Chapter 56: 56. Jiraiya Comes To Look For Her
"Damn! The old man came all this way to clean up your mess, Danzo and you actually stabbed me in the back! I ought to wring your neck!"
Third Hokage almost couldn't contain his anger, but he knew that, even if Danzo had concealed something, he couldn't pursue it now. If Danzo were to face punishment, it would have to wait until this crisis was resolved.
If the assassination attempt on the Fire Country daimyo were pinned on Konoha, they would be ruined in the ninja world.
"My lord daimyo, it's true that these individuals are from Konoha, but they were absolutely not sent by Danzo! No leader can guarantee that all their subordinates remain loyal, nor can any village prevent internal betrayals. These individuals—"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen! Are you trying to say they came here to kill me on their own accord, without orders from Danzo? Do you take me for a fool? I know you in Konoha distrust the Uchiha, so I even went so far as to consult an independent shinobi to confirm it.
The Seal of Tongue Curse on Danzo's subordinates is documented in the daimyo's records!"
Before the Third Hokage could finish, the daimyo interrupted, shouting angrily. Seeing that the Third Hokage was still defending Danzo infuriated him.
"My lord, Danzo had no chance to instigate these people. If you don't believe my words, then trust Uchiha! Recently, Danzo attacked Anbu members for their Sharingan.
When I discovered this, I stopped him and ordered his confinement for three months. He couldn't make any moves, and Root has long been disbanded."
The Third Hokage's focus now was not only to absolve Danzo but to protect Konoha's reputation as well. Regardless of whether these individuals were Root members or linked to Danzo, they were now rogue shinobi of Konoha, traitors to the Leaf!
One thing about Sarutobi and Danzo is that they often share the same stance on critical matters. In this case, the claim was that the idea to assassinate the daimyo was solely the rogue members—they had betrayed Konoha!
"Itachi, is this true?"
The daimyo hesitated, then turned to Itachi for confirmation. Although he knew some things about Danzo, his knowledge wasn't complete.
"Lord Daimyo, the Hokage speaks the truth. Recently, Danzo was indeed confined, and the Hokage's office announced the disbandment of Root some time ago."
Yagami added his voice, seeing clearly that the Third Hokage would never allow Konoha or Danzo to be implicated in the daimyo's assassination attempt.
Whether or not Danzo was responsible, the Third Hokage would deny it outright, framing the assailants as rogue shinobi acting independently. They were simply ninjas who defied the Hokage's authority; the Third Hokage wouldn't hesitate over their fate.
Rather than prolonging the stalemate between Konoha and the Fire Country, it was better to offer each side a way out.
Though the daimyo currently didn't trust Konoha at all and was openly reprimanding the Third Hokage, he was really focused on Danzo's actions. As the daimyo, he knew well that the Land of Fire couldn't do without Konoha. After all, a shinobi village represented a nation's military power.
If Konoha became weak or ceased to exist, the other nations' daimyos wouldn't spare the Fire Country. The only guarantee for peace among daimyos was a stable, strong Konoha.
In truth, the daimyo was merely pressuring Konoha for an explanation, knowing his own life was on the line.
Hearing Yagami's support, the Third Hokage glanced at him repeatedly. For once, Uchiha wasn't undermining him but actually speaking in his favour. Was this a new era?
"Third Hokage, I don't care about your relationship with Danzo, nor do I care whether these individuals were truly under Danzo's command. One thing is certain: Danzo can no longer hold a position of authority in Konoha.
Under Uchiha's supervision, he is right where he belongs."
"There's no need for Root to exist anymore. You spend the old man's money to train people who turn around and try to kill me. Don't take me for a fool! And now the Uchiha clan is responsible for the old man's safety, so don't think you can meddle when the old man wants someone!"
The daimyo's anger was evident, yet voicing his grievances seemed to relieve some of his frustration.
"If you can't handle this properly, I won't be spending my money on Konoha anymore. If Uchiha can't send enough protection, I'll go to Kumogakure or Iwagakure; I'm sure they'll gladly accept my offer."
*Damn!* Third Hokage's heart sank. The daimyo would rather trust enemy villages than Konoha. This was spiralling out of control!
