Akihiko blinked, silently observing Danzo's retreating form. Recently, Jiraiya had made a startling statement, and now... Danzo had echoed a similar declaration.
What lies ahead for this ninja world? Is there hope for a return to some semblance of normalcy? Can't events unfold as expected? After all, who is Danzo? He is renowned for his assertive demeanor, impatient nature, and unabashed exhibition of emotions.
In the past, he would have threatened him like, "Just you wait, Grass Village Leader, I'll return!" or uttered the classic line, "You'll regret this!" So, What's with the sudden eloquence now?
Yet, after some contemplation, Akihiko dismissed the matter. After all, how old was Danzo by now? Well over sixty. Is this an act of wisdom, or is the old man simply pretending? Who knows, he might meet his end soon enough.
Regardless, Akihiko decided it was of little consequence. Whatever Danzo's intentions, he could pursue them in his own village. As the saying goes, "Only a broken Konoha is a good Konoha."
Shaking his head, Akihiko turned away, Karin in tow, prepared to depart with the three children. It was growing late, and Kana and the others were likely concerned. Plus, young Sasuke had been glaring angrily at the Konoha ninjas since earlier. Clearly, he needed guidance. It seemed he lacked the true spirit of the Grass Ninja. After all, the Grass Ninja Village had always upheld the belief that 'peace brings prosperity.'
Just as Akihiko turned his head, he saw Jiraiya approaching, squatting down to Naruto's level. With a grin, Jiraiya addressed Naruto, "Kid, now you know I'm not a kidnapper." Striking a dramatic pose, he announced, "I am one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku—Jiraiya!"
With pride in his voice, he continued, "I see great potential in you. If you become my apprentice, you'll undoubtedly achieve greatness."
Before Akihiko could react, Naruto clung tightly to him, shaking his head vehemently and declaring, "No! Mom says you're not a good person and to stay away from you!"
'Not a good person?' Jiraiya's eyebrow twitched at the remark. He was about to respond when Naruto looked up at Akihiko and said, "Uncle Akihiko, let's go home. Mom is probably waiting for us, and she said to stay away from this guy because he'll lead people astray."
Ignoring Jiraiya, Naruto tugged on Akihiko's arm, urging him to leave. Akihiko complied, walking away with Naruto, leaving Jiraiya standing there, bewildered and at a loss for words.
In the end, Jiraiya could only watch helplessly as Naruto departed, wearing a wry smile. "Why does Kushina say such things?"
His intentions had been pure—to check on Naruto, perhaps make amends for what Konoha and Minato had taken from the child.
Yet, he found himself bitterly sighing, "I didn't expect to be rejected by a kid," shaking his head in resignation. "Oh well. If that's the case... at least the Grass Village will nurture the boy into a ninja."
With limited time in the Grass Village, he couldn't afford to linger. Besides, he couldn't whisk Kushina's son away on a wandering journey right under her nose.
As he turned to resume his research for his 'grand work', a sudden realization struck him. He halted, puzzled, and glanced in the direction Naruto had gone. What was it the boy had said? 'Mom is waiting for them to go home?'
Curiosity piqued, Jiraiya couldn't help but wonder about the relationship between the Grass Village leader and Kushina. "Hiss~" he hissed in contemplation, thoughts swirling. Eventually, he sighed. "Minato, your sensei can only offer apologies."
…
As the days passed swiftly after Danzo's departure, March arrived quickly.
Following the Third Shinobi World War, the Nine-Tails Incident, the Three Village clash, and the Uchiha Battle, the major shinobi villages found themselves acutely aware of the unexpected advancements made by the Grass and Rain Villages.
In response, they all plunged headlong into their own processes of recovery and development, determined to regain their foothold in the changing landscape. The burgeoning growth of the Grass and Rain Villages served as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance.
Meanwhile, life in the Grass Village carried on as usual, with a concerted effort to expand the influence of Grass Shinobi Manufacturing throughout the shinobi world.
Akihiko's expression was serious as he perused the report in his hand and instructed Others, "Continue to expand the reach of Grass Shinobi Manufacturing and accelerate market penetration. Simultaneously, we must continue to strengthen the Grass Shinobi brand image."
