CH - 198 Weren't they trying to recruit me?

Hiruzen silently perused the letter in his hand. Within, Grass Village meticulously discussed the pursuit of peace, emphasizing the contributions they claimed to have made to the restoration of peace in the ninja world after the reconstruction of Grass Village.

They highlighted their achievements in producing low-cost ninja vests, inner garments, shinobi tools, and explosive tags, boasting that such essentials were now affordable for every impoverished genin. They professed dedication to maintaining peace among the ninja villages and fostering collaboration with the Five Great Ninja Villages for mutual prosperity in the ninja world.

The letter took a critical turn towards Konoha, asserting that the hero's son had been unfairly treated as the traitor's offspring, and they accused Konoha of treating a member of the Uzumaki clan harshly. It was essentially an insult to the Uzumaki clan, which had been assisting Konoha since its inception, making significant contributions to the village. The clan had generously shared its secret sealing techniques with Konoha, and for three generations, its members had selflessly served as Jinchuriki for the village.

In return for their loyalty and sacrifices, what did they receive? The child of a few years was treated with contempt, accused of being the offspring of a villain. The hero's son was labeled as the villain's progeny. Was this how Konoha treated the hero's child? It was a truly sorrowful and heart-wrenching situation. The letter questioned why Konoha treated the Uzumaki clan's child in such a manner, asking if it was fair to the countless ancestors of the Uzumaki clan who had contributed to Konoha. Was it fair to the bonds of friendship? The letter went on to condemn Konoha for what they deemed as child abuse.

However, Hiruzen and others couldn't help but inwardly curse the situation. Damn, their appeals to familial relations. Damn, the accusations of child abuse. Weren't the Jinchuriki of each village treated in a similar manner? And could a Jinchuriki simply leave the village at will?

Now, they were making such a self-righteous and shameless statement. It appeared as if they were attempting to shift the blame onto Konoha. Grass Village was truly audacious—even daring to declare war directly?

"It seems that Grass Village has gained some audacity due to the peaceful development in recent years," Mitokado sneered. "Have they forgotten the fate of Rain Village in the past?"

During the Second Great Ninja War, Rain Village had grown excessively confident, believing that possessing a legendary ninja would elevate them to an equal standing with the Five Great Ninja Villages. The outcome was nearly catastrophic—they were almost obliterated, both country and village.

"Regarding the incident with Minato, our actions might have been a bit unkind," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and shook his head.

At that time, Minato had sealed the Nine-Tails himself to minimize losses. In the end, he had even entrusted Naruto to their care. However, due to the turmoil caused by Grass Village, which further angered the village, combined with declarations of war from the Cloud and Rock Villages, they had shifted their focus to the war to quickly quell internal conflicts. That's why he had reluctantly agreed to Danzo's plan. Little did he expect Naruto to grow closer to the Uzumaki clan members.

However, none of these circumstances justified the theft of Konoha's Jinchuriki. Hiruzen Sarutobi examined the letter in his hand, frowned slightly, and then raised his head to look at the individuals before him, his eyes narrowing.

Suddenly, the aura of the Hokage fully manifested, prompting everyone to fall silent, attentively watching him. In a composed tone, he declared, "Move the border ninja army forward, and simultaneously issue another statement to Grass Village... Konoha will ensure the well-being of the Fourth Hokage's child and urges them to promptly return the Jinchuriki and Assistant Hokage to Konoha."

However, he understood that claims of child abuse or mistreatment of the Uzumaki clan's child were merely excuses. It appeared that this war was becoming inevitable. However, this time, Danzo would likely face the consequences.

Although they wouldn't dare to harm the Jinchuriki, once the war began, Grass Village would undoubtedly target Konoha's Hokage Assistant. Therefore, Despite the potential danger to Danzo, losing the Jinchuriki was not an option.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag from his pipe, his eyes slightly reddening. He gazed at the group photo of the four of them on the table, especially at the close friend, his expression solemn. He muttered, "I'm sorry, my friend..."

All these actions were for the sake of Konoha. However, before he could finish speaking.

"Hokage-sama!" An ANBU ninja rushed in hastily. "There is crucial information from the front line. Danzo-sama has been spotted on the border of the Land of Grass." With a hint of hesitation, he added, "And... and... and..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was initially stunned, but he quickly set aside his sadness, furrowed his brow slightly, and asked, "Danzo appeared on the border of the Land of Grass?"

At this moment, the question lingered: What did Grass Village intend by bringing Danzo to the border? Could it be another attempt to extort money, reminiscent of the Third Great Ninja War?

