Chapter 91: Lord Danzō's Name Shakes the Shinobi World!
"It's all been fully repaired, Lady Tsunade."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"And… the payment?"
"Don't worry, I'm still in Konoha. You'll get your money. Tomorrow, I'll have this little brat deliver it to you!"
Outside the Senju Clan's ancestral home, Tsunade's face darkened as she looked at the workers in front of her. Their doubtful expressions only made her more irritated.
Had her reputation for dodging gambling debts already spread throughout Konoha?
But that wasn't the real issue.
The real problem was the person responsible for all of this!
"You bastard! Do you know how much money you just cost me?!"
After the workers finally left—still unsure if they would get paid—Tsunade lost her composure, grabbing Haruta by the collar and yelling at him.
"And they didn't even trust me! Seriously, am I that unreliable?"
"Lady Tsunade…"
Shizune, standing awkwardly to the side, tried to calm her down, though deep down she couldn't deny the workers' reaction wasn't exactly surprising.
Of course, she didn't dare say that out loud—unless she wanted to be thrown out of the house.
"Haruta's still recovering… maybe don't be too hard on him."
"He looks just fine to me."
Tsunade scoffed, shooting Haruta a sharp glare.
"You don't have to work, you've got Shizune taking care of you during the day, Yugao looking after you at night, and a bunch of people coming to visit. That's what you call 'not feeling well'?"
I never said I wasn't feeling well…
Haruta silently complained in his head, though he forced a weak smile and replied, "Sensei… I really didn't expect my body to react this way."
The moment he boosted his Physical Attributes to LV11, the results were more intense than he could've imagined.
He'd always been curious about what lay beyond the system's "Kage-level" threshold—now, he had his answer.
The system's message had been clear: Bloodline Mutation.
"Fusing chakra natures to create Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tota can trigger bloodline mutations, embedding those abilities into one's lineage for future inheritance.
But… strengthening the body also works the same way—it pushes the bloodline to evolve, just like I thought.
Raising my Physical Attributes isn't just about making my body stronger—it's forcing a transformation in my very bloodline!"
Improving the body wasn't as simple as just boosting raw strength.
A powerful body, combined with strong spiritual energy, also meant producing more chakra.
But whether that alone could change one's bloodline… Haruta wasn't sure.
After all, unlike others, his growth came from his "cheat" system—it wasn't exactly natural.
So maybe this rapid bloodline mutation wasn't something most people could achieve.
"Or maybe… hardly anyone has ever broken past the limits like I have?"
There were others who trained their bodies to the extreme—like Might Guy.
Haruta didn't know Guy too well, but his "legendary exploits" were well-known.
Guy's physical strength was on another level, and his mastery of the Eight Gates let him kick Uchiha Madara around like a rag doll.
But even Guy's father, Might Duy, couldn't replicate that level of strength—despite also using the Eight Gates to crush the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
The difference was clear: Guy focused on muscle strength, flexibility, and coordination—specific aspects of physical power.
Haruta, on the other hand, had boosted every aspect of his physicality in perfect balance.
No one else had a point of reference for what he was experiencing—so even he couldn't tell if this change was because of his system or the result of evenly developing his entire body.
"Either way… this is the biggest breakthrough I've had!"
Haruta was more than satisfied.
Sure, his other jutsu had improved—but none of those upgrades felt as impactful as this one.
He sometimes wondered how the system's "levels" translated to real-world ninja power.
But that was a hard question to answer.
The system emphasized balance—while most people had clear strengths and weaknesses.
"In the end… I really am the ultimate 'stat monster.'"
Feeling rather pleased with himself, Haruta didn't even mind that Tsunade was still clutching his collar.
Eventually, Tsunade seemed to realize something and let go.
"Your body seems ridiculously strong now… but you really did look weak earlier."
She muttered to herself, a bit puzzled.
In her mind, Haruta's bloodline must have evolved again—his body hadn't fully adapted yet, which explained the brief period of weakness.
Her expression grew more serious.
"Listen, Haruta. Pay close attention to any changes in your body or chakra. If anything feels off, you tell me immediately. Got it?"
"Yes, Sensei."
Haruta nodded.
Though the upgrade was exhilarating, he knew better than to ignore the aftereffects.
The sudden surge in strength had left him feeling oddly "drained"—like he was experiencing some kind of energy deficiency.
It was like his body needed time to catch up with the power boost.
Good thing some rest and proper nutrition would fix that.
