As the Hokage who had spent the longest time with Ye Liang, he naturally understood Ye Liang's temperament. However, he became curious when Ye Liang surprisingly displayed murderous intent today.
Ye Liang was usually a composed and tranquil expert!
Why would he suddenly reveal his temper?
"Forget it, everyone," he said, breaking up the argument. "Stop bickering. Since you suspect that what Ye Liang said is false, just let him lead you all to Otogakure."
But Ye Liang's expression turned grim.
Otogakure?
That place doesn't even exist!
Otogakure itself was a village from ten years in the future—a fabrication Ye Liang created based on memories of the original plot. Now sending him there? It was simply impossible.
Unless he could time travel!
Realizing this, Ye Liang couldn't bring himself to speak.
Just as Ye Liang felt stuck, Yagura, the bound Mizukage, suddenly let out a dry cough.
He had woken up.
"Hey! Where am I? Old man Hokage, why have you tied me up like this? Hurry and untie me!"
"You don't remember?" The others were puzzled.
Yagura blankly stared at the surrounding people, seemingly having no idea about previous events.
"Hey! Do you even know what you're doing! Is this how you provoke our Kirigakure? Let me tell you, even if our Seven Swordsmen are gone, we can still tear a piece of flesh off you!"
The Mizukage kept ranting, but then he caught sight of the pitch-black rod embedded in his body—and froze in shock.
"What the hell is this thing?"
This black rod was crucial for transforming into the Animal Path. Judging from his reaction, he seemed utterly unaware of it.
Seeing this expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly asked, "Yagura, don't you know what you've done?"
"What did I do?"
Yagura hesitated, when suddenly a searing pain shot through his skull. He tightly gripped his head and began screaming on the spot.
"What did I do? What exactly did I do?! Ah! No matter how hard I try, I can't remember anything! My head hurts so bad!"
"You've got a bloody black rod from the Animal Path sticking out of your skull—no wonder it hurts..." Ye Liang muttered inwardly. Looking at Yagura's current state, he appeared genuinely insane.
So, what exactly happened here!
Judging by Yagura's current behavior, he didn't seem to be faking anything. But during their earlier battle, he had been perfectly lucid, completely unlike a madman!
Ye Liang felt confused.
At that moment, he suddenly noticed a faint smirk curl at Onoki's lips. Though subtle, Ye Liang caught sight of it.
"This guy is suspicious!" Ye Liang instantly realized.
Yagura regained consciousness unexpectedly while Onoki's behavior kept getting stranger—he had even pointed suspicion directly at Ye Liang earlier!
There's definitely something wrong with this old man!
Could whatever controlled Yagura have transferred into Onoki's body?
Ye Liang felt like he had seized onto a clue—an indescribable yet strange feeling!
Almost like…
Holy shit!
Like some kind of demonic possession!
Suddenly enlightened, Ye Liang shot straight toward Onoki! They were standing close enough—just the right distance for Ye Liang to take Onoki down in an instant.
"Peng!"
A blue-lit shadow burst forward like a bolt of lightning.
Ye Liang's attack was neutralized by Raikage A.
"Kid! What do you think you're doing?" A glared at Ye Liang with deep anger.
He'd been keeping a close eye on the guy ever since things started getting tense—Ye Liang had clearly drawn everyone's suspicion. Just as expected, Ye Liang made his move!
"Kid, you definitely have something to hide. Everyone, grab him!"
Onoki immediately shouted out when he saw Ye Liang launching an attack at A.
"Damn it, still trying to frame me!"
Ye Liang secretly cursed.
He originally thought he could subdue Raikage A instantly, but unexpectedly this meddlesome Raikage blocked him.
"What a damn clueless giant bastard!" Ye Liang muttered in his mind.
"Haha, I get it now. You must be the one behind these insects!"
Onoki immediately jumped forward.
"Why don't you say that again?"
Ye Liang wasn't afraid of Onoki at all.
In his eyes, this Tsuchikage who was practically halfway into the grave was nothing more than a frail, short old man.
"I'll say it again! You're the mastermind behind it all! First, you pulled some shady stunt to control the Mizukage, and now that you've been caught red-handed, you're trying to pin everything on her. In truth, you're the real culprit behind this attack on the Chunin Exams!" Onoki calmly fabricated his lie, making it sound completely convincing.
"Mr. Ye Liang, is this really what happened?" asked the Fourth Hokage.
Like hell it is! Who the hell would attack the Chunin Exams!
Ye Liang was actually the executor of this Chunin Exam!
The reason he agreed to take on this role was entirely for the lucrative reward. Now they were framing him, essentially making him destroy his own wallet. How could that ever happen!
Ye Liang would never accept such an unjust accusation.
"I believe this incident has nothing to do with Ye Liang!" At this moment, a woman walked into the Hokage office.
It was Terumi Mei!
"Isn't she from Mist? Why would she speak up for Ye Liang? He just captured their village's Mizukage!"
"Not sure. Maybe they have some private connection."
The guards standing behind each village leader immediately began whispering among themselves.
In their opinion, for Terumi Mei from Mist to defend a man who had captured their leader was simply unbelievable.
"What a waste of pretty eyes—can't even see what's right in front of them," someone muttered behind her back.
As if she hadn't heard anything, Terumi Mei ignored them and walked straight in.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I can confirm this incident has nothing to do with Ye Liang. To be honest, there really have been some troubling signs with our Mizukage recently."
"What?"
Everyone around looked astonished.
Meanwhile Onoki's expression darkened further after having accused Ye Liang nonstop.
"In fact, half a month ago, Leader Yagura started acting strangely. Not only did he isolate himself inside a secluded secret room, but he also often met secretly with a stark-white-skinned nude man late at night!"
"Eww gross!" All the guards let out disgusted sounds immediately.
They were meeting... ugh!
However, the current victim Yagura didn't hear this part—he had fainted again.
Stark white skin?
When Ye Liang heard this, he instantly understood everything.
Previously, he suspected something had been manipulating Yagura, but he couldn't figure out what it was. Now, after hearing Terumi Mei's words, everything became clear.
It was White Zetsu!
Ye Liang immediately understood.
In the Naruto universe, White Zetsu appeared as a member of Akatsuki, but in reality, White Zetsu was nothing more than slave labor used to resurrect Kaguya Hime!
Not only could it replicate endlessly using Hashirama's cells, but it could also mimic someone else's appearance just by touching their body!
Even ordinary sensor ninja wouldn't be able to detect it!
"It must be that Onoki is also a transformed White Zetsu!" Putting it all together, Ye Liang swiftly signaled to Hiruzen Sarutobi behind him.
As Konoha ninjas, they shared secret codes that only their village knew!
Ye Liang was ready to strike!
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
Want to read the subsequent content in advance?
Please follow my Patreon:patreon/Tansnovel
Tans Novel - The Fastest-Updating Naruto Fanfiction Account
Read 100+ chapters in advance, with at least 3 new chapters updated every day! More free chapters! 20+ Naruto fanfictions!
Just three steps:
1. Download and open the "Patreon" app
2. Search for "Tans Novel"
3. Click on the collection and enjoy to your heart's content
<><><><><><><><>