A few days later, in the Land of Rain, Aso strolled purposefully toward Hanzo. As he drew near, he respectfully called out, "Hanzo-sama!"
"Why have you returned already?" Hanzo swiftly placed a thermos on the table, donning his gas mask in a quick motion. His gaze darted between his left and right arms in surprise. "Didn't I instruct you to assist the experts sent by Leader Akihiko in constructing the water system?"
"It's already finished!" Aso replied, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
"What?" Hanzo's masked eyes furrowed in confusion as he fixed his gaze on Aso. "What's finished?"
"The preliminary work in that area is complete. I returned to provide a report," Aso explained, anticipating Hanzo's puzzled reaction.
"So quickly?" Hanzo arched an eyebrow, initially wearing an expression of disbelief that swiftly transformed into calm composure. Folding his hands in front of his mask, he spoke sternly, "Aso, you've been by my side for several years."
"Huh?" Aso was taken aback by Hanzo's sudden change of topic.
"How did you become so adept at lying? It's only been a few days, and the preliminary work in that area is already complete?" asked Hanzo as he snorted, "Have you forgotten the practical spirit the Grass Ninja has been promoting lately? Practical, Be Practical! Be Grounded in reality, no need for embellishments!"
"Lord Hanzo, I genuinely didn't lie," Aso protested helplessly. "Those experts... they did manage to outline the approximate framework for water management in that area. They dug it deep and robust; now, it just requires the necessary materials to be laid to completion."
Reflecting on these past days, he still found it hard to believe. Blinking his eyes, a trench appeared, and with another blink, it transformed into a small river. If he hadn't witnessed it firsthand, he might have doubted it merely by hearing others describe it.
"I suggested they take a break, but they insisted on skipping rest. They claimed they could dig from one end of the ninja world to the other without breaking a sweat. They even boasted that they could construct an underground castle easily if needed," Aso explained with a bitter smile. "It seemed like we were underestimating them by asking them to do this meager task. In fact, It was us who feared being looked down upon by them. Therefore, The Rain Ninja who joined us immediately threw themselves into the work with full vigor, yet, even then, we couldn't match their efficiency."
"Later, we prepared a feast, but they declined, insisting they didn't need it. This only heightened the admiration of all the Rain Ninjas," Aso continued, letting out a long sigh. "Their dedication truly impressed the Rain Ninjas. They are genuine experts from the Grass Village. Perhaps... this type of 'dedication' embodies the essence of the Grass Ninja spirit!"
Hearing Aso's account, Hanzo paused for a moment, now convinced of Aso's sincerity. He sighed deeply and remarked, "Back then, I thought Leader Akihiko was exaggerating. I never expected there were such diligent and frugal individuals."
A trace of complexity flashed in his eyes, acknowledging the leadership gap between him and someone like Akihiko. Hanzo sighed and inquired, "What's the current status of the project?"
Aso responded earnestly, "The preliminary work in this area is finished. Currently, it's undergoing refinement and reinforcement. I believe it won't be long before this section is completed."
After a brief pause, Aso added hesitantly, "My lord, about their wages..."
Hanzo waved his hand, offering reassurance, "You don't need to worry about that; I'll handle it."
"Alright, then I'll go and attend to other tasks." Aso nodded, leaving to address other matters.
"Yes, go ahead!" Hanzo nodded. After Aso departed, he sighed once more, gazing at the rain outside the window. His thoughts turned to the dedicated Grass Ninjas toiling in the heavy rain to assist the Land of Rain in constructing the sewer.
Despite having already made internal decisions, at this moment, he couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion. Sighing again, he whispered to himself, "Good people!"
Then, determination filled his eyes, as if a resolution had been reached. "Once it's completed... I will certainly erect a monument for you all in the Land of Rain."
…
On the other side, Akihiko remained temporarily unaware of Hanzo's intention to erect a monument for the White Zetsu, emblematic of the Grass Ninja spirit. He was engrossed in examining the intelligence in his hands.
After a while, he sighed and remarked, "As expected, Minato Namikaze has become the Hokage."
Initially, he had anticipated challenges for Minato in achieving the Hokage position, especially with the defection of two of Minato Namikaze's disciples. However, to his surprise, with the backing of the Third Hokage, Minato successfully secured the title of the next Hokage.
Truly... why is Danzo so incompetent? Akihiko pondered. Speaking of which, with Madara's departure, the so-called Child of Destiny should be born now.
