Chapter 133

"Tenzō!"

Hearing Leo's agreement, the Third Hokage called out.

Instantly, a figure with a cat-faced mask appeared at the window using Body Flicker Technique and knelt on one knee before the Third Hokage.

"Hokage-sama."

"This is His Highness the Prince. For the next month, your task is to ensure his safety at all times. Understood?"

The Hokage ordered with a serious tone.

Leo, standing beside them, couldn't help but twitch his eyebrows slightly upon hearing the cat-faced ninja's name.

If he remembered correctly, Tenzō was actually Yamato, an elite jounin and Konoha's only ninja who could use Wood Release. 

He had expected that the Third Hokage would send a special jounin at most, but instead, he had sent an elite jounin.

Could it be that they still had doubts about him? Probably not; it might just be a precaution for his safety. After all, he would be staying in Konoha for over a month, and any incidents could strain relations between Konoha and the daimyo.

However, this arrangement did create some complications.

The gap in strength between an elite jounin and a special jounin was quite noticeable, especially since Yamato was different from someone like Guy. He was a truly versatile ninja trained by both ROOT and ANBU.

In addition to inheriting the complex and diverse Wood Release techniques from the First Hokage, he could also use Water and Earth Releases. His physical skills were also formidable due to the harsh training in ROOT.

Moreover, his extensive experience from various missions and his meticulous and disciplined nature made him a challenging ninja to deal with covertly.

"Understood!"

Tenzō rose, removed his mask, and then turned to Leo.

"Your Highness, my name is Tenzō. I look forward to working with you."

"Likewise!"

Leo controlled his expression, showing no sign of dissatisfaction.

The Third Hokage then briefly explained the Chunin Exam process to Leo, said a few more pleasantries, and then let Tenzō take Leo to his accommodation.

As the prince of the Fire Nation, Leo's lodgings were different from those of other ninjas from outside villages. Instead of staying in a hotel, he was provided with a spacious, well-maintained wooden villa with a garden near the Hokage Tower.

Moreover, all his meals and those of his attendants were delivered to them, representing a very high standard of hospitality.

"Stay here for now."

After settling in, Leo instructed Zabuza and Haku, then turned to Tenzō and asked:

"Tenzō, could you take me to a place called Ichiraku Ramen?"

[TN : Since Leo shouldn't know his real name, he will call Yamato, Tenzo.]

Even though Zabuza and Haku had used transformation jutsu, it was still better to avoid unnecessary contact with people to prevent being recognized, especially by Kakashi, whom they had clashed with before.

"Please follow me, Your Highness."

Tenzō nodded and led Leo out toward Ichiraku Ramen.

Tenzō knew well why Leo wanted to go to Ichiraku Ramen. Since Leo's entry into Konoha, he had been monitoring him and reporting everything that happened on the way to the Hokage.

In addition to ensuring Leo's safety, his mission also involved surveillance—documenting Leo's daily schedule, who he met, and what was said, and then reporting it.

...

"This is Ichiraku Ramen!"

After winding through Konoha's streets with Tenzō, Leo finally arrived at the small, standalone shop with the sign "Ichiraku Ramen."

Having been to this world three times and hearing that this was Konoha's safest and Naruto's favorite ramen shop, he was finally able to try it today.

Honestly, he was a bit excited.

At this moment, Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were already seated at the shop, discussing matters related to the Chunin Exams.

"Hey, Chuan, Tenzō is here too!"

Even in Konoha, Kakashi's vigilance was sharp. He had spotted Leo and Tenzō as soon as they arrived.

"Hello, Kakashi-senpai."

Tenzō's face immediately broke into a warm smile upon seeing Kakashi.

Kakashi was his senior and the benefactor who had rescued him from ROOT's darkness.

If Kakashi hadn't risked his life to rescue him from the ROOT base, he would have been brainwashed by Danzo into an emotionless puppet.

"Looks like you're all familiar with each other. Come, join us for ramen. It's on me!

And Tenzō, there's no need to call me 'Your Highness.' Just call me Chuan, like Kakashi does."

Seeing this, Leo smiled, patted Tenzō on the shoulder, and pulled him to sit beside Kakashi. He then asked Naruto:

"Naruto, what's the best ramen flavor here?"

"Definitely the Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen!"

Naruto answered without hesitation.

Leo nodded, turned to the shop's owner, Ichiraku, and his beautiful daughter, Ayame, and said:

"One bowl of Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen, please."

The main objective of his visit to Konoha was to obtain the scroll of forbidden techniques. The secondary goal was to build and maintain good relations with Konoha and its high-ranking officials, including Danzo.

Before he had the power to dominate the world, maintaining a good public image was crucial. A positive persona could significantly aid in many situations.

This had been proven in both the Marvel universe and the wizarding world.

When you present yourself as a good person, other good people in that world are less likely to trouble you and may even help you without seeking anything in return.

But if you are a notorious villain, you not only have to deal with others who have conflicting interests but also with those who, driven by justice, are determined to take you down regardless of the risks.

As for those who engage in moral coercion, he wasn't truly a mindless do-gooder. If his persona was well-established, he could even use it to morally coerce others.

"Miso Ramen!"

"Shoyu Ramen!"

Leo and Naruto placed their orders, and soon everyone else ordered their favorite ramen as well.

While waiting, they began discussing recent events.

Naruto and the others mostly talked about various mundane tasks they had done after returning to the village, like searching for cats, walking dogs, and weeding.

Leo shared his experiences of helping Matsukawa establish an orphanage in the Land of Waves, adopting orphans, teaching them to read and write, and some changes in the Land of Waves, emphasizing his positive image.

After hearing this, Naruto and the others looked at him with respect. Even Kakashi and Tenzō, standing by, couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Both were kind-hearted despite their dark pasts and had found their way back to the light. They deeply admired the extent to which Leo, as a prince of the Fire Nation, could contribute positively.