Just arriving at Kei Yamanaka's house, the Three Little Troublemakers looked utterly bewildered, about to be callously abandoned.
They had planned to reschedule when they saw their teacher needed to leave urgently.
But Kei easily resolved everything with just a Shadow Clone.
Why would he let three free workers go so easily? Who'd roll out the dough in the afternoon? Who'd make the steamed buns? Who'd grind the soybeans for soy milk?
The Shadow Clone stayed behind at home, scrubbing and rinsing various pots while methodically directing the trio to get to work.
Maito Gai kneaded dough, Kurenai Yuhi washed and sorted vegetables, and Genma Shiranami chopped meat.
The three threw themselves into their tasks with surprising enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, Kei left together with Tsunade, heading toward Konoha Hospital.
——————
Inside the VIP ward on the third floor of Konoha Hospital.
Seated on the hospital bed, Danzō Shimura held an IV drip in his left hand while rapidly flipping through the latest intelligence reports collected from multiple ninja villages on the small tray table before him.
A Root member wearing standard Anbu uniform and mask stood faithfully by his bedside.
Thick clusters of Parasitic Bugs, each no bigger than a grain of rice, covered both ceiling and walls of the entire room.
Although the constantly writhing bugs made the room feel especially unsettling,
compared to defensive barriers that consumed massive chakra, were difficult to sustain, and required multiple people to maintain, this minor inconvenience was negligible.
After finishing the reports, Danzō closed his eyes and organized the information within his mind.
He then picked up a blank scroll and began assigning Root ninja missions for the day ahead.
Click—
The ward door pushed open under an aged palm.
Beside the bed, the Root ninja slightly lowered his head, bowing respectfully toward the three aging figures entering the room.
Danzō's sharp gaze swept across them.
Upon recognizing Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, alongside Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, he softened his expression slightly.
Putting down the scroll beside him,
"What is it?"
"Haven't you been treated by Tsunade yet?" Hiruzen sauntered over and casually took a seat on the nearby sofa, not minding his friend's icy tone or indifferent attitude.
He understood his friend's emotions and even felt some sympathy for his current state.
After all, anyone forced to stay constantly vigilant against unknown threats and possible attacks at any moment would likely be in a foul mood too.
"She probably wishes I'd die here."
His lone eye fixed on Hiruzen's right hand as he pulled out his pipe. Danzō's mood darkened further.
"She just misjudges you. We all see what you've done for Konoha."
Faced with his friend's silent disapproval, Hiruzen reluctantly put the pipe away.
Fine. If he didn't want to smoke, that was his choice. Why glare like that?
"Hiruzen, you're far too soft on Tsunade! Same goes for Jiraiya and Orochimaru. Just look at what they've become!"
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado also sat down on the nearby sofa.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's evasive response triggered an immediate and ruthless counterattack.
Jiraiya is recklessly free-spirited and undisciplined, disregarding Konoha Ninja regulations.
Every time he accepted a mission and left the village, he used intelligence missions as a convenient cover to search for Mount Myoboku's legendary Destined One, often remaining away for extended periods.
Tsunade is lazy and hot-tempered. She frequently skipped High Council meetings without reason, sneaking out of Konoha to indulge in drinking and gambling.
Wasn't that just some man who died shortly after giving her a love token?
How long has it been since her husband died? Did she ever fall into despair over it?
What about Orochimaru!
He accepts missions diligently enough, but immediately dives into his research lab upon returning, becoming completely absorbed in studying ninjutsu.
If things keep going like this, trouble will inevitably arise!
"Tsunade is still young. Of course she has a few character flaws. For the sake of First's and teacher's reputations, you should be more tolerant."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sidestepped the main issue yet again, deliberately skipping over Jiraiya and Orochimaru, only briefly touching on Tsunade's problems.
He even brought up the First and Second Hokage, trying to steer Koharu Utatane away from the topic.
But Hiruzen clearly underestimated the accumulated resentment and fury his longtime comrade had harbored over the years.
