CH - 262 Danzo: I will handle it!

"They actually refused?!" Akihiko exclaimed, sounding genuinely incredulous.

"Of course he did," Hanzo replied, his tone laced with irritation as he rolled his eyes at Akihiko. "What kind of village leader would entertain the idea of purchasing insurance from another village? It's an affront to the dignity of any ninja village."

Pausing briefly, he leaned in eagerly, his tone laced with anticipation. "So, what's our next move? Shall we consider a more aggressive stance, perhaps even vying to replace the Sand Village as one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages?"

But Akihiko regarded Hanzo with a serious expression, countering, "Why jump to such drastic measures? I must admonish you here. We are a village of honor and integrity, committed to peacekeeping. The Sand Village is not only our ally but shares a bond of friendship that spans generations, dating back to our village's inception..."

Hanzo interjected, "Wasn't that the case with Konoha?"

"Surprising as it may sound," Akihiko countered with a straight face, "the Grass Village maintains profound friendships with all the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Our collaboration spans generations, though regrettably, our intentions seem to be misinterpreted in recent times."

Hanzo couldn't fathom how Akihiko could utter such shameless words with a straight face. His eyebrow twitched as he pondered for a moment. "So, what's our next step?"

Akihiko's response was prompt and business-like. "Simple. We stick to what we excel at: business," he declared, meeting Hanzo's gaze squarely. "We have a surplus of old ninja tools that need to find new homes."

There was a hint of resignation in Akihiko's sigh. Since the Nine-Tails incident, there has been an overabundance of unsold ninja tools. And despite the passage of time, Grass Village had only amassed more.

"And while we're at it," Akihiko added, a glint of opportunism in his eyes, "let's explore the possibility of acquiring Sand Village's Magnet Release techniques. We'll offer a fair price, of course." His tone shifted, revealing a hint of disappointment. "It's disheartening how few orders we receive from Sand Village, especially considering the scarcity of ninjas proficient in the art of magnetic escape."

Hanzo regarded Akihiko with a mix of incredulity and suspicion. Despite his rhetoric about camaraderie and deep bonds, his actions spoke of a more cutthroat approach. Now, he seemed intent on wresting away Sand Village's closely guarded secrets.

As Akihiko took a sip of the hot tea graciously offered by Mikoto, Hanzo remained seated, his mask concealing any indication of his reaction. His venomous nature rendered him cautious about partaking in food or drink in public.

Suddenly, Hanzo rose from his seat, casting a brief glance at Mikoto "I'll be taking my leave now."

A mischievous smirk played across his lips as he continued, "I wouldn't be surprised if that old hag Chiyo pays a visit to Grass Village. It'll be quite the spectacle."

With a boisterous laugh, he departed, leaving Akihiko to shake his head in frustration. "What a troublemaker," he muttered under his breath.

Turning his attention to Mikoto, who was preparing to depart, Akihiko halted her with a gesture. "Hold on a moment, Mikoto-san."

Uchiha Mikoto's surprise was evident as she looked up at Akihiko, her voice soft with curiosity. "Is there something else you require, Leader Akihiko?"

Akihiko's gaze softened as he met Mikoto's eyes. "It's nothing of great importance. I simply wanted to inquire about..." He paused briefly before continuing, "How is Sasuke faring these days? With the academy looming just around the corner."

"Sasuke..." At the mention of her son, Mikoto's demeanor softened, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you for asking, Leader Akihiko. Sasuke is adjusting well, thanks to the support of everyone here, especially Naruto... That boy has a remarkable way of bringing solace to others."

Though Sasuke's drive to improve remained steadfast, his progress had been notable since their arrival.

Even the Uchiha clan, slowly but surely, was regaining its footing. Perhaps, by relinquishing the weight of the past, they could genuinely embrace a fresh start within Grass Village.

However, Mikoto couldn't shake a lingering sense of discomfort. Their presence among the Uchiha clan was delicate, as it risked reopening old wounds. And here, in Fuso's residence, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of self-consciousness compared to Kushina's easy demeanor.

Mikoto bowed slightly, her demeanor apologetic. "I apologize if I have caused you any concern, Leader Akihiko."

Akihiko waved his hand dismissively, a reassuring smile on his face as he observed Mikoto's graceful black hair cascading down. She wore a long black dress accentuated by a brown apron, which complemented her elegant figure.

She possessed a gentle nature, reminiscent of Fuso. However, unlike Fuso, Mikoto also wielded formidable ninja prowess. Once classmates with Kushina, she had retired from active duty after graduation due to personal reasons.

As a devoted mother, Mikoto always prioritized her children's well-being and worked tirelessly to prevent the Uchiha clan from succumbing to bitterness. Though she seldom ventured into the Uchiha district, she vigilantly monitored their situation.

