"Haruko?"
"Eh?! You're really back?!"
As night fell, Anko Mitarashi, just returning home after a busy day, suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
That diligent, hardworking, and competitive girl.
Once again, she was in the courtyard, bathed in moonlight, swinging the longsword in her hand.
Everything seemed so familiar...
But Anko noticed something was off with her junior apprentice.
Her swings were a bit too energetic.
And she was muttering something under her breath, clearly not very happy.
She hadn't even noticed Anko's return...
"Was the mission not very successful, Haruko?"
Anko, suspecting something, took two steps forward and asked softly.
At the same time, getting a bit closer, she finally heard what her junior apprentice was muttering...
"I'm gonna cut you into pieces!"
"I'm gonna chop you to bits!"
"I'm gonna get you back for that!"
"Damn it..."
Anko didn't immediately associate those strange words with anything negative.
Her junior apprentice was so outstanding, how could she utter such foul language?
Soon after, Qingchuan noticed Anko standing nearby.
Realizing she had lost her mind, she immediately stopped swinging, turned her head, and smiled.
"Anko-senpai, you're back?"
"Yeah..."
Seeing that smile, Anko was even more convinced that the words coming from her junior apprentice's mouth couldn't possibly be "those kinds" of words.
"What are you thinking about? You look so serious."
"That's not like you..."
Anko teased.
But her eyes also held a hint of concern...
If she wasn't mistaken.
The mission probably hadn't gone very smoothly for her junior apprentice.
Though she didn't know the specific details of the mission, her junior apprentice hadn't told her before leaving.
But combining that with the fact that Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, had appeared in the village and set off with her...
It wasn't that hard to guess.
"It's nothing." Qingchuan averted her gaze and raised her sword again.
Forcing a smile, but still sounding a bit like she was gritting her teeth...
"I just thought of a despicable guy and suddenly wanted to cut him to pieces."
"I really want to cut him to pieces!"
Anko blinked.
The concern in her eyes intensified...
To be honest.
That man's departure had been a major blow to Anko.
The days had been so happy, and she had always admired that man's back.
When that man left, the disappointment and despair she felt were undoubtedly doubled.
Tenfold.
Her junior apprentice must be feeling the same way.
That's why she was so frustrated.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Haruko."
Anko also forced a smile.
As if infected by Qingchuan, Anko's smile was equally strained.
And... equally forced between gritted teeth.
"When I get stronger, I'll help you cut him to pieces!"
"I won't let anyone bully you!"
Qingchuan blinked.
She probably knew... Anko had misunderstood.
They were probably talking about different people...
But she didn't have the courage to tell Anko that the one she wanted to cut to pieces was actually some creature whose brain had been eaten by an octopus.
A big guy from Kumogakure who had followed her to Konoha and then claimed he wasn't a ninja from Kumogakure...
Damn it.
This life was truly difficult!
"I object to Danzo's opinion."
Meanwhile, in the Konoha High-Level Meeting Room, at the first discussion meeting on "How to Handle the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki,"
An old woman frowned.
Compared to the tranquility of the other small courtyard, this place was clearly more accurately described as tense.
Though only four elders were attending the meeting.
Three of them were the highest-ranking elders in Konoha.
Homura Mitokado, the old woman who had just spoken, was also one of the Third Hokage's comrades and a high-level advisor to Konoha.
Then there was Root's leader and Konoha high-level advisor, the one-eyed mummy Danzo, and his comrade and superior, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Combined, these four people were nearly 300 years old.
But all major decisions in Konoha were the result of these four people consulting together.
And this time, the important decision they had to make was how to deal with an Eight-Tails Jinchuriki who had inexplicably fallen into their hands.
"According to Danzo's approach, while obtaining the Eight-Tails, we will also inevitably face a new round of war."
Koharu Utatane said, "The current Konoha is not suitable for increasing casualties..."
"I agree with Koharu's point of view."
Koharu's partner, Homura Mitokado, seemed to hold the same opinion.
"Since the Fourth Hokage's wife died in battle, the sealing of the Tailed Beast has also become a problem."
"And even if handled properly, Konoha gaining a strategic weapon may not provide much advantage in a new round of war."
"I suggest... sending the Eight-Tails to Kirigakure to let Kumogakure and Kirigakure consume each other's strength, which is more appropriate than detaining the Eight-Tails and starting a war."
The two elders stated their positions.
But their attitudes weren't that strong.
Their eyes were focused on Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the final decision still needed to be made by the current Hokage.
"Are you saying that we should just send the Eight-Tails, which has already reached our mouths, away?!"
Shimura Danzo, sitting next to Hiruzen Sarutobi, let out a cold snort!
However, his dominance wasn't as effective as usual in this high-level meeting, especially in this highest-level decision-making meeting.
"Such weak behavior would only shame Konoha's predecessors!"
"Hiruzen!"
Danzo said, looking directly at his old partner.
"Make a decision! These two weaklings... are too disappointing!"
Danzo seemed to be requesting, but also hinting.
They couldn't continue to be weak... Hiruzen!
Hiruzen Sarutobi heard his old friend's hint.
But his conflicted eyes remained the same...
Taking a puff of his pipe, after exhaling clouds of smoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally sighed under the gaze of his three former comrades.
He seemed to be sighing a lot lately...
"Danzo is right... the Eight-Tails is of great significance to Konoha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly.
Danzo's eyes immediately lit up!
"But if we look at it from the perspective of gaining benefits from war..."
"The Eight-Tails is not suitable to stay in Konoha, whether in the past, present, or even the future... the burden on us is too great."
Glancing at Danzo, whose gaze was gradually solidifying from joy, and then slowly becoming mixed with disappointment and coldness.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed again.
But after this sigh, his gaze sharpened.
"First, send the news of the Eight-Tails being in Konoha to Kumogakure, and also inform Kirigakure."
"On the premise that the Eight-Tails is a war trophy of Konoha..."
"Everyone, prepare for negotiations!"
......
At the same time.
On the other side, in a small inn under ANBU surveillance.
Killer B, while munching on a chicken leg, muttered to himself...
"Ah! Zhen Xiang! (internet meme expressing ironic enjoyment)"
"Happy and unforgettable forever!"
———— 🌟🌟 ————
ps:Support and join my Patreon
patreon.c@om/chenc11 [Remove @]
You can read up to 40 premium chapters.