Naruto: The Hidden Shadow Style

Haseo had to admit he was grateful for his own constant vigilance. After all, ninjas were known for ambushes and assassinations—no matter how powerful a ninja might be, if caught off guard, they could easily be killed by their own kind. Let alone the fact that Haseo himself wasn't even an especially strong ninja yet.

Under Haseo's suppression, Tsunade and Jiraiya didn't act restless at all. They simply continued eating hotpot and singing happily, acting as if nothing had happened—relaxed and indifferent, as if waiting calmly for what came next.

It wasn't just the feeling of being watched anymore; Haseo had now confirmed exactly who was targeting them. That person was sitting at another stall not far across the street. His face was obscured by a high-collared garment, but judging from his build, he appeared to be a burly middle-aged man.

Haseo pondered what moves this opponent might make next. If it stayed just at surveillance, that would be ideal. But he feared the other party might attempt something more—the target of this individual wasn't difficult to guess.

Was it himself? Unlikely. His most notable period—the time when his (fabricated) value was highest—had long passed. The deaths of the Second Hokage and Raikage had already spread throughout the Ninjutsu World, and other villages gradually pieced together the general story. Therefore, right now, Haseo was nothing more than an obscure little Genin; no one would have any reason to target him anyway.

As for Jiraiya, although he was a disciple of The Third, he came from a civilian background. Put bluntly, he wasn't even worth targeting.

Therefore, just as Haseo had previously suspected, only Tsunade's identity held enough value to warrant such action.

Haseo wasn't afraid of battle, and the enemy seemed to be just one person. However, without knowing anything about the opponent, Haseo couldn't be sure he could keep both Jiraiya and Tsunade safe in battle—fighting alone was completely different from fighting while simultaneously protecting others. Until now, Haseo had never received professional guard training and lacked any experience in such duties.

As for who exactly was behind such a scheme... Could it really be the Uchiha? Although Haseo had considered this possibility beforehand, he'd regarded it initially as mere cynicism. Of course, the Uchiha potentially plotting to kidnap a Senju princess was plausible—but when things actually unfolded before his eyes, Haseo instead found himself skeptical. Would the proud Uchiha really stoop so low as to abduct a child?

Well, perhaps he shouldn't think too highly of them—they weren't strangers to bullying pregnant women or harming infants.

Ultimately, Haseo still placed the strongest suspicion on the Uchiha… Even though he often joked that every bad thing happening in Konoha somehow involved Danzo, he couldn't genuinely blame every misdeed on him. At the very least, Danzo was a calculating man. Attacking Tsunade would mean cutting ties with his own second-generation disciple—an act tantamount to suicide.

Forty years later, even then, he'd have to proceed extremely carefully against Tsunade. How much less likely would he be to attempt anything reckless right now? He currently had neither the motive nor the reason to act against her.

If we're talking about who benefits the most and who has the strongest motive, then it could only be the Uchiha clan. However, the problem is that once the Uchiha make a move against Tsunade, it would mean full-scale war with the village, leaving no room for negotiation afterward. Would the Uchiha dare go that far? Are they truly willing to risk everything—either Konoha's downfall or their own?

Haseo didn't think so—which left him a bit puzzled.

"Shall we work together and take each other down?" Jiraiya glanced at Tsunade and said in coded language while Haseo remained silent.

Tsunade and Jiraiya clearly had no awareness of the danger they were in and instead seemed eager for a fight.

For crying out loud, you two really have guts.

The younger generation says "live fast, fight hard," but Haseo himself felt more like "the older you get, the more cautious you become." Looking at these two, he felt like he'd wasted all those brain cells thinking things through unnecessarily.

Haseo had already begun to suspect that something was off. The hidden tensions within Konoha seemed to involve more than just the Uchiha clan. Therefore, he wanted to capture the person secretly watching them alive if possible, to clarify the current situation… Otherwise, he should've sought help from other Konoha ninja by now.

He couldn't afford to give himself away yet. So he smiled and said, "Finished eating? Then let's go—it's almost time; I should get you two back."

With that, he stood up, paid the vendor, then led Jiraiya and Tsunade away.

"Wait—we should walk a bit longer first. I need to confirm that there really is only one opponent… Trust me, if this guy truly intends to strike, he'll act soon. No one would pass up such a golden opportunity." Haseo bent down, pretending to brush off their clothes and wipe away any sauce from their mouths, before leaning in close and whispering into their ears.

Considering the target was Tsunade herself, and the rest of the group included only two young kids and an obscure young ninja, if the enemy truly intended harm, now—while the team was at its weakest—would be the perfect moment to attack. That's why Haseo was reminding them not to rush ahead recklessly.

Neither Tsunade nor Jiraiya were close enough with Haseo yet to comfortably allow physical contact. Thus, facing his approach, they could do nothing but suppress their instinctive discomfort.

Afterward, Tsunade even forced a pure, innocent smile and said sweetly, "Thank you, big brother."

That overly sweet tone made both Tsunade and Jiraiya involuntarily shudder.

"Ew, kind of gross."

At that moment, all three thought the same thing in their hearts.

As the trio strolled down the street, Haseo soon murmured, "He's following us—and still alone for now."

Ten minutes later, as they kept walking, another person approached.

But that one wasn't an enemy.

"Tsunade! Jiraiya! Where did you two go? Why didn't you wait for me?"

"It's Orochimaru!" he called out, running toward Tsunade and Jiraiya before leaning in and whispering urgently, "Someone's following you. Just one person."

Tsunade and Jiraiya hadn't noticed it themselves, but Orochimaru had picked up on it right away—that was the difference between them. It wasn't about being smarter. Orochimaru was simply more alert by nature—sharp, mature beyond his years, and always thinking ahead.

He'd never be so bold as to address Haseo as "Big Brother"... and even if he did, Haseo wouldn't accept it anyway.

"Just keep walking," Haseo said. "The crowd will thin out soon—our stalker won't be able to contain himself much longer."

Night fell as the group passed through the shopping district and entered the residential area. The further they went, the fewer people there were on the streets, making it easier for their pursuer to make a move.

Orochimaru's presence introduced an unexpected variable for whoever was lurking in the shadows—and at the same time, it also forced their hand.

If he wanted to avoid more unexpected complications, the stalker would eventually be forced to act.

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