CH - 190 Karin's Birth and Three years.

After briefing the patient on her medical condition, Akihiko escorted Kana and Fuso away. He held faith that after receiving his advice, Kushina wouldn't simply return to her child and then risk her health further. Her child needed her care, and perhaps, as time passed, she could eventually bring Naruto here.

This plan, however, had its complications. If Konoha treated Naruto well, given his character, identity, and Kushina's own inclinations, she might respect Naruto's choices and opt to stay in Konoha. After all, she was the wife of the Fourth Hokage.

Yet, matters were rarely straightforward. Akihiko sighed as he reviewed the intelligence in his hands, disappointed. "Surprisingly, Konoha hasn't quashed the rumors!"

Seemingly, Yoshinori's efforts in Konoha didn't resolve Grass Village's misconceptions. Dismissing this, he turned to Kana and Fuso, offering a smile. "It's getting late; let's head back!"

With a soft hum in acknowledgment from Kana, Akihiko guided the two back toward their residence.

As for Fuso trailing behind, Akihiko's recent conversation with Kushina brought back memories, causing a smile to grace her lips. The scenario felt familiar. It's just back then, she misunderstood… Akihiko's words.

…

Following the Nine-Tails incident, as Akihiko foresaw, Iwa and Kumo once again declared war on Konoha. However, in contrast to the Third Great Ninja War, this time Iwa did not seek aid from Grass Village, particularly Kannabi Bridge.

The reasons for this deviation were unclear – perhaps they assumed the bridge was damaged, found the route inconvenient, were concerned about the high toll charged by Grass Village, or aimed to catch Konoha off guard. Regardless, this time, Iwa and Kumo clandestinely allied with the country of Taki, launching a surprise attack on Konoha, catching them unprepared yet again.

Confronted with the unexpected assaults from two major ninja villages, which had recently faced encirclement and attacks by the Four Great Ninja Villages, Konoha, still reeling from the chaos of the Nine-Tails, found itself unprepared.

Despite the reduced number of major ninja villages involved, the pressure on Konoha remained overwhelming. Recognizing the imminent danger, Grass Village, as Konoha's vital ally, couldn't stand idly by. Grass Village understood that any harm to Konoha could also potentially put them in jeopardy as well.

Thus, without hesitation, under Akihiko's leadership, Grass Village promptly responded. They quickly organized a formidable team of shinobi, rushing to Konoha and delivering the scientific ninja tools that Konoha had requested.

However, despite Grass Village's supportive gesture, Konoha did not respond with gratitude. Instead, they swiftly dismissed the Grass Shinobi as soon as they received the supplied goods, displaying a rather hostile attitude and even expressing a desire to engage in physical altercations.

This starkly contrasted with the enthusiastic portrayal painted by the great lord Mubuki. The stark difference in reception deeply wounded the hearts of the Grass Shinobi.

Acknowledging the situation, Akihiko empathized with his shinobi and clarified that Konoha was currently in the midst of war, making it inappropriate for foreign shinobi to enter without permission. He emphasized that Konoha's shinobi were merely safeguarding their village, and there was no malintent. Despite the initial tension, Akihiko, as the leader of Grass Village, expressed understanding to Konoha shortly afterward.

He emphasized that this incident wouldn't sour the deep relationship between Grass Village and Konoha. In a further show of goodwill, Grass Village even displayed a large banner for Konoha of placing an order from Konoha as a tangible proof of the enduring friendship between the two villages in the eyes of the broader ninja world.

However, Konoha remained unresponsive, possibly overwhelmed by their ongoing conflicts. To add to the unfortunate circumstances, Grass Village had initially hoped to serve as a mediator between the Five Great Ninja Villages. They aimed to facilitate communication between Konoha, Iwa, and Kumo, conveying messages of peace and the First Hokage's ideology. Additionally, the plan included selling advanced military products to Iwa and Kumo, aiming to establish a balance and foster peace among the three major villages.

Regrettably, Iwa and Kumo outright ignored these attempts at mediation. Despite the effectiveness of the scientific ninja tools employed by Konoha, capable of instantly casting C-level ninjutsu, Iwa and Kumo showed no appreciation. The Third Tsuchikage went a step further, scolding Grass Village, accusing them of lacking ninja virtue and attempting to ensnare the three major villages in a strategic maneuver reminiscent of the old ninja vest tactics.

