Tsunade went upstairs, pushed open the door, and turned on the light. A spacious and clean bedroom appeared before her.
The furnishings were simple: a bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and a small bookshelf.
The bookshelf held several books and scrolls of various colors. Outside the window, a small balcony was used for hanging laundry.
She threw herself onto the neat and tidy bed. The clean bedding smelled of sunshine, and Tsunade let out a contented sigh.
So much had happened today. She'd only left Konoha that morning, and by evening, Minato and the others had been ambushed. It left her mentally exhausted.
Damn Danzo!
She'd finally resolved to leave for a while, and now this incident made her hesitate to leave again.
Although Danzo was the only rotten apple among the higher-ups, after this incident, she didn't dare leave so easily.
Forget it...
It seems this is fate's will!
In that case, no matter how things develop in the future, at least it won't be entirely my fault, right?
Tsunade thought silently, her mind a jumble of thoughts, and before she knew it, she fell into a deep sleep.
Perhaps because of the bed's comfort, she slept very soundly.
The next day, at the academy.
"Nonou, could we talk alone for a moment?"
At noon, Minato waited at the school corridor's corner, his gaze quietly fixed on Nonou as she emerged from the classroom.
His gentle voice made Nonou pause. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes; she hadn't expected Minato to approach her so suddenly.
She was still unaware of Danzo's death.
After all, he was the Hokage Assistant, such a powerful figure. Ordinary people would struggle to even meet him, let alone die so easily.
Faced with Minato's sudden approach, her heart began to race.
There was a mix of shyness and anticipation, but mostly nervousness and wariness.
Wondering about his intentions, Nonou nodded lightly.
The two ascended to the school's rooftop, which stood empty and deserted.
According to the romance novels Danzo had bought her, many confession scenes took place on school rooftops!
Nonou stole glances at Minato's profile, trying to read something in his azure eyes.
Could he be about to confess?
As the thought crossed her mind, she felt her cheeks growing warm.
No, no, no, stay calm, Nonou, don't lose your composure...
"You... you were sent by Danzo, weren't you?"
Just as Nonou was lost in her thoughts, Minato finally spoke softly.
The moment Minato spoke, her fantasies shattered, and she was yanked back to reality.
I've been discovered...
Nonou flinched almost imperceptibly, her mind instantly regaining its composure. Her romantic fantasies were instantly suppressed, and her poker face appeared utterly calm.
What should I do?
Should I come clean?
Yes!
In an instant, she made her decision.
Minato had been scrutinizing her with his eyes earlier.
Now that he had chosen to confront her directly, he had likely found concrete evidence.
He wasn't questioning her; he had come to her with the answer.
Continuing to deny it would only further erode his trust.
With her identity exposed, regardless of what happened to her afterward, this was likely her only chance to save the orphanage from Danzo's threat.
"I'm sorry..."
Nonou lowered her head slightly. "I had no choice. But please believe me, I never intended to harm you."
"No need to be so tense. I'm not blaming you."
Seeing Nonou's frank confession, a faint smile appeared on Minato's calm face. "May I ask why you did it?"
"I... I'm from the orphanage."
Minato's gentle demeanor eased Nonou's heart.
Great, he's not angry!
Minato really is a considerate person...
"Six months ago, Danzo visited the orphanage to select talented children for special training. He chose me, but I didn't want to accept because he didn't seem like a good person."
Nonou's face darkened as she spoke. "But he's the Hokage Assistant. With a single word, he could cut off the orphanage's funding. Everyone here already struggles to get enough to eat. If the funding were cut off..."
"I see..."
Minato nodded. This was more or less what he had expected. Danzo's tactics were always so predictable.
"What task did he give you?" Minato asked.
Nonou glanced at him cautiously. "Could I trade this information for something with you?"
"What do you want to trade for?"
Minato chuckled inwardly. He could probably guess her request.
Without hesitation, Nonou said, "I want Lady Tsunade to protect the orphanage! Don't let Danzo harm it!"
"Just that?" Minato confirmed.
This time, Nonou hesitated.
She had actually hoped Tsunade could help the orphanage, at least to ensure everyone had enough to eat and stay warm.
But on second thought, with so many mouths to feed, it was probably beyond one person's ability to support.
"If... I offer another piece of information, could that ensure everyone at the orphanage has enough to eat?"
After agonizing for a long time, she asked awkwardly.
"Yes."
Minato agreed without hesitation. "Can you tell me now?"
Nonou looked up in surprise. Minato's quick agreement made her doubt the sincerity of his words.
But she had no other choice now. She could only resign herself to fate and pray that Minato would keep his word.
"Danzo's mission for me is... to gain Namikaze Minato's favor."
As she spoke, she lowered her head bashfully, her ear tips growing slightly warm.
"He only gave me this one task, but I've been finding excuses to delay. Please don't misunderstand, it's not that I dislike... no, I mean... I think this isn't right. Feelings should be something purer."
"I understand."
Minato nodded. "What about the other piece of information?"
"I suspect Danzo might be planning something against Kushina, or even you. I'm not entirely sure, but it's best to be cautious."
"From what I've seen, Danzo is obsessively driven to become Hokage and harbors indiscriminate hatred for anyone who stands in his way."
Nonou looked at Minato with unease. This information had originally been her last resort, something she'd kept hidden in case he neglected the orphanage.
"I see..."
Minato paused, cleared his throat, and said with a straight face, "Then... Classmate Nonou, thanks to the intelligence you gathered through your infiltration, the rogue ninja Shimura Danzo has been eliminated last night!"
Nonou froze. "Huh?"
"In other words, that bastard is dead—along with his entire Root organization."
Minato chuckled. "Actually, it's all thanks to the intel you provided."
"How... how could that be?" Nonou stammered. "He was the Hokage Assistant! Could it be the Hokage...? And I never gave you any intel..."
"Who said that? Didn't you tell me with your eyes, and I understood what you meant through our unspoken agreement?"
Minato blinked, his tone light and cheerful. "I can't go into details with you right now, but Danzo is indeed dead."
"Then... does the exchange we agreed on—food and warmth—still stand?" Nonou asked hesitantly, then immediately lowered her head in shame, feeling she sounded too shameless.
"Well... there's no helping it. It was a promise I made," Minato said with a bright smile that seemed to warm the chilly air around them.
Nonou stared blankly at the boy before her, a thousand thoughts surging through her mind.
In her daze, a sudden warmth welled up in the corner of her eyes, her vision blurred, and tears began to stream down her cheeks uncontrollably.
She was still just a five-year-old child. When the weight of her recent hardships and pressures suddenly lifted, Nonou could no longer contain her emotions and burst into tears.
Fortunately, though she couldn't control her tears, she could still control her body.
Before a single tear hit the ground, she threw herself into Minato's arms.
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