The ninja world stirred restlessly.
Unlike the chaos gripping Konoha.
When Kirigakure's public declaration reached the Land of Wind and Earth—
The Fourth Kazekage Rasa and Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki's first reaction was: the Mizukage had gone mad.
They couldn't make sense of it.
For days now, their intelligence networks had been focused on the Land of Lightning.
But even the Raikage, vigilant and unyielding, expelled anyone who appeared suspicious near his borders.
Yet such expulsions had to be subtle.
Which made information-gathering agonizingly slow.
So far, all they confirmed was this: Konoha's elite Guard Corps, led by Uchiha Bai Ye, was currently enjoying a so-called "vacation" at Mount Yunjie.
And the proud shinobi of Kumogakure? Now reduced to acting as bodyguards.
Once verified, this information sent chills across the shinobi world.
Madness.
Utter lunacy.
What had the world come to?
Konoha and Kumogakure, once blood enemies in the Third Great Ninja War, now seemed bonded—over a single Guard Captain?
The Raikage and Mizukage—two of the Five Kage—had seemingly become nothing more than loyal lapdogs.
Was this some kind of genjutsu?
Check.
They had to uncover the real reason why the Raikage had ceded land, paid reparations, and now protected Uchiha Bai Ye.
And why the newly instated Fifth Mizukage—Terumi Mei—declared her village's unconditional support for this same man.
Ninja wars are battles of intelligence.
With intel, comes decisive force.
The strange triangle forming among Konoha, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure...
It made even seasoned veterans like Ōnoki and Rasa anxious.
The power dynamic was shifting too fast.
If word suddenly broke out that the three great Hidden Villages had secretly allied—what then?
Without doubt—
The key figure behind it all was the mysterious Guard Captain.
What had he done?
Could it be related to the sudden territorial restructuring of the Land of Lightning?
And what political play was hidden behind Terumi Mei's smooth rise to power?
These were questions neither of them could sleep without answering.
Spies from both Iwagakure and Sunagakure swarmed into the Lands of Lightning and Water—and even into Konoha itself.
Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure.
Inside the Raikage's office—
Boom!
The Fourth Raikage slammed his fist down, reducing his desk to splinters.
Despite Bai Ye having shattered his limbs once before, the Raikage's raw power still made the room tremble.
Mabui, standing nearby, didn't even blink.
Since Mizukage's declaration, the Raikage's mood had soured by the hour.
No wonder.
The Mizukage had beaten him to the punch.
And done it with far more flair than Kumogakure.
Raikage's chest still burned with frustration.
Kumogakure had reluctantly agreed to land concessions and security arrangements after Bai Ye's show of force.
But Terumi Mei?
She had proactively offered an island, and pledged her entire Hidden Mist to Bai Ye's command without hesitation.
It made the Raikage suspicious—
Did she use her looks to sway him?
"A step ahead!" he growled.
Mabui flushed, awkward.
These past few days, she'd also tried to spend more time around Bai Ye.
But the man—cold and aloof—treated her like just another subordinate.
No matter how many hints she dropped.
She couldn't possibly suggest Samui seduce him, right?
"Lord Raikage... should we also issue a statement?" Mabui asked carefully, fully aware of Bai Ye's frightening might.
"It's pointless."
Raikage smiled bitterly.
In these matters, timing was everything.
Kumogakure's stance had been one of survival.
Now if they tried to mirror Kirigakure's gesture, it would only seem pathetic.
Worse, it might make them look like they were trying to compete—and lose.
Not to mention—
He had already declared: Anyone who disturbs the Guard's vacation will be considered an enemy of Kumogakure.
Repeating their loyalty now would be meaningless.
"What matters now... is sincerity."
"Let Captain Bai Ye feel the warmth of Kumogakure—through actions."
The Raikage's voice dropped to a low, serious tone.
Mabui bowed her head. "Understood. I'll speak to Samui."
She clenched her jaw.
For Kumogakure's future, even if it meant hugging Uchiha Bai Ye's thigh, she would do it.
She was curious, too—what was that "flying through the sky" thing Samui kept whispering about?
The top of Cloud World Mountain.
