Speechless

The deep reconnaissance mission had originally been scheduled for seven days, but Xu Yue returned alone after just three.

Three had set out, but only one returned. The Chunin responsible for registering missions sighed as well, but did not say much…

"I want to see Lady Tsunade."

Xu Yue spoke calmly as he arrived before a tent.

"Lady Tsunade is currently holding a combat meeting."

The ninja Xu Yue asked knew that Xu Yue and Tsunade were on fairly good terms, but in such a serious setting, there was no way he could let Xu Yue in.

"Is that Yue? Let him in."

The commotion outside clearly could not escape Tsunade’s notice. When she realized Xu Yue had come, she seemed somewhat surprised, but still allowed him inside.

Xu Yue lifted the tent flap and entered. Seeing the two rows of Jonin standing casually within the tent, he showed no sign of timidity.

With the front lines under such pressure, these were probably all the Jonin-level personnel they could spare.

One is likely a reincarnator, but there must also be people like me who are using the Naruto system’s powers to disguise themselves as local natives. I just don’t know which ones they are, or whether they’re even here.

After sweeping his gaze around, Xu Yue could directly confirm one reincarnator. However, with several large legions stationed in Konoha, and with the ability to deploy frontline cannon fodder troops while keeping several large legions relatively harmonious, there absolutely could not be only one person holding sole dominance within.

Of course, they might also have been assigned to other missions.

The person Xu Yue suspected of being a reincarnator stood inconspicuously in the farthest corner of the tent. His entire body was wrapped in mummy-like bandages, somewhat resembling Second Tsuchikage Mu, except two oddly shaped firearms hung at his waist.

When Xu Yue entered, he merely glanced at him without any reaction. His expression could not be seen either.

"Yue, what is so urgent that you needed to see me? I remember assigning you to a frontline reconnaissance mission. It was supposed to last seven days."

In this setting, although Tsunade had called Xu Yue in, she made no exceptions because of their relationship. Her expression was solemn and grave.

If he had come to plead for leniency because he had failed the mission, there would absolutely be no room for accommodation.

"Something happened during the mission. The other two died. I have something important to report privately."

Looking at the Jonin around him, Xu Yue still said something bound to offend them.

Everyone present was at least a Jonin. Once one reached Jonin level, one held a very special position within a ninja village. If the Jonin Council reached a unanimous decision, even the elders had to yield.

It could be said that every Jonin possessed sufficient political standing, even if they did not participate in politics.

Yet Xu Yue was plainly showing that he did not trust them.

"I’ve heard of you. I didn’t expect you to be as arrogant as the rumors said."

A hot-tempered Jonin wearing a headscarf spoke in a cold tone. Back then, Xu Yue had offended that Anbu member. Although the Anbu had ultimately not pursued the matter, his assessment of Xu Yue—the arrogant connected person with an unusual relationship with Lady Tsunade—had still spread from his mouth.

A mere errand runner had actually reprimanded a veteran Anbu member. Yet that person had been unable to retort due to his blunt nature. To these old hands, that counted as a provocation.

An errand runner should just obediently run errands!

"What, are you sure you want to stay? As a Jonin, you should understand that sometimes knowing too much is not a good thing."

Xu Yue glanced at him and spoke calmly.

"Haha, indeed. But I don’t believe your intelligence will be anything of the sort."

He had returned from the battlefield after just three days. What important intelligence could he possibly have brought back?

And after being exceptionally allowed into such a meeting, he had immediately demanded to report privately. Combined with the first impression Xu Yue had already made, it was no wonder this Jonin felt indignant.

In the Naruto anime, not all ninjas were the scheming sort.

Many people voiced their dissatisfaction directly, especially when facing someone beneath them whom they did not need to take seriously.

"Enough. Say it here. Everyone present is a backbone of the front lines and can be trusted."

Tsunade was ultimately the one who put a stop to the slight unpleasantness, carrying herself with the heroic air of a strong woman.

"Is this your report on the mission? What exactly happened?"

Since Tsunade had said so, Xu Yue naturally left her to deal with the ensuing mess and said calmly,

"I was betrayed during this mission. The two people on my team were traitors."

As he said this, he deliberately watched the bandaged man, aided by his enhanced vision even without opening his eyes.

All he saw was a faintly gloating look in the other man’s eyes. It seemed those two were not his people.

