At this moment, going to Sarutobi Hiruzen would yield no real results.
So, Tian Yu chose to act on his own terms—he would let Danzo taste the consequences of provoking him.
Danzo wanted to seize Tian Yu's home?
Then he would learn what it felt like to have his own home stolen.
With Tian Yu's current strength, if he didn't want to reveal his presence, igniting a fire without being caught was a simple matter.
"Hahahaha! That was brutal!"
Tsunade couldn't help but laugh heartily in the courtyard.
All the frustration that had been simmering in her heart since that night was instantly swept away in a burst of joy.
"Let's have a drink."
Tian Yu smiled as he pulled out the soju he'd prepared earlier.
Tsunade paused for a moment—then remembered: they had indeed planned to drink together before. It suddenly clicked.
Tian Yu had once told her:
"You only taste the best sake when you drink it in happiness."
Did he foresee all of this would happen tonight?
Night passed silently.
By dawn, the news that the Shimura clan compound had gone up in flames had spread throughout Konoha.
The blaze had lasted three hours.
It consumed nearly all the Shimura clan estate.
Dozens of clan members were injured, and several were killed—casualties were severe.
At the same time, a different piece of news began to circulate:
The Shimura clan's Great Elder had attempted to steal the Scroll of Seals.
No one knew where the leak came from, but once it started spreading, it swept through Konoha like wildfire.
Suddenly, the name "Shimura Egawa"—
—became synonymous with disgrace. A traitor. A street rat everyone wanted to stomp out.
The villagers began connecting the attempted theft of the Scroll of Seals with the mysterious fire at the Shimura estate.
Many believed that the Shimura clan had overstepped and were simply punished by fate.
As for Shimura Danzo—the clan patriarch—his reputation nosedived.
He was shunned, accused behind closed doors, and even ridiculed openly.
But there was yet another major event, albeit smaller in scale, that shocked the village:
Tian Yu had officially resigned from the Konoha Assassination Squad.
He had been recently promoted to captain of the unit by the Third Hokage.
This decision stunned many!
Who was Tian Yu?
A youth with extraordinary skill—already a captain of the assassination corps!
A rising star!
With a few more years, many believed he could succeed as the next Anbu Commander.
And yet—he had stepped down?
Naturally, those attuned to Konoha's political landscape began whispering behind the scenes:
Tian Yu's resignation from Anbu must be connected to the Shimura clan's downfall.
Tian Yu's family, however, remained tight-lipped.
As far as they were concerned, if Tian Yu held a high position, they were proud.
But if he wanted to walk away, they respected that too.
In the words of his father, Tian Xiong:
> "That's exactly why we're rich now. Even if Tian Yu and Tian Tian never go on a single mission again, we have enough money for them to live carefree forever."
To this, Tian Yu could only sigh silently.
So this… is the joy of financial freedom.
Yet one person didn't take his resignation so lightly—
Tsunade.
When she learned Tian Yu had stepped down from Anbu, her expression turned complicated, her brow furrowed.
She seemed to sense that his choice had something to do with Danzo…
And perhaps even with Hiruzen.
If Tian Yu still trusted the Third Hokage…
Would he have burned down the Shimura estate?
Though Hiruzen found no trace of the arsonist, among people like them—
The truth didn't need to be spoken aloud.
Tsunade had a lot on her mind. Living under the same roof as Tian Yu, seeing him every day, she finally brought it up.
"Hey, brat. If you're really sick of life in the village… why don't you just leave Konoha with me? I've hated this rotten place for a long time anyway."
Tsunade leaned in with a mischievous gleam in her eye,
Watching Tian Yu polish a hidden projectile with practiced ease.
She clearly wasn't joking.
Traveling with Tian Yu, gambling with him at her side—
Now that would be unbeatable!
Wouldn't that be far more fun than staying trapped in stuffy old Konoha?
"What do you say?"
Tian Yu chuckled at her offer.
"My parents and Tian Tian are here. So is everything my family owns."
"Is there anywhere more prosperous—or safer—for business than Konoha, capital of the Land of Fire?"
"I couldn't bring myself to leave this place."
He paused and smirked, "Besides… even if I did leave with you… what's the point without a reason?"
"But…" Tsunade frowned slightly. "You don't like being here, do you?"
Tian Yu raised an eyebrow. "When did I ever say I hated Konoha?"
"Huh? You didn't? Then why'd you quit Anbu? I thought that was your path forward."
Tian Yu replied flatly, "I just didn't want to keep dealing with those crusty old men. I want a peaceful mind.
"But that doesn't mean they're worth me giving up Konoha's prime real estate."
Tsunade instantly understood.
The "old men" referred to the Konoha Elders, the council behind many of Danzo's moves.
"But without your Anbu status," she said, "things might get rough. Danzo will definitely wait for a chance to come after you again!"
Tian Yu smirked, "You think I'm scared of him?"
Tsunade suddenly remembered:
Tian Yu had already fought Danzo—and won.
In fact, Danzo was nearly killed in that clash.
Strength-wise, there was no issue.
Still… she frowned again.
"But if this drags on… things could get dangerous. What if he targets your family?
"You can stop him once, maybe twice—but forever?"
Her concern wasn't unfounded.
But Tian Yu didn't look worried at all.
A glimmer of something unreadable passed through his eyes.
Then he smiled.
"It's fine.
**The power structure in this village…
…is about to be reshuffled.**"
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