CH - 270 What? Danzo is missing?

It was another peaceful day in Konoha. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat leisurely in his office chair, sipping steaming tea and taking a deep puff from his pipe. As he gazed out at the tranquil village of Konoha, he couldn't help but let out a contented sigh.

With Konoha now focusing on recuperation and revitalization, Hiruzen found himself with a bit more free time lately. However, recent news of the Fourth Kazekage of Sand Village plotting to assassinate the Daimyo, along with the Daimyo's decree to disband Sand Village, had placed Konoha in a delicate position within the Land of Fire.

Friction between the Daimyo and Konoha had escalated due to various recent events. The Daimyo was contemplating forming the new Twelve Guardian Ninja to exert control over Konoha, but he had not yet taken decisive action. However, there were individuals stirring up trouble, exacerbating the tensions between Konoha and the Daimyo.

Amidst the sudden turmoil in Sand Village, it was evident that those intent on causing trouble would exploit the situation to further strain Konoha's relationship with the Land of Fire's Daimyo. While this was a significant nuisance, it wasn't an insurmountable challenge.

Unlike the struggling Sand Village, Konoha's overall strength remained robust despite recent setbacks. They still possessed a formidable cadre of shinobi and had managed to maintain stability. In contrast, Sand Village had been severely depleted, relying primarily on aging leadership with little new talent emerging.

Furthermore, Konoha's ties with the Land of Fire's Daimyo were relatively stable compared to Sand Village's fraught relationship with the Land of Wind's Daimyo. If Konoha could navigate through this challenging period, they stood a good chance of emerging unscathed.

As for other issues, they could be addressed once Konoha regained stability and bolstered village morale. Despite losses like the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the Uchiha and Uzumaki Clans, and the Fourth Hokage, Konoha still maintained its position as the strongest shinobi village on the surface.

Regarding the conflict with Grass Village, Konoha aimed to resolve it swiftly to prevent prolonged hostilities that could benefit other villages like Cloud and Stone. The potential for a full-scale Shinobi World War loomed, with uncertain outcomes, making peace imperative for Konoha's interests.

Since ceasing involvement with disruptive elements from Grass Village, Konoha had felt rejuvenated, with a palpable sense of renewal in the air.

The Uchiha Clan, once viewed as a security risk, had been effectively managed, leaving only Itachi Uchiha, a steadfast supporter of the Will of Fire. Despite Itachi's loyalty, the Uchiha coup attempt had cast a shadow, prompting him to step back from prominence. It was rumored that Itachi preferred this lower profile, though the trauma of the Uchiha incident had left him more reserved and withdrawn than before.

Among the more pressing issues, however, was the severe depletion of resources within the Sarutobi clan.

"Damn it!" Hiruzen muttered, his hand tightening around his chest as he fought to regain composure. "Stay calm, stay calm!"

He knew all too well the toll anger could take on his health. It had already weakened him before, and the medical ninja had warned him to avoid stress and maintain his well-being. He had even cut back on using the Telescope Technique, a sign of his efforts to heed their advice.

Taking another careful sip of his tea, Hiruzen shook his head in frustration. "Grass Village attacking Konoha during our internal strife... They're no better than thieves. They don't deserve to call themselves shinobi."

As the Third Hokage cursed, Anbu ninja rushed in urgently. "Hokage-sama, there's a problem. Danzo-sama is missing from the village again!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned, abruptly placing his cup down with a loud 'clack', clutching his chest once more. "Danzo is missing again? How long has he been gone?"

"Based on our estimation… he probably left yesterday morning." The ANBU ninja replied hesitantly.

"Quickly, gather a team and bring him back immediately!" Hiruzen took a deep breath, steadying himself. He couldn't afford to lose Danzo now. "Find him and bring him back. Doesn't he understand the gravity of the village's situation right now?"

Considering recent events in the shinobi world, Hiruzen speculated aloud, "He must have gone to Sand Village. He must have! Mobilize all available shinobi to retrieve him. Konoha's future depends on it. Our resources are already stretched thin."

Hearing the urgency in Hiruzen's voice, the Anbu ninja nodded solemnly, ready to execute the mission swiftly.

"However," a familiar yet excited voice echoed from outside. "No need to look for me, I've already returned!"

Hiruzen turned sharply towards the door, his heart skipping a beat. There stood Danzo, covered in dust and looking weary but alive. Relief flooded through the Third Hokage as he hurried over to his longtime colleague and friend. "You… why didn't you inform us before you left? Do you know how worried the village was about you?"

Meeting Hiruzen's concerned gaze, Danzo felt a lump in his throat. Despite their differences, Hiruzen had always been there for him, a stalwart pillar of support. Danzo's voice was soft as he reassured him, "I'm fine, Hiruzen."

"Promise me you won't disappear like that again," Hiruzen pleaded, his eyes reflecting years of shared history and concern.

"I promise, Hiruzen. No more wandering off," Danzo replied, his own emotions welling up.

"Danzo!" Hiruzen's voice cracked slightly with emotion.

"Hiruzen..." Danzo's tone was equally heartfelt as they exchanged a nod, reaffirming their deep bond and mutual understanding.

"Danzo," Hiruzen said after confirming Danzo was unharmed, a wave of relief washing over him. "It's good that you're okay. You have no idea how anxious I was when I heard you had left the village again."

"Sorry to worry you..." Danzo's voice carried a note of apology.

"It's alright. I'm just relieved you didn't waste any money this time. So, did you encounter any shinobi from Grass Village?" Hiruzen sighed.

Danzo's eyelid twitched at the blunt question. 'Is that what concerns you most? Money over my well-being?' he thought, but recalling recent events, he looked up and hesitated. "I did encounter them, but..."

Before Hiruzen could press for details, Danzo continued with a touch of emotion, "Fortunately, I managed to evade them swiftly... Otherwise, things could have been quite different." He let out a sigh, holding back a flood of words, condensing them into a simple, "Ah, never mind."

"Ah," Hiruzen sighed in understanding. He nodded, feeling relieved, and placed a reassuring hand on Danzo's shoulder. "You've saved the village significant resources."

"Enough about that, enough! What did you discover during your visit to Sand Village?" Hiruzen asked curiously. After all, despite recent events, Sand Village remained one of the great ninja villages, and this incident had also strained relationships between major villages and their respective daimyos.

Taking another drag from his pipe, Hiruzen pondered aloud, "I didn't anticipate Grass Village getting entangled with Sand Village again. What could be their motive this time?"

He paused, shaking his head slightly. "Never mind. Konoha should steer clear of this. We've finally achieved some peace; now is not the time to involve ourselves in such tumultuous affairs."

"No, we can't!" Danzo interrupted Hiruzen, shaking his head with a serious expression. "This time, Cloud Village and Stone Village are already stirring. The Daimyo of the Land of Wind has issued a decree that has turned all the ninjas against Sand Village. They've even requested Konoha's assistance in eliminating Sand Village, offering a very generous reward. If Konoha does nothing, we'll fall further behind Cloud and Stone Village. We need resources right now!"

"I understand that, but Grass Village..." Hiruzen hesitated.

"No problem," Danzo waved his hand dismissively, then crossed his arms behind his back, speaking calmly. "I have a plan."

"Oh?" Hiruzen's eyes brightened at Danzo's confident demeanor. "What's your plan?"

"It's time for Konoha to..." Danzo's lips curled into a slight smile as he looked towards Sand Village. "It's time for us to convene a Five Kage Summit!"