another brief report; Zhuan Ren Xiaochun felt her head heat up, her vision darken, and she wanted to rush over and tear Shisui apart.

She inhaled, about to open her mouth and scold, but Shui Tuo Men Yan quickly stopped her.

"Rizhan has just awakened; don't make noise."

Shui Tuo Men Yan was plagued by a headache; he couldn't understand why his usually composed old friend became so irritable whenever he encountered the youngster Shisui.

What a trivial matter, yet he kept pursuing relentlessly, making many situations embarrassingly awkward.

Zhuan Ren Xiaochun fell silent, glanced at the pallid Third Hokage, and swallowed her frustration.

The Third Hokage also noticed their arrival; Sarutobi Asuma helped him sit up, and after three days of unconsciousness his body had grown increasingly weak.

Several medical ninjas, aware that they had important matters to discuss, voluntarily left upon seeing Zhuan Ren Xiaochun present.

"Shisui did well; he went, which will only heighten the conflict. Zi Lai Ye, take the ANBU and go; have Tuan Zang, with the Root members, head straight to Kyoto."

That brief sentence nearly exhausted the Third Hokage's strength; Shisui truly sensed his condition—his breath like a wisp, his spirit drained, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to go out at any moment.

Ziraiye sighed inwardly, glanced at the Third Hokage, nodded in agreement, and then left directly.

"Shisui."

After Ziraiye departed, the Third Hokage called softly; Shisui immediately stepped forward and replied quietly, "I'm here."

"Konoha, you must not act recklessly; you have to watch over it."

The Third Hokage's voice grew fainter while his breathing became rapid; Koharu noticed his condition and rushed forward to examine him.

"Rizhan, you just woke up; your body is too weak—continue resting."

Koharu dared not let the Third Hokage keep straining his mind, lest he collapse soon.

The Third Hokage also knew his condition, sighed, fell silent, and Asuma immediately helped him lie down.

Seeing this, Shisui could only leave first; after he departed, the Third Hokage whispered, "Tsukade, Tsukade."

Koharu and Mizumonemon exchanged a glance at the words and left at once.

"Continue mobilizing personnel; we must find Tsukade quickly and bring her back!"

After Shisui refused their orders, the two understood the matter's urgency even more; upon returning they immediately dispatched clan members to leave Konoha in search of Tsukade. Danzo, with a grim expression, carried the Root to the Konoha Gate.

A group of ANBU and Ziraiye beside him stared expressionlessly.

He hadn't expected the Third Hokage to recover so quickly, nor that his first action upon waking would be to have Ziraiye urge him to carry out the mission.

If it were ANBU, the Police Department, or those two guys, he could keep them, but it was Ziraiye.

A person whose strength, prestige, and even legitimacy surpass him, holding the Hokage's orders, left him no choice but to begrudgingly take the Root and head to Kyoto.

After he led the group away, Ziraiye scratched his head and sighed, "What a hassle—take a few people to watch them, and make sure they don't come back around."

"Understood!"

Having dealt with Danzo's matter, Ziraiye immediately returned to Naruto's home; Naruto had already tidied his toys and sat quietly on the bed, staring off.

"Naruto, I'm back. Let's go, we're going to eat barbecue."

Today is the last day; tomorrow Ziraiye will set out early for the Yugakuni Frontline.

Yet, when Ziraiye called, Naruto remained seated on the bed, head bowed, without responding.

"Naruto."

"Grandpa Toad, can you not go?" Naruto's voice was tiny; he curled his legs and buried his head, unwilling to.

Ziraiye stopped, slowly approached Naruto's side, reached out to stroke Naruto's hair, and gently explained, "Naruto, bad people are coming from the north; they intend to destroy Konoha and will kill many. Grandpa Toad will go eliminate them, protect Konoha, and also you."

"Don't—I don't want Konoha; I only want Grandpa Toad!"

Naruto shook his head, refusing desperately.

Ziraiye frowned; Naruto's words were troubling, but he patiently urged, "Naruto, don't be willful. The Village is a place that protects everyone; I must protect Konoha. After I leave, if you feel bored you can have Sasuke come to play with you; I'll arrange that."

Smack— Ziraiye said, but Naruto suddenly slapped his hand away, his emotions raging. He looked up with a sobbing voice and shouted, "No, I don't want Sasuke. He has a mother and father, and a brother. I only have Grandpa Toad. I don't want Grandpa Toad to leave me!"

Naruto immediately threw himself into Ziraiye's arms, his body trembling slightly.

