"What do you think we should do?" After reporting the situation, Tsunade asked.

"Just kill him directly, that's all." Shin said nonchalantly.

"But he isn't watching us at the moment, his soul has returned to his body. Plus, Tameo is there too. Wouldn't acting now risk exposing us?" Tsunade asked.

In her view, Dan could die, but not Tameo, not yet. If a camp commander died mysteriously on the very day of her arrival, it would cause serious problems.

"Then let's lure him away!"

Tsunade frowned slightly. "You mean cause some kind of disturbance?"

She was absolutely unwilling to do anything that might harm Konoha's interests. If they wanted to lure the enemy away, too little commotion might not be effective. But if the commotion was too big, she was afraid it might result in casualties.

"No need." Shin patted Minato on the head and smiled, "Don't you agree?"

"What are you talking about? I don't understand a word," Minato asked with a puzzled look.

"Still pretending, huh? Haha, good, very good!" Shin wasn't angry at all, in fact, he praised him.

"What are you two even talking about?" Tsunade was utterly confused by the riddle-like exchange between the two brothers.

"Hehe!" Realizing his scheme had been exposed, Minato dropped the act.

Pointing at the brand-new camp defense layout on the table, he said to Tsunade, "Just take this map and find that Tameo guy."

Tsunade looked at Minato and exclaimed, "You had this all planned out when you were drawing the map this morning?"

"Yup!" Minato didn't hold back anymore. He nodded firmly, then scratched his head sheepishly.

Tsunade looked at him, then at Shin.

---

After Tsunade brought the new defense map to Tameo, he immediately convened a new round of meetings.

He didn't want to, but he had no choice.

He wasn't Hiruzen or Koharu, he couldn't openly suppress Tsunade or act unilaterally like they could. Even though he was the camp commander, many under him didn't respect him in their hearts.

Especially after he manipulated everyone earlier that day into letting her take over command, which earned him resentment from many. To stabilize morale, he had to show some sincerity.

After Tameo left, Dan also took action again.

Of course, Tsunade's visit to Tameo caught his attention. His instincts told him that Tsunade's sudden visit, and her pushing for a high-level meeting, must have some hidden agenda.

He even suspected that she was targeting him. Though he had no proof, he felt he might have already been exposed.

He wasn't a fool, on the contrary, he was very smart.

When he saw Tsunade and Minato not speaking at all but instead rhythmically tapping on the table to communicate in code, he knew they were being cautious.

As time passed, he grew more certain that they were guarding against him. After all, who goes for hours without saying a single word, choosing instead to tap the table?

He had good reason to believe that once he left, they would start talking immediately.

The unease that brewed inside him made Dan feel he had to do something.

So, after using his Spirit Transformation Technique, he reappeared outside Tsunade's tent, phasing half his head through a corner to observe what was going on inside.

The tent was large, partitioned into two rooms. At the moment, only Minato was inside.

He was writing furiously.

That's right, Shin had given him a new assignment: to write an analytical report on the battlefield situation based on the intelligence they had gathered that day.

Minato, of course, happily agreed.

At that very moment, as Dan watched the scene unfold and confirmed that only Minato remained inside the tent, a vicious thought arose in his mind.

Dan truly hated Shin to the bone.

He had imagined more than once: if it weren't for Shin, would he have had a chance to get close to Tsunade? Perhaps use some tactics to catch her attention, then become intimate with her, and finally rise to the top by leveraging her status?

But now, he had failed before even getting started. Not only did Tsunade loathe him, ruining all his plans, he had also become a laughingstock in Konoha.

Worse, he had somehow fallen under Shin's genjutsu and accidentally taught the Spirit Transformation Technique to that bastard.

This grudge, it was like the hatred of losing a wife or having a father murdered.

Irreconcilable!

So, at this moment, Dan steeled his heart and made a decision. The rest of the plan might be hindered, but Shin must pay the price. And Minato would serve as the interest.

However, just as he was about to act, his entire being suddenly froze. He realized his soul had unexpectedly disconnected from his body. There was only one explanation for this: his physical body had lost all signs of life.

In that instant, Dan understood everything.

It was Shin!

Only that bastard had the ability, and the motive, to do this. So he really had been exposed all along, and they had been plotting against him from the start.

At that thought, he was consumed with hatred. But he was also decisive. With his body dead, there was no point in returning. He wouldn't let his soul go to waste.

Rather than retreat into a trap, he chose to go all-in.

If he was going to die, he'd take someone down with him. Make Shin regret it for the rest of his life.

With that vicious resolve, Dan's soul lunged toward Minato.

But the next moment, he slammed into a barrier of energy, his head ringing from the impact.

At the same time, Minato turned his head and locked eyes with him.

Seeing Dan appear, he showed no fear. Instead, he grinned.

Before Dan could react further, another wave of chakra rippled through the air. A powerful barrier rose from the ground, enveloping the entire tent.

And in that moment, Shin's figure appeared. It was the Soul-Sealing Barrier, a powerful jutsu he had spent a long time developing. Originally, he had created it to aid in soul-related research, not specifically for Dan. But now, it seemed tailor-made just for him.

"Shin!"

"I know my name. No need for you to remind me."

"You spied on Tsunade and Minato, and even plotted to kill Minato. Looks like you were ready for the consequences."

Dan, having lost all sanity, charged at him like a madman. But just as he got close, his eyes suddenly widened, his gaze clearing in an instant. He instinctively tried to retreat.

But it was too late.

Chains formed of sealing jutsu burst from Shin's hands, wrapping tightly around Dan's soul and dragging it into a sealing scroll.

"You're not going to kill him?" Minato asked, puzzled.

Shin smiled. "This guy actually has some research value. Let him contribute to the shinobi world one last time before he dies."

Minato nodded, feeling like he'd learned something new. He quietly engraved that line into his memory.

---

200 = +1 bonus chapter

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Completed at Chapter 278!

100+ Advance chapters!

[email protected]/Malphegor