Konoha Notes

Chapter 241 Medicine Master Kabuto

Danzo Shimura sat alone in the center of the Japanese-style room.

The light from outside the window was cut off by the heavy curtains, casting sparse stripes that trembled slightly against his dark kimono. His fingertips unconsciously caressed his cane, over and over again.

It's so quiet.

Ever since Kakashi claimed he couldn't contact Yakushi Nonou and Yakushi Kabuto, he went from being under guardianship to being kept under watch.

Mitokado Homura came once to inquire about the details of the interactions between the Sunagakure and Iwagakure messengers.

Confined in a cage, he naturally had nothing to say.

He was waiting. Waiting for the fire outside to spread like wildfire.

If the situation becomes more serious, then, given his foresight, this cage will naturally crumble on its own.

He will go out, clean up the mess, and regain power.

He knew exactly what cards were in Luo Sha's hand.

The Dragon Vein was handed over to him through Orochimaru, who should have gained Sunagakure's trust through this.

If Orochimaru cooperates with him, Rasa will surely die.

A Sand Village that has lost its Kazekage and is in a power vacuum is utterly vulnerable and will ultimately become a vassal of Konoha.

Having mastered the Loulan bloodline, the immense energy of the dragon vein... will ultimately be at his disposal.

Everything is planned.

A perfect script.

But why...

Why did I get stuck at the very first step?
The expected chaos did not materialize, and the expected cries for help did not sound.

Why hasn't anyone come to let me out yet?
-
Machi left without bringing back any promises or leaving anything behind.

At this stage, nothing can be accomplished through discussion, and Shuji is well aware of this.

The conditions that Konoha wants are things that Sunagakure cannot provide.

What Sunagakure can offer as compensation right now—mission quotas? Money? Resources from outside the Land of Wind? Konoha either already has these, or can indirectly control them thanks to their current advantage on the front lines.

It has absolutely no value as a bargaining chip.

The only option is to maintain this standoff and tug-of-war for now.

As for beating the Sand Village to death...

Aside from the era of Hashirama Senju, theoretically, all the major ninja villages possess the ability to destroy each other.

Iwagakure has two Jinchuriki, as well as the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, who possesses Dust Release and can fly. Kumogakure and Kirigakure also possess Tailed Beasts and their own trump cards.

Once driven to a dead end, they no longer care about any rules. They don't need to directly attack the heavily defended ninja villages; they only need to unleash their power on the undefended towns and civilians in the enemy's territory...

The Sand Village, now equipped with flight gear, can do the same.

To resolve the issues in the Land of Wind, we cannot be too brutal. The betrayal by the Sand Village must be punished; otherwise, it will be unacceptable both domestically and internationally.

But it's important to find the right balance.

Make them feel pain, enough to teach them a lesson, but not so much that they'll recklessly jump up and bite.

Looking at the boundless desert shimmering with distorted heat waves under the scorching sun, Xiu Si fell into deep thought.

"Lord Shuji." A communications ninja respectfully handed over a scroll. "Urgent dispatch from the village."

Shuji took it, broke the seal, and quickly scanned the contents. The first half concerned the handling of Sunagakure, and the village needed the assessment and advice of the frontline commander; the middle part concerned the joint Chunin Exams in November, and the higher-ups were inclined to continue holding them despite the pressure.

The second half is simple, just one sentence.

Kakashi has located Kabuto Yakushi; he's in the Land of Rivers.

Xiu Si closed the scroll.

"I will reply to the village and discuss the proposed measures for dealing with Sunagakure with Mr. Shikaku before submitting a report as soon as possible."
-
Within the territory of the land of rivers, beside a certain trade route.

Nara Shikaku stood in the shade of a withered tree, his gaze sweeping over a large caravan that was resting not far away. The pack animals were breathing heavily, their fur covered in sand and dust, and most of the caravan members looked haggard and dressed in tattered clothes, just like any other desert caravan that frequently traveled to and from the Land of Wind.

"It really is here..." he muttered to himself.

The core of the investigation task assigned by Shuji was the excess supplies that flowed out of the border post and eventually disappeared on the land of the River Country.

After ruling out the possibility that the supplies were used for direct sabotage, their destination seems more like a form of settlement or hush money, used to control or appease certain key figures who must remain silent.

The most likely targets of those who emerged from that unusual outpost in the Land of Rivers are naturally these desert people who are difficult to track and are mixed in with countless caravans.

After all, as a transit and exchange zone between wind and fire, people like them are all too common.

“Mr. Shikaku.” A voice sounded from beside him.

“Kakashi…” Nara Shikaku didn’t turn his head, but the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. “I see. It seems that whether it’s the point you’re investigating or the clues I’m looking for, they both ultimately point to the same goal.”

"Hmm." Kakashi nodded. "Based on the supply flow records of several outposts, the investigation of possible strongholds, and the location of the target's last response and contact... all the clues point to this team."

“So, the targets assigned to me are definitely them.” Nara Shikaku straightened up.

Kakashi didn't answer, but simply raised his hand and made a simple gesture.

Two teams of ANBU appeared silently around the caravan, instantly silencing the previously noisy caravan. All the members froze in place, staring in horror at the suddenly appearing ninjas.

The middle-aged man, who appeared to be the caravan leader, paled drastically, and his right hand instinctively reached for his waist. But his movement froze completely halfway through, as if he were bound by invisible ropes, unable to even tremble his fingertips.

His shadow, stretched long and firmly nailed to the ground in the sunlight, extended to the feet of Nara Shikaku.

"Don't be nervous." Nara Shikaku's voice remained calm. "If you are a Konoha ninja, then cooperate with the investigation. I guarantee that as long as you have no problems, you will be fine."

Kakashi then strode forward, heading towards the center of the caravan.

His steps finally stopped in front of a thin, unremarkable boy wearing a tattered headscarf. The boy had his head down, as if stunned by the sudden turn of events around him.

"Kabuto Yakushi."

"I came with news about the orphanage."

"Your mission is over."

The boy abruptly raised his head, his face filled with panic and confusion, his voice trembling: "You...you've mistaken me for someone else, sir ninja? I'm just a merchant's apprentice, I don't know anything..."

"The two heads of the orphanage have already explained everything about you to me," Kakashi said in a flat tone. "There's one more thing you probably don't know yet."

"Kabuto Yakushi."

"After you left, Yakushi Nonou was also sent out as a spy."

"Her situation is far more dangerous than yours right now."

The panic and confusion on the young man's face froze instantly, shattering like a cheap mask to reveal the true nature of a ninja beneath.

The gaze behind the glasses was astonishingly sharp.

(End of this chapter)