Konoha’s Concession

The Konoha Pact was a treaty signed by the First Hokage and the previous Daimyo. It covered Konoha’s status within the Land of Fire, as well as the rights enjoyed by Daimyo Manor and the funding and various forms of support it was required to provide.

Konoha’s resources all relied on support from Daimyo Manor. Food, weapons, and other supplies were all dispatched by Daimyo Manor, while Konoha guaranteed sufficient purchases. The few weapon shops within Konoha could at most cover the daily wear and replacement needs of ninja. Once war broke out, they would still have to rely on Daimyo Manor.

Since the Daimyo had spoken of reconsidering the Konoha Pact, it meant he was serious.

"Hyuga Mirai and Uzumaki Ayaka are Konoha’s rogue ninja and enemies. They inflicted tremendous damage upon Konoha during the Nine-Tails’ Rampage, and even the Fourth Hokage’s death was connected to them. Under the Konoha Pact, Konoha’s rogue ninja are also rogue ninja of the Land of Fire. What does the Daimyo mean by this!?"

Danzo stared coldly at the man in noble attire, looking as though he would kill him at the slightest disagreement.

In truth, Danzo really did have such intentions. And his killing intent was not directed solely at the man before him, but even more so at the Daimyo.

No matter how much he disliked Hiruzen, Danzo believed that his feelings for Konoha were no less than Sarutobi Hiruzen’s.

If the Daimyo stood on the side of the rogue ninja, then killing him and replacing him with another Daimyo would be the best choice for Konoha.

At that thought, a chilling gleam flashed through Danzo’s exposed eye.

"Elder Danzo, I already said that this is a joint proposal signed by dozens of nobles. Even the Daimyo can only stand with them."

The man in noble attire said, "Over the next five years, the Uzumaki Company will gradually release fourteen new products. For the Land of Fire, that represents profits amounting to several billion ryo. Perhaps the funds Daimyo Manor provides to Konoha are earned through trade with the Uzumaki Company."

"Now, Konoha’s Anbu ninja have arrested quite a few managers of the Uzumaki Company on charges of being rogue ninja. Many of them belong to prominent clans from various regions. If Konoha does not stop this behavior, then—"

Stopping people from making money was like murdering their parents. Danzo’s actions had thoroughly enraged the nobles across the land. But if they individually went to confront a behemoth like Konoha, they would certainly receive no answer afterward.

Thus, the prominent clans from various regions went directly to the Daimyo, begging Daimyo Manor to intervene.

If even the Daimyo could do nothing about this matter, then the nobles from various regions might seek revenge themselves. If they could not kill Jonin, could they not deal with Konoha’s lower- and mid-ranking ninja? A bounty of one million per person would be enough to attract many Bounty Hunters.

Moreover, the Daimyo’s dissatisfaction with Konoha had been building for a long time. The death of the Finance Minister, the attacks on the companies of nobles under him, and more. Konoha, which should have protected the Land of Fire, seemed to be slowly changing for the worse. Yet it still shamelessly kept asking Daimyo Manor for funding, each request larger than the last.

So, after the nobles from various regions came calling, the Daimyo directly dispatched an envoy to Konoha.

"We cannot possibly abandon our pursuit of rogue ninja—"

"Danzo!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly shouted, causing Danzo, who was about to make a threat, to freeze.

After stopping Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly said to the envoy in noble attire, "Regarding this matter, please inform the Daimyo that I will visit Daimyo Manor soon to discuss it properly with him."

"Of course. The Daimyo is also looking forward to Hokage-sama’s visit."

The envoy in noble attire secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If the Hokage had been as unyielding as elder Danzo, then his mission this time could have been declared a failure.

"Konoha fully understands the Daimyo’s difficulties. On the matter of rogue ninja, I believe that through discussion, Konoha and Daimyo Manor will certainly find a suitable solution."

"Hokage-sama is absolutely right. Then I shall return and report this to the Daimyo."