Ziraiye was stunned, standing frozen; the hand he had just had slapped remained suspended there for a long moment. After a while, his gaze dimmed as he slowly stroked Naruto's hair.

"Sorry."

"If only he had been in the Village then."

After a long silence, until Naruto's emotions settled and drowsiness crept in, Ziraiye patted his head and said, "Naruto, you value Grandpa Toad so much; I'm glad."

"However, Grandpa Toad is a disciple of the Hokage, and everyone in this Village is my family, all the people I must protect."

"Naruto, do you want Grandpa Toad to lose his family?"

"No."

Naruto still lay in Ziraiye's arms, replying softly.

"I don't want Grandpa Toad to become just a person."

"Naruto, are you afraid of being alone?"

"Mm."

"I see. Then set a goal: if you become Hokage, all the villagers will be your family, and you won't feel lonely anymore."

"Become Hokage? Like Third Hokage?"

"Exactly."

"Will becoming Hokage give me a family? So I won't be alone?"

"Of course!"

"Really?"

"Really."

"So, it's decided—I will become Hokage! I must become Hokage!"

Naruto looked up; a flash of light and a familiar face in his eyes made Ziraiye momentarily dazed.

"Hahaha, good, then it's settled—Naruto, you must become Hokage; that's our promise!"

"Mm! Promise made; I will definitely become Hokage!"

The two exchanged fists, their eyes shining brightly.

Goo— suddenly Naruto's stomach rumbled; the two glanced at each other and burst into laughter.

"Let's go eat barbecue; today you'll eat your fill."

"Mm!"

The next day, while Naruto was still sleeping in, Ziraiye whispered his farewell, greeted the Third Hokage, then led several squads north to the Yugakuni Frontline; the ANBU immediately returned to Naruto's side to protect and monitor him.

Meanwhile another report was sent to Konoha.

"We've received word that a bounty hunter, carrying dozens of heads, exchanged them at a fire nation gold exchange for eighty million taels."

Shisui was shocked and instinctively asked, "Whose heads? They're worth that much!"

"Shinzusuke, the heads of eight Sarutobi people are all there; moreover, several heads of relatively famous bounty hunters were also brought by that person, and together they fetched about eighty million taels."

Hui opened his mouth and then began to explain.

Shisui fell silent after hearing that; after all, he is the Third Hokage's eldest son, and the heads were actually sent to the exchange office.

"Has the Third's side learned the news?"

Hui shook his head and said, "The ANBU know, the Sarutobi clan also knows, but the Third may not know."

"Indeed, better not to say it. Any news on that bounty hunter's identity?"

"Nothing for now; I heard that person hasn't shown their face, and after delivering the heads they immediately set their sights on the next bounty—probably a cash‑strapped rogue ninja."

Shisui nodded, could only drop it; at this point he could not muster forces over Shinzusuke's heads.

After that, the Village fell back into calm, and the various Konoha divisions continued to operate as usual.

Although the Third was gravely ill and unable to handle state affairs, two assistants temporarily took over, and in the short term there was no serious problem; indeed, very few in Konoha even knew of the Third's condition.

Shisui continued his work in the Police Department.

Yet beneath Konoha, hidden currents surged: the two assistants both intensified the search for Tsunade and continuously liaised with the various clans in the Village, and with the Sarutobi clan, some ninjas from the three clans gradually entered ANBU service.

Shisui observed all this; with the Third gone and no one in the Hokage building able to directly order him, it was a prime opportunity for the Police Department to expand, and he planned to act before the transfer of Xiao Chun took shape.

However, Sima Yi and Yan Shifan stopped him.

"No rush; wait until the main army departs, two thousand ninjas leave Konoha, the interior will become even emptier, and then will be the chance to expand power."

The Village's ninja clans and civilian ninjas do not accept a larger share for the Uchiha; the more who leave, the more advantageous it is for them.

Shisui took the two's advice, chose to continue biding his time, and secretly recorded the families and ninjas contacted by the transfer of Xiao Chun.

Shisui had thought this period would be long; after all, even if everything went smoothly, Danzo would need about half a month to return.

Yet events always change unexpectedly; just when everyone thought they still had time, Danzo, who had been away from Konoha for only four days, returned again, bringing with him a contingent of ninja troops dispatched by a great lord with escort funds.

Konoha was shocked; the transfer of Xiao Chun and Mizuto Mon En trembled inside, Danzo returned triumphant—could they still wait for Tsunade to come back?

(End of Chapter)