Chapter 234: Shadows in Konoha
The news from the Land of Rain traveled quickly.
Within only a short time after the negotiations ended, the full report had already reached Konoha Village.
Konoha's intelligence network was among the fastest in the shinobi world. Couriers ran day and night from the front lines, resting only when absolutely necessary.
Important information never waited.
Naturally, the first person to receive the report was the Hokage.
But he was not the only one.
Among the shinobi stationed on the battlefield were agents secretly loyal to another power within the village.
The Root.
Their information arrived almost at the same time.
Root Headquarters
Deep beneath Konoha, inside a hidden underground base, darkness ruled the narrow stone corridors.
The air was cold and suffocating.
Even seasoned shinobi felt uneasy the moment they entered.
It felt less like a military headquarters and more like a prison buried beneath the earth.
Inside a dim chamber, a Root agent knelt respectfully before a shadowed figure.
He reported every detail of the negotiations.
Word for word.
Anyone who had been present at the meeting would have been shocked to hear how precise the report was. Every sentence spoken by the representatives of the four factions was repeated without omission.
The man listening silently in the darkness was Danzo Shimura.
When the agent mentioned Ragnar, Danzo suddenly interrupted.
"You said Rakshasa demanded that the Tsuchikage and Kazekage kneel during the negotiations?"
"Yes, Lord Danzo," the Root shinobi replied."He did say that. Hatake Sakumo did not stop him. In fact, Rakshasa presided over most of the meeting."
Danzo chuckled coldly.
"So the boy has courage."
"To tell two Kage to kneel… that takes some nerve."
Despite his usual dislike of Ragnar, a trace of approval flickered across Danzo's mind.
He had always believed in overwhelming dominance.
If Konoha truly stood above the other villages, then the others should submit.
Why pretend otherwise?
In Danzo's view, equality between nations was nothing but an illusion.
Konoha should rule the shinobi world.
That had always been his belief.
Although he had never obtained the Hokage position, he had never abandoned the dream of Konoha's supremacy.
In his eyes, the existence of multiple nations was the greatest flaw of the current world.
One land.
One voice.
One ruler.
Konoha.
If the opportunity ever appeared to eliminate rival countries entirely, Danzo would not hesitate.
"Continue," he said.
The Root shinobi resumed the report.
He described the negotiations in full—Ragnar's threats, the conflict between the leaders, and finally the unexpected proposal of leasing land.
By the time the report ended, Danzo understood the entire meeting as clearly as if he had been present himself.
He stepped out from the shadows.
"In truth," Danzo said slowly, "Rakshasa's approach was not entirely wrong."
"In the shinobi world, strength decides everything."
"The weak must obey the strong."
He folded his arms.
"It is the natural law of survival."
Then his voice turned colder.
"But Hatake Sakumo was too soft."
"He has been influenced too deeply by the Hokage's philosophy."
"If I had led that negotiation, I would have crushed the Wind and Earth nations completely."
"As for leasing land…"
Danzo scoffed.
"A clever trick."
"But tricks do not bring true peace."
After speaking, he turned toward the exit.
It was time to visit the Hokage.
Hokage Office
At the same moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind his desk listening to the same report.
An ANBU intelligence shinobi knelt before him, recounting the events of the negotiations.
When the report reached Ragnar's proposal to lease land instead of dividing the Rain Country, Hiruzen froze.
The pipe in his hand stopped halfway to his mouth.
Even after taking two slow puffs of smoke, the surprise on his face did not fade.
"A brilliant solution…"
He murmured quietly.
With a single proposal, the conflict between four nations had been resolved.
The Rain Country kept its sovereignty.
The Wind and Earth nations gained farmland.
And Konoha preserved peace without sacrificing its allies.
It was a perfect compromise.
Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, feeling a rare sense of relief.
Peace had always been the foundation of Konoha's ideals.
War was never its true goal.
To resolve such a dangerous conflict without further bloodshed…
That was something truly precious.
For the first time in many years, the weight on the Hokage's shoulders felt lighter.
Being Hokage was not easy.
Unlike the First and Second Hokage, who had possessed overwhelming strength capable of suppressing the entire shinobi world, Hiruzen ruled during a far more complicated era.
Every decision carried immense pressure.
If he failed, if Konoha lost its stability…
How would he face the previous Hokage after death?
But now, the path to peace had finally appeared.
"You may go," Hiruzen said gently.
The ANBU shinobi disappeared instantly in a puff of smoke.
Hiruzen stood and walked toward the window.
Outside, the sun was setting.
Golden light spread across Konoha, bathing the village in a calm and peaceful glow.
Children played in the streets.
Merchants closed their shops.
For a brief moment, the village looked like a world untouched by war.
"How wonderful it would be," Hiruzen murmured, "if the world could remain like this forever."
Suddenly—
The door burst open.
Danzo entered without knocking.
His face was stiff and severe, as if he had come prepared for battle.
"Danzo," Hiruzen said calmly.
"What brings you here?"
Danzo's voice was cold.
"Such a major incident has occurred, and you still act so relaxed?"
He stepped closer.
"Will you only regret your indulgence once Yechen demands that even you kneel before him?"
Hiruzen's expression darkened immediately.
"Danzo. What nonsense are you talking about?"
Danzo ignored the warning.
"You already know what happened during the negotiations."
"Rakshasa humiliated the Tsuchikage and Kazekage."
"He spoke arrogantly and showed no respect for authority."
Danzo's gaze sharpened.
"A boy who behaves like this now…"
"Do you think he will respect the Hokage in the future?"
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Then Hiruzen answered calmly.
"Yechen is young and bold. Some of his words were indeed excessive."
"But Sakumo explained everything."
"The two of them deliberately played different roles to pressure the opposing leaders."
He looked directly at Danzo.
"You already know this."
"Yet you still came here to smear him."
Danzo's face tightened.
Hiruzen continued.
"Danzo, you are a senior of this village."
"Why do you insist on targeting a younger generation?"
His voice softened slightly.
"We are all part of Konoha."
"Our goal is the same—to build a peaceful future for the village."
He tapped his pipe lightly against the desk.
"So stop saying such things."
Danzo's face twitched with irritation.
But for the moment…
He had no immediate reply.
End of Chapter
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