The tense atmosphere from earlier vanished after Sarutobi Hiruzen’s few words. He then had someone escort the envoy from Daimyo Manor away, leaving only Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others behind.

"Hiruzen, you aren’t really planning to compromise, are you?" Danzo stepped forward half a pace and questioned him sternly.

"Then what do you want to do, Danzo?" Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe, glanced at Danzo, and continued, "The list is right here. Are you going to have Root kill every one of these people?"

Kill them all?

What a joke. Danzo cursed Sarutobi Hiruzen inwardly, feeling stifled.

If he really did that, Konoha’s Anbu and all the Jonin would probably come for him directly. They would not even give him a chance to speak before blasting him into pieces with ninjutsu.

The existence of ninja, and even Ninja Villages, depended on being employed by nobles and Daimyo. If Konoha dared do such a thing, the other Four Great Nations would fully pressure their four Ninja Villages into sending troops to wipe out Konoha.

This sign had to be stamped out, or the Daimyo of the other major nations would not even be able to sleep peacefully.

"I will discuss this matter with the Daimyo. Until a result is reached, Root only needs to investigate the whereabouts of Uzumaki Ayaka and Hyuga Mirai. Do not lay hands on ordinary people again."

Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped the table with his pipe, making the final decision.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura also supported Sarutobi Hiruzen’s decision. If Danzo were allowed to continue, Konoha would likely lose all footing within the Land of Fire.

After the three of them left, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Anbu again and asked about Uzumaki Naruto. Upon learning that Uzumaki Naruto was being cared for by Kimura, he relaxed slightly.

As long as the Jinchuriki did not suffer an accident, Sarutobi Hiruzen would not interfere. Besides, even if he wanted to teach Naruto the Will of Fire, he would have to wait until Naruto was at least three years old. And by then, Kushina probably would not be able to hold on much longer.

"Troublesome times indeed."

Externally, Kumo-nin and Suna-nin were extremely unsafe, while internally, nobles from various regions had united in resistance because Root had arrested people from the Uzumaki Company. Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly felt that returning to the position of Hokage had been a mistake. He should have followed Namikaze Minato’s example and chosen another Fifth Hokage.

But the Fifth Hokage could absolutely not be Danzo.

"The Edo Tensei Bodies collapsed?"

Hyuga Mirai sensed that the two Edo Tensei Bodies under his control had suddenly collapsed. He had already lost his sense of control over Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.

"Breaking free from the restraints is impossible. With three layers of restraints, the Edo Tensei Bodies could not possibly break free from all of them at once. Android 18, where is Hashirama Senju’s Edo Tensei Body?"

Android 18 immediately replied, "Sir, it is still at the plantation base in Whirlpool Country. However, the Impure World Reincarnation body has changed appearance. The specific footage is as follows."

Judging from the footage, Hashirama Senju’s Edo Tensei Body seemed to have had the technique released, revealing the original appearance of the sacrifice. Its body was also shriveled like a desiccated corpse, as though it had been severely drained.

Hyuga Mirai frowned and pondered. "The infinite Chakra of Impure World Reincarnation is a false premise? But that does not seem likely. Considering the quality of the sacrifice, Hashirama Senju used Wood Release for months without eating or drinking. The Chakra consumed exceeded that of the sacrifice by dozens of times. Android 18, bring the corpse back for me to study."

Whether the excess Chakra came from the Pure Land, and the connection between the Edo Tensei Body and the Pure Land, could both be studied when he had time.

"Forget it. Use another sacrifice to reincarnate Hashirama Senju again. The planting work cannot stop. As for Tobirama Senju, we have more or less extracted his ninjutsu hand seals and Chakra flow. Once we supplement the Chakra nature transformations and the details of the ninjutsu, they can be taught to our subordinates."

Hyuga Mirai would not handle such troublesome matters himself. The best candidate was undoubtedly Orochimaru. When it came to researching ninjutsu, no one in Hyuga Mirai’s forces could surpass him.