"The ninjas of Konoha must prioritize the completion of these missions."
"How can the village's resources be wasted on the disappearance of a mere three Genin?"
"They are your own subordinates. Find them yourself."
After saying this to Li Anshi, Homura Mitokado turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Hiruzen, you are now the Third Hokage of Konoha. Your time should not be wasted meeting with these ordinary ninjas."
"Indeed, Hiruzen."
Koharu Utatane, who was standing to the side, also nodded in agreement with Homura.
"The work of the Hokage is of utmost importance."
"And you."
Koharu turned to Li Anshi, her expression unfriendly. "Your subordinates are missing. Your inability to find them is a sign of your own incompetence."
"Looking at your age, you must have graduated from the Ninja Academy, right?"
Although the name "Little Li Flying Dagger" had become famous recently, not many people had actually seen Li Anshi or knew that he was the one.
As elders of Konoha, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had naturally never met him.
"What? You didn't study hard at the Ninja Academy, and now that you find your own abilities lacking, you don't think of ways to improve yourself, but instead want to waste the village's resources…"
"Who do you think you are?"
Li Anshi glanced at Koharu and Homura.
These two, along with Danzo Shimura and Hiruzen Sarutobi, were known in his memory as the "Konoha Four."
Compared to Hiruzen and Danzo, these two seemed to have nothing particularly noteworthy to their names.
But one had to admit, sometimes mediocrity was the best camouflage.
Of the Konoha Four, Hiruzen died in battle and Danzo was killed, while these two lived the longest.
Li Anshi's gaze made Koharu and Homura frown.
What a rude young man!
"Lord Third, do you think so as well?"
"Sigh…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.
What a headache…
He never would have imagined that his friends, who had been with him through life and death before he became Hokage, would change so much after becoming high-ranking officials in Konoha.
Although it was only a small sign, Hiruzen could already feel that Koharu and Homura were starting to have their own selfish interests.
Furthermore, they held themselves in high regard, seeming to have separated themselves from the ordinary ninjas of Konoha.
"Anshi, calm down first."
Hiruzen first pacified Li Anshi, then turned to Koharu and Homura. "Koharu, Homura, we will discuss what you two just said later."
"For now, you two can leave. I need to talk with Anshi."
Hiruzen's words made Koharu and Homura pause.
What a joke.
Was Hiruzen rejecting them?
And he was making them leave because of this ninja who couldn't even find his own missing subordinates?
Although they had faintly sensed a change in Hiruzen recently, this degree of change still left Koharu and Homura feeling a bit dissatisfied.
"Hey, Hiruzen."
"Even putting aside our friendship, Koharu and I are both elders of Konoha."
"And now you're going to make us leave the Hokage's office for a failure who can't even protect his own subordinates?"
Homura Mitokado questioned Hiruzen with a frown.
Koharu Utatane, at his side, also looked at Hiruzen.
With their relationship with him, the Hokage's office was no different from their own homes.
In the time since the war ended and Hiruzen had taken his seat in the office, only they had ever left of their own accord.
And now, Hiruzen was telling them to leave in front of another Konoha ninja. Wasn't this a slap in the face?
"Homura, listen to me. We will discuss what you and Koharu said later."
"Right now, Anshi's matter is more important."
"Hiruzen…"
"Anshi, could it be 'Little Li Flying Dagger' Li Anshi?"
Homura was about to say more, but Koharu, beside him, suddenly remembered something and exclaimed in surprise.
Hearing her words, Homura froze and quickly turned to look at Li Anshi.
Although they had never seen him, they knew that "Little Li Flying Dagger" Li Anshi was a teenage ninja.
Recalling Hiruzen's earlier address to "Anshi," and Li Anshi's almost "disregarding" gaze, a few drops of cold sweat trickled down Homura's forehead.
"That's right."
"Anshi does have a title, 'Little Li Flying Dagger'."
Although the title "Little Li Flying Dagger" was originally used by the Cloud ninjas to express their disdain for him, and was only an internal designation, after Li Anshi had truly unleashed his terrifying killing speed, no one dared to say it was a term of disrespect anymore.
The "Little" in "Little Li Flying Dagger" had become an expression of shock and admiration for his age.
"Furthermore…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath.
As Hokage, he knew many of the village's confidential secrets.
He had even used a certain ninjutsu to observe the training of Sagawa and the others for a few days.
"According to the information I have, Anshi has already taught the training method for the 'Little Li Flying Dagger' to his three subordinates."
"Now that his three subordinates are missing, we must rescue them as quickly as possible to prevent the secret art from being leaked."
"What? Those three Genin have mastered the training method for the Little Li Flying Dagger?"
Hearing Hiruzen's words, Homura and Koharu panicked.
What a joke! That was the Little Li Flying Dagger!
A secret art like that, which family possessed it wouldn't hide it well?
How could Li Anshi so easily teach it to three Genin?
If the ninjas of other villages also learned the Little Li Flying Dagger, then…
Thinking of the results of Li Anshi's battle with the Cloud, both Homura and Koharu broke out in a cold sweat.
"Yes, yes, we must immediately go and rescue those three Genin."
"Hiruzen, I believe I have some ability in tracking. Let's set out now."
"My medical ninjutsu is also decent. I'll go too. If those three Genin are still alive, I can provide some medical assistance."
Although in Li Anshi's eyes, Koharu and Homura were not particularly strong, they were still disciples of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and possessed the strength of Jonin.
