Located in the very center of the Land of Fire and in its most affluent region is Kyoto.
While Konoha is a village, Kyoto is a city—a vast difference, meaning Kyoto possesses many things that Konoha cannot.
The carriage drove through the magnificent city gate, and the gatekeepers did not add any obstacles, allowing them to pass. The moment the carriage entered Kyoto, Moko's heart finally eased. She had survived, having made it through the night under the protection of Konoha's Little White Fang, despite being surrounded by bounty hunters. So, she had won.
Kyoto, the oldest and most prosperous city, remained secure even through times of chaos.
The Kumokawa family, the wealthiest family in the Land of Fire, is the only one that possesses both commerce and power. Although there are many collateral branches, the main lineage has always been direct. Even in this generation, the head of the Kumokawa family has only two daughters, and the future position of power will be directly inherited by a daughter rather than a son of a brother.
Moko Kumokawa, the future fiancée of the daimyo, is assured in that role, but her position as the future head of the Kumokawa family is somewhat uncertain. Originally, Moko's sister, Ruri Kumokawa, was to marry the daimyo's son. As the future successor to the family head, Moko was deemed unsuitable for marriage. However, under the strong request of the daimyo's son, the head of the Kumokawa family relented and agreed to let Moko become the daimyo's fiancée. Naturally, if Moko were to marry, she could not inherit the future head position, which might fall to Ruri.
Moko was deeply disappointed, angry, and helpless, but she had no choice but to keep compromising.
Ruri, on the other hand, was excited, happy, and angry. She had to be ruthless and unyielding, with no other options.
She wanted her elder sister to disappear, so all choices would fall to her. Thus, her ruthless plans were carried out under her father's watchful eye, without any hesitation and extremely crazily.
"I'm disappointed, but I don't mind."
Inside the carriage, Moko gave a pretty smile, though her eyes were extremely cold.
She knew part of her sister's ruthlessness was due to their father's indulgence. Survival of the fittest had always been the principle her father followed.
"I won, so you can die, my dear sister."
The Kumokawa residence was located on the left side of Central Street, covering a vast area, adjacent to the imperial palace, and featuring luxurious and grand architecture.
The carriage arrived safely at the residence's main gate. Ye Zi looked at the plaque on the gate and thought, "Finally arrived. I should take fewer escort missions in the future."
As the carriage door slowly opened, light flooded in, brightening the interior without being blinding.
Moko gracefully disembarked from the carriage, standing in front of the residence and looking up at the plaque with her eyes slightly squinted.
"The mission is complete," Ye Zi said, shifting his gaze from the plaque to Moko.
Moko looked at him and nodded slightly. With the mission completed, it was natural for the Konoha ninja who had been escorting them to return to Konoha. Although she wanted Ye Zi to take on another task, she knew he would not agree without following proper procedures.
Sometimes, you can understand a person deeply in just a few days, even more than you would in years. Moko had come to understand Ye Zi quite well in just a few days. Knowing the outcome would be rejection, she still wanted to try.
"Stay and help me with something. I can offer you a satisfactory reward."
Ye Zi did not hesitate and decisively shook his head in refusal.
Moko was not surprised by this. With a charming smile, she said, "Then come inside and sit for a while. I still owe you a debt."
Ye Zi fell silent for a moment, contemplating the expenses he had incurred and the potential troubles that might arise inside the residence. Suddenly, he felt a sense of resignation: some money, once spent, could never be reclaimed.
"Forget it. Goodbye."
Ye Zi did not want to linger. He waved and turned to leave, mentally vowing, "Never again."
Before joining Ye Zi, the ninth squad took a final look at the grand and luxurious residence and then at the calm-faced Moko.
"Konoha's Little White Fang! Remember what I owe you!" Moko called out to Ye Zi's departing figure with a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
Ye Zi walked away without looking back. As the gate of the Kumokawa residence slowly opened, an elderly man in butler attire emerged and bowed to Moko.
Muko watched Ye Zi and the others disappear around the corner of the street before turning her gaze back. She recalled the scene from a few nights ago, when she had truly felt safe in Ye Zi's embrace as he held her while she leaped through the air.
"There will be a day when you will need me," she said, turning to face the elderly butler, her expression stern and her beautiful eyes filled with a cold glare.
The old man raised his head, observing Moko's expression and the similarity in her eyes to his master's. His eyes revealed a hint of surprise, but he bowed again, a gentle smile on his face.
Guy and the others had never been to Kyoto, but Ye Zi did not want to linger. Ignoring Kurenai's pleas, he directly set off for Konoha.
Without the burden of escorting someone, the ninjas' usual pace became evident, further increasing Ye Zi's aversion to escort missions.
After several days of travel, the ninth squad finally returned to Konoha.
The moment Ye Zi stepped through the village gates, or rather, when he was on the avenue leading to Konoha's gates, a shadow moved away—this was a surveillance agent arranged by Danzo to monitor Ye Zi's return time.
As Ye Zi led the ninth squad to the Hokage's office to submit their mission report, Danzo, deep in the roots of Konoha, watched intently with his solitary, cold eye.
He was very interested in that being who could even devour First Hokage cells. Unfortunately, Ye Zi was like a bird protected by a snake, and with his current relationship with Orochimaru, Danzo couldn't act against him.
However, if Orochimaru had not provided him with the existence of the Uchiha brat, even if it meant falling out with Orochimaru, Danzo would have acted against Ye Zi, as Ye Zi's unique body could potentially be the key to gaining power.
For now, it was that brat, Shin Uchiha, that lead him to not to be in the hurry.
Yet, regarding Nanako, he had made his stance clear with no room for redemption. Without knowing what lengths Ye Zi would go to for Nanako, any risk had to be eliminated.
Danzo touched his bandaged right eye, thinking of the information from the Rain Village, his single eye glowing with an even colder light.
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