"Witness? What... witness?"
Nonou Yakushi heard Haruki's words and subconsciously murmured in response.
The shock on her face didn't fade a bit.
In her impression, Haruki was the epitome of sunshine and gentleness.
But his performance today completely shattered her world view, outlook on life and values.
This is even more absurd than the fact that she is a ninja of Root.
"To prove that Tanzo sent someone to assassinate me," Haruki said.
Nonou suddenly got a shock.
She realized what Haruki was up to.
But precisely because she realized it, she felt incredulous.
In a short period of time, she had been greatly shocked twice.
She shook her head and looked straight at Haruki's unchanged expression.
Was Haruki just too crazy, or was she unable to understand this world?
"What do you think? You know Tanzo better than I do. You failed your mission this time and won't get any benefits if you go back," Haruki continued when he saw her looking absent - minded. "Moreover, he used the orphanage to threaten you before. Don't you want to bring him down?"
"Of course I do!"
Nonou suddenly said loudly, then lowered her voice and frowned. "But we have no chance to bring him down. His actions are carried out with the acquiescence of Hokage - sama."
Haruki looked at her silently.
He didn't expect her to be so insightful.
She has a better political mind than many ninjas.
His thought flashed by
But Nonou thought his silence meant he was unsure. She said bitterly, "Haruki, with your status, Tanzo won't dare to take action as long as you return to Konoha."
Haruki couldn't help but smile and said, "You're right, but what about you?"
Nonou was instantly speechless.
Naturally, she had no chance of surviving.
"The kids in the orphanage are waiting for you," Haruki decided not to scare her anymore. "Since I dare to do this, there's naturally a reason. I don't need to risk my life because of Tanzo. Besides, didn't you see it just now? [Wood Release]."
After being reminded by him, Nonou immediately remembered the significance of [Wood Release].
This is the Kekkei Genkai insignia of Hashirama Senju, the God of the Shinobi World, and also the symbol of Konoha.
Naturally, he has extremely high prestige in Konoha Village.
Moreover, his reputation was already very high.
With these two factors combined, even if he failed, he wouldn't lose his life.
Thinking of this, Nonou showed a faint smile.
"If there's anything you need me to do, I'm all in."
"Don't make it sound so solemn," Haruki waved his hand.
She had gained a little confidence because of [Wood Release], but it wasn't a hundred percent.
In her opinion, the chance of success was only fifty - fifty, so there was a spirit of self - sacrifice in her words.
Nonou wanted to say something else, but Haruki stopped her.
He lifted his eyelids, and the vines binding Tatsuma Aburame instantly turned into the sharpest blades.
Blood spurted everywhere.
Nonou was slightly startled but didn't think it was a big deal.
She was used to seeing life and death.
The training in Root made her become increasingly cold.
However, the children in the orphanage were the only ones she couldn't let go of.
When Tanzo used the orphanage to threaten her, the last bit of loyalty in Nonou Yakushi's heart vanished.
Haruki glanced at her.
In the original work, Nonou Yakushi was a member of Root. She once quit, but Tanzo threatened to cut off the orphanage's funds if she didn't continue to work for Root.
Nonou Yakushi had no choice but to continue working for Root. Meanwhile, Kabuto Yakushi, the orphan she adopted, also joined Root.
However, later Tanzo no longer trusted them.
Tanzo made Nonou Yakushi and Kabuto Yakushi fight each other to the death.
Also because of Tanzo, Nonou Yakushi failed to recognize Kabuto Yakushi, which led to Kabuto's complete turn to the dark side.
Well, it seems that Tanzo is indeed the root of all evil in the Hokage world.
Haruki took Fuling.
But then he frowned and couldn't help but say coldly, "Sure enough, Root doesn't trust you."
Nonou Yakushi was taken aback for a moment and followed his gaze to look at Fuling.
She was an extremely excellent Medical Ninja. It was just that her attention had been on Tatsuma Aburame and Haruki before, so she didn't notice anything wrong with Fuling.
"It's the poison from Root."
Nonou Yakushi let out a breath, her expression stiff. "So it's a double safety device."
She suddenly realized that even if she killed Haruki, she wouldn't gain Tanzo's trust.
Haruki stretched out his right hand, and his Chakra seeped into Fuling's body.
Soon, the situation of the poison was fed back to his mind.
"It's a bit troublesome, but not fatal."
Haruki pondered for a moment and said, "It seems that Tanzo doesn't want my life, but wants to capture me alive."
He raised his eyebrows and guessed the reason.
Most likely, it's the Wood Release.
Tanzo's covetousness for the Wood Release is very obvious.
Restarting the Wood Release Experiment is proof of that.
Currently, the only user of the Wood Release is related to Haruki.
"Let's go."
