"You're really letting me go?"
Tsunade looked at Yagyu in disbelief, surprised that he was letting her go so soon.
"What, can't bear to leave me?"
Yagyu looked at Tsunade with a smile, speaking teasingly.
"Bah! You salted fish, stop being glib with me!"
"I just don't understand why you're letting me go so readily."
Tsunade huffed grumpily, studying Yagyu with curiosity.
"Because..."
Yagyu dragged out the word, waiting until Tsunade looked anxious before speaking unhurriedly.
"Because Konoha is too weak! As long as I wish, I can capture you back anytime."
Tsunade: "..."
Seeing Tsunade's expression of doubting life, Yagyu laughed heartily. "But you don't need to worry too much. I have no intention of attacking Konoha in the short term."
"Lord Mizukage asked me earlier if we should attack Konoha, but I refused. What you should be worried about right now isn't external enemies."
Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned slightly. "I feel like there's a hidden meaning in your words. what do you think I should be worried about?"
Yagyu smiled mysteriously and said slowly, "Well... once you return to Konoha, you'll know everything."
Tsunade huffed dissatisfiedly. "Playing mysterious!"
Tsunade left, and Yagyu watched her figure disappear.
The Third Mizukage appeared behind him and said, "Are you sure Tsunade's return won't bring us losses?"
Yagyu smiled. "Of course, I'm very sure! Don't underestimate Konoha; its higher-ups are full of 'talent'!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen and that bunch of screw-ups were experts at internal strife and amateurs at external conflict.
When it came to tearing down their own house, no one in the ninja world could compare.
After Yagyu added fuel to the fire, they would surely burn that rotting Konoha to ashes.
Yagyu had a thought and smiled. "The intelligence says the White Fang of Konoha is being suppressed?"
The Third Mizukage nodded. "Akimichi Torifu is far inferior to the White Fang in both strength and prestige. Many Konoha ninjas are resentful about this."
Yagyu smiled and said lazily, "If Akimichi Torifu had high prestige and powerful strength, it wouldn't be his turn to be Hokage."
"Konoha's White Fang... what a pity! A perfectly good Kage-level powerhouse is about to be finished."
"If he doesn't die on the battlefield, he'll hardly even get the title of hero after death."
The Third Mizukage waved his hand. "Since you've already made arrangements, we'll do as you say. By the way, what was the classified situation you mentioned you wanted to report to me?"
Yagyu thought for a moment and hesitated. "How should I put it? I possess a very powerful sensory ninjutsu."
"The range of this ninjutsu is enormous; the entire Kirigakure village is within my sensory range."
"A few days ago, I accidentally discovered a mysterious stranger in the home of high-ranking Kirigakure official Ringo Shichirou."
A grave expression appeared on Yagyu's face. If nothing unexpected happened, that should be Uchiha Madara's handiwork.
In the original story, Uchiha Madara encountered Uchiha Obito during the Third Ninja World War. To make Obito awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, Madara orchestrated a tragedy using Kakashi Hatake and Rin Nohara.
The extras who helped him perform this tragedy were ninjas from Kirigakure. Even the Three-Tails became a prop in this tragedy.
Knowing all this, Yagyu naturally wouldn't relax his surveillance of Kirigakure. His powerful Observation Haki monitored the village at all times.
It had to be said that Kizaru's Observation Haki was truly powerful, only a hair's breadth away from seeing the future.
After all, as an assassin-type fighter, Observation Haki was the most compatible of the three Haki types for him.
Under Yagyu's surveillance, the pawn Uchiha Madara had planted in Kirigakure finally revealed itself.
Madara's pawn was likely not subdued by his sheer charisma, but more likely controlled through a cursed seal or Sharingan genjutsu.
Since that was the case, Madara would inevitably send someone to contact the pawn, and Yagyu had finally detected a clue.
The Third Mizukage frowned. "You're worried there's something wrong with Ringo Shichirou?"
Yagyu said slowly, "I'm not worried there's something wrong with him; I'm basically certain there is."
"The next time he makes contact with the mysterious ninja, I'll make a move and capture that ninja."
"I'm telling you in advance to prevent him from accusing me falsely later and causing unnecessary trouble."
The Third Mizukage pondered for a moment, then sighed softly. "Alright! Since you're confident, go ahead and do it!"
"However, Ringo Shichirou is a high-ranking official of Kirigakure after all, and he has made many contributions to the village."
"If possible, try to preserve his dignity. It would be best not to cause too big of a commotion."
Yagyu smiled faintly, replying casually, "If possible, I will do so."
...
Valley of the End.
Underground.
A massive palace existed beneath the Valley of the End.
An elderly man with a withered body sat on a stone throne. His loose white hair covered one eye, while the other was half-closed.
Standing before him was a pure white humanoid creature, reporting the situation in Kirigakure in a comical voice.
This duo was naturally Uchiha Madara and White Zetsu. The aged Madara was listening to Tobi (Guruguru) report on Kirigakure.
"Truly surprising!"
"Despite having such powerful talent and strength, Yagyu's personality is so... like a salted fish (slacker)!"
Madara opened his single eye, a faint, unreadable smile appearing on his face. He seemed somewhat resigned yet regretful.
Tobi asked, "Madara-sama, what do you think we should do? Yagyu's abilities are incredibly useful."
"According to our intelligence, apart from sealing jutsu which can counter him, he can basically ignore other attacks."
"And even with sealing jutsu, there isn't much advantage against him. Sealing jutsu takes effect too slowly, while Yagyu is too fast."
"If we can make him your assistant, realizing your Eye of the Moon Plan would be much easier."
Madara clenched his fist, feeling his current strength, and couldn't help but sigh. "You have a point."
"Time is an unsolvable problem, an enemy even the Sage of Six Paths couldn't defeat. My power has declined severely; I do indeed need a powerful spokesperson."
" originally, I thought about selecting an outstanding young man from the Uchiha clan to be my spokesperson. But now it seems... letting Yagyu try isn't a bad idea."