Chapter 71 : Journey To Konoha

Kazuhiko had already finished packing and glanced back at the six elders and the ninjas from the Land of Whirlpools who were accompanying him. They were all ready to depart for Konoha.

Apart from the six elders, there were also twenty-six ninjas accompanying him. Their responsibilities included taking care of Kazuhiko's needs during the journey.

Initially, Kazuhiko thought that he and the six elders could make the trip alone, but the elders strongly disagreed.

"He's not just the clan head but also the Daimyo of our Land of Whirlpools," they argued. "Traveling with fewer than twenty people is out of the question."

Their primary role was to ensure Kazuhiko's safety and provide for his needs, even though he didn't require such extensive protection.

But they insisted on forming a larger group.

Reluctantly, Kazuhiko gave in. "First Elder, Law Enforcement Elder, and the rest of you, I entrust the Land of Whirlpools to your care during my absence," he told the elders who had come to see him off.

"Don't worry, Clan Head. We'll take excellent care of the Land of Whirlpools!"

"Alright then, let's get going!"

In the end, a group consisting of the six elders, twenty-four accompanying ninjas, and Kazuhiko himself—a total of thirty-one individuals—set off towards Konoha.

Meanwhile, in Konoha Village at the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo stood together, gazing out of the window at a large leafy tree.

"Hiruzen, you're like the trunk of the mighty Konoha tree, basking in the sunlight and rain, while I am the shadow of Konoha."

"I am the 'root' firmly grounded beneath the branches. It's only when these roots delve deep into the darkness that the tree thrives with strength and stability."

"My mission is to protect the great Konoha tree, even if sacrifices are necessary!"

Danzo stared at the towering tree with determination, clenching his teeth and fists.

Hiruzen couldn't help but notice Danzo's unusual demeanor. "What's bothering him? He's been like this ever since he returned from the Land of Whirlpools. Is he uncomfortable looking at this tree? Well, I won't provoke him for a couple of days. I'll talk to him later about cutting down this tree."

Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a puff of green smoke and decided not to inquire further about Danzo's current state.

Nonetheless, he asked, "Regarding the situation with the Land of Whirlpools, they should be departing soon, right?"

Danzo also snapped back to reality. "Yes, Hiruzen, they should be on their way. Kazuhiko is leading the delegation."

"They say that this Kazuhiko played a crucial role in their victory against the Mist Shinobi this time."

"He's still quite young. If anything were to happen to him, it would be a significant loss for the Land of Whirlpools."

Sarutobi Hiruzen expressed his concerns, his eyes dark with worry.

Danzo turned to look at his longtime comrade, a man who, despite being in the sunlight, seemed to carry a darkness within him.

"Haha, this has nothing to do with Konoha, of course. We'll welcome them when they come to Konoha."

"They must be safe on their journey to Konoha. We'll send ninjas to the Fire Country border to receive them."

Sarutobi Hiruzen feigned a warm smile, puffing on his pipe to match his friendly demeanor, as if he had emerged from the shadows.

Danzo, on the other hand, understood Hiruzen's unspoken message. "If we want to 'safeguard' their journey, I'll need a significant number of personnel, but I don't have enough."

Danzo took a step back, positioning himself in Hiruzen's shadow, and calmly spoke. 

Danzo couldn't help but feel a twitch in his cheeks as he thought about the man whose movements were almost too fast to track, his terrifying eyes concealed in the shadows. 

He absentmindedly raised his hand to touch the right side of his face, which had almost healed but was tingling once again.

A trace of fear briefly welled up within him, but he quickly pushed it aside, forcefully suppressing it.

"For the sake of Konoha, everything is justified! No matter how formidable the enemy may be this time, they won't stand in our way!"

In that moment, fear transformed into unwavering determination in Danzo's eyes; he was fearless.

"It's settled then. You have complete responsibility for this operation. You can utilize anyone within the village, but exercise caution," Sarutobi Hiruzen said as he turned away from the sun, squinting at Danzo before him.

"The mishap with their group must have no ties to Konoha! Perhaps it was the work of Mist Shinobi or Cloud Shinobi who were unwilling to appear defeated, so they resorted to clandestine assassination."

As he spoke, a hint of fierceness flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes involuntarily.

Upon hearing Hiruzen's words, Danzo couldn't help but smile. "Of course, it must have nothing to do with Konoha!"

"Very well, I find myself quite reassured when you are in charge," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with satisfaction as he turned his attention back to the view beyond the window. 

"It's time to release the news and inform the villagers that representatives from the Land of Whirlpools will be arriving soon. They should prepare to welcome them."

Danzo looked at Hiruzen curiously. "But who will be sent to greet them?"

After some contemplation, Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, "In order to demonstrate our sincerity, we'll send Tsunade."

Meanwhile, as for the group led by Kazuhiko, they had just set off. Kazuhiko gazed in the direction of Konoha and whispered softly, "Hey, it looks like there's quite a commotion going on over there."

"Clan Head, what did you say? Would you like some water?" A nearby ninja overheard something and quickly turned to inquire.

"It's nothing, let's keep moving forward!" Kazuhiko replied with a dismissive wave.

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