But there was one question gnawing at him…
How strong is my body now?
Could I finally compare to Hashirama Senju?
Haruta was dying to know—but since he'd never met the First Hokage, the best he could do was use White Zetsu's body as a vague reference.
—
"Seriously, though… replacing all the windows, the broken glassware, and fixing the damage you caused—it cost a fortune."
Tsunade sighed, shaking her head before turning back to Haruta.
"From now on, I'm holding onto your ANBU stipend. Consider it payment for all the destruction you caused."
"Uh…"
Haruta blinked.
Hand over his pay? No way.
But before he could argue, an idea popped into his head.
"Sensei… can I talk to you in private?"
"Oh?"
Tsunade arched a brow, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and leading him outside.
"Shizune, clean up here. I'll be back soon."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade."
Shizune nodded, already planning to pick up Karin from the Academy later.
Though Karin was being trained at home, enrolling her in the Ninja Academy was a good way to help her connect with other kids her age.
—
Once they reached a quiet spot in the courtyard, Tsunade let go of Haruta and crossed her arms.
"So? What did you want to say?"
"Well, Sensei…"
Haruta carefully chose his words, lowering his voice.
"You know we have a special team investigating Uchiha Obito… but there are only five of us.
And since Obito is hiding within an organization full of rogue ninjas, gathering information has become incredibly difficult."
"… You want money from the old man?"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, quickly catching on.
She thought for a moment before nodding.
"Honestly… it's a tough mission. Asking for more funds makes sense—you guys deserve better pay… and hey, it wouldn't hurt if you had a bit more cash yourself."
"Sensei, that's not what I meant."
Haruta quickly cut her off—knowing exactly where her mind had gone.
"What I'm saying is… we need more informants—outside sources who can provide intel."
"External informants?"
Tsunade frowned but didn't dismiss the idea.
Everyone used informants—it was a standard practice.
The real issue was finding reliable ones, since loyalty was always a concern.
"Do you have someone in mind?"
"Actually… I've already negotiated a deal."
Haruta smiled slyly.
Seeing the glimmer of interest in Tsunade's eyes, he continued.
"This person is strong—someone we can mostly trust, though we'll still need to be cautious.
I placed a Flying Thunder God mark on him, so he won't cause trouble.
We agreed on a monthly payment of 300,000 ryo… but, Sensei… when we report this to the higher-ups, can we… maybe round it up a bit?"
"… Isn't that a bit shady?"
Tsunade's eyes lit up with excitement—but she hesitated, torn between her morals and her financial struggles.
"We could ask Lord Danzo, though. He has Root's budget—he's got money to spare…"
Haruta leaned in, speaking softly.
"Sensei… you wouldn't want to be short on cash after fixing the house, would you?"
"…"
"Or have those debt collectors show up again after you spend the money I gave you?"
"…"
"Or maybe—"
"Fine! Make it 500,000 ryo! I want 150,000!"
"…"
—
In the Hokage building, inside a quiet office…
"You haven't visited me in a while, Haruta."
Shimura Danzo's voice was cold as he eyed Haruta from behind his desk.
"Lord Danzo, you know how it is—missions have kept me busy… and I've been recovering from some… physical issues."
Haruta remained calm, bowing slightly.
Truthfully, he didn't enjoy seeing Danzo's face—but this meeting was necessary.
"Is that so?"
Danzo's gaze narrowed.
He knew Haruta had been "resting"—but part of him suspected this was Sarutobi Hiruzen's doing.
Haruta's rapid rise was impossible to ignore—Wood Release, exposing Uchiha Obito's identity, and even capturing the sons of the Fourth Raikage and Third Tsuchikage.
His growth, in just two years after leaving Root, was staggering.
Danzo couldn't shake the feeling that Hiruzen was keeping Haruta close—tightening his grip on this prodigy.
Even though Danzo still controlled Haruta's Curse Mark and had Nono Yakushi as a pawn, he felt uneasy.
Because, at the end of the day…
He wasn't the Hokage.
And now, with Hiruzen away—having taken Kitsuchi to meet Onoki in the Land of Grass—Danzo finally had the chance to handle some matters within the Hokage's office alongside Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
He had planned to summon Haruta for a meeting… only to hear the boy had taken time off due to "health issues."
Honestly, Danzo couldn't help but wonder—was this part of Hiruzen's scheme?
Was the old man intentionally keeping Haruta away from him?
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
Haruta maintained a calm demeanor, nodding slightly.
