Walking Gold Coins

A few days later.

In a gloomy cave somewhere within Konoha.

"They still haven't returned?" Danzō, his face bandaged, sat on a rock stool in the center, glaring at the Root Shinobi below. "Just a mere merchant is taking this long! What a bunch of trash! Root doesn't need such trash!"

His original intention was to recruit that fellow into Root. While Uchiha Fuyou had talent, he had been neglecting it for so many years. What good was talent if it was wasted?

He could no longer become a powerful shinobi.

Therefore, he planned to make him a merchant for Root, providing funds for Root's operations.

The fact that this guy had built such a massive business in such a short time proved his business acumen was definitely good.

If he could be utilized by Root, then… the funds given to Hiruzen and wasted on useless things… like that elderly activity club, if that money were used for Root, it would allow Root to do much more to protect Konoha!

And that guy… was such a waste!

He wasn't using his money for the right things at all!

He looked up, his gaze fixed on the Root Shinobi kneeling below, heads bowed, not daring to meet his eyes. He spoke again, indifferently, "Did they leave any reply?"

"No! Lord Danzō!" one of the Root Shinobi replied respectfully. "After they left on the first day, we lost contact with all three of them. Coupled with the traces left at the border of the forest outside Konoha, I suspect the three of them might have… perished."

After speaking, he lowered his head again.

Danzō frowned slightly, his expression turning terrifyingly grim. "Do you know who did it?"

"The scene was too chaotic, with traces of Earth Style, Water Style, Fire Style, and a large number of explosive tags," the shinobi paused, then added, "It's currently unknown!"

"A bunch of trash!" Danzō snorted coldly, but after saying that, his face remained solemn.

He had sent shinobi to follow Uchiha Fuyou to keep it a secret from Hiruzen and to bring that guy under his command.

And those three shinobi had gone missing while tracking Uchiha Fuyou!

Was there any connection between these two events?

But…

Just a merchant.

He hadn't undertaken any missions since graduating from the Ninja Academy, hadn't learned any ninjutsu, and no Jonin had ever taught him… Was that even possible?

And if something had happened, Root shinobi would act under the name of the Hokage's direct subordinate force – the Anbu. Would a mere merchant dare to attack Konoha's Anbu?

No amount of money could protect him!

Danzō pondered for a moment. "Do you know where that guy went when he left?"

"According to his registration, he was going to arrange matters concerning bubble tea shops within the Land of Fire, and also to scout for new industries."

"Within the Land of Fire…"

How many branches had that guy opened now?

Danzō frowned again, tapping the floor. After a moment of thought, he muttered, "It seems I'll have to go myself! Investigate his whereabouts, and then…"

Before he could finish.

A Root Shinobi suddenly ran in, his face full of panic. "Report! Lord Danzō!"

"Hmph!" Danzō snorted coldly, looking at the panicked shinobi with some displeasure. "What happened?"

"A bounty has appeared on the black market for Lord Danzō!"

"???" Danzō froze. He hadn't appeared in public for a long time and had been within the village. Who would put a bounty on him?

Of course, he didn't care.

Which famous shinobi didn't have a bounty on them?

It wasn't a big problem!

"Do you know who issued it?"

"It could be the Hidden Mist Village, or the Hidden Stone Village, or the Hidden Cloud Village, the Hidden Sand Village, the Hidden Rain Village…"

"???" Were his Root shinobi so incompetent at gathering intelligence?

They still couldn't determine where the bounty came from?

Before the grim-faced Danzō could reprimand him, the shinobi continued, "Black markets in various regions and countries have issued bounties, ranging from one million Ryo, ten million Ryo, thirty million Ryo, fifty million Ryo…"

As the numbers were spoken, getting higher and higher, Danzō's eyelids twitched.

Have I done anything that has angered heaven and people in various places recently?

"A total of three hundred and fifty million Ryo," the shinobi lowered his head even further, almost burying it in the ground. "It ranks first on the bounty list! And it might still be rising…"

"……" Danzō's mouth twitched. This price was already comparable to a Tailed Beast. Lord Hashirama didn't even have such a high bounty back then!

What kind of grudge is this?

And he had been busy dealing with the war and village affairs recently, he hadn't even been to so many places!

"Hmm! I understand. Arrange for someone to investigate the person who issued the bounty, and also… you can all go."

"Yes!"

The Shinobi agreed.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, another Shinobi spoke up, "I will immediately arrange for Lord Danzō to personally investigate Uchiha Fuyou."

After he finished speaking.

"Hmph!" Danzō simply nodded, tapping the armrest a few times as if lost in thought. "Find him, and bring him here! Konoha still has many matters that require my attention! I cannot leave Konoha for the time being!"

Having said that, he stood up.

"You are all dismissed!"

He walked out with a blank expression.

Who exactly put out the bounty?

Of course, it was me!

But I'm not telling, just playing around!

One Asuma made Kakuzu take a huge risk and directly attack the Third Hokage's son. What if there were ten Asumas, a hundred Asumas?

They dared to send Root Shinobi after him and wanted to seize his property. Aren't they afraid that the earth will become enraged and strike them down, wiping out their entire clan?

Therefore, there's nothing to say.

If it can be solved with money, it's not a problem!

It's time to show the Shinobi the terrifying power of money.

Thus, Uchiha Fuyou decided to secretly place a bounty on Shimura Danzō, and... add to it periodically.

Add a little bit at a time.

Strive to turn Danzō into a walking coin, and then see if he still dares to sneak out of the village!

As soon as he appears, others will be staring at him with shining eyes.

One score, and they'll be well-fed and clothed for life, living a prosperous life.

Who knows, the Shinobi in the village might even feel their hands itching just by seeing his head.

If the village's funds are insufficient at that time, he could even offer his own head as a great contribution to the village!

If he hadn't spent so much money these past few days and was worried about a gap in his accumulated funds, he would have directly raised it to a billion.

Danzō should be praying now... that the Third Great Ninja War doesn't become too fierce. Otherwise, to restore Konoha's economy, someone might truly ask him to embody the true "Will of Fire"!

After days of taking detours, circling around, and obscuring his route, today... he finally secretly crossed the border of the Land of Fire and arrived at the Land of Rain, which borders multiple countries.

Land of Rain.

A country where it rains all year round.

Looking at the misty drizzle before him, Uchiha Fuyou, who had changed into a merchant's cloak and attire, stretched and a slight smile curved his lips. "Have I finally arrived?"

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