CH - 201 Akihiko's invitation to Danzo.

The next day swiftly arrived after a night of discussions, and Kushina accepted Akihiko's arrangement, quietly staying in the village to care for the children.

Simultaneously, due to Konoha's actions, the war came to an abrupt halt. The initially tense atmosphere quieted once again.

Meanwhile, in Konoha, upon hearing the news that their Hokage's assistant, Danzo, could return home, an urgent night meeting was convened. There was no hesitation in the decision—no one dared to hesitate. They promptly dispatched individuals with the required funds, anxious about potential unforeseen issues.

The Konoha ninjas stationed at the border rejoiced, even adopting some customs from Grass Village. They hung banners at the border to welcome back their Hokage's assistant, creating a stark contrast to the previous day when they were vehemently throwing explosive tags for the sake of Konoha.

This turn of events also compelled the Grass ninjas to replace the banners they had refrained from throwing the last time. They had no alternative. Anticipating a potential war, Akihiko knew they couldn't avoid it, so this time, they refrained from preparing banners. The outcome… turned out to be truly unexpected.

However, as Konoha had taken the initiative, the Grass ninjas couldn't deviate from the norm. What if they were perceived as disrespectful to their guests? Thus they rehung the banners that had been left from the previous occasion.

Suddenly, a joyful atmosphere enveloped both sides of the border, perplexing other ninja villages still attempting to gather intelligence. If the ninja world were unaware of the ongoing conflict between these two villages, they might have mistaken it for a friendly gathering.

Akihiko, the leader of the Grass ninjas, took a special moment to personally come and bid farewell to their esteemed guest. He looked at the somewhat fatigued Danzo with a reluctant expression and said, "You are welcome to come back anytime."

As he finished speaking, Danzo glanced at the Grass leader with a complex expression before raising his head to observe the banners on both sides. If people were unaware of his situation, they might have believed he was genuinely representing Konoha on a diplomatic mission to the Grass Village.

Indeed, he was correct. Konoha had grown decadent. These individuals seemed to lack a sense of strategic timing, when they should be engaging in conflict, they refrained and when restraint was necessary, they recklessly threw explosive tags. Danzo vividly recalled that even after he ordered them to cease, someone still attempted to launch an attack.

Contemplating the situation, he attributed it to Sarutobi's aging and gradual weakening. The village was losing control without him. Without the embodiment of darkness in a ninja, Konoha seemed incapable of achieving anything.

Danzo snorted and then shifted his gaze to Akihiko. In his heart, he knew that this guy's enthusiasm was merely an attempt to recruit him. However, he held firm to his conviction—he would never betray Konoha.

At that moment, as Danzo crossed the border into the Land of Fire, dozens of Anbu ninjas suddenly materialized, immediately dropping to their knees. "Welcome back, Danzo-sama. Hokage-sama requests your immediate return to the village!"

"Hmm," Danzo slightly smirked and nodded. Despite Hiruzen's waning strength, the bond of friendship persisted. He sighed inwardly, glancing at the Konoha ninja holding flowers and banners beside him. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly once again.

As expected, the conflict with the Grass Ninja Village needed a swift resolution. Otherwise, who knows, maybe something unexpected would happen once more.

"Let them take down everything," Danzo snorted coldly, "We are in the midst of a battle. What's the point of all this?"

"...yes!" The ANBU ninja nodded. In truth, they were apprehensive about potentially offending Danzo.

After all, Hokage-sama had gone to great lengths, even determining the date of the funeral, selecting the commemorative monument at the head of the village, and showcasing the customized clothing he had prepared at the end of the third war.

Everyone believed Danzo-sama's sacrifice was inevitable this time. Consequently, they were ready to launch an attack that day. However, the Grass Ninja Village on the other side unexpectedly declared, 'No need to fight, just bring the money, and you can take him back.'

Undoubtedly, it was a relief that Danzo-sama was unharmed. Rumors circulated that upon hearing the news the previous night, Hokage-sama was so elated that he broke his precious smoking pipe in half. Staying up all night, he expressed concern about potential troubles and Danzo-sama's safety. With dark circles under his eyes the next day, he promptly ordered someone to deliver the required funds.

Recalling Hokage-sama's instructions, the ANBU ninja swiftly lowered his head and said respectfully, "Danzo-sama, please follow me back."

"I know," Danzo waved his hands impatiently, and before leaving, he turned his head and took a deep look behind him, especially at that figure, saying calmly, "I will return sooner or later!"

The shame of this moment will surely... Yet, he hadn't finished his inner thoughts.

Akihiko, upon hearing Danzo's declaration, was stunned. Is there such a good thing, to come back? He excitedly said, "Next time you come, remember to inform in advance. Hanzo even complained; it was too sudden. He hasn't let you taste the specialty of the Land of Rain."

However, Danzo ignored Akihiko's words as he turned to leave, showing no reaction.