While the rest of the shinobi world scrambled for answers—
Bai Ye reclined lazily on a deck chair, gazing at the vast sky from the mountain summit.
The Land of Lightning's scenery was indeed breathtaking.
From here, it truly felt like drifting through clouds.
Behind him, a steamy hot spring bubbled peacefully.
Laughter and splashing echoed from within—Tsunade, Kurenai, Shizune, and Anko enjoying their rare peace.
It was a picture of serenity.
Still, Bai Ye wasn't the type to stay idle for long.
He had already marked the island Terumi Mei gifted him on the map.
Before leaving, he planned to take his women for a picnic there.
If only he had a yacht...
Next time, he mused, he'd ask Orochimaru to build him one.
With Bai Ye's chakra reserves, powering it would be no problem.
The sheer pressure from his chakra alone could spin an engine to life.
"I have to ask, Captain-sama, aren't you going back to Konoha?" came a teasing voice.
Bai Ye turned—
Mitarashi Anko had arrived.
Faster than he expected.
With her came an official request from Konoha.
They wanted Bai Ye to return.
Apparently, chaos had erupted again in the village.
Bai Ye snorted with laughter.
Of course Sarutobi Hiruzen would act in his absence.
He expected political plays, maybe even another anti-clan operation like the one that doomed the Uchiha.
But this latest stunt?
So amateur.
Still, the Third Hokage was cunning.
If it had worked, he might have salvaged some public support—and even secured Danzo's early release.
But it didn't work.
It backfired. Badly.
"How bold," Bai Ye muttered, pulling Anko close.
She'd dared to bathe with his women.
Naturally, there'd be a price.
"You want me to go back, I must go back?"
Bai Ye smirked and snatched a dango from her lips, biting it clean.
"I said one month—it's one month."
"If Konoha burns in the meantime, that's their Hokage's failure. Not mine."
He was on leave.
And he deserved every second.
Thanks to the recent support from Kirigakure, his system reward had even upgraded.
Now, in addition to "Konoha Guard Captain," his panel displayed "Kirigakure Guard Captain."
It was clear now—
The system had recognized Kirigakure as his second domain.
But Bai Ye wasn't eager to switch allegiances.
That wasn't his way.
Strength should command, not serve.
Still, the idea of answering Konoha's cries?
He laughed it off.
He had better things to do.
That night, Yūhi Kurenai joined him.
With Anko already there, the trio disappeared into Bai Ye's suite.
Afterward, Kurenai and Anko were bedridden for three full days.
Only the rabbit in Bai Ye's arms seemed to glare at him in disdain—until he flicked its ears and smacked its rear, earning a twitch of satisfaction.
Their trip continued.
Cloud World Mountain was just one stop.
Bai Ye intended to live this life to the fullest.
Konoha?
Let them wait.
Time passed.
One month blinked by.
In that time, the shinobi world quieted.
Rumors of Kirigakure's loyalty were no longer fresh.
But something strange took root in Konoha.
With every passing day, villagers began gathering at the gates.
Silently.
Waiting.
Longing for the return of their Captain.
They yearned for the hum of his motorcycle.
For the peace that came with it.
And finally—
The thirtieth day arrived.
Before dawn, villagers and shinobi alike assembled at the village entrance.
The cool morning mist clung to their clothes.
Dew sparkled on grass.
No one spoke.
Not a single breath dared disturb the air.
Hum... buzz...
"He's coming!"
A shout broke the silence.
The sun rose—
And with it, the unmistakable roar of an engine echoed across the village.
Cheers erupted.
Tears streamed down faces.
For the people of Konoha—
That roar wasn't noise.
It was peace.
It was power.
It was home.
The buzzing grew louder.
Bai Ye rode in at the head of his squad, flanked by his trusted Guard.
He glanced at the crowd—and then, at a shadow in the distance.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood silently, half-hidden in a familiar spot.
Bai Ye smiled faintly.
Releasing a wave of chakra, he scanned the entire village.
Then turned to his squad.
"Check in. Time to work."
His eyes lingered on the Third Hokage.
A quiet chuckle left his lips.
"So," he murmured.
"The new year's begun."
"Your turn now, Sarutobi Hiruzen."