"Perhaps my Wood Release still isn't fully stable, which caused some backlash. But I've made progress.
Now that I'm feeling better, I came straight to report to you—I hope you understand."
"Hmph…"
Danzo studied Haruta for a long moment before finally giving a small nod.
The explanation seemed reasonable.
While Danzo didn't fully grasp the mechanics of Wood Release, he knew it was a rare and complex power—so occasional instability made sense.
After all, Wood Release was Konoha's most prized ability.
"I'm pleased to see your loyalty, Haruta.
You were trained under me—and I'm glad you still remember that.
As long as you never forget who you are… you'll achieve even greater things."
Yeah, right. Like there's any future following you.
Haruta thought to himself but kept his expression respectful, giving a small nod as if in agreement.
"Your suggestion is solid. Having me approach Sunagakure will indeed make Onoki think twice."
Seeing Haruta's obedient demeanor, Danzo shifted the topic, though his expression quickly darkened again.
"However, Onoki is proving to be more soft-hearted than I expected. He's already leaning toward negotiations… What a shame."
"That's good news — it means we can avoid war."
Haruta spoke softly, but knowing Danzo's mindset, he quickly added:
"But Lord Danzo, this also presents an opportunity. There's still a way for you to strengthen your influence through this."
"Oh?"
Danzo narrowed his eyes. He didn't fully grasp Haruta's point yet, but he knew the boy had sharp instincts when it came to political maneuvering.
"Go on."
"Right now, the Third Tsuchikage's negotiations with Konoha will revolve around the interests of the Land of Grass — that's why I brought Kitsuchi back."
Haruta explained calmly.
"But Onoki won't back down easily. These negotiations could drag on for a long time… or worse, end with Konoha compromising.
I'm not suggesting the Hokage would abandon Konoha's interests, but our final gains might shrink — which wouldn't highlight your value, Lord Danzo."
"You mean…"
Danzo's eyes flashed with understanding.
"Lord Danzo, during the Third Great Ninja War, we learned an important lesson: what you can't win on the battlefield, you won't gain at the negotiation table either."
Haruta smiled faintly, keeping his voice low.
"So, sometimes applying pressure can speed up negotiations — and more importantly, enhance your influence.
Of course, there's a risk. If the pressure becomes too obvious, it might lead to unwanted suspicion…"
"Hmph. I'm well aware."
Haruta's words were vague, but Danzo was no fool — he caught the hidden meaning immediately.
And truthfully, he didn't care about the risk.
No matter how the negotiations between Hiruzen and Onoki turned out, the credit would belong to Hiruzen.
Even though Danzo had once been considered for a diplomatic mission to Sunagakure, it never materialized — so there was no real benefit for him.
But Danzo didn't want just a seat at the table — he wanted to become Hokage.
To do that, he needed influence, achievements, and bargaining power.
"This time… I need people to notice my role."
If Danzo could use his influence to pressure Onoki, he might force the Tsuchikage to make concessions — ultimately benefiting Konoha.
And the best part? It would also showcase Danzo's ability to secure results.
It fit perfectly with his ambitions.
As for any suspicion it might cause?
Danzo wasn't concerned.
He had no qualms about assassinating old "friends" — a little suspicion meant nothing to him.
"As expected… it seems I need to reach out to those Sunagakure contacts again.
They took my money — it's time they did something in return."
Danzo made up his mind.
He had spent a hefty sum compensating Sunagakure after Haruta's last mission, but he saw it as an investment — creating an alliance that could support his bid for Hokage.
Now, it was time for those allies to prove their worth.
"Then let me congratulate you in advance, Lord Danzo. Soon, your name will resound across the ninja world."
Haruta beamed, offering a well-placed flattery.
"I don't care about fame.
What matters is becoming Hokage and leading Konoha down the right path."
Danzo shot Haruta a cold glance, correcting him with an air of self-righteousness.
"Of course — leading Konoha down the right path."
Haruta nodded immediately, his face a mask of loyalty.
Then, after a brief pause, he spoke again:
"There's another matter I need to report to you, Lord Danzo.
You know we're investigating Uchiha Obito, but our team only has five members.
I intend to use this opportunity to recruit external informants to provide us with more intelligence."
"That's the right approach.
With only five of you, there's a limit to what you can accomplish."
Danzo nodded without hesitation.
Gathering intelligence required a wide net — even external informants were valuable as long as they delivered results.
"But why are you bringing this to me?"