Akihiko, initially planning to invite and deceive Danzo, became puzzled. "Hey, why leave so quickly? It's still early; how about chatting a bit more?"

"Let's go!" Ignoring Akihiko's invitation, Danzo, with a stern face, directly led the Anbu ninjas back. He had no interest in enduring more humiliation.

Moreover, upon returning to the village, he still had a lot of matters to handle, especially the Uchiha… those traitors. For Konoha, it must be resolved as soon as possible.

On the opposite side, Nagato, observing Akihiko's behavior, couldn't help but remark, "Sensei, there's no need to shout anymore; he's already far away!"

"What do you even know? This is called courtesy. Think about it... in just a few years, how much profit he has brought us." Akihiko shook his head and responded to him as if he were still a kid who didn't know anything.

Is this also considered profitable? Nagato rolled his eyes and sighed, looking at Akihiko, shaking his head helplessly.

Speaking of Sensei... he has brought back another pair of mother and son. What is he after? Is he trying to win someone's mom? Of course, reminiscing about his own mother from back then, Nagato smiled faintly.

"Why the smile?" Akihiko lightly patted Nagato's head, his expression suspicious. He then dismissed the topic with a shake of his head, saying, "Let's not delve into this. You three have lingered here for quite a while without heading home. Karin is consistently calling for her big brother and your mother... Don't you find the time to visit?"

As Akihiko brought up family matters, Nagato couldn't help but display a faint smile. "How is Mom doing?"

"She's doing well. The Kushina family has taken residence in your home. With Karin visiting almost every day, your mother won't feel lonely," Akihiko responded with a smile.

'Someone moved in?' Nagato was momentarily taken aback, letting out a sigh before shaking his head. "Sensei, you've truly let me down. I might as well have stayed home, tending to my flowers."

'Isn't it precisely to give you an opportunity that I came here alone? And now…' Nagato shook his head helplessly.

"What are you talking about?" Akihiko delivered a direct slap to the back of Nagato's head. He then turned his attention to the Konoha ninjas nearby, remarking, "I'll entrust this to you guys. The real war is on the horizon. But remember..." After a sigh, he adopted a serious tone, "Ensure your own safety. Don't recklessly engage in conflicts; your families eagerly await your return."

After checking the time, he added, "It's getting late; I should make my exit."

"Uh~" Nagato nodded impassively, observing Akihiko's departure. Then, shifting his gaze, he directed his attention to the Land of Fire's border adorned with hanging banners.

Particularly the familiar symbols on the banner's corners... his mouth twitched involuntarily, shaking his head in resignation before making his way back to their camp.

Truth be told, he harbored no concerns for this impending war. Considering their circumstances... what did Konoha even have left to fight with?

…

Meanwhile, on the Konoha side, after bidding farewell to Danzo as he returned to the village, they commenced dismantling the banners here as well.

The charade had concluded; next... the true war was about to unfold. After all, Konoha wouldn't easily relinquish the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails.

In contrast to those who underestimated the Grass ninjas, the temporary commander, Shikaku Nara, regarded them with a profound gaze. He focused on the corner of the banners adorned with images and characters.

A gently swaying blade of grass in the breeze. And beneath it... 'Made in Grass Village.' Indeed, this merchandise was sourced from the Grass Village; they were, after all, the specialists in this field, and their prices were reasonable.

Moreover, many ninjas now donned vests, ninja undergarments, and shurikens procured from the Grass Village. Even these essentials were acquired from them; how were they supposed to wage this war?

Regardless, they had to fight, and swiftly at that. Sighing, Shikaku gestured to the Konoha ninjas nearby, "Let everyone take a rest. The impending war..." His eyes bore a solemn expression as he continued, "Won't be a simple one!"

…

On the second day after Danzo's departure, the war erupted once more. As anticipated by many, without Danzo, the Grass ninjas found it challenging to stop Konoha's advances as effectively as before.

In a bid to swiftly conclude the conflict, Konoha initiated a relentless assault on the Grass Village. Shortly thereafter, witnessing the true clash between Konoha and the Grass Village, it became evident that this time, the battle was more intense.

Not long after, the Cloud Village also entered the fray, declaring war on the Grass Village under the guise of the Third Great Ninja War. They demanded compensation from the Grass Village and insisted on the surrender of the Uzumaki clan and the Jinchuriki within the village.

Following suit, the Stone Village declared war on the Grass Village as well, echoing similar demands for compensation and asserting control over the entire territory of the Land of Grass.

Surprisingly, the Sand Village, previously defeated in the Third Great Ninja War, also joined the conflict against the Grass Village.

As for the Mist Village, there was still no discernible movement. It remained uncertain whether they had not yet recovered or if the village had been sealed for an extended period, continuing into the present.

Faced with the combined might of the four major ninja villages, the entire ninja world buzzed with activity once again. This time, the outlook was overwhelmingly pessimistic for the seemingly insignificant Grass Village.