Chapter 246: Watanabe's Provocation
"Lord Kazekaze!"
"I have urgent matters to report to Lord Kazekage!"
"Lord Kazekage is currently occupied. He instructed that if you need anything, you may report to the advisor."
Outside the Kazekage building, two Sunagakure guards stopped Li Yao's Wind Release clone.
Only the village's higher-ups knew that the Third Kazekage had secretly gone to meet the daimyō. The guards had no idea—and were also unaware of the assassination attempt on Li Yao.
"He's not here?"
Li Yao's clone frowned slightly in apparent confusion, then nodded.
"Alright. I'll speak to the advisor."
He acted as if nothing had happened, showing no suspicion that his teammates had tried to kill him. He seemed completely unaware.
From a window above, Watanabe, hidden in the shadows, frowned. He couldn't figure out the situation.
But whatever was going on, the fact remained: Kazekaze had returned alone. That was enough leverage.
"I'll see what story you spin."
Watanabe scoffed and turned back to his desk. He waited for Li Yao to arrive.
Soon—
Li Yao's clone reached the advisor's office. He knocked.
"Come in," a voice called.
He entered.
Watanabe sat behind the desk—or rather, a sand clone did. The real Watanabe was hidden behind the curtains using invisibility jutsu.
Li Yao saw through it instantly but pretended not to.
"Advisor—" he began, but was cut off.
"Kazekaze, why did you return alone?"
Watanabe chose to strike first, cutting off the formality. He furrowed his brows and interrogated,
"What happened to Nanjirō and Yamada? Why didn't they return with you?"
"They were killed," Li Yao's clone replied calmly.
"After the mission, the three of us were ambushed by an enemy using Clay Explosion Style. He attacked us from the air repeatedly. While retreating toward the village, we did our best to resist. But the enemy's chakra was overwhelming, and his assaults relentless. Nanjirō and Yamada didn't make it. I'm the only one who survived."
"Impossible!"
Before he finished, Watanabe roared.
"You, with your strength, couldn't protect them from a mere Explosion Style user? What are you hiding?! Tell me!"
So direct?
Li Yao blinked. He hadn't expected them to be so blunt.
Normally, a respected elite shinobi like Kazekaze reporting a powerful enemy should raise concern about that enemy—not cast immediate suspicion on him.
But Watanabe's focus was only on why Kazekaze's teammates hadn't returned.
It was clear—this wasn't about facts. No matter what happened, they were determined to pin blame on him.
"So they still plan to use memory probing," Li Yao realized.
But his face remained calm. He frowned and continued,
"I'm not hiding anything, Advisor. The enemy was strong—I suspect he was the same mysterious Explosion Style ninja who once attacked both Kumogakure and Kirigakure, and even killed the Third Mizukage in broad daylight."
Watanabe's heart skipped.
If it was that guy, then Nanjirō and Yamada's deaths made sense.
That ninja had singlehandedly devastated two hidden villages. Even the mighty Third Mizukage had died in his own village.
If Kazekaze encountered that kind of enemy, especially from the sky, then it was understandable that he couldn't do anything.
But still… why had this enemy appeared precisely during their assassination attempt? And why attack them?
Watanabe couldn't shake the suspicion: what if Kazekaze had killed the assassins and blamed that mysterious ninja?
That way, he cleared his name and stayed in the village. Then, once he became Kazekage—he'd crush them all.
With that thought, Watanabe said,
"I don't believe you. Unless you—"
BANG!
The office door slammed open.
Chiyo and Ebizō entered instantly, positioning themselves on either side of Li Yao.
Seeing that no battle had started, they relaxed slightly.
Li Yao, however, sneered internally. From their stances, it was clear that although Chiyo and Ebizō were generally fair toward civilian shinobi, in the end, they still belonged to the elite clans.
It made sense—they were both from the Three Great Clans. They would naturally protect their own interests.
"Watanabe..."
Chiyo glared.
"What was the meaning of the message you sent us?"
She didn't mention the content aloud—worried it would worsen tensions between Kazekaze and the elite families.
Ever since the Second Shinobi War, she had retired, spending her days quietly at home with her grandson.
She no longer involved herself in village politics.
But Kazekaze's popularity as the next Kazekage was common knowledge.
She didn't object to a civilian-born elite ninja ascending to the seat.
So why was it that the man favored to lead the village—was now potentially a rogue ninja?
She needed answers.
After all, someone capable of challenging even Konoha's Sakumo shouldn't be ruined by political idiocy.
"I suspect he murdered his teammates, Nanjirō and Yamada," Watanabe declared, pushing the situation forward.
His words left no room for nuance—he was forcing Chiyo and Ebizō to take a side.
With this claim, the only way for Kazekaze to clear his name was to submit to memory probing.
And everyone knew: once that happened, his body would be sealed.
From there, they could do whatever they wanted.
Kazekaze knew exactly what Watanabe meant.
"You…"
Chiyo stared at her clan's junior, stunned.
She instantly understood—they had sent assassins after Kazekaze.
And failed.
Now the clan had a mortal enemy.
So—help the clan? Or help a rising power destined to become Kazekage?
Watanabe had left them with no easy option.
Ebizō frowned, glanced coldly at Watanabe, and said nothing.
His silence was consent.
Though he wanted to kill Watanabe then and there, the situation had spiraled beyond repair. Now he had to think of the bigger picture.
Chiyo lowered her head. She couldn't look Li Yao in the eyes.
Seeing both elders go quiet, Watanabe smirked and gave Li Yao a condescending glance.
That look said:
See? Influence means nothing.
Only the clans decide who becomes Kazekage.
Civilians should know their place.
This village belongs to the Three Great Clans.
Chiyo and Ebizō will never side with you.
So leave the village now—maybe you'll survive.
If not, you're dead.
But Li Yao merely frowned and calmly responded,
"Advisor, I'll say it again: I didn't kill Nanjirō and Yamada."
Chiyo's eyes lit up.
"Then tell us—what really happened?"
(END CHAPTER)
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