"Youth isn't an excuse for her to become corrupted! The achievements of the First Hokage and our teacher aren't justification for her reckless behavior! As their descendant, she should serve as an example for Konoha ninja..."
Boom!
The hospital room door exploded inward from a violent impact.
The twisted, deformed door flew directly toward Koharu Utatane, who was seated on the couch.
As one of the elite bodyguards who had served under the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju during his reign, and among the top jonin ranks,
Koharu Utatane, having recently celebrated her 51st birthday,
still possessed considerable strength despite her noticeable decline, not yet as aged and frail as she would become in later years during Shippuden.
Reacting on instinct, she lashed out with a whip-fast kick, barely managing to knock the warped door panel aside.
She herself staggered backward to the window beside the hospital bed.
Buzz—
A massive swarm of parasitic bugs erupted around the hospital bed.
Danzo Shimura watched as the splintered edge of the door buried deep in the swarm, stopping just centimeters from his head, the hairs all over his body slowly settling back down.
Glancing at Tsunade, who had kicked open the door, and Koharu Utatane, who wore an expression of obvious anger,
he barely managed to hold back the surge of killing intent within him.
They clearly knew he'd been sabotaged, that any incident occurring around him could potentially be another assassination attempt.
And these two women were actually fighting inside his hospital room?!
Had they gone completely brain-dead?!
Or were they actually planning to take advantage of this chaos and finish him off?!
Standing one step behind Tsunade, Kei Yamanaka looked through the empty doorframe at the collapsed door lying on the floor and the enormous swarm of parasitic bugs covering the hospital bed, sighing inwardly with considerable regret.
As the old saying goes: The good die young, but villains never seem to.
Old Danzo Shimura truly had nine lives like a roach!
His gaze shifted sideways, noticing the Root member standing silently in the shadows, barely perceptible, who had blocked the door fragment using parasitic bugs.
Realization dawned on him.
Judging from the timeline, this individual should be Tatsuma Aburame—originally destined to become Danzo's right-hand man after the Third Great Ninja War.
Not very old, considerable strength, likely stronger than most Jonin in Konoha.
While Kei Yamanaka quickly scanned the occupants of the hospital room.
Tsunade's smooth forehead tensed, a bulging vein pulsing visibly, and the pale blue Yin Seal darkened to jet-black in an instant.
"Old hag! That's enough!"
"Did I say anything wrong?!"
Koharu Utatane discreetly stretched her numb right leg but remained unbowed in attitude.
Even though Tsunade's current strength far surpassed hers, she was convinced she hadn't said anything wrong!
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately stepped between them, effortlessly slipping into his usual role as mediator.
"Tsunade, Koharu just used some strong words. You know how she is—she never meant any harm toward you."
"And you too, Koharu. We've all watched Tsunade grow up—we naturally want to see her improve. But even as elders, you need to be careful with how you express that..."
"Tsunade, we're old now. The future of Konoha must be carried by your generation. Because we worry about that future, we naturally raise our expectations unconsciously..."
"Hiruzen's lengthy yet heartfelt words slowly diffused Tsunade's fury."
Beside him, Homura Mitokado gave repeated nods of agreement.
Koharu, who had been defiant mere moments ago, also inhaled deeply several times before her expression began to soften.
Only Danzo Shimura continued watching coldly from the sidelines, his lips curling faintly in mockery.
"Now that's what I call smooth talking!"
Kei Yamanaka observed the rapidly easing tension thanks to the Third Hokage's verbal persuasion, honestly impressed by the old man.
Just this level of peacemaking skill—if someone has even a shred of feeling for you, who wouldn't get confused after listening?
No wonder he became Hokage, right?
Danzo, take notes!
Hmm?
"Facial expressions! Control your face!"
Seeing Danzo's mocking look, Kei immediately realized his own expression had slipped.
He immediately threw himself into 200% acting mode, mimicking Homura Mitokado's expression precisely.
It's me—Kei Yamanaka!
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