"Because, Lord Danzo… you ordered me to recover Uchiha Obito's Sharingan by any means necessary."
Haruta's tone remained respectful.
"So while I'll report this to the Hokage as protocol demands, I believe you should also be kept informed.
In fact… I was thinking of establishing a separate network of informants, ones who report directly to you — making it easier for us to act."
"Is that so?"
Danzo raised an eyebrow.
If he went through Hiruzen, all information would be shared — limiting Danzo's control.
But having a private network meant he could access information independently — and plan accordingly.
"Do you have someone in mind?"
"Yes — someone already within the Akatsuki.
I've marked him with the Flying Thunder God technique, so I can track him.
We've negotiated a price… but…"
"What's his status within the Akatsuki? And how much does he want?"
"He's not a core member.
He currently operates in the Land of Grass, following Sasori and Kakuzu, but he has access to useful intel.
As for his fee… 800,000 ryo per month."
Haruta deliberately inflated the number.
He had told Tsunade it was 500,000 — but when it came to squeezing Danzo for funds, why not aim higher?
After all, external contracts are always flexible…
And Haruta fully intended to pocket the difference.
"800,000 ryo…" Danzo murmured, deep in thought.
"If he's within the Akatsuki, he's worth the investment.
I'll give you 1 million ryo — make sure this is handled properly."
"...Huh?"
Haruta froze for a moment.
He thought he was overcharging — but Danzo was offering even more?
For a split second, he regretted not asking for 1.5 million instead.
But his shock quickly gave way to excitement.
If Danzo has this much money stashed away… imagine how much I'll inherit once I take him down.
"I understand."
Haruta quickly composed himself, bowing deeply.
"I'll make sure this mission is a success, Lord Danzo."
—
Danzo was a man of action.
The moment he decided something would benefit him, he wasted no time putting it into motion.
With Hiruzen away negotiating with Onoki, Danzo had more freedom than usual — but he also felt an urgency to solidify his position.
He immediately ordered Aburame Ryo to deliver a personal letter to Sunagakure.
As for the funds Haruta requested?
Danzo didn't hesitate for a second.
A monthly payment of 1 million ryo was nothing if it advanced his goals.
But while Danzo felt pleased… not everyone was as happy.
—
In Sunagakure, by a man-made pond, Elder Ebizo's face darkened as he read the letter in his hand.
The fishing rod in his grasp trembled slightly.
Beside him, Lady Chiyo let out a quiet sigh.
"Let me guess — it's Danzo again?"
"Yes, sister."
Ebizo nodded, his face heavy with frustration.
His sister was far more experienced in political maneuvering — ruthless, even — so he often sought her counsel.
"It seems Konoha is set on making a move against the Land of Grass… or rather, Danzo has his own plans for that region."
"Well, Danzo is still a part of Konoha — and he's aiming for the Hokage seat."
Chiyo tapped her finger against the wooden table, thinking for a moment.
Rumors about Danzo's impending visit to Sunagakure had already spread through the ninja world.
It wasn't just about the Land of Grass — it was about Konoha pulling Sunagakure into their political games.
"Then what should we do?"
Ebizo asked, trusting his sister's judgment.
"Do we ignore him… or?"
"Danzo may be a scoundrel, but he's given us money — and some useful intel, whether it's about Yurō or Sasori."
Chiyo said matter-of-factly.
"Without his funding, our current situation would be even worse… and we wouldn't have uncovered Yurō's schemes."
Ebizo's brows furrowed.
"So do we just… let Danzo pull us along?"
Chiyo chuckled softly, though her smile held a bitter edge.
"No, brother.
We'll respond — just enough to keep Danzo interested and squeeze more out of Konoha."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Let's see how far we can push both Danzo… and the Fourth Kazekage."
"Let's use this situation to test the Fourth Kazekage's resolve," Chiyo continued.
"We'll see if he sides with Danzo, deploying forces to pressure Iwagakure and maybe take a bite out of the Land of Grass… or if he chooses to stay put and gain nothing."
"Test him…" Ebizo muttered, instantly grasping his sister's meaning.
"So either the Fourth Kazekage aligns with Danzo and takes action — or does nothing and risks losing face?"
"Exactly."
Chiyo smiled faintly, though there was a certain sadness behind it.
"We're merely giving our 'advice.' If Konoha moves and Sunagakure doesn't, any losses will be the Kazekage's responsibility.
If he moves and gains nothing… again, that's on him for poor planning.