"Betrayed? How is that possible? Don’t tell me you’re just making excuses for failing the mission."

This time, the hot-tempered Jonin who had argued with Xu Yue earlier could no longer bear it and rudely interrupted him.

This was no longer because he disliked Xu Yue. He knew the details of this mission. A friend had asked him to arrange an easy mission for two people, and he had personally arranged it!

If those two people he had assigned truly were traitors, then he would certainly bear joint responsibility.

"Let him finish."

Tsunade still possessed her own commanding presence and showed no reaction.

With Tsunade speaking, the Jonin naturally fell silent, and Xu Yue continued.

"I don’t know why they betrayed us. I only know that they pretended to discover a Chamber of Secrets beneath a sand dune and lured me inside with them. Once inside, I discovered a special individual modifying a corpse. According to the markings in the Anbu handbook, he should have been the Land of Wind’s genius Puppet Master, Sasori of the Red Sands."

Xu Yue maintained the same calm expression as he casually pinned the blame on those two reincarnators.

Normally, given Tsunade’s character, she would never start suspecting people simply because of a few things he said.

But by using this opportunity, he could also sort out the reincarnators’ relationships and at least expose all of them before him.

Otherwise, having both enemy and ally hidden in the dark was not particularly comfortable.

As for whether this would arouse their suspicions, there was no need to worry at all. Many reincarnators were selfish and self-serving. It was perfectly natural for two people to keep a hidden mission to themselves.

"You encountered Sasori of the Red Sands and still made it back alive?"

The hot-tempered Jonin could not help speaking again. This did indeed raise some doubts for Tsunade. Although Yue had learned Monster Strength and had an advantage against Puppet Masters, against a famous genius like Sasori of the Red Sands, there was truly no way he could emerge unscathed.

"Indeed. If Sasori of the Red Sands had been at full strength, I likely would not have returned. But he seemed to have suffered severe injuries himself, and only had a few puppets remaining. That was why he wanted to use those two spies to lure more people in and help him replenish his puppet shortage."

Xu Yue still wore that indifferent expression.

Then Tsunade’s expression shifted slightly.

"Wait, you said that when you entered, Sasori of the Red Sands was studying puppet techniques on a corpse?! Could it be he intended to turn you into one as well… Damn it!"

Under normal circumstances, Tsunade would not become so angry. But Xu Yue also carried the identity of a Senju Clan member. Was this not indirectly stealing the Senju Clan’s secrets? How could she possibly endure it?

Leaving words unfinished and letting others fill in the blanks was clearly the best way to spin lies. The story would only become increasingly complete in their minds.

"More importantly, if I wasn’t mistaken, the corpse he was studying should have been the missing Third Kazekage."

Xu Yue’s ability to make up nonsense with a straight face was absolutely maxed out.

Once those words were spoken, the entire tent fell silent.

Quite a few Jonin appeared lost in thought, seemingly considering the possibility.

But once they thought deeply about it, they realized it was not impossible!

After the Kazekage disappeared, there had indeed been no more news of Sasori of the Red Sands, nor had he been seen on the battlefield!

The movements of such geniuses and powerful figures requiring special attention were not so easy to conceal!

"Utter nonsense!"

Seeing that many of his colleagues actually looked persuaded, the hot-tempered Jonin from before could no longer sit still and anxiously denied it.

Fuck, if it had merely been an ordinary mistake in assigning a mission, then even if there really were spies, he would at most have been guilty of negligence.

But now, damn it, this had become connected to the Third Kazekage’s disappearance. If he got dragged into this, he would lose a layer of skin too!

He would definitely have to go through the Anbu Torture Unit!

The key was that he was fucking innocent! What an injustice!

Tsunade could understand her subordinate’s thoughts and did not reprimand him. Instead, to stabilize the situation, she said,

"Fine. Go down first. We’ll discuss this matter. Remember not to go too far."

"Uh, actually, because Sasori of the Red Sands was in poor condition, my sneak attack succeeded. Although he escaped, I kept the scroll sealing the Third Kazekage’s corpse."

Xu Yue smiled shyly. As he spoke, he pulled out the scroll marked with the character ‘Wind,’ leaving everyone in the tent—including Tsunade and the bandaged reincarnator—with petrified expressions.

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Are you fucking kidding me…

Two updates, two updates~ La la la