Haruki asked Nonou Yakushi to go back to the inn with him.
She had betrayed Root, and there was no need for her to return to Konoha alone. She would definitely be in danger.
Following him, he could protect her.
Moreover, there would be someone to run errands.
Haruki wrote a prescription for Nonou Yakushi.
It didn't take long.
He then removed the poison from Fuling's body.
When Fuling woke up the next day, she had no idea what had happened to her last night.
She only felt extremely comfortable.
After the poison was removed, under Haruki's manipulation, the remaining medicinal power helped her strengthen her foundation and cultivate her essence.
This chapter isn't over yet.
It's normal for her to have such feelings.
But she thought it was because she had slept well.
"Eh? Teacher, who is this sister?"
Fuling saw Haruki and Nonou Yakushi sitting together and couldn't help but ask.
"Nonou Yakushi, a Medical Ninja from Konoha."
Haruki casually explained and then asked her to sit down and have breakfast.
"Konoha? Is Teacher a Ninja from Konoha?"
It occurred to Fuling that she still knew nothing about Haruki.
Mainly because she had been learning Medical Ninjutsu these days and forgot to ask.
Haruki nodded.
Nonou Yakushi couldn't help but laugh and said, "Isn't she your Apprentice? I can't believe Tatsuma Aburame analyzed that she would surely pose a threat to you."
"Threat?"
Fuling frowned and said earnestly, "I won't threaten the teacher!"
Nonou Yakushi was slightly stunned.
What a lovely girl.
Haruki said with a soft smile, "Alright, let's have breakfast. After that, we'll go back to Konoha. You'll make a lot of good friends there, Fuling."
"Okay."
Fuling picked up the bowl of lean meat porridge in front of her.
The breakfast ended quickly.
Haruki took Fuling and Nonou Yakushi back to Konoha using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
"Wow!"
Fuling only felt a blur before her eyes and then found herself in a magnificent town.
She covered her small mouth, looking extremely surprised.
Her little head couldn't figure out what had happened at all.
Nonou Yakushi was slightly in a daze.
This was the Flying Thunder God Technique.
She was even less worried about Haruki's safety.
Even if Tanzo Shimura was capable, he couldn't have imagined that Haruki knew the Flying Thunder God Technique besides Wood Release.
"What you're looking at is the Hokage Rock of Konoha. The faces on it are those of the previous Hokages in order..."
Seeing Fuling's naive look, Haruki took the leisure to introduce Konoha Village to her.
...
In the underground base of Root.
Tanzo Shimura was leisurely dealing with some documents.
He was in a rather good mood.
Although the official establishment of Root hadn't been restored, the major ninja clans in Konoha had already heard the news of his comeback.
They were quite cooperative with all kinds of work.
It made Tanzo Shimura feel like he had returned to the prosperous days of Root.
Even though there was still a gap, he believed he could surely make Root great again and contribute more to Konoha.
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
Without even raising his head, Tanzo Shimura asked off - handedly, "What's up?"
"Haruki has returned to Konoha."
"What did you say?"
Tanzo Shimura's face instantly darkened. "Didn't I just send Tatsuma Aburame and Nonou Yakushi to the Land of Grass? What's going on?"
The Root ninja kneeling in front of him trembled, sensing the change in the atmosphere.
Hesitating slightly, he said, "Haruki came back with Nonou Yakushi. I suspect she betrayed you."
...
Tanzo Shimura clenched his fists.
At the same time, he was a bit confused.
Kakuzu betrayed him for money. What about Nonou? For what?
He held this woman's weakness in his hand. How dare she! By what right!
"Put the operations against Haruki on hold."
Tanzo Shimura was a bit dejected and also gritted his teeth in anger.
Given Haruki's status and reputation, he didn't dare to take action in Konoha.
If he fails or is exposed, he might be dragged down. No, definitely he will.
At that time, Tsunade, Mikoto, and the others would surely jump out.
Now Mikoto was the Clan Leader of the Uchiha Clan.
It was really difficult.
He's not a fool. He has to endure unless he has absolute certainty.
A ninja should endure. Since he had endured Hiruzen Sarutobi for decades, what's the harm in enduring Haruki?
...
After Haruki gave Fuling a general introduction, they arrived at Akihabara.
Fuling's red eyes widened round.
The sci - fi - like high - rise buildings gave her an unprecedented shock.
An advertisement was scrolling on the glass outside the building.
It is a trailer for a movie called *Heroes of Turbulent Konoha*.
Fuling saw Haruki tinkering with a camera the other day, but unexpectedly, she saw a movie today.
The female lead was affectionately delivering her lines.
[I don't want to be the Hokage. I only want you.]
Then, it switched to another male supporting character.