Chapter 89: Return To Konoha! Next To You, Sarutobi Hiruzen! (7)
The ninja world stirred restlessly.
Unlike the chaos gripping Konoha.
When Kirigakure's public declaration reached the Land of Wind and Earth—
The Fourth Kazekage Rasa and Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki's first reaction was: the Mizukage had gone mad.
They couldn't make sense of it.
For days now, their intelligence networks had been focused on the Land of Lightning.
But even the Raikage, vigilant and unyielding, expelled anyone who appeared suspicious near his borders.
Yet such expulsions had to be subtle.
Which made information-gathering agonizingly slow.
So far, all they confirmed was this: Konoha's elite Guard Corps, led by Uchiha Bai Ye, was currently enjoying a so-called "vacation" at Mount Yunjie.
And the proud shinobi of Kumogakure? Now reduced to acting as bodyguards.
Once verified, this information sent chills across the shinobi world.
Madness.
Utter lunacy.
What had the world come to?
Konoha and Kumogakure, once blood enemies in the Third Great Ninja War, now seemed bonded—over a single Guard Captain?
The Raikage and Mizukage—two of the Five Kage—had seemingly become nothing more than loyal lapdogs.
Was this some kind of genjutsu?
Check.
They had to uncover the real reason why the Raikage had ceded land, paid reparations, and now protected Uchiha Bai Ye.
And why the newly instated Fifth Mizukage—Terumi Mei—declared her village's unconditional support for this same man.
Ninja wars are battles of intelligence.
With intel, comes decisive force.
The strange triangle forming among Konoha, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure...
It made even seasoned veterans like Ōnoki and Rasa anxious.
The power dynamic was shifting too fast.
If word suddenly broke out that the three great Hidden Villages had secretly allied—what then?
Without doubt—
The key figure behind it all was the mysterious Guard Captain.
What had he done?
Could it be related to the sudden territorial restructuring of the Land of Lightning?
And what political play was hidden behind Terumi Mei's smooth rise to power?
These were questions neither of them could sleep without answering.
Spies from both Iwagakure and Sunagakure swarmed into the Lands of Lightning and Water—and even into Konoha itself.
Land of Lightning.
Kumogakure.
Inside the Raikage's office—
Boom!
The Fourth Raikage slammed his fist down, reducing his desk to splinters.
Despite Bai Ye having shattered his limbs once before, the Raikage's raw power still made the room tremble.
Mabui, standing nearby, didn't even blink.
Since Mizukage's declaration, the Raikage's mood had soured by the hour.
No wonder.
The Mizukage had beaten him to the punch.
And done it with far more flair than Kumogakure.
Raikage's chest still burned with frustration.
Kumogakure had reluctantly agreed to land concessions and security arrangements after Bai Ye's show of force.
But Terumi Mei?
She had proactively offered an island, and pledged her entire Hidden Mist to Bai Ye's command without hesitation.
It made the Raikage suspicious—
Did she use her looks to sway him?
"A step ahead!" he growled.
Mabui flushed, awkward.
These past few days, she'd also tried to spend more time around Bai Ye.
But the man—cold and aloof—treated her like just another subordinate.
No matter how many hints she dropped.
She couldn't possibly suggest Samui seduce him, right?
"Lord Raikage... should we also issue a statement?" Mabui asked carefully, fully aware of Bai Ye's frightening might.
"It's pointless."
Raikage smiled bitterly.
In these matters, timing was everything.
Kumogakure's stance had been one of survival.
Now if they tried to mirror Kirigakure's gesture, it would only seem pathetic.
Worse, it might make them look like they were trying to compete—and lose.
Not to mention—
He had already declared: Anyone who disturbs the Guard's vacation will be considered an enemy of Kumogakure.
Repeating their loyalty now would be meaningless.
"What matters now... is sincerity."
"Let Captain Bai Ye feel the warmth of Kumogakure—through actions."
The Raikage's voice dropped to a low, serious tone.
Mabui bowed her head. "Understood. I'll speak to Samui."
She clenched her jaw.
For Kumogakure's future, even if it meant hugging Uchiha Bai Ye's thigh, she would do it.
She was curious, too—what was that "flying through the sky" thing Samui kept whispering about?
The top of Cloud World Mountain.