Firm in his stance, the Third Tsuchikage declared, "Iwa will never purchase from Grass Village in this lifetime! We will not allow those Grass Shinobi to earn a single penny!"

This provoked strong reactions from the leadership in Grass Village, with Kakuzu even contemplating an assassination attempt on the Third Tsuchikage. Blocking the path to wealth was viewed as equivalent to threatening their very lives.

Akihiko, however, only felt a mild regret. Most of the products had already been sold to Konoha, and any remaining unsold items could be repurposed into Fire Release tools and sent to the Land of Rain for mining. As anticipated, the war did not escalate further over time. Instead, it gradually weakened, transforming into a series of small-scale probes, eventually settling into a prolonged stalemate.

…

As time swiftly passed, three years slipped away in the blink of an eye. Despite the constant conflicts between the major ninja villages, Grass Village maintained a serene atmosphere. During these peaceful years, a significant event unfolded—the birth of Akihiko's child.

The family joyfully welcomed a lovely girl named Karin. Her arrival brought warmth and happiness, creating a sense of unity within the family. Meanwhile, Grass Village continued to thrive and progress, contributing to the overall development of both Grass and Rain nations. The collective efforts of the community played a pivotal role in achieving prosperity.

Amid this tranquility, Nono, the hardworking intern, took on diverse roles within the village. Serving as a secretary, director of the orphanage in Grass Village, and espionage training coach, she exhibited unparalleled dedication. Even when assigned the part-time role of a spy trainer, she accepted the responsibility with surprise, occasionally casting strange glances at Akihiko, as if harboring unspoken thoughts.

Despite her diligence, Akihiko tactfully redirected any attempts by Nono to discuss her position. Over the years, it appeared that Konoha had forgotten about her, as she faithfully received her salary from Grass Village and tirelessly worked, displaying no complaints about the low pay and extended internship.

While Nono seemed content in Grass Village, Akihiko, as the leader, understood the need to address the rumors circulating about his treatment of employees. Adopting a serious demeanor, he looked at Nono approaching him and asked, "Nono, would you like a permanent position?"

Nono, taken aback by the unexpected proposition, struggled to comprehend his intentions.

…

A few days later, within a concealed cave in Konoha, Danzo examined the confidential letter in his possession. A nod of approval accompanied a faint smile that graced his face.

After three years had passed since the war's conclusion, Danzo had dispatched another confidential letter. In the preceding days, he anxiously awaited a response. The absence of a reply led him to believe that she might have been discovered or even sacrificed, rendering communication impossible. However, his assumption proved incorrect.

It appeared that, for some unknown reason, she had been unable to respond in the past few days. Danzo marveled at her abilities, "Impressive! As Expected of a wandering miko. She remains undetected even after such an extended period."

Yet, if that guy hadn't found her after all this time, Danzo realized he might have overestimated him—perhaps the so-called 'Grass Wiseman' wasn't as capable as believed.

Danzo sighed, a mix of satisfaction and contemplation coloring his expression. His gaze narrowed slightly. It appeared she had earned the trust of the other individual.

As the war approached its conclusion, negotiations between Kumo, Iwa, and Konoha loomed in the near future. This imminent development granted him additional time and energy to set the stage for his ultimate plan.

The grand scheme involved luring out Rain Village's leader, Hanzo, for an assassination attempt. Subsequently, he aimed to instigate conflicts between the two villages, delivering a crippling blow to the Grass Shinobi leader. The formidable strength and intelligence of that individual required meticulous preparation.

Over the past few years, he had permitted her to collect intelligence about Grass Village without interruption, all in anticipation of this crucial moment—to plunge the Grass Shinobi leader into despair.

"Foolish individual, your naivety will exact a price. I shall make you taste pain and cleanse the shame of that year," he murmured with a cold gleam in his eyes.

Opening the confidential letter, his gaze fell upon its contents. Though only a single line, the deciphered message consisted of four words: {Okay}.

Danzo stared at the letter in his hand, a moment of silence enveloping him. For reasons unknown, he found the reply strangely familiar.