บท 8: CH - 08 Exposed?

In the conference room of Kusagakure,

Akihiko, the leader of the Land of Grass, focused his gaze on the map spread out across the table. With a hint of concern, he remarked, "The weather is gradually turning colder, and it's crucial that we start preparing for winter. We must gather supplies such as food, coal, blankets, and suitable housing."

After enduring the turbulent period following the first Great Ninja War and the devastation of their country, Akihiko was determined to rebuild and reorganize the Land of Grass.

His vision involved strategically dividing the land into various zones, including residential areas, commercial districts, and living quarters, to facilitate the future growth and development of their nation.

However, one pressing issue remained—the shortage of skilled ninja in the Land of Grass.

"Well, let's enlist the help of the available ninja as well. Remember, the Land of Grass belongs to all of us. The prosperity of the Land of Grass relies on the collective efforts of each and every one of us"

With his statement, a unanimous nod of agreement rippled through the room.

....

Autumn, Year 53 of Konoha.

In a swift maneuver, Konoha shinobi advanced into the Land of Rain, compelled by the circumstances at hand. The Land of Rain's formidable leader, Hanzo of the Salamander, made a personal appearance. With his lethal poison, ninjutsu, and taijutsu skills, he unleashed a devastating onslaught on the battlefield, claiming the lives of countless Konoha shinobi. It was a display that left everyone in awe.

Truly deserving of his title as the "semi-god of the ninja world"!

His power was undeniably terrifying!

To minimize further casualties, Konoha dispatched their most skilled students—Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru—to confront the leader of the Rain Village. Although they were eventually defeated, their valiant efforts earned them the recognition of the Land of Rain's leader and the prestigious title of the Three Legendary Ninjas of Konoha.

The war between the Land of Rain and Konoha came to an end!

In that same year, while Konoha was preoccupied with the Rain Village, the Hidden Sand Village seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on the borders of the Land of Fire. The leader of the Konoha team, Dan Kato, perished in battle, and the Hidden Sand Village's forces pressed forward relentlessly, as if they were traversing uncharted territory. For a moment, Konoha found itself at a disadvantage.

"It wasn't until the appearance of a ninja known as 'Konoha's White Fang' that the tide turned in Konoha's favor. This ninja assassinated the frontline governor of the Hidden Sand Village, securing a decisive victory..."

The battles raged on outside, and the war persisted, but such matters no longer concerned the Land of Grass.

The Land of Grass desired nothing more than to quietly engage in agriculture and development, tuning out the clamor of conflicts.

"The foundation must be solid. We cannot allow it to crumble later. I've said it before. I've said it!" Akihiko declared, surveying the bustling construction site before him, a sense of contentment settling within him.

"Despite the Grass Village's ninjas being known for their fickleness and lack of scruples, they largely heeded orders."

His commands were being taken seriously!

Everything was progressing in a positive direction!

"Akihiko-sama, regarding the Kinnobi Bridge..."

"Stop!" Akihiko's face twitched upon hearing Mubuki's words. He hastily wiped the beads of cold sweat from his forehead and responded, "Don't worry about that. Let's skip it! Skip it!"

Perplexed, Mubuki's eyes silently questioned Akihiko, asking, 'What's wrong?' and 'Isn't the Kinnobi Bridge within the Land of Grass anyway?'

Coughing to regain his composure, Akihiko explained, "The Kinnobi Bridge serves as a vital link between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire! Its strategic importance is immense for both nations!" Sensing Mubuki's perplexity, Akihiko pretended to cough a few more times and assumed a grave expression. "I have a premonition... that peace will come, but it won't endure for long. War will inevitably erupt once more, and it will be even more intense than before! The Land of Earth and the Land of Fire will undoubtedly be involved, and when that time comes..."

Before he could finish, Mubuki interjected excitedly, "We'll first align ourselves with the Hidden Rock Village, lure them into the Land of Fire, and then align with the Land of Fire?"

Akihiko stared at Mubuki, who had suddenly become animated, with a bewildered expression. He wondered, 'What is this guy even talking about? Why is he always contemplating betrayal or taking advantage of situations?'

After gathering his thoughts, Akihiko felt the need to clarify the situation. He spoke with a sense of self-righteousness, "Mubuki, you've got it all wrong. Our top priority should be to maintain peace and stability in the Land of Grass. We must focus on strengthening our own defenses and building positive relationships with our neighboring nations. Engaging in schemes or provoking conflicts is not an option for us. Our ultimate goal is to ensure the prosperity and well-being of our people." Even though he didn't believe his own words, he continued to speak with conviction.

