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"Next."
With a casual flick of his hand, Ye Wen sealed White Zetsu into his Spirit Soul Space and turned his gaze toward the ANBU members who were still diligently trying to break through the barrier as if nothing else mattered.
Seeing this, Ye Wen couldn't help but twitch his lips. Though he indeed had no intention of killing them, their blatant disregard for him was a bit too much.
Granted, he had been distracted earlier while collecting samples, which might have come off as disrespectful.
However, Ye Wen's focus lingered on Kakashi for a moment longer.
After all, Ye Wen hadn't encountered any White Zetsu while wandering around Konoha earlier. Yet one appeared right after Kakashi confronted him. It was clear that this White Zetsu had been specifically assigned to monitor Kakashi.
Obito, you really are full of passion, aren't you?
The other ANBU also noticed Ye Wen's gaze and tensed up again.
They couldn't fight back, nor could they escape. As the leader, Kakashi took a deep breath and forced himself to remain calm as he approached Ye Wen.
Stopping a short distance away, Kakashi bowed deeply in apology.
"Sir, it seems you truly bear no ill will toward Konoha. We acted rashly and disturbed you, and for that, I apologize on behalf of my team. May we humbly request permission to leave?
After all, killing us would likely cause Konoha to become hostile toward your faction. Even someone as powerful as you wouldn't want to provoke an entire ninja village, would you?"
Ye Wen found this reasoning utterly shameless. Leave it to Konoha to twist words however they pleased—this was the arrogance of a dominant power.
Though, to be fair, Ye Wen's unreported entry into the village didn't exactly put him in the right either.
Still, the only real exposure he'd had was his chance encounter with Naruto at Ichiraku Ramen.
The clothing he wore did differ somewhat from what was typical in the ninja world, but it wasn't outlandish enough to draw immediate suspicion.
Yet simply being a stranger near a jinchūriki (tailed beast host) was enough to warrant an attack.
You really are "open-minded," Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Was this operation personally authorized by Hiruzen Sarutobi?" Ye Wen asked nonchalantly.
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Kakashi fell silent for a moment before replying.
"No, it wasn't. You're an outsider who suddenly appeared in the village, which naturally aroused suspicion among the ANBU.
Upon investigation, it was confirmed that you entered the village without prior notification. Therefore, we assumed you were a spy and dispatched an ANBU squad to detain you. We hope you can understand—it's just protocol."
Ye Wen stared at Kakashi impassively.
"Is that so?"
Kakashi instinctively nodded.
"Are you telling me you didn't target me because I happened to be near the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?" Ye Wen said in a low, eerie tone.
Kakashi reflexively started to nod again but froze mid-motion, his eyes widening in terror as he stared at Ye Wen.
He knows everything!
"Is there really any need to be so shocked?" Ye Wen sneered.
"The civilians in your village constantly refer to the 'demon fox.' My ears aren't deaf, and anyone with even basic knowledge of the ninja world knows what the demon fox represents.
Isn't it just the strongest tailed beast, the Nine-Tails?
By the way, I've uncovered some interesting intel. That kid isn't the son of your teacher, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze? Are you really just going to stand by and watch him get bullied? What a heartwarming bunch of ninjas you are."
Ye Wen's voice was calm yet dripping with sarcasm, causing Kakashi's emotions to spiral out of control.
"N-no, that's not it. We did this to protect—"
The word "protect" caught in Kakashi's throat. How could someone as intelligent as him not know the truth about Naruto Uzumaki?
After all, the last person in Konoha to bear the Uzumaki name was Kushina Uzumaki, the previous Nine-Tails jinchūriki—and she was his mentor's wife.
And Kakashi's current state was all thanks to the burden of being a shadow.
Ninjas were tools. Choosing the mission over personal feelings was the "right" choice—that was the lesson of the White Fang of Konoha.
Loss brought pain. Both Obito and Rin, who had entered his heart, had perished in the war, leaving Kakashi to completely shut himself off emotionally.
Thus, Kakashi now clung solely to his missions, abandoning all personal feelings.
But could human emotions truly be erased so easily?
The answer was no.
Ye Wen's words ruthlessly tore open Kakashi's carefully guarded heart, shredding his seemingly strong but ultimately fragile inner self to pieces.
At this moment, Ye Wen began speaking again, lost in his own thoughts.
"To be honest, I do understand you.
After all, being a ninja is a thankless job. You can't afford to carry even a shred of personal emotion, or else you'll only end up hurting yourself.
Ninjas never know where or when they'll die, or in front of whom. It's a dirty, undignified profession."
Kakashi, overwhelmed by the pain Ye Wen's words evoked, momentarily forgot about his supposed loyalty and subconsciously nodded in agreement.
Being a ninja truly was a thankless job.
"By the way, Kakashi, what do you think of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi?"
Though unsure why Ye Wen was asking this, Kakashi appreciated the shift away from his own wounds and replied woodenly.
"The leader of Konoha is also the strongest Hokage. Are you satisfied?"
"Pfft." Ye Wen burst out laughing.
It seemed the title of "strongest Hokage" had already begun poisoning the cannon fodder of Konoha from Kakashi's generation onward.
"The strongest Hokage? Hahaha…"
Watching Ye Wen laugh uncontrollably, Kakashi frowned beneath his mask.
"What's so funny?"
At this, Ye Wen looked at Kakashi with pity, piercing Kakashi's heart. Since becoming a ninja, no enemy had ever looked at him with such an expression.
"You don't actually believe Hiruzen Sarutobi is the strongest Hokage, do you?"
As Kakashi fell silent once more, Ye Wen decided not to drag out the suspense and spoke directly.
"You've been deceived, Kakashi—or rather, your entire younger generation of Konoha has been deceived.
In today's ninja world, there is only one person who can truly be called the strongest Hokage: the First Hokage of Konoha, Hashirama Senju.
Hiruzen Sarutobi? What is he? The Professor of Ninjutsu? Don't make me laugh. Just because someone knows a lot of ninjutsu doesn't make them strong."
Kakashi agreed with Ye Wen's point that knowing many techniques didn't necessarily equate to strength.
But due to his position, Kakashi couldn't openly question Hiruzen Sarutobi's prowess and remained silent as usual.
After hearing Ye Wen's long-winded speech, Kakashi had a question of his own.
"So, what exactly are you trying to say by telling me all this? If there's something I can do, I'll try my best to accommodate you."
At this, Ye Wen paused.
"What do I want?
I just want to tell you, Kakashi, that Hiruzen Sarutobi is nothing but a fraud—a worthless man hiding behind the title of 'strongest Hokage.'"
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