Konoha...
The intense war continued to affect the atmosphere within the village. Everyone could sense something unusual, much like the early days of the Second Great Ninja War when the four villages attacked Konoha...
But...
Why did people keep wanting to attack Konoha lately?
They were allies just a few days ago. How could they change so quickly?
People's hearts were filled with fear...
Back when the village still had the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan, when the Legendary Sannin had not yet left the village, and when the White Fang of Konoha had not been driven to death, perhaps the village's top-tier strength was not afraid of the other ninja villages. But now...
There was nothing left!!
The only powerful figure left on the surface was the Hokage-sama...
So now, they could only hope that the Hokage-sama possessed strength like the First Hokage, capable of pacifying the ninja world...
Otherwise, Konoha would surely fall sooner or later!!
...
Danzo looked at the bustling scene around him, sighed inwardly, turned around, and narrowed his eyes at the newly appointed Hyūga Clan Head standing before him. "Head Hiashi, won't you invite this old man in for a drink?"
He had just arrived at the entrance of the Hyūga Clan's compound when he was stopped by the Hyūga gate guards. Then, they panicked, scrambling to report his arrival to the clan head...
Had his reputation really reached this point?
He had said it before...
The Senju Clan's extermination was because they protected the ninja village. The Uchiha Clan's extermination... pah, they were living quite well in the Land of Whirlpools. As for the Uchiha in Konoha...
That was their own clan head's doing!!
This old man was just there to collect the bodies.
And Hatake Sakumo...
That was truly an accident. This old man had just gone to persuade him in the morning, and he killed himself that night. Could he be blamed for that?
Danzo felt very weary!
He had worked so hard to protect Konoha, so why did these people look at him with fear in their eyes, as if he were a Tailed Beast?
Some things really had nothing to do with him!
Lately, he had been keeping a low profile. Fortunately, due to the issue with Uchiha Shin, he had promptly placed the Tongue Curse Seal on the Root organization. Otherwise...
Even old Sarutobi would probably have sidelined him!!
But now...
Hope had finally arrived. Sarutobi's repeated missteps had displeased the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
Perhaps the Daimyo's displeasure didn't mean much, but still...
He could at least openly ascend to the position of Hokage, instead of having to do it sneakily like now.
After all...
Currently, the strongest power in Konoha, aside from Sarutobi, was himself, Danzo. If he didn't become Hokage, who was qualified?
"Hehe, Advisor Danzo, you understand." Hiashi looked at Danzo with his Byakugan and said lightly, "The Hyūga Clan really isn't a suitable place for you to enter."
Did he think his nickname was a joke?
Anyway, the Hyūga Clan was a large and established family that couldn't afford his meddling. So, if there was anything to discuss, it could be done right outside.
He didn't want to become the next Senju Clan, Uchiha Clan, or Hatake Clan!!
"Sigh!" Danzo sighed helplessly. "You are all prejudiced against this old man!"
Although he might not look as righteous as Sarutobi, he considered himself a village-loving high-ranking official. Why did these clans treat him so poorly?
Indeed...
If this continued, even if he were finally nominated for Hokage, the clans below probably wouldn't accept him!!
"We are all from the same village. We see each other all the time."
"If you have any opinions, just voice them."
He...
could see what excuse he could use to retaliate against the Hyūga Clan. After all, he, Danzo, was a reasonable man!
"The Hyūga Clan has no opinions." Hiashi, his Byakugan active, said calmly, "Advisor Danzo, if you have business with the Hyūga Clan today, please state it directly."
"Really won't invite this old man in for a drink?" Danzo looked at Hiashi and said, "This isn't the Hyūga Clan's way of treating guests, is it?"
Talking here...
He, Danzo, had face to consider!!
"Someone!" Upon hearing Danzo's words, Hiashi called out calmly, "Bring a table and tea!"
Then, he continued to look at Danzo with his Byakugan...