The daimyo's message was clear: either Konoha resolved the Danzo and Root issue, or he'd find another protector, leaving Konoha to fend for itself. After all, Suna managed to survive; if Konoha had been as powerful as it claimed, it would have been able to handle this without him.
"Please, daimyo, I'll handle this matter personally. Danzo will remain under Uchiha's supervision from now on. Rest assured, Konoha will provide you with absolute protection!"
The Third Hokage declared urgently, knowing that letting Kumogakure or Iwagakure guard the Fire Country daimyo would make Konoha a laughingstock across the ninja world.
"Trust your protection? The old man doesn't want to meet his end just yet!"
The daimyo rolled his eyes. Allowing Konoha a way out was one thing, but he couldn't shake his suspicions about Danzo's involvement.
He didn't demand Danzo's execution, but he insisted Danzo remain under Uchiha's supervision—this was already a compromise.
"When I return, I'll speak to the Uchiha and entrust them fully with the daimyo's security. How does that sound?"
Third, Hokage suggested recognizing the daimyo's trust in Uchiha over anyone else in Konoha. Though Sarutobi didn't relish seeing Uchiha gain such influence, preserving relations with the daimyo took precedence.
Otherwise, Konoha would face both internal financial strain and external scorn, quickly becoming a target for the ninja world's wrath—something Third Hokage was desperate to avoid.
"Good, that will suffice. Now, get back to work. I expect to see how you handle Danzo soon."
The daimyo waved his hand, signalling that the Third Hokage could leave. He certainly hadn't prepared a meal for him.
"Rest assured, the old man won't disappoint! But… my lord, could we receive the next funding allocation early? Due to Danzo's actions, the village has faced significant losses…"
*Hmph*, Third Hokage thought, *since Danzo has taken the blame, a bit more couldn't hurt if it benefits the village.*
Though the timing was less than ideal, the Third Hokage had no choice; Konoha's finances were running thin.
Typically, a 500 million Ryo expenditure wouldn't cripple a major village, but Konoha's bloated expenses, coupled with bloodsucking nobles, left them with little in savings.
"Hmph! I'll give the order; go back and wait."
*In the end, you still come to the old man for money. Why didn't you curb Danzo sooner? Without him, you'd have one less headache.*
Rumours had it that Sarutobi Hiruzen's wife died in the Nine Tails' assault… maybe he and Danzo…
The daimyo looked at Third Hokage with mild disdain, waving him off quickly.
When leaving the daimyo's mansion, the Third Hokage's face remained dark. Yagami had intended to stay behind to catch up with the clan members, but the Third Hokage didn't want to waste any time.
He needed to address this quickly, lest the daimyo's displeasure affect their funding—creating a disastrous situation.
And as for Danzo… the Third Hokage could barely contain his frustration, recalling Danzo's assurance that he'd sent no one to the daimyo's mansion.
*And yet? The moment I arrive, I find a line of Root corpses… neatly arranged.*
Back in Konoha, the Third Hokage barely acknowledged Yagami, hurrying straight to the Hokage's office. Yagami, sensing his urgency, merely turned toward home, realizing the Third Hokage was too preoccupied to chat.
Before reaching the Uchiha compound, however, Yagami spotted a familiar figure with white hair walking toward him.
"Jiraiya? So you're still around the village! I thought you'd already left…"
Seeing the figure approach, Yagami raised an eyebrow. Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, didn't often concern himself with village matters.
"I needed to keep things discreet while investigating. You and the old man went to see the daimyo; did you manage to settle things?"
Jiraiya's usual casual demeanour was absent, replaced by a serious expression.
"It's settled. The daimyo has calmed down, and now it's up to Lord Hokage to follow through. Were you looking for me specifically?"
Yagami asked thoughtfully, noting Jiraiya's serious demeanour.
"Something's been bothering me… but I don't know who to discuss it with. I thought you might be the right person."
"Don't joke, Jiraiya-sama. I'm a Uchiha. You know our reputation in the village. Isn't it absurd to think you'd come to me for advice?"
Yagami replied with a sardonic smile, beginning to understand.
Jiraiya, a staunch supporter of the Third Hokage, was here because his findings likely implicated high-ranking Konoha figures—perhaps even the Third Hokage himself.
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