Chapter 34. Another Increase!

Chapter 34. Another Increase!

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"Is that so?" 

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" 

"... Kakashi really has been through a lot." Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, sighed as he removed his pipe, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. He found himself at a loss for words, the situation both puzzling and frustrating. Finally, he asked, "How is Kakashi doing now?" 

"His injuries aren't severe, but this is his first experience with something like this, so he's still adjusting." Minato, feeling a bit responsible as the team leader, gave an awkward smile. "No need to worry, Hokage-sama." 

It was his own fault… he hadn't taught Obito well enough. 

That once-kindhearted child had changed so much. 

"That's good." Hiruzen nodded, sighing. "Obito is a good young man. I had hoped that by being with him, Kakashi would form an important bond, but I never expected something like this to happen."

So. 

What exactly happened to turn such a helpful, optimistic young man toward something so shocking? 

Was it… love?

He pondered this and then looked at Minato. "Minato, what do you think? Do you support Kakashi's request for a transfer?" 

"I think… we should wait a bit longer." Minato thought for a moment, then gave his warm, reassuring smile. "In truth, they're already indispensable partners; Kakashi understands that deep down." 

Otherwise… 

Why would he accept Obito's challenge? 

Things just developed in an unexpected way, catching everyone off guard. 

It truly was an accident. 

"I'll work with Obito to make sure he doesn't misuse... that power." 

"Minato, you've already become a fine teacher; Jiraiya would be proud." Hiruzen nodded approvingly, smiling gently. "My own thoughts are also to wait a bit longer." Taking a long drag from his pipe, he said with a sigh, "The situation in the ninja world is tense. Iwagakure and Kumogakure are both secretly mobilizing their forces. Just as everyone fears, a new ninja war may be on the horizon. It's inappropriate to randomly change teams at this time!"

It would damage their teamwork. 

"Hokage-sama..." Minato opened his mouth to speak, but Hiruzen interrupted him. "I know what you're about to say. Don't worry, the Chunin Exams are coming up. There won't be any large-scale conflicts for now, or perhaps… there might not even be a war at all. That might just be my own imagination, haha." 

Hiruzen's reassuring laughter lightened Minato's heart as well. 

At that moment, Hiruzen retrieved a paper from his desk. "I also have a new mission request specifically for you, Minato." He paused, hesitant. "If Kakashi still needs time to recover, let him rest a few more days." 

"Yes!" 

"Thank you for your hard work, Minato."

As Minato left, Hiruzen watched his back, sighing as the door closed behind him. "I really need to keep an eye on Kakashi..." 

Danzo had been watching him from the start. 

Darkness was taking root in his heart.

The intention was for Obito's optimism to guide Kakashi back onto the right path. But now… things had escalated rapidly. 

He just hoped that Kakashi's heart wouldn't sink further into darkness.

"So the next focus… is war preparations." Picking up another document, a faint smile appeared on Hiruzen's face. "The Daimyo's office has been especially generous; funding was released surprisingly quickly. Maybe they've noticed the growing tension in the ninja world?"

Regardless. 

The funds were here, and the rest wasn't the Hokage's concern.

Glancing at the bounty poster beside him, he paused briefly, then chuckled softly and returned to his paperwork. 

A mere 370 million ryo. There was no way he'd target an old friend over that.

They had a bond going back years, ever since they were young—both dedicated to protecting Konoha. 

In a way, Danzo was his closest companion, his dearest brother.

"There's no way I, Sarutobi Hiruzen, would betray my friend for some money!" 

Ridiculous!

…

"Danzo-sama!" 

"Hmm!" Danzo's whole body shuddered slightly as he snapped back to reality, looking at the subordinate below with a calm expression. "Did you find out which fools dared to place a bounty on me?"

Since the bounty had been placed, he couldn't shake a bad feeling. 

It felt like everyone's gaze toward him was filled with hidden malice, especially just now… for some reason, a wave of unease sent a sudden chill down his spine.

As he thought. 

Someone out there definitely wanted a piece of him! 

He had to find out who was behind this!

Of course, he suspected that it might be that person who placed the bounty. 

The disappearance of the Root ninja he had dispatched was followed by a bounty on him only days later. This only deepened his suspicions.

The problem was finding a reason or the right moment to act. That person had been in the village this whole time, even donating a substantial amount to Konoha over the years, without doing anything out of line. 

Taking action rashly would definitely unsettle the other clans, making it seem like he was killing businessmen for wealth, which would be detrimental to Konoha's development.

Especially now, with the ninja world in a state of turmoil, all other matters had to be set aside for now. 

After a moment of silence, as he looked at the Root ninja lowering his head without a word, Danzo knew what had happened.

"Useless," he muttered coldly.

And then, Danzo fell back into thought. This bounty had really disrupted a lot of his plans. 

Now, he couldn't even head to the Land of Rain to investigate the legendary Rinnegan.

That so-called Demi-God of the Ninja World, Hanzo of the Salamander, wasn't the benevolent type, and seeing his current state only added to Danzo's unease. 

He worried that Hanzo might just turn against him and refuse to cooperate.

Danzo sighed inwardly, though his expression remained calm as he looked at his subordinates below him. At least I'm safe here!

After Root's rigorous brainwashing, his subordinates were loyal; they would never think of betraying him for a bit of money!

But then— 

With a "swish," another Root ninja ran in, kneeling with a conflicted look on his face. "Danzo-sama..." 

"What is it?" Danzo's eyelid twitched, a sudden bad feeling rising in his heart.

As he finished speaking— 

The Root ninja respectfully pulled out another bounty poster. It had the same familiar description, the same familiar photo, and—

Danzo's mouth twitched, his face turning an ashy colour as he looked at the bounty amount below. 

One zero, two zeros... after the initial "4," the rest were all zeros!

Four hundred million?! 

"Damn it…!" he cursed. 

They dared to toy with him like this?!

Shouldn't it have only increased by ten million?

Now... 

Whoever was behind this bounty… they had to die!