Hanzo is attacking the Land of Grass, and you guys can't handle it, so you jump up, leading to the outbreak of war. Now, Hanzo has set his sights on the rich Land of Iron, and once again, you're jumping in.
You haven't even finished cleaning your own mess!
And here you are, thinking about helping someone else clean up theirs.
"Uh..."
Mito Homura wasn't expecting Takuya to say something like that. He froze, feeling at a loss for words.
Instinctively, he looked toward the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage was speechless.
But he still tried to explain, "This involves the interests and alliances between nations. If the war between the Hidden Rain Village and the Land of Iron continues, it could have serious repercussions for Konoha."
So, they needed someone to go and negotiate with Hanzo, to get him to retreat. Right.
It was a thankless task.
And let's be real, Hanzo might get so angry that he'd want to fight you right then and there.
Don't doubt it. Hanzo would absolutely do that.
He's already thinking, You Konoha bastards turned my Land of Rain into a wasteland with your battles, and now when I try to conquer another country to get resources, you have the nerve to stick your nose into my business? Do you think I don't have a temper?
"So we should stop this war?"
"Sorry, but I'm not taking this mission," Takuya shook his head, refusing the special assignment. Hanzo attacking the Land of Iron had nothing to do with Konoha.
At most, it would slightly affect their purchase of iron ore.
And it's not like the Land of Iron is defenseless. Hanzo taking it over isn't going to be easy.
The Hidden Rock and Cloud Villages haven't even moved yet, and here's Konoha rushing into it.
Takuya wasn't interested in becoming a target for Hanzo's anger.
Besides, wasn't the village trying to hold me back, finding every excuse to keep me here? You were so worried that I'd rack up too much merit and become hard to deal with.
And now, when there's a tricky mission no one wants to touch, you suddenly want me to take it on?
Yeah, right!
"Uh..."
Rejected.
Everyone in the meeting room, including the Third Hokage, froze in surprise.
In their plans, it had never occurred to them that Takuyamight refuse.
But that's exactly what happened.
After a brief silence, the Third Hokage asked, "Can you tell me why?"
"Because I'm too young. I'm just a ten-year-old kid," Takuya said innocently, spreading his hands. "The Hokage assigned me to be a Jonin instructor, leading three students who are practically my age. I've already got a lot of pressure on me. Lately, I've been having trouble sleeping, worried that I might mess up their training and ruin their futures."
"As for negotiating with Hanzo to stop his attack on the Land of Iron, I'm not capable of persuading him. After what happened the last time, when we bombarded the Hidden Rain Village, Hanzo hates me. If I show up, it'll probably make things worse."
"It could even lead to a bigger problem."
"The village has been protecting me, keeping me here to prevent the Hidden Sand Village from sending assassins after me. How can I take such a risk by going to meet with Hanzo?"
That's the reasoning you gave me and Tsunade to convince us to stay. Now, I'm just giving it back to you.
"....."
There had been plenty of cases where people refused missions, but this was the first time someone had used the very excuse the higher-ups had given them as a reason to refuse.
The Third Hokage was completely dumbfounded.
He never imagined that the reasoning he used to dismiss Takuya would now be turned against him.
"So, this important task should be given to someone else. I think the Hokage's advisors or the two elders would be perfect for the job. With their esteemed status, they're the perfect counterparts to someone like Hanzo, the leader of the Hidden Rain Village. Their negotiation would undoubtedly be more effective."
Danzo: "....."
Koharu Utatane: "..."
Mito Homura: "..."
They were all stunned.
The Third Hokage opened his mouth, but the words he'd normally use to persuade others got stuck in his throat.
He couldn't say anything!
This awkward feeling was unbearable.
"Hokage-sama, elders, if you'll excuse me, my team is waiting for me to return so I can guide them on their mission. I can't stay too long."
With that, Takuya turned and walked out, moving quickly so they wouldn't have the chance to try and convince him otherwise.
Whoever wants to go can go, but Takuya Yagami won't!
When it comes to stirring up trouble, you're all eager, but when things get difficult, you sit back and wait for someone else to deal with it.
That's not how it works!
You're the leaders of the village, enjoying the privileges and respect that come with your positions. So when problems arise, it's your job to step up and solve them.
Otherwise, what's the point of having you in charge?
"It seems Takuya doesn't want to go to the Land of Iron," a voice said as Takuya stepped out of the Hokage's office.
He was stopped by none other than Orochimaru.
"Aren't you supposed to be at the front lines?" Takuya asked, always on his guard around Orochimaru.
This guy was dangerous. Once he snapped, there was nothing he wouldn't do.
As the saying goes, it's better to be safe than sorry.
Takuya had no intention of getting involved in Orochimaru's schemes, but he knew better than to completely trust him either.
Especially when it came to certain dangerous individuals like Orochimaru.
"It seems Takuya-kun is still wary of me," Orochimaru said with a slight smile as if he could read Takuya's mind.
Takuya didn't bother to deny it.
"Can you blame me? You're dangerous," he replied bluntly.
"Hahaha..."
Orochimaru let out a laugh, though his soft voice made it sound unsettling rather than joyous.
As Takuya had grown older, he'd noticed the dark aura around Orochimaru intensifying.
And that was before anything had happened to Nawaki. Takuya couldn't even imagine how Orochimaru might change if something did happen to him.
Wait, no!
Takuya shook his head, scolding himself. Nawaki isn't going to get hurt. What kind of friend would I be to think something like that?
If people heard, they'd probably think I was cursing my own friend.
Whatever makes you happy.
Takuya shrugged. If Orochimaru wanted to laugh, let him laugh.
When the laughter died down, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
"Shall we talk somewhere more private?"
"I've got an interesting and rather thrilling mission for you. I believe you'll find it worth your time."
He glanced up toward the direction of the Hokage's meeting room.
"Follow me."
Takuya thought for a moment but didn't refuse. He was genuinely curious about what kind of mission would prompt Orochimaru to personally extend an invitation.
Whatever it was, it clearly wasn't an ordinary task.
As for the mission the Third Hokage had offered him? Whoever wants to go can go.
If joining Orochimaru on this mission upset the Hokage and the elders, that wasn't Takuya's problem. Orochimaru would have to handle that.
After all, since Orochimaru had invited him, it was his responsibility to negotiate and get approval from the higher-ups.
The two of them headed to a nearby restaurant.
"Takuya, you're here," a cheerful voice called out as they entered.
Mikoto's mother Sayuri Uchiha greeted him with a smile, teasing him a bit.
Takuya scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed.
"Auntie, Orochimaru, and I need to discuss something. Could you ask the kitchen to prepare some food for us? I'm starving."
**********
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