[What's the difference between a ninja without a dream and a good-for-nothing?]
The scene quickly changed to the deceased Anbu.
[Beneath this mask is not just flesh. Beneath this mask is an idea, the Will of Fire, and ideas are not afraid of death.]
Haruki twitched the corner of his mouth.
This was the movie he had discussed with Tomomi Koki before he left to promote Tsunade.
But he didn't expect that they would actually add a love line.
And it was about him and Tsunade.
Hey, I'm about to make Tsunade the Hokage. That line of yours makes it seem like a backstab to me.
Really, good grief!
Like Fuling, Haruki was seeing the trailer for the first time.
But from his perspective, the trailer was quite impressive.
He just didn't know how the full - length movie would be.
If they turned his story with Tsunade into a cheesy love story, he'd make Tomomi Koki know why the flowers are so red.
"If you want to watch it, go to the cinema in a few days."
Haruki patted Fuling on the head.
"Thanks, Teacher!"
Fuling immediately got excited. What she had seen and experienced in Konoha in half an hour was more exciting than what she had in her previous decades of life.
"Let's go."
Haruki led the two of them back to his attic.
Tsunade wasn't there.
"Maybe she's in school having classes."
Haruki smiled and poured two cups of black tea for Fuling and Nonou.
Oh!
"It should not be the case."
Nonou shook her head. "I haven't seen Lady Tsunade at school much recently."
Haruki caught the implication in her words.
He thought of what he had told her to do.
This girl is really straightforward and honest!
He originally thought she would just casually make contact to gauge their attitudes. Now it seems that she might be uniting all the ninja clans that can be united.
Haruki thought for a moment.
It might be just right for Tsunade to do the persuading.
Anyway, no one would expose her.
Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi knew what she was doing, so what?
Her status as the princess of the Senju clan was an absolute get - out - of - jail - free card.
Tsunade could be killed by anyone, but she mustn't die at the hands of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tanzo Shimura.
Fuling was looking around curiously.
At this moment, she realized that her teacher must be a very important person.
Haruki glanced at her and thought of Kushina Uzumaki.
"You two wait here. I'll call my two apprentices over."
"Okay."
Fuling's eyes lit up. Haruki's apprentices were her senior brothers and sisters.
Anticipation welled up in her heart like a rising tide.
A moment later, Haruki led two pretty girls in.
Fuling skipped over Mikoto and looked at Kushina.
Especially that red hair hit her like a bolt of lightning.
"Teacher, what's the surprise you mentioned?"
Kushina didn't notice Fuling right away. She was still asking Haruki about the surprise he had mentioned.
"Look, that's the surprise I mentioned, your junior sister, Fuling Uzumaki."
Haruki looked up at Fuling and said.
Kushina almost thought she misheard.
"Uzumaki?"
But the next moment she saw the familiar red hair and immediately showed a surprised expression. She quickly ran in front of Fuling.
Although Fuling was called her junior sister, actually, Kushina was several years younger than Fuling.
So the scene was a bit strange.
"Mikoto, how is the current situation of the Uchiha clan?"
Haruki then turned to look at Mikoto.
"Overall, it's not bad."
Mikoto withdrew her gaze from Kushina and Fuling and recalled, "I followed the Teacher's instructions and reformed the Konoha Police Force, which was under the responsibility of the Uchiha clan. It is now divided into two functions. We recruited ordinary ninjas to take on the duties of urban guards. So far, the conflicts with the village have been greatly reduced. It's just..."
"The Hokage-sama is more wary of you," Haruki continued her words.
"That's right. Since the Konoha Police Force has taken over some of the Anbu's duties, it has made the Hokage a bit embarrassed for him."
Mikoto smiled, showing no respect for the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
It was more than just embarrassing for him.
The change in the Uchiha's image made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel extremely uneasy.
Your Uchiha clan possesses the most powerful Kekkei Genkai. Now you also want to win the hearts of the people. What are your intentions?
"Don't worry. This situation will change soon," Haruki squinted his eyes. "Mikoto, I'm asking you. According to Konoha's Rules, how should a ninja who kills a fellow village ninja be dealt with?"
Mikoto thought for a moment. "Handed over to the Anbu for interrogation and then executed."
"Anything else?" Haruki asked again.
Mikoto was slightly stunned. Then she thought of another possibility and said, "Handed over to the Konoha Police Force."
"I have evidence that Tanzo Shimura attempted to assassinate me. What will you do, Mikoto?"
Mikoto was shocked. She couldn't help but look up at Haruki. Seeing his calm expression, she smiled.
"Since it involves Tanzo Shimura and Teacher Haruki, the evidence should be kept by the Konoha Police Force. We should also unite the major ninja clans, hold a Jonin meeting, and submit it to the Hokage for handling."