The ninja world was thrown into shock as Danzo Shimura, the second-in-command of Konoha and known as Konoha's Darkness Ninja, made a rare personal appearance, revealing the true capabilities of the Grass Ninja Leader. This revelation left countless ninja villages and clans stunned, as Danzo was no ordinary figure. He was a hero of Konoha, a veteran of the First Great Ninja War, and a survivor of those tumultuous times.
Danzo's reputation had waned in recent years, but his legacy remained formidable. Trained by both the First and Second Hokages and close friends with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, he was a symbol of old-generation power. Rumors even suggested he was on par with the formidable Hiruzen Sarutobi and that he could have become the Third Hokage if not for a minor twist of fate.
The Grass Ninja Leader had his own impressive feats, having single-handedly defeated the Third Mizukage and led the Grass Village to victory against the siege of the Four Great Ninja Villages. However, when Danzo, with his reputation and insider knowledge, spoke highly of the Grass Village Leader, it sent a clear message to the ninja world: this was a formidable opponent.
Danzo's role in discovering the secret of the battle between the Rain and Grass Villages further solidified his reputation as a master tactician and strategist. The Five Great Ninja Villages couldn't help but acknowledge his cunning and intelligence. He truly deserved the title of Konoha's Darkness, unmatched in schemes and shrewdness in the ninja world.
Especially when Danzo was ransomed by Konoha, and rumors spread that the Grass Village Leader and the Demi-god of the ninja world had personally seen him off. There were even whispers within the Grass Village that the Grass Village Leader had openly stated that he only respected one individual from Konoha, which is Danzo Shimura.
It became clear that Danzo had earned the respect of the two influential figures in the ninja world. For the ninja who had been the first to uncover the secrets of the Rain and Grass Village conflict, infiltrate the villages for intelligence, and excel in his efforts, he was highly regarded by all.
Perhaps, apart from the Rain and Grass Villages, Danzo was the only one familiar with the Grass Village Leader, and he even respectfully referred to the Grass Ninja Leader as Kusagure's Wiseman. It was evident from this that even Konoha's second-in-command was in awe of the Grass Ninja Leader's wisdom.
However, when Akihiko heard this title, deep within his heart, he couldn't help but cringe. What kind of ridiculous title was this? Even Danzo's title of Konoha's Darkness sounded better. Sage of Wisdom? Kusa's WiseMan? Did he want to be known as a wise fool in the Grass Village? It seemed that Danzo wasn't great at coming up with titles.
In the end, it appeared that Danzo had made quite the bargain. Akihiko twitched the corner of his mouth, he should have asked for more money, If he knew that he was going to be called by such a nickname by Danzo.
Despite all this this, Akihiko decided to put the intelligence aside and focus on the Grass Ninja Academy now. As the Grass Leader, it was his responsibility to oversee its reopening, so he directed his attention to the students below. Today marked an important day as the Grass Ninja Academy began its operations once again.
However, Akihiko couldn't help but inquire when he looked at someone standing near him, "Why haven't you returned yet?" He looked at Hanzo with a touch of confusion and continued, "Isn't the Land of Rain in need of your presence? Also, didn't you manage to obtain the necessary funds from Kakuzu? How did you secure another loan without repaying the previous one? Care to share?"
Hanzo chuckled in response to Akihiko's inquiries. "Oh, that's a secret between me and Kakuzu," he replied, maintaining an air of mystery. He didn't reveal the details of how he had secured additional funding. This financial support had indeed come from the ransom for Danzo, a contribution that significantly aided in the rebuilding of the Land of Rain.
Danzo had not only provided 50 million initially but an additional 50 million after being captured. Now, an extra 50 million had been acquired after the deal with Kakuzu, bringing the total to 150 million.
Recalling Danzo's generous contributions, Hanzo felt a sense of regret for being too harsh when he had first interacted with him. He now saw Danzo in a new light, recognizing his kind-hearted nature.
In any case, the additional funds from Danzo's release would undoubtedly benefit the Land of Rain in its reconstruction efforts, even though the source of the funding was somewhat unconventional.
Hanzo let out a sigh, and beneath his mask, a small smile emerged as he observed the students. "It's quite admirable."
"If you find it admirable, then put in more effort!" Akihiko responded before letting out a yawn. Even though he had managed to replenish his energy the previous night, he still felt somewhat fatigued today. He could always replenish it later. Speaking of which, he needed to be cautious about those Nagato flowers.
Seeing Hanzo's emotional gaze fixed on the students, Akihiko added, "Perhaps the Rain Village should establish an academy too."
"Haha, I've gained some self-awareness after all these years," Hanzo chuckled with a hint of self-mockery upon hearing Akihiko's suggestion. Over time, he had witnessed the emergence of a new generation of Grass Ninjas that had exceeded his expectations. Initially, he might have been concerned that others would challenge his authority, but as the days went by, he realized that the rising generation was far more remarkable than he had foreseen.
Hanzo knows, If he had been in the Akihiko's place, he would've never even thought of accepting clans like the Uzumaki and Chinoike in the village. Furthermore, the educational materials shared with the Grass Village's academy were quite extensive. Even the most prominent ninja village, Konoha, wouldn't readily share their techniques with a group of young students as the Grass Village did. Akihiko really had a way of surprising people with his unusual approach which Hanzo could never match.
"In the end, it might just be because I'm getting older," Hanzo admitted. He then shifted his gaze towards Akihiko and continued, "Leader Akihiko, I promised the villagers that their children would also have the opportunity to attend school. Many children in the Land of Rain are now of school age."
He continued, "I've also heard that after the war, you plan to hold a funeral for all the ninjas who sacrificed themselves for the Land of Grass. How about we arrange a joint funeral for the Land of Rain at the same time?"
Before Akihiko could respond, Hanzo went on, a hint of a smile in his eyes, "Let's see what you're capable of, Leader Akihiko!"
Just as Akihiko was about to reply, the opening ceremony commenced. They fell silent, turning their attention to the event unfolding below.
After a few words from the academy's dean, Uzumaki Yoshinori, it was soon Pakura's turn to address the students. To be honest, Pakura couldn't help but feel a bit nervous, facing the numerous children in the academy. After all, she had only taken on one student in the village, and teaching such a large group was quite different. How could she claim to be experienced in teaching?
However, what happened next surprised her. She raised her head to see Akihiko looking at her from afar. She couldn't help but be puzzled when she saw him mouth the words 'repay the debt,' but it didn't take long for her to realize it was a playful remark that reminded her why she was here in the first place. However, it also helped her from breaking away from nervousness, she took a deep breath, put on a smile, lowered her head, and addressed the children below.
"I am Pakura. Starting today, I will serve as the Deputy Dean. Let's all work hard together!" With those words, the students erupted in cheers.
As she observed the cheerful children, Hanzo couldn't contain his laughter beneath his mask. "It feels really nice," he commented with a hearty laugh.
…
Meanwhile, in the underground cave beneath the academy, the sounds of excited children resonated.
"It seems that school has reopened, Madara-sama!" Zetsu, who served Madara, exclaimed with a grin as he observed Madara, connected to the Gedo Statue, seemingly engaged in writing or drawing.
During this period, Madara would occasionally dedicate his free time to this mysterious activity, leaving others in the dark about the nature of his work. Black Zetsu and White Zetsu's main body found this Madara's hobby quite puzzling.
"I wonder how Obito is faring," Zetsu mused. Just as he finished uttering these words, Madara slowly set down his pen and lifted his gaze upwards. In his aged voice, he murmured, "School has resumed?"
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