"Advisor Danzo, please wait a moment."
"You..." Danzo clutched his chest. This was truly adding insult to injury. No wonder Sarutobi disliked the Hyūga Clan!!
Seeing others and rolling your white eyes at them, who would feel good?
He took a deep breath and touched his bandaged right eye...
This was the Hyūga Clan's own doing!!
He, Danzo, wasn't bad-looking, just had a few more bandages. But today, he came here...
really just to deliver a message!
And he couldn't even get a cup of hot tea?!
"The Hokage-sama orders the Hyūga Clan to immediately deploy to the battlefield!" Danzo said coldly, looking at Hiashi. "The front lines are critical. There can be no more delays!!"
"Moreover, Konoha's strength is severely depleted now. It is precisely the time for a great clan like the Hyūga Clan to contribute!"
A cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth...
"Konoha will absolutely not forget your contributions!!"
Then...
He turned and left directly!!
It seemed he also needed to win over some clans. Otherwise, how would he suppress the opposition in the village once he became Hokage?
You must know that back when Sarutobi took control of the village so quickly, it was largely thanks to him, the Shinobi of Darkness!!
He sighed helplessly inwardly and murmured, "The next Hokage..."
It was time to make preparations!
"..."
Hiashi frowned, watching Danzo's retreating figure...
This time...
What was he trying to do??
Was he dissatisfied with the Hyūga Clan?
That shouldn't be!
After all, the Hyūga Clan had always arranged for clansmen to join the Konoha ninja ranks. They had already fulfilled their duty. Why suddenly demand more people from the Hyūga Clan?
"Has anything happened within the clan recently?" Hiashi looked at his brother, Hizashi, beside him and said, "Or has any trouble been caused?"
"No." Hizashi thought for a moment and shook his head. "The clan has been the same as always."
"Sigh!" Hiashi sighed and shook his head. "It truly is a turbulent time."
It seemed...
It was because the Hyūga Clan was large and well-established...
"Restrain the children in the clan during this period, and also..."
"Send a few more people to the battlefield!!"
"Understood, brother!" Hizashi nodded and said, "I will inform the branch family."
He watched his elder brother's departing back and...
the setting sun, sighed inwardly...
"The evening glow in Konoha is still so beautiful!"
Then, he collected himself and followed behind Hiashi...
...
Kirigakure...
"The Daimyo?!" Yagura looked at the letter from the Daimyo's palace in the Land of Water in his hand, a complex expression immediately appearing on his face. He sighed helplessly. "I knew being the Mizukage wouldn't be so easy!"
Especially now...
They couldn't even come up with a few billion. They were just too poor!
The compensation for the families of those who sacrificed in this war hadn't even been distributed yet...
And then there was Konoha...
Still pestering them. Didn't they know Kirigakure had already decided not to pay back?
Especially in this war...
Konoha would be lucky to hold off Kumogakure's invasion. Probably after the war ended, they wouldn't have time to bother with Kirigakure.
But the Land of Whirlpools wasn't so easy to default on.
They were currently idle and restless. Didn't they see they had even teamed up with the Daimyo of the Land of Water to cause trouble for Kirigakure?
They were forcing Kirigakure to pay up quickly!
"Over thirty billion!" Yagura shook his head with a bitter smile. "We'd probably have to drain all the great clans to scrape that together!"
But that was simply impossible. If he dared to try, he would definitely die an unnatural death tomorrow!!
He genuinely wanted Kirigakure to rise again, but the resistance from the great clans...
was really giving him a headache.
"Yuki..." Yagura narrowed his eyes at the three characters on the letter and murmured, "It seems the only way is to..."
Make an example of them!!
And incidentally take some money to fill the village's deficit!!
"Someone!" Yagura said in an icy tone. "After investigation, the Yuki Clan, dissatisfied with the new Mizukage's appointment, is plotting a rebellion..."
This debt...
Kirigakure would settle sooner or later!!
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