While the rest of the shinobi world scrambled for answers—
Bai Ye reclined lazily on a deck chair, gazing at the vast sky from the mountain summit.
The Land of Lightning's scenery was indeed breathtaking.
From here, it truly felt like drifting through clouds.
Behind him, a steamy hot spring bubbled peacefully.
Laughter and splashing echoed from within—Tsunade, Kurenai, Shizune, and Anko enjoying their rare peace.
It was a picture of serenity.
Still, Bai Ye wasn't the type to stay idle for long.
He had already marked the island Terumi Mei gifted him on the map.
Before leaving, he planned to take his women for a picnic there.
If only he had a yacht...
Next time, he mused, he'd ask Orochimaru to build him one.
With Bai Ye's chakra reserves, powering it would be no problem.
The sheer pressure from his chakra alone could spin an engine to life.
"I have to ask, Captain-sama, aren't you going back to Konoha?" came a teasing voice.
Bai Ye turned—
Mitarashi Anko had arrived.
Faster than he expected.
With her came an official request from Konoha.
They wanted Bai Ye to return.
Apparently, chaos had erupted again in the village.
Bai Ye snorted with laughter.
Of course Sarutobi Hiruzen would act in his absence.
He expected political plays, maybe even another anti-clan operation like the one that doomed the Uchiha.
But this latest stunt?
So amateur.
Still, the Third Hokage was cunning.
If it had worked, he might have salvaged some public support—and even secured Danzo's early release.
But it didn't work.
It backfired. Badly.
"How bold," Bai Ye muttered, pulling Anko close.
She'd dared to bathe with his women.
Naturally, there'd be a price.
"You want me to go back, I must go back?"
Bai Ye smirked and snatched a dango from her lips, biting it clean.
"I said one month—it's one month."
"If Konoha burns in the meantime, that's their Hokage's failure. Not mine."
He was on leave.
And he deserved every second.
Thanks to the recent support from Kirigakure, his system reward had even upgraded.
Now, in addition to "Konoha Guard Captain," his panel displayed "Kirigakure Guard Captain."
It was clear now—
The system had recognized Kirigakure as his second domain.
But Bai Ye wasn't eager to switch allegiances.
That wasn't his way.
Strength should command, not serve.
Still, the idea of answering Konoha's cries?
He laughed it off.
He had better things to do.
That night, Yūhi Kurenai joined him.
With Anko already there, the trio disappeared into Bai Ye's suite.
Afterward, Kurenai and Anko were bedridden for three full days.
Only the rabbit in Bai Ye's arms seemed to glare at him in disdain—until he flicked its ears and smacked its rear, earning a twitch of satisfaction.
Their trip continued.
Cloud World Mountain was just one stop.
Bai Ye intended to live this life to the fullest.
Konoha?
Let them wait.
Time passed.
One month blinked by.
In that time, the shinobi world quieted.
Rumors of Kirigakure's loyalty were no longer fresh.
But something strange took root in Konoha.
With every passing day, villagers began gathering at the gates.
Silently.
Waiting.
Longing for the return of their Captain.
They yearned for the hum of his motorcycle.
For the peace that came with it.
And finally—
The thirtieth day arrived.
Before dawn, villagers and shinobi alike assembled at the village entrance.
The cool morning mist clung to their clothes.
Dew sparkled on grass.
No one spoke.
Not a single breath dared disturb the air.
Hum... buzz...
"He's coming!"
A shout broke the silence.
The sun rose—
And with it, the unmistakable roar of an engine echoed across the village.
Cheers erupted.
Tears streamed down faces.
For the people of Konoha—
That roar wasn't noise.
It was peace.
It was power.
It was home.
The buzzing grew louder.
Bai Ye rode in at the head of his squad, flanked by his trusted Guard.
He glanced at the crowd—and then, at a shadow in the distance.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood silently, half-hidden in a familiar spot.
Bai Ye smiled faintly.
Releasing a wave of chakra, he scanned the entire village.
Then turned to his squad.
"Check in. Time to work."
His eyes lingered on the Third Hokage.
A quiet chuckle left his lips.
"So," he murmured.
"The new year's begun."
"Your turn now, Sarutobi Hiruzen."
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