He then received a letter from Konoha, and upon realizing it was from Konoha's advisor, Homura Mitokado, he was immediately taken aback. Hastily, he opened the letter.
After a while, he set down the letter, wearing a perplexed expression, and remarked, "Has this guy finally recognized the benefits? He actually wants to continue the cooperation?!"
As he spoke, Mubuki, standing by his side, casually flipped open the documents in his hand and calmly stated, "The revenue from the Konoha Cinema is substantial, particularly as the largest ninja village. The village's population surpasses that of the Grass Ninja Village and even exceeds that of the other four major ninja villages. Hence, the revenue is significantly higher than that of the Grass Village. It's not surprising that they want to sustain the collaboration."
"Konoha truly is the cherished ally of the Grass Ninja Village!" Akihiko nodded approvingly, a smile playing on his lips. "In that case, let's deepen our collaboration and provide cost-effective products related to daily necessities for them."
In a way, it could be seen as tapping into the market in Konoha. However, shifting his gaze to Mubuki before him, he inquired, "By the way, what has Danzo been up to lately?"
…
Meanwhile, in Konoha, within a secluded experimental base.
"I haven't been defeated yet!" Danzo's deep voice resonated with a strong sense of unwillingness.
"Indeed, indeed." Orochimaru grinned at the irate Danzo. "Who would've thought the sensei would give up on me and directly choose that kid, Minato. It's truly regrettable."
Despite speaking of regret, Orochimaru's tone and expression betrayed no genuine remorse. It seemed as if he discussed a trivial matter. Observing the indignant Danzo, a flicker of disdain crossed Orochimaru's eyes. If not for this guy supporting his experiments, he might have relocated elsewhere long ago.
"That fool, Hiruzen!" Danzo's eyes glittered with a touch of coldness. "Allowing someone who trained two rogue ninjas to become the Hokage of Konoha. If other ninja villages catch wind of it, he'll undoubtedly become a laughingstock."
As he spoke, he sighed once more, expressing regret. "Unfortunately, if it weren't for my strength being too..." He paused briefly, "Otherwise, with my intellect and methods, I could have propelled Konoha to even greater strength."
Upon hearing those words, Orochimaru's smile slightly stiffened. This guy used to exude confidence, but for some reason, after the conclusion of the Third Great Ninja War, his self-confidence had grown even more. His unbridled ambition for the position of Hokage and power was now glaringly apparent. What had this man experienced during the time he was captured?
However, Orochimaru pondered for a moment and dismissed the thought. It was inconsequential to him. What held significance was the funding. As long as this man continued to support his experiments, all was well.
"Oh, I forgot to mention, the funds you've injected for the experiments fell short," Orochimaru grinned at Danzo. "So, I hope you can transfer the money promptly. Let's not delay the experiments."
"So soon? It was fifty million!" Danzo questioned, a slightly surprised expression crossing his face.
"After all, you're aware of how costly experiments can be. They truly demand a considerable amount of funds. But... could it be... you've run out of money?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow before a small smile played on his lips. "Well, it's not surprising, especially considering the news that you recently squandered one hundred and fifty million. What a shame, really though."
"Enough!" Danzo snapped at Orochimaru before calmly stating, "I'll transfer the funds in a few days. Just ensure the experiment progresses smoothly."
With that, he disregarded Orochimaru and strode out. However, as he reached the street, a somber silence enveloped Danzo. Melancholy flickered in his eyes.
ROOT... The truth was, they were running low on money. Spending one hundred and fifty million without any tangible returns had strained their resources. Moreover, the substantial funds required for Konoha's recovery had further depleted their budget. There wasn't much left to allocate to ROOT, hence the lack of recovery thus far.
Yet, where could he acquire more funds? It appeared that even Hiruzen couldn't allocate much, given Konoha's current financial state.
Just as Danzo was contemplating his financial concerns, he was suddenly disturbed by something. Raising his head, he furrowed his brows, observing a commotion not far away. "What's happening over there?"
"Danzo-sama, I heard that the ninjas who left the village purchased inexpensive goods from the Grass Ninjas outside, creating quite a stir. Many people have gathered to inquire, but it appears they're only selling for ten days. This has left everyone rather anxious," explained the ROOT Ninja respectfully.
"Grass Village? Affordable goods? Ridiculous!" Danzo snorted with disdain, brushing it off and resuming his stride.
However, after a few steps, seemingly recalling something, he paused, narrowing his eyes. "It seems I need to pay a visit to Homura."
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