Chapter 82. Each approach

Konoha Village, Root Base.

Danzo returned, and much of the equipment was returned intact.

Uchiha's growing detachment from Konoha Village and their flourishing catering business resemble a money-making machine.

Third Hokage took this as a serious warning.

Everywhere is concerned about profit, and currently, Uchiha enjoys various benefits, arguably the most among all the ninja villages.

Uchiha has recently witnessed an explosive baby boom. As these babies grow up, they are balanced to enter their most powerful period.

With people, resources, and the dynamic duo of Natsuki and Fugaku, the future looks promising.

Even Itachi and Shisui, who left the village, pose significant threats.

Major families' support to the Third Hokage is primarily driven by these interests.

If Uchiha can continue bringing more benefits, it seems inevitable that the next Hokage candidate must be Uchiha.

During this period, Danzo summoned back many of his former subordinates.

The Third Hokage believed that as long as there was no misappropriation and Danzo's income was limited, the root would not cause significant disturbances.

However, he was unaware that he had alternative sources of funds.

The Third Hokage made a deal with Danzo, promising him that as long as he could provide more than half of the recipes from the Uchiha shops, funds would be allocated for the restoration of his roots.

He agreed wholeheartedly, but in his mind, he pondered, 'With over half of the recipes, do I still need you?'

Sandaime awaited to savor the benefits. Whether Danzo would divert them for himself, he had his own cunning strategies.

...

Hyuga Kaito, the fourth elder of the clan, was a contemporary of Danzo.

In his youth, he was a brilliant and enterprising genius, leading the Hyuga clan to numerous remarkable achievements on the battlefield.

Unfortunately, fate dealt him a cruel blow. While on a mission, attempting to rescue his comrades, he suffered a severe injury to his left leg.

The damage extended from the bones to the muscles and nerves, resulting in necrosis.

The Hyuga clan spared no effort to save his leg, but despite their best attempts, he not only lost his ability to return to the frontlines but couldn't even stand up again.

His saved leg lacked any sensation, making him completely disabled.

In the end, confined to a wheelchair, a once brilliant genius met a tragic fate, like the saying that the higher you stand, the harder you fall.

As Hyuga Kaito transformed into a person with limited abilities, the clan's attitude towards him began to shift.

Envious whispers and unpleasant rumors started circulating about him, a stark contrast to the days when he was celebrated as a genius.

Despite the adversity, Kaito regained his strength, eventually securing the position of the fourth elder based on his earlier merits.

Unlike many other elders who paid little attention to the fate of the branch family members, Kaito remained compassionate.

When guiding young individuals, he did so without bias towards the clan or the branch families, cultivating a broad network of connections over the years.

In his efforts to strengthen the Hyuga family, Kaito often devised plans for its betterment.

On this particular day, he found himself once again in the yard, painstakingly making his way forward.

There was a time when he harbored the hope that continued rehabilitation might work a miracle, restoring feeling to his left leg and revitalizing his body.

Regrettably, reality proved harsh. Despite consistent exercises from youth through middle age, and now approaching old age, his condition showed no significant improvement.

The left leg remained devoid of sensation, and the right leg bore the toll of multiple injuries sustained during his determined efforts.

It seemed that this might be the reality he would face for the rest of his life.

Frustration lingered in Kaito's thoughts.

"Kaito..." A peculiar voice interrupted his contemplation.

Turning around, Hyuga Kaito found himself face to face with Shimura Danzo, a person he hadn't seen in almost a decade. Despite being contemporaries, there was no friendship between them. Kaito wondered about the reason behind his unexpected visit.

Frowning, he seated himself on the ground against a wall pillar. Not bothering to inquire why Danzo appeared, Kaito noted that there were not many guards outside his courtyard, allowing him to enter without hindrance.

"Danzo, what brings you here?"

At that moment, Kaito noticed that Danzo's right hand was no longer bandaged.

"Your arm?"

For years, Danzo had kept his arm tightly bandaged, claiming it was due to an injury.

However, as the elder of the Hyuga clan, Kaito had heard different rumors.

Whispers circulated that not only was Danzo's arm tightly wrapped, but it also bore a mysterious seal, suggesting a significant secret.

The sudden exposure of Danzo's unbandaged arm surprised everyone. Kaito, accustomed to Danzo's concealed appearance, couldn't help but scrutinize the now-revealed limb.

"After recovery, it will naturally be revealed."

Danzo casually waved his arm, the strength in his movements producing a distinctive whooshing sound. Kaito's expression shifted, and he gazed at Danzo's arm with a complex expression.

Danzo smiled with a hint of pride, stating, "This is something we've researched in the Root. It strengthens the body; even if the nerves are damaged, there's no issue."

Kaito, leaning on the pillar for support, moved slowly toward his wheelchair a short distance away.

Without assistance from Danzo, Kaito managed to sit down after a few minutes, settling heavily into the chair.

"What's your purpose?"

As Kaito breathed slowly, Danzo, who had just showcased his arms, now revealed his intention. Of course, there was a purpose behind his visit; otherwise, why bother offering a display of warmth?

Danzo casually swung his arms, nonchalantly stating, "Police Force."

Kaito waved his hand dismissively, "Your reputation is thoroughly tarnished. Quit trying to join the police force."

He paused and continued, "Moreover, the police force is always under Hizashi's control. If it weren't for the intervention of the great elder, you wouldn't have been able to shift defenses."

Danzo waved his hand somewhat casually.

"I don't want Roots to rejoin the guard force, but I need a favor from the security team."

"Wrap your left leg around me. I guarantee it will be even more flexible than before."

Kaito asked warily, "What's the catch?"

Although he hoped for an improvement in his leg, he would never trade it for the interests of the clan.

"It's a piece of cake."

Danzo said casually, "As long as you instruct your Hyuga police team to keep a close eye during patrols and help me gather information about the secret recipes of Uchiha."

Kaito's face darkened slightly.

"The Uchiha clan now sees those restaurants and shops as their treasure. And you want me to steal their secret recipes for you?"

The success of it lies in its distinctive preparation techniques and exclusive secret recipes.

Because no one has tried them before, the curiosity to experience these unique flavors draws more and more people.

However, unless you have a shop with the same sign, you've never encountered the recipes for those dishes, let alone tasted them elsewhere.

"We, the Hyuga clan, maintain strong bonds with the Uchiha clan, and we won't betray our friends for some petty profit."

Kaito firmly rejected Danzo, emphasizing his desire for his family's strength, not his personal recovery.

Danzo narrowed his eyes: "Penny-wise and pound-foolish? Kaito, do you realize how much money their shops make annually? At least this much."

Danzo held up two fingers.

Kaito responded casually: "It's only two million. With their thriving business, isn't that expected?"

Danzo shook his head: "No, it's twenty million."

"What!?"

Kaito was so shocked. Considering that an S-level mission pays only around a million, and often involves significant risks, the fact that Uchiha, just by running their shops and cooking daily, could generate 20 million in profits annually was astonishing.

This is simply unbelievable. Even if you're a high-level ninja, you'll always have access to professional intelligence from the village.

At most, you might be able to do a few S-level missions in a year, and even those might take a year or two to complete.

"Is it really that profitable?" Kaito still couldn't believe it.

Danzo was prepared and handed the investigation report to Kaito.