Nara Shikaku fell into a heavy silence as he stared at the bill handed to him by the Konoha ninja. After a moment of contemplation, he couldn't help but cover his face with his hand, seemingly at a loss for words.
In truth, when the Hokage had assigned him yet another mission to the Grass Ninja Village, Shikaku had initially been inclined to refuse. Dealing with the cunning and manipulative denizens of the Grass Village once had been more than enough for a lifetime. The memory of the previous Ninja Tournament still haunted him, causing lingering discomfort. He had never anticipated the extent of underhanded tactics employed by the Grass Village.
However, in response to his reluctance, the Third Hokage had earnestly explained that, aside from Danzo, Shikaku was the ninja most intimately acquainted with the Grass Village. Thus, there was no one better suited for the task.
As for Danzo... Well, Shikaku's primary objective was to secure Danzo's release. There wasn't much more to be said on that matter. The Hokage had explicitly instructed him that this time, his mission entailed solely the exchange of information with Jiraiya and the retrieval of Danzo. No additional tasks—just a straightforward mission.
After all, Konoha was currently navigating through a turbulent period, the repercussions of 'The Cursed Konoha' incident were still reverberating through the village. The daimyo's growing dissatisfaction with Konoha's decisions over the past few years had culminated in the formation of the Guardian Twelve Ninja. This group was actively recruiting talented individuals from the Land of Fire to join their ranks.
One ninja, in particular, named Kazuma, was rumored to be secretly fomenting discord between the daimyo's office and Konoha, creating significant headaches for the village leadership. His efforts were straining the already tenuous relationship between Konoha and the daimyo.
Due to these multifaceted issues, the village had been unable to send someone to retrieve Danzo earlier. The turbulence within the village and the external political pressures had left them stretched thin.
Moreover, the recent years have been tough both financially and in terms of human resources. The recovery plan had been delayed yet again, exacerbating Konoha's difficulties. Meanwhile, other villages, including the Cloud Village, the Stone Village, and the Mist Village, were actively recovering and advancing. If Konoha continued to stagnate, it wouldn't be long before these villages caught up and potentially surpassed Konoha.
However, despite these challenges, Konoha found some solace when comparing itself to the even more unfortunate Sand Village. At least Konoha wasn't the worst off, a small consolation in these trying times.
Nara Shikaku, reflecting on these circumstances, knew that bringing Danzo back was more crucial than ever. Danzo's strategic mind and resourcefulness, despite his controversial methods, were vital for Konoha's stabilization and future planning. The village could ill afford further delays or complications.
Thus, the village had issued a strict order: the top priority for Konoha was to recuperate and rebuild. At the Hokage's request, Shikaku reluctantly agreed to another trip to the Grass Ninja Village.
His plan was simple: arrive at the Grass Village, exchange information with Jiraiya-sama, convey the Hokage's message, secure Danzo-sama's release, and then leave immediately.
He was prepared for some unexpected situations. For instance, a last-minute increase in ransom demands or even the possibility of being detained. He had contingency plans for all these scenarios.
However, he never anticipated 'this' kind of unforeseen issue. As he processed the situation, Shikaku couldn't help but feel a deep sense of frustration. With a heavy sigh, he realized this mission had become complicated again.
As Nara Shikaku stared at the exorbitant amount on the bill, his mind raced with questions. What on earth had Jiraiya-sama been doing here to rack up a bill of over a million Ryo? That sum was equivalent to the payout for an S-rank mission. Now, it seemed apparent why Jiraiya-sama hadn't been present to greet them.
"Shikaku-sama, maybe we should just feign ignorance?" a Konoha ninja suggested tentatively. "Our primary objective is to bring Danzo-sama back. As long as we accomplish that, the rest can be sorted out later."
Shikaku shook his head with a heavy sigh. "The Grass ninjas were already anticipating our arrival. If we fail to settle the bill, chances are we won't even get a glimpse of Danzo-sama."
Moreover, According to the Hokage-sama's orders, retrieving Danzo took precedence above all else. Any other matters could be addressed subsequently.
Observing the bustling prosperity of the Grass Village, Shikaku was increasingly convinced that Konoha couldn't afford to remain on its current trajectory. They had to expedite Danzo's return to allow the village to focus on its recovery efforts.
"Where is Danzo-sama? Has he returned yet?" Shikaku inquired of the Konoha ninja he had dispatched to monitor Danzo's return status.
Upon arriving, Shikaku's first order of business was to inquire about Danzo's whereabouts. The Grass ninjas informed him that Danzo was still on a tour in the Land of Rain and hadn't returned to the village yet. They assured him that messengers had been dispatched, and they even handed him a letter confirming Danzo's well-being and enjoyment.
Glancing at the photo of Danzo surrounded by a dozen Rain ninjas, Shikaku couldn't help but become speechless, Danzo-sama really seemed to be having a 'splendid' time.
"Not back yet. When I inquired about his return, the Grass ninjas claimed they didn't have that information," the Konoha ninja reported with a wry smile, holding up the bill. "Instead, they handed me this."
Shikaku's expression twitched slightly. With a resigned sigh, he reached into his pouch and retrieved a stack of money, passing it to the Konoha ninja. "Go settle Jiraiya-sama's bill and inquire about his whereabouts while you're at it."
"Understood, sir!" The Konoha ninjas nodded in acknowledgment before departing to fulfill their orders.
As the Konoha ninja departed, Shikaku exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of unaccomplished tasks pressing upon him. Since his arrival at the Grass Village, he hadn't made any progress in retrieving Danzo-sama or encountering Jiraiya-sama let alone exchanging information with him. At this point, all he desired was to complete the task at hand and return to the village.
Speaking of which, as a precautionary measure, the Hokage had deliberately selected ninjas who didn't have much contact with the Grass Village to accompany Shikaku, to prevent any potential complications that may arise due to the Grass Village's 'Talent recruitment' policy. Thus, also ensuring the mission's sole focus remained on retrieving Danzo.
Glancing out the window at the vibrant bustle of the Grass Village, Shikaku muttered to himself, "I hope nothing else goes awry."
Before long, the door swung open once more. The Konoha ninja who had left returned, his expression brimming with excitement. "Shikaku-sama, Danzo-sama has returned. He's currently at the station."
Upon receiving this news, Shikaku pushed aside his swirling thoughts, composed himself, and gestured decisively. "Let's not waste any time. Let's go and retrieve Danzo-sama immediately."
With their objective within reach, Shikaku resolved to depart immediately upon securing Danzo-sama's release.
…
As Danzo returned to the Grass Village under Akihiko's guidance, conflicting emotions churned within him as he stepped onto familiar ground. He found himself momentarily speechless, sighing deeply as he grappled with the whirlwind of feelings.
"Don't be so reluctant. After all, You can always return even after going back," Akihiko's voice interrupted Danzo's reverie, followed by a maddeningly cheerful tone, "The Grass Village extends a warm welcome to you. As a platinum member of the Grass Luxury Resort, you're entitled to a 20% discount on your next stay."
Danzo's jaw clenched, resisting the urge to retort. He had no intention of ever returning, even if it meant facing the darkness of Konoha alone. Before he could voice his refusal, a group of Konoha ninjas, adorned with their village's forehead protectors, appeared before him. With deep bows and respectful salutations, they chorused, "Welcome back, Danzo-sama!"