At this juncture, the ninja world had succumbed to the embrace of winter, casting a chill over the once-vibrant landscape of Konoha. Danzo, the Hokage's assistant, ventured forth with a stern countenance towards the Root Organization's base. Today marked yet another rejection of his proposal.
Ever since the culmination of the Ninja World Tournament, Danzo had observed a disconcerting trend within the village—a proliferation of products originating from the Grass Village. The streets teemed with children donning the renowned Flame Dragon Armor, their exuberant cries of "Flame Dragon Flying Kick!" piercing the crisp air.
While Mitokado, as an agent, assured there was no detriment to the village, Danzo couldn't shake the sense of unease. The abundance of Grass Ninja products within Konoha seemed unjustifiable and, in Danzo's eyes, outright audacious.
While Grass Village's products might be affordable, Konoha couldn't become overly reliant on them. Danzo harbored suspicions about their true motives, particularly concerning the scientific ninja tools. Though other items were tolerable, the advent of the Flame Dragon Armor hinted at a novel type of ninja tool that significantly enhanced a ninja's strength. Leaving such advancements solely in the hands of the Grass Village seemed imprudent.
Despite Mitokado's insistence that Konoha could procure the necessary items directly from the Grass Village, as they prioritized profitability above all else, Danzo remained unconvinced. Mitokado argued that ninjas should focus on their training rather than relying on external tools, emphasizing that Konoha lacked the surplus funds to invest in such endeavors due to years of warfare. Ultimately, Danzo found himself in agreement with Mitokado's assessment of Konoha's financial constraints. Consequently, they departed without reaching a resolution.
"Hiruzen is becoming increasingly indecisive and soft," Danzo lamented. "This hesitance plagued our dealings with the Uchiha, the Mangekyo, and now..." His voice trailed off as he pondered Konoha's current state.
Reflecting on Konoha's economic struggles as opposed to Grass Village's prosperity, Danzo sighed helplessly. Despite his reservations, he couldn't deny the reality of Konoha's predicament. Konoha, once the unrivaled pinnacle of ninja prowess, now found itself trailing behind a seemingly inferior Grass Village.
Danzo couldn't help but sigh helplessly. In his eyes, Konoha should remain the undisputed leader, and he viewed only himself as the one capable of steering Konoha back to its former glory. The notion that Hiruzen's leadership was growing feeble with his age and that only he, Danzo, could lead Konoha to true greatness lingered in his thoughts.
Danzo took a deep breath, composing himself before addressing the Root ninja before him in a calm tone. "Have there been any significant developments in Grass Village lately?"
His inquiry underscored the importance he attached to any occurrences related to Grass Village.
The Root ninja paused for a moment, visibly taken aback by the inquiry, before responding respectfully, "There have been no major incidents in Grass Village recently. They continue to recruit ninjas from various parts of the ninja world, and there's regular communication between the Grass Village and the Uchiha clan. However, it appears to be merely routine contact aimed at maintaining relations. Nothing suspicious has been reported."
"Maintaining relations? They're not the Senju. What sort of relations do the Uchiha and the Uzumaki have?" Danzo sneered, his skepticism evident. He pressed on, "Is there anything else of note?"
Suddenly recalling a peculiar piece of information, the Root ninja interjected, "Oh, yes, Lord Danzo. Grass Village has launched a newspaper called 'The Shinobi Times.' "
"The Shinobi Times?" Danzo's surprise was palpable as he absorbed his subordinate's revelation. "That name implies something related to the history of shinobi. What kind of scheme is the Grass Village leader plotting this time?"
As the Konoha's darkness, responsible for safeguarding the village from shadows, Danzo felt a need to be privy to every piece of information. Familiar with the concept of newspapers, thanks to their existence in the Fire Nation as well, he couldn't help but suspect the motives behind Grass Village's latest endeavor.
Furrowing his brows, Danzo turned his gaze to the Root ninja. "Did you bring a copy of 'The Shinobi Times'?"
The Root ninja promptly presented the prepared newspaper. Given Danzo's directive to keep a vigilant eye on Grass Village, any unusual occurrences within the village were to be promptly reported. Therefore, upon learning of Grass Village's initiation of a newspaper, they had intentionally obtained a copy for scrutiny.