Today was no exception as she willingly volunteered to assist with household tasks.

Akihiko recalled something and remarked casually, "Oh, by the way, Kushina mentioned you had something to discuss with me?"

Mikoto's body tensed slightly, a fleeting bitter smile crossing her features. "Kushina already told you?" She hesitated briefly before admitting with a hint of embarrassment, "With Sasuke in mind, I've been considering finding employment. Kushina suggested I approach you directly, Lord Akihiko."

"Hmm," Akihiko mused, pausing to gather his thoughts. "It's not a problem at all, but..." He paused again, pondering silently. Why did Mikoto approach him personally for work when there were plenty of job opportunities in Grass Village? Perhaps she had a specific role in mind.

Considering the options, he thought about a suitable role for her. Perhaps a position at the academy would be fitting. Unlike Kushina's outgoing personality, Mikoto's gentle demeanor would resonate well with the children. Her ninja skills would also make her a capable instructor.

After a moment of contemplation, Akihiko smiled warmly and proposed, "Would you consider assisting me? I'm in need of a new assistant since my previous one departed recently. Your presence would be greatly appreciated."

However, Mikoto appeared troubled, her expression hinting at some unresolved concern. "This..."

Before she could voice her thoughts, Akihiko interjected reassuringly, "Don't worry, the tasks are quite straightforward. Your main responsibility will be organizing and categorizing documents, then reporting back to me."

Mikoto's refined features softened with a mixture of relief and gratitude. Though a hint of uncertainty lingered, she mustered a warm smile. "If that's the case, please allow me to give it a try, Lord Akihiko. If I make any errors, I trust you'll provide guidance."

"Absolutely, I have full confidence in your abilities," Akihiko responded, noting her nervous demeanor with a reassuring smile.

Moved by his faith in her, Mikoto bowed once more, expressing her gratitude. "Thank you for this opportunity, Lord Akihiko."

Momentarily taken aback by Mikoto's sincere gratitude, Akihiko smiled in return. "No, thank you. I look forward to working with you."

…

Meanwhile, in Konoha...

"You've certainly stirred up quite the commotion," Danzo remarked, his expression grim as he regarded Orochimaru, who had just returned. "Aren't you concerned that your actions might provoke Sand Village into a retaliatory strike? You know, Hiruzen is adamant about maintaining peace."

Orochimaru shrugged nonchalantly, a hint of indifference in his demeanor. "We had no alternative. Desperate times call for desperate measures," he stated matter-of-factly. "Sand Village and the Land of Wind offers were simply too lucrative to ignore."

Danzo's gaze narrowed in suspicion. Sand Village and the Land of Wind... It suddenly dawned on him. Orochimaru was playing a dangerous game, maneuvering between conflicting interests. Yet, ultimately, he had chosen to fulfill the mission assigned by the Daimyo of the Land of Wind.

"What a shame though," Danzo lamented, "To think you've actually slain the Fourth Kazekage."

"I'm sure mercy isn't your strong suit, Danzo," Orochimaru remarked casually, raising an eyebrow with curiosity. "Rest assured, I executed the task discreetly. No one detected a thing."

Danzo shook his head, his expression troubled. "That's not the point," he muttered with a sigh. "If you hadn't killed him, we could have leveraged him for substantial financial gain."

Orochimaru's mouth couldn't help but twitch at Danzo's words. Danzo's style of doing things has really changed since his time in Grass Village. The man seemed even more ruthless now than before. His smile twitched slightly as he continued, "It's regrettable. There's another assignment: the Daimyo of the Land of Wind wants us to deploy shinobi to dismantle Sand Village."

Danzo was taken aback by this revelation. "There's more?"

"Indeed," Orochimaru confirmed, his tone tinged with disappointment. "But when I consulted Sarutobi-sensei, he flatly refused. He accused me of meddling in another village's internal affairs and violating shinobi protocols. He ordered me to remain within the village. Such a shame—the reward was quite substantial."

Orochimaru sighed regretfully, observing Danzo's visible anger. "What's the matter?"

"Hiruzen's conservatism is hindering the village's progress. The village needs finances urgently," Danzo retorted sharply, his tone laced with frustration as he regained his composure with a cold snort. "Moreover, this is a prime opportunity to weaken the Land of Wind."

"So, what's your plan then? It's not a simple task dealing with a major shinobi village," Orochimaru inquired curiously.

"You ask what I intend to do?" Danzo's stance stiffened, an aura of menace surrounding him as he spoke with unwavering determination. "If the village won't take the mission, then Root will. Remember this: if the village cannot eliminate a target, I will. If the village refuses to handle a matter, I will."

A major shinobi village... Even if it's struggling financially, the resources they could gain from it could achieve numerous objectives.