In the end, Danzo reluctantly handed over 10 million Ryo. Afterward, Akihiko headed to the Grass Village's camp to make their purchases.
The third battle didn't disappoint Danzo. The Rain Village emerged victorious, and although they lost one of Danzo's elite ninjas, it confirmed his speculations. The Rain Village was indeed stronger than the Grass Village, despite its financial constraints.
With an investment of twenty million Ryo, Danzo believed that victory was within reach. They were on the cusp of achieving their objectives, and a little more effort would make their investment worthwhile.
However, in the fourth battle, the Rain Village suffered defeat once more. Danzo watched in silence, his mind filled with uncertainty. Wars could be unpredictable, with victories and defeats alternating, especially when both sides were evenly matched. But a nagging feeling of doubt began to take root deep within him.
Just then, Akihiko erupted in frustration, "Damn it, we lost again! We clearly had the upper hand. Those sneaky Grass Village ninjas, otherwise can't compare to the might of the Rain Village."
Observing the shifting expressions on Danzo's face, Akihiko hastened to explain, "I've actually been in contact with that underground weapons dealer once more. They've got a shipment of explosive tags, and I know they're three times the usual price, but considering the wartime situation, it's a fair deal." He sighed, disappointment evident in his voice, "But, alas, the Rain Village is just too poor to afford them."
"...This sounds awfully familiar," Danzo muttered to himself, a sense of déjà vu washing over him.
Before he could formulate a response, the Ninja Demigod standing beside him gazed at him with eager anticipation and said, "It's just another 10 million Ryo, Advisor Danzo. I truly believe that with these explosive tags, the Rain Village will secure victory."
Danzo fell silent, the repetition of 'another 10 million' ringing in his ears, leaving him unsure of how to react.
"Advisor Danzo, surely you wouldn't want the Rain Village to suffer such a loss?" Akihiko, still in his Hanzo disguise, looked at Danzo with pleading eyes once more.
Danzo contemplated for a moment, recalling the 20 million he had already invested. He inwardly sighed and finally relented, "Very well, I will provide it."
…
However, In the fifth battle, the Rain Village faced yet another defeat.
"Ugh! Damn it! We had the upper hand in terms of strength! Why..." Akihiko burst out in frustration, about to voice his concerns, but he was abruptly interrupted.
"Enough! I won't invest another Ryo!" Danzo interjected firmly, making his stance clear.
"Is that so? What a waste! We've already poured in 30 million," Akihiko expressed his regret, shaking his head. "Are we really just going to let it all go to waste? Will we give up like this? Advisor Danzo, you are the shadow of Konoha. With just a bit more investment, a mere 10 million, I believe we can secure victory."
"...Fine." Danzo's inner turmoil was evident, but he felt trapped, especially after investing a staggering 30 million. Whole thirty million Ryo. Have you ever seen that much, Rain Village? You conniving fools. However, If he backed out now, it would all be for naught. Despite his inner resentment, Danzo took a deep breath and reluctantly conceded, "I... I will invest."
…
However, in the sixth battle, the Rain Village faced yet another bitter defeat. It appeared that the Rain Village had been consistently losing, except for their initial two victories.
As expected, Akihiko began to voice his frustration, "Ugh! Damn it! We clearly had the advantage in strength..."
"Enough! I won't spend another ryo, not even if it means facing certain death, or being assassinated by Grass Village ninjas!" Danzo interrupted him, displaying his determination that he wouldn't be swayed any further.
"What a pity, we've already invested forty million..." Akihiko sighed and shook his head, seemingly about to continue his plea to Danzo when he was abruptly interrupted again.
"Not a single ryo more!" Danzo, having learned his lesson from previous encounters, refused to be fooled again and wouldn't entertain the idea of parting with any more funds.
"Advisor Danzo, you wouldn't want..." Akihiko attempted to use his earlier appeal regarding the possibility of the Rain Village losing.
Danzo, who had decided that he wouldn't be manipulated regardless of what was said, cut him off sharply, "Silence!"
Akihiko, however, shook his head with a serious expression, "No, you must listen!"
Seeing Hanzo's persistence, Danzo became silent as he sighed inwardly and decided to at least hear him out.
"In fact, I have a plan," Akihiko, maintaining his Hanzo disguise, looked intently at Danzo and continued, "If you, Advisor Danzo, invest just another 10 million Ryo..."
Danzo, anticipating what Akihiko was about to propose, swiftly interrupted him, "Enough!" He realized he shouldn't have entertained the idea of even listening to him in the first place.
"Please, hear me out!" Akihiko persisted, "We'll set a trap to lure out the Grass Village leader. Once we successfully assassinate him," he raised his fist with determination, "Grass Village will be leaderless, and we'll secure our final victory!"
Aso, who was standing nearby and knew that it was Akihiko disguised as Hanzo, was utterly shocked. He couldn't believe Akihiko had just proposed a plan to assassinate himself.
He couldn't help but sigh internally, 'Leader Akihiko, you truly deserve to be the leader of the Grass Village. No wonder the Grass Ninja are becoming stronger and stronger. With a leader like you, there's no doubt that the Grass Village will continue to prosper.'
Danzo was momentarily stunned by Akihiko's proposal, his brows furrowing in thought. This plan had potential; assassinating a village leader could throw a ninja village into chaos, especially a smaller one like the Grass Village. It would likely take them a considerable amount of time to appoint a new leader, and in the meantime, the village's stability would be compromised.