"And what? Are they demanding money? One hundred million or... two hundred million?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, questioning.

"No, no..." The ANBU ninja, under the Hokage's stern gaze, immediately lowered his head, took a deep breath, and with a respectful tone, hurriedly explained, "Grass Village has directly hung up Danzo-sama on the border, stating... if Konoha ninjas dare to approach, they will stab Danzo-sama in front of us."

As the words sunk in, everyone present was left dumbfounded, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand trembled, causing the smoking pipe he held to fall to the ground. He stared at the ANBU ninja with a bewildered expression, his inner thoughts echoing, "Grass Village... truly has no shame."

…

After some time, the news of Konoha losing both the Jinchuriki and even the Assistant Hokage spread rapidly throughout the entire ninja world.

The once-promising prospect of peace in the ninja world, following the conclusion of the wars between Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Konohagakure, became strained once again.

Many couldn't help but sigh in their hearts; these years in the ninja world had been truly tumultuous. The Third Ninja War had just concluded not long ago, and now the three major ninja villages were once again entangled in conflict. Just as the major villages had seemingly settled their differences, Grass Village decided to stir up trouble.

Furthermore, observers couldn't help but marvel at Grass Village's audacity. To declare war on Konoha, especially at a time when tensions were just beginning to ease, showcased a boldness that raised eyebrows across the ninja world.

…

On this pleasant day with a gentle autumn breeze, Danzo, who had been confined for several days, found himself released. Despite the azure sky and the soothing autumn wind, the air carried a noticeable chill, a reminder of the deepening autumn.

Taking in the surroundings, Danzo couldn't help but release a sigh. He grasped the reality that the astute leader of Grass Village had no intention of ending his life. Instead, they likely intended to employ him once again, just as they had in the past, as a bargaining chip in negotiations with Konoha, seeking financial gain.

However, Danzo, the embodiment of Konoha's darkness, remained resolute in his loyalty to the village. As he glanced at the familiar border, he recognized Grass Village's ploy to leverage him for monetary gain. The proximity to the Land of Fire was a stark reminder, as he had been imprisoned in this very location before.

Danzo's countenance displayed a hint of disdain. After a dismissive shake of his head, he straightened his chest, fixing his gaze ahead with a dignified demeanor. As a representative of Konoha's Darkness, maintaining his dignity was non-negotiable. Did that foolish leader of Grass Village believe they could sway the resolve of a Konoha ninja like this? It was nothing short of ludicrous.

Undoubtedly, the humiliation from this encounter, coupled with that of the past, would be repaid in due course—a return a hundred times over. One should not underestimate an experienced figure. No, He wasn't old yet; he still harbored dreams to fulfill.

From the elevated platform erected by Grass Village, overlooking the Land of Fire in such proximity, Danzo calmly addressed the Grass ninja beside him, "Let's go. In any case, negotiations with Konoha won't be delayed for long. Regardless of the exorbitant demands your avaricious leader may have, Konoha will meet them. Remember... I am the Assistant Hokage of Konoha!"

Danzo maintained his composed demeanor and added with a taunting smile, "And convey to your leader that this platform is impressively constructed. I have a genuine liking for it, and mark my words, one day, I will return." The subtle jab carried the implication that, on that day, the one occupying this platform might very well be the leader of Grass Village.

However, as he concluded his statement, the nearby Grass ninja looked at him in bewilderment. "Go? Where are we going? We're already here."

Could it be that this time they were openly imprisoning him? Before Danzo could react, a young Grass ninja nearby gestured to the others, saying, "Bring him over here. Don't keep Daisuke-san waiting!"

Suddenly, three Grass ninjas appeared, carrying a giant cross, and swiftly approached Danzo. Before he could comprehend the situation, they bound him to the cross.

Danzo was left bewildered, questioning the motives behind this unexpected turn of events. Were they planning to showcase him to Konoha, attempting to raise the stakes for negotiation? However, before he could make sense of it all, a Grass ninja in front of him suddenly thrust a kunai into his thigh. The ninja then brandished the bloodied weapon, shouting a warning, "You Konoha's ninjas better behave, or this old guy will meet his end at our hands!"

Danzo, looking at the Grass ninja with a mix of confusion and irritation, then glancing down at his wounded thigh, raised his head once more to peer at the Grass ninja nearby. His mouth twitched in disbelief. Weren't they the ones who sought to recruit him? Didn't they express admiration for him? Where was the leader of Grass Village, and why was he not intervening in this bizarre situation?