Konoha Notes

Chapter 247 Decent
"I have checked the dispatched team, and there are no other problems."

"Without Rasa, and unable to obtain commissions from the Land of Rivers, Sunagakure will face financial difficulties for some time to come."

"However, under these circumstances, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind may choose to increase his investment in Sunagakure."

Having settled the matter with Sunagakure, Rasa was no longer there; only Chiyo and Ebizo remained, along with Gaara, who was still just a little kid.

Shuji would no longer need to stay on the front lines and would be able to return to Konoha Village to report on his duties.

Tsunade's mind didn't seem to be on his words. Instead, she frowned, paced around Shuuji, and scanned him back and forth with her eyes. Occasionally, she would look up at the sky and utter a cryptic murmur.

Then, she stopped.

He nudged Shuuji's side with his elbow, neither too hard nor too soft.

"Are you sure you're okay? You brought back another pair. You're not even an adult yet. Just bear with it a little longer."

Shuji's eyelids drooped slightly: "A tainted adult."

Princess Thousand Hands' eyebrows immediately shot up: "What did you say?"

"According to the agreement, the people of Loulan can settle around Konoha as one of Konoha's affiliated villages."

"Considering that the dragon vein cannot be moved, Sara and her daughter will settle in Konoha."

"Lord Shuji is, after all, a powerful figure capable of killing the Kazekage. It's understandable that he doesn't take me seriously," Tsunade said sarcastically. "Since you've already made the arrangements, then so be it."

She suddenly leaned closer and lowered her voice: "How about you take the Hokage position too?"

"This position is still reserved for Kakashi," Shuji said expressionlessly. "Don't even think about sneaking away now."

"Tch—" Tsunade slammed back into her chair, leaning backward. "Back in the day, the old man could just dump it on Minato..."

She muttered things like, "It's been too long," and "It's almost time..."

"The Third Hokage served for at least a few decades, but esteemed Fifth Hokage, this is only your first year."

"You've even forgotten how to use honorifics." Tsunade slammed her hand on the desk.

“I used ‘respected’ as a prefix.”

A knock sounded at the right moment. Shizune pushed open the door and cautiously peeked in: "Lady Tsunade, Shuji, the two advisors have arrived."

Tsunade sat up a little straighter, while Shuuji changed his position, standing next to the Hokage's desk, facing the door.

When the two advisors from the Ministry of State walked in, their expressions were not good.

They are satisfied with the current situation; a swift victory would be good for Konoha's reputation and finances.

But another piece of news that was brought back with them weighed heavily on their hearts.

"Confirmed?"

"Yakushi Nonou's statement has been verified by Yamanaka Inoichi and confirmed to be true," Tsunade said calmly.

Koharu Utatane lowered her head: "You've been corrupted by ambition; you're risking the village like this."

Mitokado sighed, "Since that's the case, we have nothing more to say."

“Then it’s settled.” Tsunade looked at Shuuji. “You will take the Anbu and carry it out.”
-
Danzo's mood grew increasingly agitated.

Inside the Japanese-style room, there were four members of the Anbu standing in each of the four corners, and two more outside the door.

The complete isolation left him unable to hear or know anything.

What's the situation now? Where is Luo Sha?
Just as his inner turmoil was about to reach its peak, a new noise came from outside the door.

It wasn't one person, but several footsteps.

They've finally arrived...

The paper sliding door opened, and Danzo remained seated cross-legged, his eyelids lowered, as if in deep meditation.

Only when the figure had completely entered the room, blocking the limited light coming in from outside, did he slowly raise his head. "Shuji, you actually came."

"Shimura Danzo." The newcomer's voice was flat and even. "Based on the unanimous decision of the village's higher-ups, I am now conveying the final verdict to you."

"They colluded with rogue ninja, secretly mobilized border resources, and assisted Sunagakure in controlling the Dragon Vein, thus triggering a war."

"You have been convicted of betraying the village."

"The final order is—" Shuji's gaze fell on Danzo's eye, which was covered by bandages, "to grant you final dignity: take your own life immediately."

Danzo's body seemed to stiffen for a moment, then he spoke, his voice hoarse: "How is the situation at the front...?"

"Sunagakure was defeated, and the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, is dead."

Upon hearing this answer, he let out a very soft, almost inaudible chuckle.

"My judgment was correct... With Rasa dead, Sunagakure will surely submit to Konoha now."

Shuji said, "Without all the unnecessary things you did, there would be no deaths on the front lines, and Sunagakure would have no choice but to follow Konoha's lead."

Danzo remained silent for a moment.

“I…agree to take my own life,” he said, “but I do not wish to be witnessed by you younger generations in my final moments.”

Shuji stared at him for a few seconds, then raised his hand in a gesture of apprehension. The four ANBU members silently withdrew from the room, leaving only one ANBU member who had come with Shuji behind.

Then, Shuji turned and left the Japanese-style room, closing the paper door behind him.

The wait was not long.

The remaining member of the secret service pushed open the door and nodded to Xiu Si.

Shuji stepped back into the room. He saw Danzo lying face down on the ground, a short sword embedded in his chest, dark blood gushing from the wound and spreading into a dark red stain on the floor. His left hand was still gripping the hilt of the sword, maintaining the posture of suicide.

Shuji stood quietly beside the corpse, calmly watching the scene unfold.

One second, two seconds... a whole minute passed.

He didn't make any move; he just watched.

At the very moment when the silence lasted for sixtieth second—

A sudden change occurred!

On the ground, Danzo's "corpse" vanished like a bubble, leaving no trace.

Almost simultaneously, a sharp blade tore through the air, slashing fiercely from Xiu Si's blind spot! Its target was his neck!
The blade struck squarely.

Danzo's single eye widened slightly; something felt off.

The ANBU member who had been standing outside the door appeared before him like a ghost. In his crimson Sharingan, the three tomoe slowly rotated, and his icy gaze collided head-on with Danzo's hastily turned single eye.

The body of "Shuji" that was slashed exploded, turning into tough brown branches that wrapped around Danzo's body, which had been stiff for a brief moment, binding him tightly!

Uchiha Itachi drew his short sword, flicked his wrist, and a cold light flashed.

Danzo Shimura's right arm was severed at the shoulder, and with a suppressed groan of pain, it fell to the ground.

The trees tightened their entanglement, completely trapping him in place.

Watched and unable to remove the seal on his right arm, Danzo gasped for breath as he watched Shuji step in again.

"You don't seem to care much about your dignity, former advisor Shimura."

Shuji's voice remained steady.

"One or two people always find it hard to accept the kindness of others."

(End of this chapter)