Mubuki's enthusiasm slowly faded as he realized his misunderstanding. He sheepishly scratched his head and apologized, "I'm sorry, Akihiko-sama. I got carried away with my thoughts. You're right, our focus should be on maintaining peace and developing the Land of Grass." He understood the need for diplomacy and was ready to follow Akihiko's lead.

During the Third Great Ninja War, it appears that the Hidden Grass Village had merely observed the conflict near the Kinnobi Bridge. Consequently, the country was left in a state of war, even worse than the current Land of Rain. If it weren't for Kana and her daughter, the village would have succumbed to the attacks of neighboring countries. Could it be that the village's passive role as mere spectators during that incident has fueled the people's anger?

Akihiko's heart was burdened with something he wanted to say, but he hesitated, unsure whether to voice his thoughts.

Just then, Fusō's gentle voice broke the silence. "Ah, Akihiko-sama, it's time for dinner!"

Akihiko waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it, let's focus on rebuilding the Land of Grass. And that starts with establishing an academy. We need to lay a solid foundation to prevent future collapses."

After speaking, he paid no attention to Mubuki and headed towards the dining area. With so much happening in the Land of Grass, Kana was also occupied, so Fusō took charge of cooking for the time being. As for the three young ones... they had already received basic ninja training. Therefore, Fusō was the only non-ninja at home with nothing specific to do, and it didn't feel right to have her idle.

As Akihiko laid his eyes upon the delicious spread, his stomach grumbled in anticipation. And not to mention, Fusō's cooking was quite delightful. "Where is Kana?"

"I've already sent her food. After you finish eating, I'll go and clean up."

"And what about Konan and the others?"

"Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko are all diligently studying"

"Thank you"

"No problem." Fusō smiled softly. "These are just small tasks I can handle for now."

As she spoke, her face flushed slightly. The scene just now... it felt like a husband asking his wife about household matters. Life in the Land of Grass had already settled her heart.

All the things Akihiko had mentioned that night were gradually coming to fruition. However, she was aware of the relationship between Kana and Akihiko...

Gazing at Akihiko, Fusō smiled and said, "Please take your time and enjoy the meal, Akihiko-sama."

.....

On the other side, Mubuki couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief after seeing the leader go for a meal, particularly noticing the interaction between Akihiko and Fusō. It reminded him of his wife who used to bring him food. Additionally, that sulky kid, Asui, had been wearing a sour expression lately. Mubuki thought that bringing Yahiko back would cheer him up, as Yahiko was always optimistic and could be a good companion for Asui. However, that brat remained the same, unaffected by Yahiko's return.

Speaking of which...

Once the academy is completed, the children from the Land of Grass will come to study here, just like in Konoha. But does the Land of Grass have the necessary conditions for that? They have copied some ninjutsu, but not everything, and they don't have enough ninja teachers. It seems impossible to teach so many students.

Nevertheless, since the leader had given the order, they had no choice but to carry it out.

Mubuki turned his head and shouted at the workers beside him, "Pay attention, everyone! Lay a solid foundation. If it's not strong, I'll stuff you inside!"

His words echoed through the area, and the workers responded energetically.

"Did you hear that? The leader said to make it solid!" one worker exclaimed.

"Keep digging! The stronger, the better!" added another.

"Get thicker stones!" cried out a third.

The sounds of pounding filled the Land of Grass as construction continued.

However...

Underground...

Black Zetsu couldn't help but feel irritated. The constant noise of pounding was disturbing the peace, starting even before dawn. He wondered if these Grass shinobi were digging foundations or making holes. Black Zetsu's face darkened as he raised his head and looked at the top of the hole.

Countless clumps of gray stones kept falling, making a clattering sound. If it weren't for the sturdy cave, it would have likely collapsed by now.

Why weren't these Grass shinobi properly carrying out their tasks of building houses here? This was not what a ninja should be doing!

Just as Black Zetsu was feeling annoyed, a low, deep, and elderly voice suddenly echoed through the underground.

"Why is it so noisy?"

The voice continued, clearly agitated, "Spit, spit, spit! Why so much dust? Where is Black Zetsu? What's going on? Is the cave about to collapse? I specifically chose this as my base!"

Before Black Zetsu could respond, the voice continued angrily, "That someone, someone, someone? Yes, you, you silly kid who draws poop! I don't know how Hashirama's cells produced someone like you. Come here and tell me what's going on."

Just as the voice finished speaking, a bright light suddenly pierced through from above, accompanied by a loud noise.

"Huh, it seems like something got pierced. Could there be a hole down there?"

The cave fell silent instantly.

'Pierced?'

'Did they break through?'

'After hiding for so many years, are we about to be exposed?'

All these thoughts raced through Zetsu's mind.