In recent years, Grass Brand has garnered recognition not only for its superior quality and competitive pricing but also for its diverse product lines. The Grass Village had meticulously crafted numerous brands, endeavoring to cultivate a robust brand identity.
For instance, a variety of heaters and air conditioners, an array of toys, and signature Grass Village products like Grass Brand Milk showcased the village's commitment to diversification and innovation.
After years of dedicated development, Grass Village products had evolved far beyond their initial simplicity. Furthermore, they remained committed to advancing technological innovation., to ensure their continued relevance in the market.
Unfortunately, the television signal coverage had met with limited success, as the major shinobi villages remained steadfastly vigilant against the influence of Grass Shinobi.
Even the newly established 'Shinobi Times' faced obstacles, as it was blocked by the major shinobi villages. Yet, despite these restrictions, 'The Shinobi Times' still commanded the largest newspaper market in the shinobi world, with many avid readers.
This was largely due to the publication's talented writers who adeptly investigated various peculiar news stories. In a world starved for entertainment, 'The Shinobi Times' had become a cherished source of diversion for many.
Furthermore, even the leaders of the five great shinobi villages have begrudgingly subscribed to 'The Shinobi Times' to gather intelligence on the Grass Village and monitor their movements.
However, it was evident that 'The Shinobi Times' needed to adapt to survive. Continuing as before would inevitably lead to a decline in readership. Yet, a complete rebranding and relaunch were not feasible options.
Thankfully, Akihiko didn't need to dwell on these concerns. Handling such matters fell within the purview of Mubuki, who possessed considerable talent in this domain.
Though Mubuki was infamous for peddling fake intelligence, his knack for acquiring and disseminating information was undeniable.
Meanwhile, As the new school year approached, it was time for the two future Pillars of the Grass Village to embark on their education journey. Speaking of which, Akihiko recalled Mikoto wanted to discuss something with him recently. Although he had been occupied and wasn't able to talk with her, it was likely related to Sasuke's education—a matter he was confident in managing.
Speaking of troubled matters, just days prior, Takeshi had voiced his grievances regarding the Chinoike Clan being tasked with the role of psychological ninjas. It was a puzzling decision, considering the Chinoike Clan's own psychological struggles, yet they were expected to counsel the even more troubled Uchiha Clan. He couldn't help but question the rationale behind this decision.
However, it wasn't that Akihiko was opposed to others assuming these roles. The reality was that there were no qualified psychological medical ninjas in the village, nor in the entire shinobi world for that matter. Thus, they had reluctantly turned to the Chinoike Clan as a temporary solution.
Moving forward, the Grass Village needed to prioritize this aspect and continue to bolster ideological education.
After concluding the meeting and delegating tasks accordingly, Akihiko stretched leisurely and poured himself a cup of tea. Glancing over an intelligence report about Konoha, he pondered aloud, "I wonder what Danzo has been scheming lately. Is he effectively undermining Konoha's strength?"
…
As Akihiko pondered Danzo's activities, deep within the confines of Konoha Village, Danzo convened a meeting in a dimly lit room, his 'new' plan poised for discussion.
"Everyone, please take a moment to review these documents," Danzo announced, distributing a series of papers to each high-ranking official present.
Confusion flickered across their faces, uncertain of what scheme the Hokage's advisor had concocted this time. They were all too aware of the significant role this assistant had played in shaping Konoha's current state—though mostly in depleting the village's finances rather than fostering development.
Despite their reservations, they dutifully perused the document. Its cover bore the straightforward title: "Industrial Development Plan for Village Revival."
Instantly, comprehension dawned upon those who read it. After all, The title left little room for ambiguity. But… industrial development? What could Danzo possibly be plotting now?
As they delved into the contents, Danzo's expression grew increasingly serious, his voice resonating with determination. "Before departing the Grass Village, I made a 'promise' to their leader. To honor that commitment and fulfill our own revival, I have devised a three-year plan. In just three years, we will achieve a complete recovery for Konoha and cleanse ourselves of disgrace."
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