Upon being presented with the newspaper by his subordinate, Danzo nodded impassively before gesturing for the ninja to leave. With a solemn expression, he proceeded to open the newspaper. As the Konoha ninja most acquainted with Grass Village, he harbored doubts regarding the Grass Ninja leader's intentions.
Scanning the newspaper, Danzo noted its diverse sections: 'Ninja World Affairs,' 'Ninja Villages,' 'Citizens' Livelihoods,' 'Celebrity Style Life,' and more. It appeared to offer a broader range of content compared to newspapers in the Land of Fire.
Danzo's focus was drawn to the 'Ninja World Affairs' section. He muttered to himself, "Overall peace with localized wars."
Continuing to peruse the newspaper, his countenance grew increasingly grave. The publication analyzed the current state of affairs in the ninja world, concluding that overall peace would persist. However, it also acknowledged the persistence of localized conflicts amidst this peace. Despite cooperation among major ninja villages maintaining relative stability, challenges such as internal issues within ninja villages and economic concerns loomed ahead.
The analytical content was indeed sharp and perceptive. Upon completing his reading, Danzo couldn't help but express praise. He hadn't anticipated that a seemingly insignificant Grass Village would harbor such insightful views on the state of the ninja world. In some aspects, their perspectives even aligned with his own ideas.
It became evident that Grass Village possessed the capability to effectively run a newspaper. As Danzo delved into the section analyzing the various ninja villages, he was taken aback to find a description of Konoha included.
While most of the analysis focused on Konoha's recovery and the lives of its ordinary citizens, Danzo couldn't help but frown at the less relevant aspects. The photos seemed poorly selected, depicting a somber atmosphere with people appearing emaciated, resembling refugees who had endured years of starvation.
Setting aside these seemingly inconsequential details, Danzo continued to read, discovering advertisements from Grass Ninja Village.
"Grass Ninja Milk: A Trustworthy Choice!"
"Premiering Soon: 'Flame Dragon Ninja' – A New Movie!"
As Danzo skimmed through a substantial portion of the newspaper's content, he found nothing overtly suspicious. Could it be that Grass Village was genuinely operating its newspaper without any ulterior motives?
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Danzo's gaze fell upon a section titled "New Era of Grass Village." Intrigued, he delved into the information.
The article detailed Grass Ninja Village's commitment to implementing their new era ideology and actively engaging in the national mandate of "Grass Ninja caring for the ordinary people." A meeting had been convened by the village leader to emphasize the importance of ninjas contributing to the realization of the Land of Grass's dream of a strong nation by supporting the causes of ordinary citizens.
Emphasizing the leader's belief that a country is comprised not only of ninjas but also of countless ordinary citizens, the article outlined practical measures aimed at benefiting the populace. These measures included preventing the abuse of power, enhancing services for ordinary citizens, promoting investment, fostering entrepreneurship and employment, and ultimately improving the living standards of both ninjas and ordinary citizens.
Danzo's expression remained speechless as he continued reading, hoping to find any relevant information about Grass Village and its underlying motives.
{ As various measures aimed at benefiting the populace were implemented, the ninja inhabitants of the Land of Grass erupted into cheers. Many expressed their belief that, under the leadership of our esteemed leader, the Land of Grass would flourish, bringing happiness to all its ninja residents.}
{ Mr. Takeshi Chinoike and Mr. Uzumaki Yoshinori also expressed their agreement, stating with joyful expressions, 'We are very happy to live in such a Great Village.' }
{ Similarly, foreign village friends who settled in the Land of Grass from outside ninja villages declared, 'Only here, I can breathe the air of freedom.' }
{...
….}
Upon completing the article, Danzo fell into a contemplative silence. The piece lacked focus and failed to provide substantial information. Despite its discussion of benefiting the people, there was a noticeable absence of any mention of ninjas. Nonetheless, Danzo couldn't shake the inexplicable feeling that lingered.
Moreover, he couldn't help but notice the stark contrast between the individuals from Konoha, appearing emaciated and somber in the grayscale photos, and those from Grass Village, depicted as healthy and cheerful in vibrant, colorful images. This incongruity only added to Danzo's perplexity.