However, one thing puzzled Danzo. "Why do you need an additional ten million for this plan?" he inquired.
"...The leader of the Grass Ninja is no pushover," Akihiko's demeanor momentarily shifted, and he spoke with a touch of emotion, hands clasped behind his back. "I've fought him many times, and he shows no fear even when facing me, the demigod of the ninja world. In fact, we've battled on numerous occasions, and he's never been defeated. So, for the sake of the Land of Rain and to ensure our victory, I've decided to invest in a significant number of explosive tags and set up an elaborate trap. When the time comes, that man won't stand a chance."
Danzo weighed the proposal carefully. He was genuinely intrigued by the plan, but the additional ten million ryo gave him pause. The expressions that flickered across his face showed his internal struggle. Finally, he sighed, "Very well, I'll provide the funds, but this is the last time. If we fail again, the Rain Village will no longer have any chance to negotiate with the Three Great Ninja Villages."
"Rest assured, I have full confidence this time," Akihiko reassured him with unwavering confidence.
'Hmph, You were confident the last several times as well,' Danzo's eyes flashed with a touch of coldness as he regarded the disguised Hanzo, his thoughts silently remarking, 'You're really getting old, Ninja Demigod.'
With that, he turned and departed, leaving behind a final remark, "This time... we must succeed!"
"Alright, no problem," Akihiko waved him off with enthusiasm. Once Danzo was out of sight, Akihiko let out a disappointed sigh, shaking his head. "What a pity... he's losing faith in us, isn't he?"
Aso, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel a sense of speechlessness wash over him. Faith? How could anyone still believe in it after spending forty million Ryo in vain? Yet, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for Akihiko's sheer audacity and his resourcefulness in swindling Danzo.
He looked at Akihiko, his expression a mix of complexity, admiration, and a touch of fear, though he couldn't help but wonder what their leader would think once he learned about all this. However, Aso hesitated before asking, "Leader Akihiko, what should we do next?"
Akihiko's eyes rolled with an air of exasperation. Did Aso seriously have the audacity to ask him this question? "What should we do?" he retorted sharply. "Tell your leader to come back quickly, you bastard!"
Akihiko was clearly agitated and had little patience to deal with this situation. He had much more pressing matters to attend to, particularly with White Zetsu awaiting him underground. His gaze remained fixed on Aso as he delivered a stern warning, "If he doesn't come back this time, believe me, I'll personally kick you out of the Land of Rain. Whether you believe it or not."
Aso swallowed hard, realizing the gravity of the situation and Akihiko's determination. He nodded nervously and hastily went to deliver the message to their leader.
…
Meanwhile, In the Grass Village, within the confines of a jail cell, a voice resounded, "Lord Hanzo, you can go now."
Hanzo, the leader of the Grass Village, heard a voice from within the jail cell, announcing his release. With an air of indifference, he responded with a snort and made his way out without glancing back.
Once outside, he looked up at the Land of Grass's clear sky and basked in the warmth of the sun. There was a fleeting moment of contemplation as he observed the serene weather. Before long, he let out a sigh and remarked, "Today's weather is nice."
Despite the seemingly pleasant atmosphere, a sense of melancholy had settled within him. It was a stark contrast to his initial visit to the Grass Village as a Ninja Demigod, only to find himself thrown into prison by the crafty Grass Ninjas.
Had it not been for his resolve to maintain his dignity, he would have likely lain down in protest, accusing the Grass Ninjas of mistreating their visiting ally and poisoning the leader.
Hanzo shook his head, a wistful expression on his face. He muttered to himself, "But, I won't pay that fine. Let them dream if they think I will."
As he stood there, taking in the landscape, he felt a tinge of disappointment as he saw no one outside the prison. He was in the Grass Village, far from his own territory, and there was no one here to receive him. It was then that he recalled the information sent from the Rain Village, prompting him to make a decision. He muttered, "It's time to go back."
As he uttered those words, three cheerful voices resonated through the air. "Lord Hanzo!" Three grinning faces emerged to greet him. Hanzo raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the unexpected visit. He regarded the mischievous trio and inquired, "What brings the three of you here?"
"Hehehe, we heard that Lord Hanzo has just been released from prison, so we came to welcome you," Yahiko chimed in playfully, casting a glance at Hanzo's evidently low spirits.
However, before Yahiko could finish his sentence, Nagato, his expression unchanging, added, "We were instructed to keep an eye on you from above, to ensure you don't stir up any more trouble."
The sudden solemnity in Nagato's words caught the other three off guard, leaving them momentarily stunned. They exchanged glances, their faces reflecting their collective thought: Can't you read the mood? Is this the right time for such comments?
"haha!" Yahiko chuckled awkwardly, hastening to cover Nagato's mouth. Although Hanzo concealed his face behind a mask, they could imagine that his expression had darkened.
"Actually, we've also come to escort you, Lord Hanzo," Yahiko continued, attempting to shift the atmosphere. "Aunt Fuso has prepared a feast in your honor. Let's not waste any time; we'll treat you today, as a celebration for your release!"
As he concluded his words, Hanzo, hearing the smug undertones in the younger boys' voices and the resignation in Nagato's, couldn't help but snort. There was a faint warmth in his heart. However, his mind returned to the intelligence received from the Rain Village. While gazing at the peaceful surroundings of the Grass Village, he turned back to the three and inquired, "Do any of you aspire to become the leader of the Rain Village?"
Hanzo's question left the trio perplexed, struggling to decipher its meaning. What could he be mean by that?
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