Konoha Notes

Chapter 94 After the War (Part )

Hayami Shigeru's reminder suggests that those former Senju clan members who had sided with Danzo are now turning their backs on him.

With his backyard on fire and his core support base shaken, it was only a matter of time before Danzo Shimura personally came knocking on his door.

He did come, and he was very polite; he didn't bring his roots with him.

When the darkness of Konoha arrived, it knocked on the door of the mansion like an ordinary visitor.

The person who answered the door was Granny Momoka. Danzo stood outside the door, his posture very humble, even bowing slightly.

"Lord Taohua, I apologize for disturbing you."

Senju Momoka sized up Shimura Danzo for a moment before stepping aside to let him in: "Come in."

"Thank you."

When Shuji saw him in the courtyard, he simply greeted him: "Advisor Shimura."

“I originally thought you were someone like Hiruzen,” Danzo said, “indecisive even when doing bandit suppression missions.”

Danzo's face lacked its usual coldness and hardness; his expression was even somewhat peaceful.

"After reading your report on your mission to Sunagakure, I believe you and I are of the same kind."

Danzo paused for a moment after saying this.

"This conversation should have taken place much earlier, right after you returned from your mission at Izuku Port." Danzo's gaze swept over Momoka, who stood quietly to the side. "However, since Lady Momoka personally intervened at the time, I put the matter aside for the time being."

That day, Granny Momoka went out, and it turned out that she not only met with Hayami and the others, but also with Shimura Danzo... No wonder there was no news afterward. Shuji initially thought it was because of the pressure from the Third Hokage and the matter of the Cloud Village envoy, but he never expected that Granny Momoka was also involved.

As for Danzo's tendency to act forcefully, it's not surprising. After all, in the anime, right after the Fourth Hokage died, he even smiled in an attempt to win over Kakashi.

Danzo ignored Shuji's silence and found a stone bench in the courtyard to sit down.

“Hinzan is getting old,” he stated. “He is full of concerns and always fantasizes that he can exchange compromise for lasting peace, even at the cost of sacrificing the village’s dignity and internal stability.”

"You've already talked to him, haven't you? There could have been a better solution to Hinata's problem."

Danzo's gaze swept over Shuji, observing his reaction.

"Doing so is pointless and will only embolden the enemy. Peace never comes from compromise. Only by deterring them with a force that can instill fear can we truly achieve tranquility."

"You handled this very well when dealing with Sunagakure. Empty talk about alliances and morality won't earn you their respect."

"What Konoha needs are people who can steadfastly protect its interests and have the ability to carry them out, not cowards who are indulging in the past."

"There is a basis for cooperation between us." Danzo lowered his voice. "For the future of Konoha, some unnecessary internal strife can be completely avoided."

Shuji finally spoke: "What kind of cooperation is Advisor Shimura referring to?"

“Everything,” Danzo Shimura said first, then added, “can begin with maintaining the stability of the village.”

“The stability within the village is the foundation for dealing with all external threats.” Tuanzang said meaningfully, “However, there are always some unstable factors that are deeply rooted and difficult to eradicate, yet they continue to deplete the village’s vitality.”

Then he subtly changed the subject.

“I was Tobirama’s subordinate. At that time, I also had a companion from the Uchiha clan whose name was Kagami.”

"Kagami possessed extraordinary talent and was recognized by Lord Tobirama, regarded as someone who transcended the narrow boundaries of his clan. It's a pity..." Danzo said coldly, "Such an outstanding person died so young." He didn't mention how Kagami died, but his words implied something.

"The Uchiha clan is the greatest source of instability. They are a malignant tumor that continues to erode and has already seriously damaged the village."

"This village is the result of the hard work of Lord Hashirama and Lord Tobirama, and is the legacy of the Senju clan. Yet, it is coveted by the Uchiha clan, who see it as their own."

"They never truly integrated; they only demanded, resented, and even plotted to overthrow the organization. Hiruzen's appeasement only nurtured a tiger that would eventually become a threat. The tragedy of the Hyuga clan did not stem from Kumogakure, but from the existence of internal fissures that could be exploited by the enemy—these fissures originated from the internal discord and suspicion brought about by the presence of the Uchiha."

Danzo looked at Shuji, his gaze sharpening like a knife: "You have personally experienced the brutality of the border battlefield and witnessed the death of your comrades. You should understand better than anyone else that sometimes, eradicating internal problems requires more decisive and thorough measures than external ones. A brief period of pain is far better than a long and endless loss of blood."

"Now, you hold in your hand a knife that may be the most suitable one."

Konoha's Darkness stood up, his tone unusually earnest: "Your strength, your stance, coupled with the resources I can mobilize and my determination to see things through... we can avoid many tragedies that should never have happened."

"Konoha will become great again in our hands."

Just as Danzo was waiting for a response, Granny Momoka suddenly coughed lightly.

"Danzo," she said calmly, "that's enough for today."

Danzo's gaze lingered on Momoka's face for a moment, then gradually faded, returning to a deep, still expression.

He nodded slightly: "In that case, I won't bother you any longer."

He turned to Xiu Si, his tone regaining its usual calm: "I look forward to your reply. Hopefully, it won't be too long."

If it weren't for Shimura Danzo saying these words, Shuji might have thought twice.

Or perhaps, if it were a young Danzo Shimura, these words might be a little more credible.

Just as he commented that Hiruzen Sarutobi had grown old, Danzo Shimura had also grown old.

However, he wouldn't give up until he received a reply.

Shuji understood this.

For the remaining fifty-four years of Konoha's life, no further upheavals occurred that could shake the entire ninja world. Sporadic skirmishes along the border never ceased, but for Konoha at this time, things were remarkably calm.

But this doesn't mean they're idle. Besides their daily cultivation, Xiu Si also has tasks to do.

The village was piled high with mission scrolls, and the fifth squad was like a wound-up toy, setting off every three to five days to travel to the Land of Fire and even the surrounding areas.

Reconnaissance, escort, mopping-up operations, negotiation... the missions vary in level and are diverse in type.

Team 5 wasn't the only one busy. All the ninjas in Konoha were rushing through the last days of the year.

By the last few days of the year, all the scrolls marked "urgent" in the mission center had finally been cleared out.

The ninjas were finally freed from endless missions and could now prepare to spend the last days of the year in peace.

On the last day of Konoha's 54th year, Shuji had lunch with Itachi and Anko at Ichiraku Ramen, then said a simple goodbye and went their separate ways.

The year's troubles seem to have slowly evaporated with the steam from the hot soup, dissipating into the slightly chilly air at the end of the year.

The fifty-fifth year of Konoha arrived as scheduled.

(End of this chapter)