Marvel: Devour to Evolve From Naruto

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Konoha, Hokage's Office

The Konoha F4 were listening to Jiraiya's report, occasionally glancing at Tsunade.

"Ron Stark?"

"Never heard of him," Homura Mitokado said in a deep voice, shaking his head.

Koharu Utatane also shook her head.

For Jiraiya to acknowledge someone's strength, they must at least be Jonin level. If he were

a Jonin, they would've remembered him. Clearly, they had never seen this Ron guy before.

"Tsunade, are you sure he wasn't using the Flying Thunder God technique?" Danzo Shimura

asked, his single eye narrowing as he observed her, his presence brooding.

Hiruzen Sarutobi cut him off.

"That's irrelevant."

"Whether it was the Flying Thunder God or not, it was definitely a space-time jutsu.

The real question is—how does he know about Tsunade's hemophobia?"

Jiraiya nodded.

"Exactly."

"Tsunade was able to roam outside the village without worry because her hemophobia

was a closely guarded secret. No one knew about it."

"Now that an outsider knows, the risk of exposure is real."

He turned to Tsunade.

"From now on, you're not allowed to leave the village."

That's right—Tsunade couldn't leave the village anymore.

If she froze at the sight of blood, unable to fight back, it would be a disaster.

Her own life was a small matter; the village's safety was the real concern.

Hiruzen took a long drag from his pipe, smoke obscuring his face.

The next moment, he made his decision.

"I'll have the ANBU investigate this man. In the meantime, Tsunade is to remain in the village.

No exceptions."

Tsunade didn't object.

Her reaction was unusual—she wasn't acting like herself.

Ever since returning, she had spoken little, suppressing her usual impatience.

Now, hearing Hiruzen's decision, she simply got up and walked out with Shizune.

Shizune looked conflicted.

"Lady Tsunade, Ron... he's not a bad person."

Back in the office, she hadn't had the right to speak.

If she hadn't been directly involved, she wouldn't have been allowed in the meeting at all.

She glanced back at the office door. No one followed them out. Clearly, they were still discussing how to handle Ron.

Tsunade replied irritably, "How the hell am I supposed to know what kind of person he is?!"

The first time they met, he had bluntly declared he wanted to get her into bed.

He knew so much about her. He even made her think he could use the Flying Thunder God technique.

Anyone would've suspected he was one of Hiruzen's students!

And just because she later realized he wasn't, they were now questioning his identity?

He could've just explained himself! Instead, he had the nerve to throw a tantrum!

Like she wasn't allowed to be mad?

So only he could have an attitude?!

That's what she told herself now.

But she hadn't thought about the situation at the time. She hadn't even given Ron a chance

to explain. No matter what he said, she and Jiraiya would've still tried to capture him and bring

him back to Konoha.

Once in Konoha, she would've been no match for the four elders.

Ron would've fallen into their hands.

And given that Ron was a time traveler, there was no way he'd let that happen.

The moment she doubted him, his reaction was already set in stone.

The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. She grabbed a bottle of sake

and took a deep swig.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

"Damn, this stuff is strong!"

It burned, but in a satisfying way. Harsh, but with a lingering aftertaste.

Tsunade couldn't help but cough a few times.

"Shizune, where'd you get this sake?"

"It was Ron's..."

"..."

Tsunade lifted her hand, ready to smash the bottle against the wall.

But after hesitating for a moment, she put it down instead.

"TMD! Ron! Ron!!"

"I only questioned you! Was that really such a big deal?!"

"Just wait till I find you! I'll drag you home and beat you up every day!"

The image of Ron's disappointed face before he vanished flashed in her mind, making her even more frustrated.

—

Meanwhile, back in the Hokage's office, Danzo shrugged indifferently at Hiruzen.

"Anything else? If not, I'm leaving."

He had a mountain of work waiting for him in Root.

The corpses he had promised to Orochimaru had been snatched by some armored guy.

Worse, their secret corpse-stealing operation had been exposed!

Just thinking about it pissed him off.

As for the Uchiha clan's complaints? That was just a minor inconvenience. He didn't take

them seriously at all.

Uchiha?

Sooner or later, they'd all be wiped out.

Their eyes would be his.

Hiruzen knew exactly what Danzo was up to.

"Danzo, have Root search for Ron Stark as well. We don't know how much he's learned

about Konoha's secrets. He could be a major threat."

A glint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

It didn't matter whether Tsunade approved or not—Ron Stark had to die.

"...Fine."

Danzo was silent for a moment, then agreed.

Manpower was already stretched thin, and now they were adding more tasks. But since t

his was wartime, it wasn't the right moment to ask Hiruzen for more people.

Once the war was over, though? He'd definitely demand more for Root.

With Hiruzen's decision made, and Danzo not opposing it, Koharu and Homura had

no objections either.

After all, it didn't affect their interests.

As for Jiraiya—

He simply sighed.

He was a loyalist to Konoha.

If it meant protecting the village, he would even kill Tsunade.

Let alone anyone else.

...