In Konoha: I will spread the will of conquest throughout the ninja world.

After listening to Danzo recount the whole story, Hiruzen Sarutobi automatically filtered out the impurities and looked helpless.

"Danzo, I told you not to mess with Gojōgen."

"What do you mean by 'provoking'! Who am I doing this for? Isn't it all for Konoha!"

Ah, yes, yes, yes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained noncommittal.

There's no doubt that Danzo was loyal to Konoha, but it's also common knowledge that he profited for himself along the way.

"Putting aside his talent for now, you can't be unaware of the value of Hiruzen's technique," Danzo said in an almost seductive tone, his only exposed eye open.

"Don't you think the technique that allows you to turn your body into explosive tags is a good match for the technique your teacher developed?"

"Danzo!" Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped the table with his pipe, his expression serious. "No matter what, that technique disturbs the dead and is a forbidden technique that violates human ethics. It must never be used unless absolutely necessary!"

"Hiruzen, you're too weak! If we combine these two techniques, Konoha will become so powerful that other ninja villages won't dare to invade! We can even expand proactively!"

"Where to expand?" Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at him sideways. "To eat sand in the desert? Or to catch fish in the sea?"

Danzo was speechless for a moment.

The reason why the Land of Fire became a thorn in the side of the other four countries is because they occupy the most fertile region in the entire ninja world, and instead of developing their own territory, they go and seize other barren lands.

Only someone with a screw loose would do that.

But that's a golden opportunity to unify the ninja world!

Using Edo Tensei with explosive tags is a last resort, as explosive tags are precious ninja tools and are only used in crucial battles. However, transforming oneself into an explosive tag to bombard others, combined with an immortal Edo Tensei body, is far more beneficial and effective!

Most importantly, it can enrich the combat power under his command. Given his current lack of manpower, this secret technique, combined with the cannon fodder mass-produced by the Root, can have unexpected effects.

"Hiruzen, those people will never give up on occupying the Land of Fire, no matter what. Only by possessing absolute power can we prevent them from acting recklessly!"

"So focus on becoming stronger and nurturing the next generation. As for that technique, forget about it."

After all these years of getting along, Danzo could tell whether his stomach was feeling well or not just by looking at his butt. In any case, he shouldn't even think about getting anything.

"Hmph! Hiruzen, you'll regret this!" Danzo roared in fury.

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

boom!

Seeing the still-trembling gate, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly snapped out of his daze and quickly called out, "Come back! I need to talk to you!"

After many days, the Konoha F4 reunited.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Mito Kaden, and Koharu Tanzania.

"The people from Iwagakure are coming. Based on our previous discussion, do you have anything to add?"

The three shook their heads.

Konoha only has one need.

money!

Lots and lots of money!

Iwagakure is, after all, a major ninja village, and there's plenty of money to be made out of it. A Jinchuriki who can control the power of a Tailed Beast is enough to earn a substantial amount of mission credit.

Ninjutsu?

The leaves are not lacking.

The only specialty of Iwagakure (Hidden Rock Village) to the wealthy Land of Fire is a pile of stones.

Only Danzo felt it was a pity.

Tailed beasts, even though they are only four-tailed, can speak loudly to monkeys as long as they can be incorporated into Root.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Danzo, who was lamenting, and warned, "Danzo, this meeting is very important. Keep your men in check."

Danzo was furious.

Does he seem like such a reckless person?!

The three of them: "(￢_￢)"

Mitokado Homura coughed lightly, drawing attention back: "Let's put the matter of Iwagakure on hold for now. The people sent by the daimyo are already on their way and should arrive soon, based on the time it took to receive the information."

His main responsibility was to communicate with the nobility.

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a headache coming on.

They were nobles who came with a mission to hold them accountable.

Shimura Danzo's eyes lit up: "Hiruzen, why don't we let him hide at my place for a while?"

"stop!"

Stopping Shimura Danzo's impolite thoughts, Sarutobi Hiruzen said seriously, "Mono Homura, if the people who come are determined to hold you accountable, steer the conversation toward Tsunade and Lady Mito."

Mitokado nodded slightly.

He was also aware of the high-level connections Wu Shixian Yuge had in Konoha.

