CHAPTER 199

The easy life on the front lines hadn't lasted long for Chao Yanqian. With the awakening of the Fourth Raikage, Kumogakure also implicitly expressed its willingness to call a truce with Konoha.

Perhaps it was due to the Fourth Raikage's pride. Kumogakure did not admit defeat, nor did they sign a formal peace treaty with Konoha. However, in a letter sent to the village, they indirectly indicated a desire to maintain peaceful relations. Soon, an envoy would be dispatched to Konoha.

For reasons unknown, the Third Hokage did not pressure Kumogakure further. Upon receiving the letter, he gave the order for the frontline ninja troops to retreat.

The war had ended, and Chao Yanqian had no desire to linger unnecessarily at the front, nor to waste time studying sealing techniques. As for the trivial matters between the two villages, he was content to let the Third Hokage deal with those headaches.

After returning to Konoha, Chao Yanqian and his comrades were naturally welcomed by the villagers. The heroic treatment brought proud smiles to the faces of every ninja.

The victorious Chao Yanqian was, of course, the center of attention. The shinobi returning from the battlefield were hailed as heroes of Konoha and warmly celebrated with high regard. Seeing the excitement of the villagers, each of the returning ninja was visibly moved and stirred.

Chao Yanqian believed that even if Konoha's leadership asked them to die for the village right now, they would do so without hesitation.

Smiling faintly, once the crowd dispersed, Chao Yanqian followed the Third Hokage and other senior Konoha officials to a meeting room within the Hokage Building.

Along the way, the Third Hokage kept glancing at Chao Yanqian with a smile,his eyes filled with satisfaction and relief, but also tinged with deep-seated concern.

The Third Hokage could not fully grasp Chao Yanqian's intentions. From his perspective, everything Chao Yanqian had done was obviously in pursuit of the Hokage title. After all, the title of Hokage was the dream of every loyal shinobi of Konoha.

Still, the Third Hokage wasn't particularly worried. He already had a plan in place to maintain balance within the village's power structure.

Training Hatake Kakashi was just one part of that plan. As things stood, Chao Yanqian was still too young, and the Third Hokage had plenty of time to wait for Kakashi to grow.

As for how to curb Chao Yanqian's influence had rise this wasn't something the Hokage needed to deal with personally. He knew that Shimura Danzo would certainly take action. The Third Hokage knew his old comrade's nature all too well.

As was customary after every victory celebration, the high council convened for a meeting. Due to Chao Yanqian's enormous contribution in the war, combined with his current strength and future potential, an exception was made to include him in this high-level council.

"Yanqian, you did well," the Third Hokage said kindly and with gratification, showing no hint of past unpleasantness between them regarding the Orochimaru incident.

"Thank you to the village, to you, Lord Hokage, and to Lady Tsunade for your continued guidance. Only with your support could I achieve such results," Chao Yanqian replied humbly, his respectful demeanor leaving no room for reproach.

As soon as his voice fell, Chao Yanqian sat down, lowering his gaze calmly. At this stage, he no longer needed to curry favor with anyone. Even if he tried to please the Hokage, his position would still warrant suppression regardless.

Shimura Danzo, sitting off to the side, grew visibly colder and cast a strange glance at Yanqian.

But Chao Yanqian had little concern for Danzo at the moment. Whether in reputation within the village or in individual strength, Chao Yanqian now stood above Shimura Danzo. What he had to be wary of were the covert machinations Danzo was known for.

However, Chao Yanqian still needed Danzo's help to study the Sharingan, and that couldn't be rushed.

But Chao Yanqian couldn't be certain whether Danzo feared his power more than he coveted the Sharingan's secrets. If it was the latter, then extra vigilance would be needed against Shimura Danzo.

The Third Hokage smiled slightly and continued, "Yanqian, have you considered your next steps? Would you be interested in joining the Anbu?"

The room's atmosphere shifted instantly.

The Third Hokage was truly making a move against Chao Yanqian.

Chao Yanqian was quite renowned now, but he didn't yet have a formal team under him. Although nominally in charge of Konoha Hospital, it served more as a title than a function, gaining him fame but little influence.

And, as was known, Chao Yanqian wasn't particularly close to his academy peers. It stood to reason that if he were to develop within Anbu for a year or two, he might then form a small team. In a few years, after leaving Anbu, he could bring a squad of loyal family shinobi into the general forces forming a unit powerful enough to influence Konoha's structure.

As the Hokage's direct corps, Anbu operated independently of clan heads and could act without their consent. For a powerful ninja, joining Anbu and gaining elite credentials was a natural path.

In the original manga, Kakashi and Kurenai Yuhi graduated in the same cohort. Even though they were peers, when Kurenai faced the Hyuga, she addressed them with deference, calling them "sir." Kakashi, by contrast, had no such restraint and could even command Anbu to a degree.

But Anbu was still the power base of the Third Hokage. Once Chao Yanqian entered the organization, the Hokage would have the opportunity to mold or control him. After a few years, the Third Hokage would have had ample time to diminish Chao Yanqian's influence in the village.

"Thank you for the offer, Hokage-sama." Chao Yanqian smiled and shook his head, showing a trace of regret. Then he said with sincerity, "But I must respectfully decline. I'd prefer to remain at Konoha Hospital after all, this was Tsunade-sensei's wish. And given my aptitude in medical ninjutsu, I believe I can be of greater use there, don't you think?"

Chao Yanqian's tone was sincere, leaving the Third Hokage with no grounds to object.

Sure enough, the Hokage's face revealed a trace of disappointment. "That's truly unfortunate."

Shimura Danzo suddenly looked up upon hearing this, his gaze sharp as it met the Hokage's too much was being communicated in that brief exchange.

Chao Yanqian assumed the Hokage had merely intended to transfer him into Anbu to suppress him. But Danzo, who had worked beside the Hokage for decades, instantly grasped the deeper meaning behind the words.

Would the Third Hokage personally suppress Chao Yanqian? He didn't need to,not when he had a reliable partner like Shimura Danzo.

As a subdivision of Anbu, "Root" existed to secretly eliminate all threats to Konoha. Since the Hokage had subtly designated Chao Yanqian as a threat, the next move naturally fell to Shimura Danzo.

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