Moreover, they were not ordinary Jonin, but "elites" among them.
"Alright."
Hiruzen nodded and said to Li Anshi, "Anshi, Homura and Koharu are my teammates and can be trusted."
"If they go with you to find your three subordinates, it will also save the time of calling for others."
"What do you think?"
Although Hiruzen was anxious, as Hokage, he had to remain in Konoha.
Not every mission was worthy of the Hokage's personal intervention.
Otherwise, what would the other ninja villages think of Konoha?
The ninjas of Konoha could not bear such humiliation.
Besides, with Li Anshi accompanying Koharu and Homura, Hiruzen didn't think they would encounter any danger.
It was even safer than him going along himself.
"Alright, I have no problem."
Li Anshi nodded.
Right now, his priority was to rescue the three of them as soon as possible.
At the same time, he felt a pang of regret for having passed on the secret art to them.
He had forgotten, this was the ninja world!
The innocent man gets into trouble for his wealth!
With the secret of the Little Li Flying Dagger on his person, no one dared to touch him.
But Sagawa and his friends were not even as strong as ordinary Genin. How could they possibly protect the secret art?
It was just like with Sasuke Uchiha.
When the Uchiha clan was still around, he was the son of the clan head, enjoying countless resources.
But when he became the sole survivor of the Uchiha clan, all he had left was his home.
The other assets of the Uchiha clan were divided up by the other ninja clans in the village.
This was because his strength did not match the resources he possessed.
If Sasuke had the strength of Itachi Uchiha, even if he were the only one left, the other clans would not dare to touch the Uchiha legacy.
And the secret of the flying dagger was even more alluring than the Uchiha clan's legacy.
Given his relationship with the three of them, it was impossible for him to protect them by their side until they had successfully mastered the technique.
"Then, Elder Homura, Elder Koharu, let's go."
After nodding to Hiruzen, Li Anshi left the Hokage's office with Homura and Koharu, exiting directly from the second-floor window.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…
Time was of the essence. Li Anshi didn't deliberately slow down, rushing towards the place where his subordinates trained.
Homura and Koharu, living up to their status as disciples of the Second Hokage, were no slower than him, following closely behind.
Not only that, but they also formed a ninja squad formation with Li Anshi as the point.
"This is the place."
"Elder Homura, I'll leave it to you."
In less than a minute, the three of them arrived at the training spot.
"Mm, don't worry, Li."
"I will find these guys in the shortest possible time!"
Although Homura had been somewhat dissatisfied with Li Anshi before knowing his identity, he quickly adjusted his attitude after learning who he was.
In particular, he was one of the few who knew from Hiruzen that Li Anshi had no desire to be a ninja.
Those in power were all like this.
For the power they could control, they didn't care about their subordinates.
But for the powerful forces beyond their control, they had to maintain a sense of reverence.
Because subordinates would not act against them, but others might not be so certain.
Li Anshi didn't even want to be a ninja. How could you expect him to abide by any ninja rules?
Not to mention, after reaching the upper echelons of Konoha, Homura also knew what "rules" were for.
It was just that now, he was a beneficiary of the ninja rules, so he enjoyed such services with a clear conscience.
Regarding Li Anshi, whether for the sake of Konoha or to deter the other ninja villages, they could not let him harbor any ill feelings towards the village.
Otherwise, the other villages would be more than happy to welcome him.
And given the strength he had displayed, even if he left Konoha, they wouldn't dare to brand him a "rogue ninja." Instead, they would release signals of friendship between Konoha and him.
Because they were also afraid that he would treat Konoha as an enemy.
Especially when Li Anshi truly possessed the power to pose a great threat to Konoha.
The abduction of his three disciples was not only to protect the secret art from being leaked, but also the best opportunity to curry favor with him.
Immediately, Homura Mitokado began to carefully examine the surroundings.
"This is…"
Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat.
The camouflage in the surrounding environment felt somewhat familiar.
"How is that possible?"
As he continued his inspection, he discovered more familiar things.
The person who had handled this environment was definitely someone he knew.
Homura's expression turned grave.
Clearly, he felt that the person he was familiar with must hold a not-insignificant position in Konoha.
For such a person to be a spy for another village…
Fortunately, this guy had revealed his tail this time.
Otherwise, if he exposed important intelligence in the future, who knew how great the losses to Konoha would be.
No…
This guy had already caused a significant loss to Konoha.
That was the secret art of the Little Li Flying Dagger!
Glancing at Li Anshi, Homura continued to search for useful clues.
"Follow me!"
Homura's claim of being skilled in tracking was no empty boast.
The camouflage that Li Anshi couldn't decipher even with "Dagger Perception" was unraveled by him in less than thirty seconds.
Soon, he had broken through the camouflage left by the other party, found the tracks they had left behind, and began to follow them based on the restored environment.
Li Anshi and Koharu Utatane followed behind him.
However, Homura, who was focused on tracking, didn't notice that as they advanced, Koharu's expression had also begun to sour.
Although the other party had set up some camouflage in the forest, as they followed the tracks, they had entered Konoha village itself!
What a bold fellow!
Did he think his camouflage was so perfect that no one could see through it?
"This is the place!"
Homura's heart was also filled with relief.
Fortunately, the other party hadn't done much camouflage after leaving the forest. Otherwise, he really might not have been able to find this place based on the tracks left in the forest.
Unlike in the forest, there were people moving around in the village at all times. If the other party had cleaned up their tracks, it would have been impossible to find them.