His network of relationships is so intricate that it's hard to know where to begin.

Uchiha, Hyuga, Uzumaki, Senju, Inuzuka, Ino-Shika-Cho... I heard that a few more have been added recently.

From the major ninja clans to the minor ninja clans and then to ordinary people, the population was so diverse that he wanted to complain about it.

What about this episode of the Summoning Beast Encyclopedia?

The key point is that the first time he heard definite news about the fifty strings was when a young man in his family was bullied by the other party, cried and went home to complain, and was hung up and whipped by his old father who heard about it.

With his plans interrupted, Danzo had no choice but to back down further: "I'm short-handed."

"Don't go too far," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, half-acquiringly.

Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were not surprised.

The four of them had already developed a tacit understanding.

The ninja clan was powerful, and when Hiruzen Sarutobi first became Hokage, he was greatly hampered by them. As a result, a small group of four was formed, with Danzo being the strongest underling, so he was also responsible for playing the villain.

It's not about right or wrong, it's just about different perspectives from different positions.

The same applies to the Second Hokage, who was a pioneer in setting the tone for the Uchiha clan, as it was their teacher who established it.

In addition, considering the techniques developed by the Second Hokage, it's hard to say that this Hokage didn't have designs on the Uchiha clan.

Ahem, of course, whatever the answer may be, we must maintain a consistent narrative when speaking to the public.

No, absolutely not!

Whether it's the Dark Travel Technique that can block vision, the Flying Thunder God Technique that can counter the Sharingan's ultimate observational abilities, or the Shadow Clone Technique that can confuse the Sharingan, all of these are coincidences.

It just so happens that the Uchiha's Sharingan evolved into a form that is completely countered!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Two days later, on the official road twenty miles from Konoha, a convoy of carriages and horses that had set out from the capital of the Land of Fire was traveling smoothly.

Inside the carriage, a gaunt official with a mustache and a folding fan covering his face raised his hand to lift the curtain and look at the shadowy leaves in the distance.

"It's been quite a while since I last visited Konoha."

I never expected that I would come here for such a strange thing.

They have already gathered most of the information.

Those present at the time included Tsunade, Sakumo Hatake, four Uchiha ninjas, and a blond-haired boy.

The perpetrator was a student who had not yet graduated from the Ninja Academy.

The intelligence is concise and clear, but the situation is extremely difficult to handle.

Fujiwara Osamu's eyes showed distress.

The relationship between the ninja village and the nation is not simply one of subordination.

The daimyo manages the land, economy, and people's livelihood; the kage governs ninjas and military activities.

The daimyo can decide whether to go to war, while the shaman actually controls military command.

Even the daimyo has little say in the internal affairs of the ninja village.

The most dangerous people are those involved in this incident.

Tsunade?

Daring to touch this is suicidal!

Sakumo Hatake?

Even if the legendary White Fang of Konoha, who was renowned throughout the ninja world, had his hands tied and let them do whatever they wanted, they would still have to treat him well with good food and drink.

What about the Uchiha?

How daring!

Everyone in the ninja world knows that the Uchiha value emotions the most, and they would even kill a daimyo if they dared to harm someone close to them.

Daimyo? How many Gundams does a Daimyo have?

As for the two young people...

Tsk.

To be honest, he didn't expect it at all.

Being able to team up with Sakumo Hatake and form a squad of Uchiha ninjas for a mission is definitely a gifted talent from Konoha. If Hiruzen Sarutobi, as Hokage, were to let go of such a talent due to pressure from the Daimyo, then the group of ninjas under his command who possess extraordinary powers would be in complete chaos.

In conclusion, his goal in coming to Konoha was very simple.

curse!

Then I went back and got yelled at.

Just as he was lamenting in his heart, the voice of his subordinate came from outside the carriage.

"Minister of the Interior, a group of ninjas has appeared behind us. Judging from their headbands, they are ninjas from Iwagakure."

Fujiwara Osamu was surprised.

Did they run into the Iwagakure (Hidden Stone Village) group?

Whatever, they're just a bunch of stinky out-of-towners.

As for this team coming to invade, what kind of good person would invade by taking the main road? Even Hashirama Senju wouldn't do that.

Yes, this belongs to Uchiha Madara.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.