What's wrong with having a large harem if you're the emperor of the ninja world?

33 Asuma panicked; Tsunade's intuition

Konoha Village.

The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows.

But it couldn't dispel the coldness and anxiety in Sarutobi Asuma's heart.

He stood alone at the edge of the training field.

His fingers trembled as he held a letter he had just received, the handwriting slightly messy but all too familiar.

That was Kurenai Yuhi's handwriting.

The contents of the letter pierced his heart like an icicle.

Especially the illusion mentioned in the letter.

Inside, Kurenai Yuhi herself recounts the crisis.

In her letter, Kurenai Yuhi described how they were trapped in the palace of the Land of Fire and besieged by an unknown force.

The situation is extremely critical...

The words are filled with despair and helplessness.

Finally, he pleaded with Asma almost tearfully.

He took his most trusted subordinates... the Ino-Shika-Cho trio from Class 10 and rushed to the rescue!

"red……"

Asma muttered to himself.

My heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand.

His relationship with Hong has just made a breakthrough.

He mustered up his courage and confessed his feelings, and Hong shyly agreed.

That budding romance, full of sweetness and hope.

At this moment, however, this plea for help casts a shadow of death over them.

He hadn't even had a chance to hold her hand once!

Overwhelmed by immense worry and fear.

He could almost imagine the helplessness and danger Red would face alone against a powerful enemy!

"Asuma-sensei? What's wrong?"

A questioning voice came from behind.

She had just finished sparring with Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji.

Then they saw Asuma-sensei standing there, his face pale, radiating an unsettling aura.

Shikamaru squinted.

He noticed the letter Asma was clutching tightly in his hand and his unusual expression.

A sense of unease arose spontaneously:

"Asuma-sensei, what happened?"

Asma suddenly snapped back to reality.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his almost explosive anxiety, his voice terribly hoarse:

"Nothing! Emergency mission! You all stay put!"

After saying that, he didn't give his three disciples a chance to ask any more questions.

His figure flashed, like a raging bull.

They rushed towards the Hokage Building at top speed.

They crashed into several roadside stalls along the way without even realizing it.

There was only one thought in my mind... Save Hong!

"Oh!"

Asuma nearly violently shoved open the door to the Hokage's office.

The loud noise startled Tsunade, who was engrossed in processing documents and looked exhausted.

The pen in his hand fell onto the table.

She was already in a bad mood due to her busy work schedule and debt problems.

Her full chest heaved violently with anger.

"Asuma! What are you doing?"

"Don't you know to knock before entering?"

Tsunade slammed her hand on the table and shouted angrily.

"Hokage-sama! Kurenai is in trouble! I need to go save her!"

"immediately!"

Asma didn't care about etiquette at all.

He rushed to the desk and braced himself on the surface with both hands.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was so urgent that he was almost incoherent. "Her mission has been thwarted, and she is trapped in the Fire Kingdom's palace!"

"Surrounded by unknown powerful figures! In imminent danger!"

"This is her plea for help!"

He practically roared as he recited the contents of Kurenai Yuhi's letter.

In particular, it emphasized the request to bring the Ino-Shika-Cho squad to provide support.

Tsunade's initial anger quickly dissipated upon hearing "the Imperial Palace of the Land of Fire" and "besieged by unknown powerful figures."

Her brows furrowed tightly.

He took the letter from Asuma and quickly glanced through it.

His expression gradually became serious.

Kurenai Yuhi is an elite Jonin of the village and the instructor of Team 8.

Her plea for help was no small matter.

Moreover, it involves the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Fire... This is of extraordinary political sensitivity.

"The Royal Palace of the Fire Kingdom... Emperor Yan..."

Tsunade murmured the name.

The image of the person she had seen at her Hokage inauguration ceremony flashed through her mind.

That one was way too young.

But the new daimyo always made her feel that something was wrong.

The young man's eyes.

He doesn't seem like a pampered aristocrat.

Instead, it carries a subtle, almost predatory, aggression, as if scrutinizing its prey.

It made her feel very uncomfortable at the time.

"Lord Hokage! Please grant my request immediately!"

"Let me lead the Ino-Shika-Cho trio to the rescue!"

Seeing Tsunade's silence, Asuma urged her anxiously.

Every second of waiting was agonizing for him.

Tsunade raised her eyes.

Looking at Asmana's anxious eyes, which seemed to be spitting fire.

She sighed inwardly.

From Shizune, she learned that Asuma and Kurenai had just started dating.

It's impossible to calm him down right now.

"Ok."

Tsunade made her decision, her voice regaining the decisiveness of a Hokage, "I approve your rescue request. Immediately assemble the Ino-Shika-Cho team and proceed to the capital of the Land of Fire as quickly as possible!"

"We must find out what's going on and rescue Kurenai Yuhi and the members of Squad 8!"

"But remember, do not easily engage in conflict with the officials of the Land of Fire; prioritize your own safety!"

"Yes! Thank you, Hokage-sama!"

Asma received permission as if he had been granted a pardon.

He turned around and rushed out of the office.

I even forgot to close the door.

Watching Asuma's hurried disappearance, Tsunade leaned back in her chair, her fingers unconsciously tapping the table.

The doubt between her brows deepened.

"Shizune."

Tsunade suddenly spoke.

Shizune, who had been standing quietly to the side, immediately stepped forward:

"Tsunade-sama?"

"I feel like something's not quite right about this."

Tsunade pondered, "That kid Di Yan doesn't seem like a docile person."

"Moreover, Kurenai's distress letter came too suddenly, and even specifically requested Ino-Shika-Cho... It's too much of a coincidence."

She paused, a shrewd glint in her eyes:

"Immediately dispatch two special Jonin squads to follow them discreetly."

"Have them follow Asma's team at a distance, and don't reveal their whereabouts."

"If everything goes well, we'll serve as backup. If..."

Tsunade's eyes sharpened. "If this is a trap, report back immediately."

"And act according to the circumstances, prioritizing the safety of Asuma and Ino-Shika-Cho!"

"Yes! I'll arrange it right away!"

Shizune's expression hardened as she realized the seriousness of the situation.

He immediately turned around and carried out the order.

Tsunade was the only one left in the office.

She walked to the window and looked down at the bustling Konoha Village.

The feeling of unease in my heart grew stronger and stronger.

Is the Fire Country's royal palace in danger?

There seems to be something wrong with this no matter how you look at it.

Di Yan... what exactly do you want to do?

Will this rescue operation really go smoothly?