But if he moves and wins something, we can take the credit for pushing him in the right direction."
Ebizo's expression remained tense.
"And what about public perception?"
"Leave that to me."
Chiyo's voice was calm.
Whether Sunagakure acted or not, the way the situation was presented to the public would be key.
Even if their actions failed, they could spin the story to avoid blame — and maybe even reassure Danzo that they were still aligned.
But as Ebizo processed all this, a bitter thought crept into his mind.
"Sister… the Fourth Kazekage may be lacking… but isn't it humiliating that we're being manipulated by an outsider like Danzo? What does that say about Sunagakure?"
"I know."
Chiyo sighed softly, shaking her head.
"This… is the sorrow of being weak."
"This is a difficult time. All we can do is strive to secure as much benefit for the village as possible. And as for our Fourth Kazekage… well, it's hard to put into words.
"The Third Shinobi War is the best proof of that. Perhaps we need some fresh blood. Or maybe, we need to change ourselves."
"That girl, Pakura, is quite good. She has learned a lot under my guidance."
"Her?"
Ebizō frowned. Pakura had long been taken away by his sister for training, and he hadn't asked much about her since. But now, hearing his sister suddenly bring her up like this—could it be that she thought highly of Pakura?
"It's just an attempt. Besides, Sunagakure owes her."
Chiyo seemed to understand what her brother was thinking. She sighed helplessly and continued.
"Also, I don't want that bastard Danzō to win. Some positions simply aren't suitable for us, no matter what.
"I think you understand this even better than I do, don't you?"
Ebizō was silent for a moment after hearing Chiyo's words. But soon, he chuckled in resignation.
"As expected of my sister. You're far more decisive and ruthless than I am—I really can't compare."
"Oh, stop teasing me. We're already old."
Chiyo shook her head with a meaningful smile.
"All we can do now is give our best for this village and do our utmost to secure a suitable future.
"Alright, that's enough talk. Look, your fishing rod is moving—you've got a bite."
---
"What's going on? Why would Danzō do something like this?"
In the Land of Grass, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned as he read the report handed to him by the Anbu.
Ōnoki had agreed to negotiations with Konoha, so Hiruzen had promptly called off Danzō's diplomatic mission to Sunagakure.
After all, their goal was simply to apply pressure, not to actually provoke a full-scale war. A show of force should have been enough.
But now, Danzō's actions had thrown a wrench into his plans. Wasn't this outright defying him?
Then again, Danzō had always been at odds with him.
However, when it came to major matters, Danzō had at least maintained a commitment to Konoha's interests. But now, what exactly was he trying to accomplish?
"Shikaku, what do you think?"
After a moment of contemplation, Hiruzen turned to Nara Shikaku.
Among the people he trusted, Shikaku stood out. The Nara clan's exceptional intelligence had often proved invaluable in critical situations.
Whenever he faced difficult problems, he always sought Shikaku's advice.
"Hokage-sama, it's hard for me to comment on this matter."
Shikaku's mind was racing. He had already thought of many possibilities, so he chose his words carefully.
"However, perhaps the Advisor is simply using his own methods to secure greater benefits for us."
"Hmm…"
Hiruzen furrowed his brows and nodded. He could understand the reasoning behind it.
Danzō might be trying to strengthen Konoha's position in the negotiations, even securing additional advantages.
This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but it disrupted his plans. He had no intention of escalating tensions with Ōnoki.
"How far do you think Ōnoki will compromise? Will he resort to extreme measures?"
Hiruzen already had some ideas, but he still wanted Shikaku's perspective.
"He will certainly harbor resentment toward Konoha, but that was inevitable. The fact that Kitsuchi is in our hands is an unchangeable reality."
Shikaku spoke in a low voice, fulfilling his duty.
"So, even if hostility deepens, it won't make much of a difference. Besides, we still don't know how far Sunagakure is willing to go.
"Perhaps they're just bluffing, or maybe they genuinely plan to take advantage of the situation to reclaim their interests in the Land of Bears from Iwagakure."
The Fourth Kazekage was a reckless opportunist—this was evident from the outbreak of the Third Shinobi War.
Now that he was beset with internal and external troubles, he might actually be willing to take a gamble.
After all, Konoha had already deceived Sunagakure once. With Konoha now pressuring Iwagakure, it was only natural for Sunagakure to play the waiting game.
"However, I believe that both you, Hokage-sama, and the Third Tsuchikage would prefer to avoid escalating the situation further."
