The Anbu Guard was responsible only to the Kazekage.
They were the Kazekage's direct private guard.
Even ordinary Anbu members only needed to bow slightly when facing Elder Chiyo.
Moreover, Li Fan saw from her movement just now that this woman seemed to want to kneel directly on both knees!
But the moment her knees bent...
She seemed to remember something and desperately controlled herself not to kneel, then changed to a deep bow.
Even if he was potentially the future Kazekage...
That was just a future possibility; nothing was set in stone yet.
Moreover, even if he really became the Kazekage...
There was no need for the Anbu Guard to kneel on both knees upon meeting. At most, a single-knee kneel would suffice.
Seeing the beauty in front of him maintain this posture motionless after bowing deeply, without speaking...
Li Fan instantly felt that this beauty might have some brain issues!
Watching the crowd around gather more and more...
Many originally tightly closed windows also quietly revealed a crack.
Faintly visible behind the cracks were eyes watching curiously.
Seeing this scene...
Li Fan, who feared being watched like a monkey the most in his life, suddenly felt like a monkey performing in a show.
Li Fan's mouth twitched.
He looked at the woman who turned a deaf ear to the surrounding discussions and remained motionless in a ninety-degree bow like a statue.
Gritting his teeth, he suddenly grabbed the woman's slender left hand, which was properly placed by her waist, pulled her inside the door, and slammed it shut!
Seeing this, the surrounding crowd continued to buzz with discussion.
Soon, the news that Li Fan was the next Kazekage spread among the crowd.
After all, although the Anbu Guard was mysterious...
The residents of the Sand Village had lived here for decades.
Decades were enough for the existence of the Anbu Guard to stop being a secret.
However, the news of the Third Kazekage's disappearance had not spread among the civilians and many genin.
Li Fan closed the door and was about to turn around to say something when he heard a thump.
Hearing this sound, Li Fan immediately guessed what might have happened.
He turned around with a face full of disbelief and found that the situation in front of him was exactly as he expected.
The woman was kneeling on both knees, her forehead touching the ground, her gloved hands pressed tightly against the floor. It was obviously a prostration of the highest respect!
The woman then spoke softly in a gentle, firm voice that faintly carried a fanatical, morbid tone:
"Vice Commander of the Anbu Guard, Jonin Akatsuki, pays respects to Lord Li Fan."
Hearing this, Li Fan's foot, which had just taken half a step forward, froze.
The name Akatsuki was very familiar to him; he had seen it on the system list not long ago.
He suddenly realized why he had no impression of Akatsuki.
So she was the Vice Commander of the Anbu Guard. That meant she had seen him unilaterally.
At the same time, Li Fan felt both awkward and satisfied.
Awkward because he didn't expect that eighty-something affection points would make the Vice Commander of the Anbu Guard behave like this toward him.
Satisfied because Li Fan was also a normal man.
Although he lived in an egalitarian society, that was only on the surface.
In real life, one could feel the vague distinction of status everywhere, especially after being beaten down by society.
Now, seeing the Vice Commander of the Anbu Guard perform such a grand gesture toward him, especially since she was a great beauty...
Li Fan inevitably felt a sense of satisfaction in his heart. This was human nature.
These thoughts were generated in a split second.
In reality, Li Fan's foot, suspended in mid-air, only paused for half a second before moving quickly.
Although Li Fan had never encountered such a situation in reality...
He had seen it many times in various works, so he naturally knew exactly what to do.
Li Fan strode up to Akatsuki, bent down to help her up warmly, and hurriedly said:
"Commander Akatsuki, please get up quickly. I'm just an ordinary Jonin. How can I deserve such a gesture from you?"
At the same time, a thought flashed through Li Fan's mind: This arm is really elastic.
Even wrapped in clothes and bandages, Li Fan could feel the soft skin of Akatsuki's arm.
Although Li Fan had also grabbed Akatsuki's arm when entering the door just now, he let go too quickly, only for a few breaths, so he didn't have much time to feel it carefully.
Akatsuki didn't know Li Fan's inner thoughts.
Although even if she knew, with her current eighty affection points, she certainly wouldn't mind.
Watching Li Fan's actions, Akatsuki's cold heart suddenly softened.
She felt inexplicably sweet deep down, her throat tightened, and her eyes were tinged with a trace of emotion.
Li Fan looked awkwardly at Akatsuki, who remained motionless after being helped up, just staring straight at him.
This wasn't following the script.
Logically speaking, after being helped up, she should say something.
But she said nothing, just staring straight at him.
Although Akatsuki wore a mask and her facial expression couldn't be seen...
From her red eyes, he could tell she seemed very moved.
Li Fan forced a smile on his face. Were eighty-something affection points this exaggerated?
Though he hadn't looked closely at the description levels for affection above fifty.
Li Fan looked at the chair next to him and gestured.
"Lord Akatsuki, please sit."
"I dare not, I dare not! Lord Li Fan, please never address me like that. I cannot bear that title. Just call me Akatsuki, or whatever you like!"
Akatsuki immediately waved her hands in panic, her voice no longer gentle as before, but extremely panicked.
Li Fan accepted this quickly. He thought for half a second and nodded readily:
"Alright then, I'll be bold and call you Akatsuki."
Akatsuki sat properly on the chair.
Her legs were neatly symmetrical, her hands placed obediently on her legs, and her slender waist was perfectly straight.
Li Fan poured a cup of water and habitually handed it to her with both hands.
Seeing this, Akatsuki hurriedly stood up and bowed, taking the cup respectfully with both hands.
"Uh, aren't you going to take off your mask?"
"I'm very sorry! Lord Li Fan, I'm used to wearing a mask and trench coat when there's a second person present. I'll take them off right away!"
Hearing Li Fan's words, Akatsuki reacted like the most loyal subject in ancient times hearing an imperial decree.
No, it was several times more exaggerated than the most loyal subject.
She hurriedly reached out to take off the mask but seemed to remember something and suddenly looked at her right hand.
Seeing she was still holding the water cup...
Akatsuki realized her right hand was occupied. With the mask only half removed, she hurriedly placed the cup on the table.
Then Akatsuki quickly took off the mask with both hands and took off the trench coat on her body.
"Wait, I didn't tell you to... never mind."
Li Fan waved his hand weakly. Akatsuki had already started taking off her clothes; it was useless to stop her. Besides, it was just the outer coat, not a big deal.
After taking off the trench coat, Akatsuki hurriedly took off the gloves on her hands, then removed all the white bandages on her arms.
During this time, Li Fan kept watching her flustered performance.
But as time passed, Li Fan's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
The reason was simple: after Akatsuki took off all the outer clothes used for concealment...
Her charm, originally bound by layers of trench coat, jacket, and bandages, became increasingly apparent.
Akatsuki was like a ruby buried deep under the desert for many years.
Hidden by layers of yellow sand, no matter how beautiful, it could not be known to the world.
But if this ruby, buried deep for years, was discovered by the world through a one-in-a-billion chance...
It would be dazzling, unforgettable at a single glance.