Danzo truly is amusing; for the sake of appearances, he has always leaned on that cane, limping around. But once provoked enough, he walks normally.
"Damn brat, you better not fall into my hands, or I will make sure you regret it!"
Danzo, like a volcano on the verge of eruption, held his rage in check, knowing that an outburst could give Takuya the excuse to strike. If he could keep living, Danzo would not invite death upon himself.
He had to endure. He must endure.
Only by enduring could he find a chance to turn the tables.
The issue was that the people hiding in the secret room had no way of being sent out. Takuya would not be like the usual Anbu operatives who could be persuaded. Takuya would stare at him constantly, scrutinizing every move. If two unidentified individuals were discovered inside his house, even an idiot could tell there was something fishy.
In such critical times, Danzo couldn't afford to take risks.
He can endure.
"A wise man hides his weapon and strikes at the right moment."
Unfortunately, Danzo is neither wise nor has the opportunity to strike. Takuya and Tsunade will not give him that chance.
When the opportunity arises, they will simply crush him!
Should I go searching for Danzo and Orochimaru's underground laboratory?
If I could find the research lab and expose it, not even ten lives would be enough for Danzo to survive. That is a surefire leverage point. Even if past transgressions aren't pursued, what Danzo and Orochimaru are researching could completely ruin them, turning them into fugitives.
But forget it. The timing isn't right. At least until Tsunade takes full control, it's best not to act recklessly.
Even if I find the laboratory, knowing the Third Hokage, he would likely let Danzo off.
As for Orochimaru, it's even less likely—if Orochimaru were to flee, it would affect the situation on the frontlines.
After some thought, Takuya decided to hold his position.
Danzo, furious yet afraid, didn't dare make a move and was forced to endure Takuya's taunts. Meanwhile, a large crowd of villagers had gathered at the Hokage's office, practically blocking the entire street.
From the moment the Third Hokage agreed to Chiyo's terms, he had mentally prepared himself for this outcome. He would provide the villagers with a proper explanation, enough to quell their anger. As for his own reputation, that was no longer important.
As the situation grew increasingly chaotic, the Third Hokage, wearing his hat, appeared on the rooftop of the Hokage office.
Seeing the Hokage arrive, the villagers and ninjas gathered on the streets fell silent, lifting their heads to look at the aging figure on the rooftop.
Without a word, the crowd grew quiet.
Looking at the sea of people below, the Third Hokage took off his hat, revealing his increasingly wrinkled face.
"I am very grateful that you all care enough about Konoha and the peace talks with the Sand Village to come to the Hokage office and demand an explanation. Your anger and frustration mean that you are part of Konoha, that Konoha is your home, and that Konoha's affairs are also your affairs."
Slowly stepping forward, he hung his hat by his side and raised his hands.
"I know that many of you are wondering why I agreed to the Sand Village's conditions, why I chose to cancel the reparations owed to us by the Sand Village."
"My friends, we are still at war. Though our war with the Sand Village has ended, our conflict with the Mist Village is still ongoing. War means loss. Many shinobi will die on the battlefield, something that I do not wish for, and I'm certain none of you wish to experience the pain of losing loved ones either."
"The heavy reparations have already stalled the Sand Village's growth—that's why they want them lifted. Some of you may ask, 'The Sand Village was defeated, why shouldn't Konoha demand reparations?'"
"Yes, exactly! Why?"
"Hokage-sama, why did you agree to these conditions?"
The previously quiet street echoed with villagers' questions.
The waves of voices surged like the tide, and the Third Hokage quietly listened, waiting for the crowd to fall silent again.
"Because, if we don't lift the reparations, the war could easily reignite. What do you think is more important—war reparations, or putting an end to war?"
Most of the villagers had gathered there out of anger, believing Konoha had been taken advantage of, and the Sand Village had gotten off too easily.
"Why do the defeated get to make such outrageous demands? Why did our Hokage agree to it?"
The more nuanced reasons were not easy for everyone to grasp or even care about.
Faced with the Hokage's question, the crowd fell silent.
Compared to years of partial war reparations, ending the war with the Sand Village quickly did seem more worthwhile.
If the war continued, who knew how many more would die, and how much more money and resources Konoha would lose?
The villagers' focus was redirected. They didn't realize that even if Konoha insisted on reparations, the Sand Village couldn't afford to continue fighting.
Unless Konoha refused to compromise at all and executed Rasa, the Sand Village wouldn't have fought to the bitter end.
With their focus shifted, the Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief—this was exactly the effect he had hoped for.
Even if some still harbored dissatisfaction afterward, quelling the crowd's anger now was enough.
Seeing an opportunity, the Third Hokage pressed on.
"Although we have lifted the reparations, the Sand Village has made compensations in return. Not only have they agreed to ally themselves with us, but Elder Chiyo of the Sand Village will personally lead a thousand elite shinobi to support us in our fight against the Mist Village on the coastline."
"With this support, I am confident that Konoha will achieve victory over the Mist Village and finally put an end to this war!"
"The Sand Village becoming our ally and sending a thousand elite troops to help us… maybe this isn't so bad," one villager commented.
"Yeah, with the Sand Village supporting us, the Mist Village doesn't stand a chance."
"No wonder Hokage-sama chose to waive the reparations…"
With a thousand elite shinobi led by the respected Elder Chiyo herself, the villagers began to feel that maybe Konoha hadn't lost out after all.
While they may have lost a significant sum in reparations, they had gained a reliable ally and additional reinforcements.
With the reinforcements, fewer Konoha shinobi would die, and they would have a better chance of beating the Mist Village.
Many of the villagers who had arrived out of anger began to calm down, discussing the alliance and reinforcements with those around them.
Gradually, everyone seemed to realize that they weren't as angry as they had been before.
The fact that there would be no war reparations… seemed acceptable now.
As for supporting the Sand Village after the war, wasn't that what allies were supposed to do?