"The Hidden Mist base is just ahead. You guys are safe now."
"The mission of this clone can end here."
Looking at the Mist base not far ahead, Yagyu spoke in a relaxed tone.
Genji stared at Yagyu.
"Without us dragging you down, you should be able to leave Konoha very easily, right?"
Yagyu smiled freely.
"I can leave Konoha anytime, but I don't want to leave so easily."
"Since Konoha has racked their brains to deal with me, how can I not give them a proper response?"
"I've decided to cause a huge scene in Konoha Village."
"By the way... if I can inflict heavy damage on Konoha this time, how much commission can the village give me?"
Yagyu had a sudden idea and asked with interest.
Genji replied,
"That depends on what kind of battle results you achieve—the rank and number of enemies killed, and the impact caused."
"But since you just extorted a large sum from Konoha, you shouldn't care about the amount of mission commission, right?"
Yagyu smiled.
"No! I care very much about such things. After all, a man's gotta eat!"
"With the right commission, I'll cripple the Hokage! Wait for my good news; I'll leave Konoha unable to recover."
Yagyu's body turned into a puddle of liquid, dispelling the Water Clone.
Konoha Village.
Yagyu lay on a lounge chair in the courtyard of the guest house, narrowing his eyes as he basked in the sun.
On the tea table next to him were Konoha's specialty snacks and a teacup. Mmm~ all bought with the public funds provided by Konoha.
"Sigh! If Konoha wasn't plotting against me, with this kind of warm hospitality, I really would feel embarrassed to make a move on them."
Yagyu sighed softly, picked up the teacup, and drained it in one gulp.
Just then, Yagyu's expression shifted.
After dispelling the Water Clone, its memories returned to the main body.
"They didn't attack Genji and the others. It seems they've focused all their attention on me."
Yagyu stood up and walked outside with a smile.
He had a mission to stay in Konoha; he still had to wrangle and negotiate with the Third Hokage!
"Orochimaru and the others have returned. This negotiation is going to be very smooth!"
Yagyu smiled faintly. No sound within Konoha could escape him.
The battle plan meticulously crafted by the Third Hokage and the others had long been perceived by Yagyu.
The corner of Yagyu's mouth hooked up, revealing a playful smile.
"Since you want to play, I'll play with you properly."
Hokage Building.Negotiation Office.
The Third Hokage, wearing his official Hokage hat, held a pipe in his hand, smoking.
Seeing Yagyu walk in, a warm smile immediately appeared on his face.
"We've talked many times over the past few days."
"The general direction of most issues is fine. There are mainly just some details that you need to take a good look at."
Smiling, the Third Hokage placed a prepared document on the table in front of him.
"Alright!"
Yagyu nodded with a smile, walked over to sit opposite the Third Hokage, picked up the document, and began to read.
"So many regulations... it makes one dizzy!"
Yagyu glanced at the Third Hokage with a faint smile and spoke nonchalantly.
The Third Hokage laughed. "This concerns the interests of the entire village; it's better to be detailed."
Yagyu nodded, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and began to read leisurely.
More than half an hour later, Yagyu looked lazily at the document in his hand. His eyelids were fighting to stay open, and drool was about to drip down.
"Sorry about that!"
Yagyu suddenly opened his eyes wide, threw away the nearly burnt-out cigarette, and apologized to the Third Hokage without any sincerity.
Yagyu was secretly surprised; the Third Hokage was truly composed. To hold back even with such a good opportunity to attack him.
"It doesn't matter! These things are indeed a bit dull; it's normal to feel sleepy reading them."
The Third Hokage smiled kindly and spoke with great understanding.
He knocked on the table and said in a deep voice,
"Serve tea!"
An ANBU ninja walked in from outside and placed a teacup on the table next to Yagyu.
The Third Hokage smiled.
"Drinking tea can be refreshing. I often do this when reviewing documents."
Yagyu smiled. "Is that so? Then thank you very much."
Yagyu looked at the ANBU ninja who was about to leave with a half-smile and said,
"To have Orochimaru the Cold Lord, one of the Sannin, serve me tea personally... I am truly flattered!"
The ANBU ninja paused, turned around to look at Yagyu, and took off his mask.
"Yagyu, the genius of the Hidden Mist... how did you know it was me?"
Since Yagyu had even called out his name, Orochimaru knew there was no point in denying it and frankly revealed his identity.
After all, Yagyu had only recognized his identity but hadn't said the tea was poisoned. Orochimaru felt it necessary to continue the act.
Yagyu smiled. "Want to know? If you tell me which model of snake venom is in this cup, I might consider telling you!"
The Third Hokage's expression changed, and he grabbed the teacup beside him and smashed it on the ground.
Yagyu was startled. There's no plot point in the script for smashing a cup as a signal!Why are you improvising scenes for yourself?
Then again, the skill of
"smashing a cup as a signal"
seemed to be universally applicable across all worlds!
Whoosh! Whoosh!
As Hiruzen Sarutobi smashed the cup, two figures suddenly appeared in the meeting room—two ANBU ninja wearing masks.
One had a full head of white hair; judging by appearances, it should be Jiraiya. The other had messy black hair; that should be Danzo Shimura.
Konoha really went to great lengths!
To have two Kage-level powerhouses disguised as the Hokage's personal ANBU guards, hiding just outside the meeting room all this time.
"Ninja Art: Four Red Yang Formation!"
The instant the two ANBU appeared, the Third Hokage and Orochimaru acted simultaneously, coordinating with them to cast a barrier ninjutsu.
Four Kage-level powerhouses acting together were sufficient to unleash a high-level barrier ninjutsu—the Four Red Yang Formation.
Crimson barriers appeared on the front, back, left, right, and top, forming a rectangular box that trapped Yagyu inside.
"Barrier Ninjutsu? Not bad, not bad!"
Yagyu looked around at the Four Red Yang Formation with a smile, showing no panic at being captured.
"Yagyu, you are helpless now!"
"If you voluntarily accept Konoha's binding curse mark and serve Konoha from now on, we can let you live!"
Danzo Shimura took off his mask and spoke coldly.
"Helpless?"
"Lord Danzo, with which eye did you see me being helpless?"
Yagyu tilted his head and spoke with a playful grin.