As Hiruzen pondered, Shikaku spoke again.
"Hokage-sama seeks peace and naturally wouldn't want to provoke unnecessary conflict. Likewise, the Third Tsuchikage wouldn't want to get bogged down, allowing Kumogakure to benefit.
"Thus, negotiations must continue, but Hokage-sama, you cannot afford to back down easily—especially given the current circumstances."
"I understand."
Hiruzen nodded, though he couldn't shake his unease.
Danzō's actions had indeed been for Konoha's benefit, but they had also put him in a difficult position.
If he showed even a hint of compromise in such an advantageous situation, Danzō would surely seize the opportunity to undermine him.
On the other hand, if he aggressively pursued benefits from Kusagakure, he would thoroughly antagonize Iwagakure. He was now caught between a rock and a hard place.
And he was certain that Danzō didn't care about forcing him into this predicament. Danzō would simply believe that he was right.
In fact, he might have done this on purpose—after all, hadn't he always been "working for the sake of the Hokage"?
Hiruzen let out a weary sigh before asking,
"So, should we look for alternative ways to make up for this loss?"
"That is entirely up to your decision, Hokage-sama."
Shikaku nodded but then murmured under his breath,
"Still, Sunagakure's swift response… Aside from self-interest, perhaps they genuinely intend to be a reliable ally."
"Hmm…"
Hiruzen acknowledged the remark with a nod, though his unease only grew.
He knew Shikaku was subtly hinting at something. And indeed, he himself was growing curious—
Did Sunagakure act purely out of self-interest, or had Danzō's influence played a role?
"Danzō… just what have you been doing behind my back?"
Hiruzen muttered in exhaustion. His longtime comrade was becoming more and more unpredictable.
---
"Those bastards—Konoha really dared to pull something like this?!"
In the Land of Grass, within Iwagakure's encampment—
Ōnoki slammed the report in his hand down in fury. In his eyes, Konoha's audacity clearly showed that they thought they had Iwagakure completely cornered!
It was already a given that Kusagakure would suffer losses, but Konoha's sheer greed enraged him.
However, he knew he had to remain calm—rash decisions only led to mistakes.
"What's Konoha's response?"
After a long pause, Ōnoki asked in a low voice. The Anbu beside him shook his head.
"Tsuchikage-sama, there hasn't been a clear response yet. However, an organization did send a scroll, claiming that their mission was complete."
"An organization? Akatsuki?"
Ōnoki's frustration grew. He wanted to focus on Konoha's movements, yet Akatsuki had sent him a report instead.
Hadn't they already failed their mission? Why were they reaching out now?
But he quickly realized—Akatsuki's task had been to confirm Konoha's Mangekyō Sharingan and Mokuton users and, if possible, eliminate them.
Now, it seemed they had verified this information. After all, those lunatics had indeed attacked Kusagakure.
"What a bunch of failures…"
Ōnoki cursed inwardly but still unrolled the scroll. As he read, his expression subtly changed.
"Uchiha Shisui… and Haruta… Danzō's subordinate?"
He hadn't expected to see Danzō's name here.
It seemed Akatsuki had underperformed and thus included additional intel, which detailed both Shisui and Haruta—along with Haruta's connection to Danzō.
Danzō had already been a source of irritation to Ōnoki. Who knew how many spies he had planted in Iwagakure?
Now, learning that this Mokuton user had also been involved in Sunagakure's affairs piqued his curiosity even further.
"This kid is interesting… but he belongs to Danzō."
Just thinking about Danzō possessing a Mokuton user frustrated Ōnoki further.
Konoha was like the cradle of geniuses—how infuriating.
Yet, Danzō was still just Hiruzen's shadow. He followed orders, nothing more.
But then, a thought struck him—
"Danzō may be Hiruzen's shadow, but he was also the Second Hokage's student. Perhaps he truly has his own ambitions?"
That idea made Ōnoki reevaluate Danzō.
"Furthermore, that Mokuton brat visited Sunagakure—could Danzō have left some traces there?"
His instincts told him that this matter warranted further investigation.
"Send someone to Sunagakure immediately. I want a thorough report on any unusual activity there—especially around the time Rasa, that idiot, tried to confront us."
"Understood, Tsuchikage-sama."
As his Anbu left, Ōnoki muttered,
"Shimura Danzō, huh?"
Watching the Anbu leave, Ōnoki glanced at the scroll in his hand once more. A moment later, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"You seem far more interesting than I initially thought…"
***
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