Danzo, You Deserve to Die! (Please Follow)

Shimura Danzō was undoubtedly one of the people Ebizo hated most.

After all, people in the same trade were natural enemies.

The two had been fighting in the ninja world's underworld for a long time, and that bastard Danzo knew how many times he had plunged Sunagakure into crisis.

Since the boy before him was Danzo's man, Ebizo could not afford to let down his guard.

After hesitating for a moment, he raised his hand and waved. The Sunagakure Anbu hidden around them quickly withdrew.

There were some things the Anbu were better off not hearing, even if they were considered his trusted subordinates.

"So it's Danzo's man."

Only after all the Anbu had left did Ebizo reveal a disdainful smile.

"What, has that guy lost his nerve? He doesn't dare come himself anymore?"

After the Rain Country operation, Danzo didn't have the balls left for that.

Hidezawa muttered to himself, but he still spoke calmly.

"Lord Danzo did not wish to disturb your fishing, so he had a young man like me handle such a trivial matter."

"Hmph."

Ebizo snorted. As he grew older, he had gradually taken up fishing, but he had never expected even Danzo to know about it.

What the hell was going on with Sunagakure?

How had Konohagakure infiltrated it until it was like a sieve?

"Speak. What sort of cooperation does that bastard Danzo want to discuss with me? Get to the point. I'm old, and I have no time to waste here."

"Please be patient, sir. There is no need to belittle yourself either. Sunagakure cannot do without you and Lady Chiyo."

Hidezawa spoke unhurriedly, though what came next was the crucial part.

It would not be easy to complete the system's mission perfectly while also taking care of the tasks Konohagakure and Danzo had assigned him on the surface.

But as the saying went, where there was a will, there was a way. With Danzo as the "Pot Kage" at the center of things, Hidezawa had indeed come up with quite a few ideas.

"Sir, when Sunagakure clashed head-on with Kirigakure and Iwagakure, we initially worried that you might resort to extremes. But after arriving in Sunagakure, we confirmed certain matters."

"Oh?"

Ebizo's heart skipped a beat. He immediately forgot about not wasting time and asked calmly instead.

"What did you confirm?"

"Sunagakure and Kirigakure will negotiate. The bargaining chip will be this woman, exchanged for Kirigakure's withdrawal so that you can deal with Ōnoki at ease, while also making Ōnoki wary."

Hidezawa pointed at the cold-faced Pakura beside him. Seeing Ebizo's expression change drastically, he immediately added,

"There is no need to deny it. We have already obtained your report. I imagine this intelligence has now reached Konohagakure, and Kirigakure's people have begun investigating as well."

"What exactly do you want?"

Ebizo looked awful. He wanted to grab Hidezawa by the neck and demand, Can you fucking say that in front of Pakura?

Are you even here to negotiate?

But he soon calmed down, because he knew that letting Pakura learn of this was precisely what best served Konohagakure's interests!

"Also, Lord Ebizo, we recently fought a formidable enemy."

Hidezawa remained unmoved and continued calmly.

"That person possessed puppet techniques no weaker than Lady Chiyo's, and had even made a Third Kazekage puppet that retained his strength from when he was alive.

"More importantly, that person has countless ties to both you and Lady Chiyo. After all, that was Sasori, wasn't it?"

"..."

Ebizo's fists clenched. He had already suspected that the man before him had participated in that battle.

Now, this brat had admitted it outright!

Not only had he admitted it, but he knew even more information. That made things truly difficult!

"Oh, right. I forgot to mention that this intelligence will also be sent back to Konohagakure."

As though he had just remembered something, Hidezawa added a sentence that nearly made Ebizo lose it.

"Stop with the nonsense! What exactly does that bastard Danzo want? What exactly does Konohagakure want?!"

Ebizo did not believe in Danzo's character or moral bottom line at all. Or rather, people in their line of work had no character or moral bottom line—only interests drove them!

He could fully imagine Konohagakure deliberately leaking the news that they intended to sell Pakura off, while Pakura already fucking knew about it.

Once Sunagakure was filled with outrage and Pakura fell silent, the unity of the entire village would explode.

Then, if news came out that Sasori had appeared and had very likely assassinated the Third Kazekage, he would not even need to find a way to suppress it. He could simply wait to be dealt with!

Not only him—his sister would be implicated as well. It would not be surprising if they were both dealt with together.

He no longer had any intention of killing Hidezawa. Leaving aside whether he could kill him, even if he did, it would be useless.

On the contrary, making a move might provoke Danzo. He felt utterly miserable.

"What Konohagakure needs is a stable Sunagakure, not one that easily resorts to adventurism."

Hidezawa smiled. He knew the timing was about right.

"As for Lord Danzo, he hopes to cooperate with you. The Fourth Kazekage is too hot-tempered. The Third Great Ninja War is the best example of that, isn't it?"

"You—"

Ebizo's expression changed, as did Pakura's beside him. What the hell did this mean?

They wanted to interfere in Sunagakure's internal affairs?

Their nerve was too great!

Did they think they were dead?

"Of course, that is merely a suggestion, meant to lay a foundation for better cooperation."

The moment he saw their gazes change, Hidezawa immediately continued.

"Konohagakure naturally will not interfere in another village's affairs. But we are allies. Allies must trust one another and work together for mutual benefit.

"Rather than remaining on guard all day and constantly stirring up trouble that makes everyone uncomfortable.

"And Lord Danzo hopes Sunagakure will change. After all, no one likes people who sell out their loyal subordinates, then shift all blame for igniting the Third Great Ninja War onto Sasori and his relatives, do they?"

As he said this, Hidezawa suddenly felt something was strange. Why did this feel so familiar?

After thinking for a moment, he suddenly realized.

Fuck, wasn't that Danzo himself?!

"Of course, cooperation must benefit both sides, and Lord Danzo will provide corresponding compensation."

Hidezawa looked at the two whose expressions were unpleasant yet who remained deeply silent, then continued.

Before transmigrating, he had been an old hand. He knew well how to sell someone a dream, and what sort of dream would make them feel comfortable and reassured.

"We will provide Sasori's intelligence. He has joined a very formidable organization.

"Furthermore, Lord Danzo is willing to deepen our alliance and cooperative relationship.

"We can share part of River Country's mission allocation, along with partial financial compensation. What do you think, sir?"

Ebizo stared silently at Hidezawa. Right now, he had no idea how to answer.

If he agreed, it would fucking mean plotting against his own Kazekage!

If he refused, all kinds of news might spread throughout the ninja world the very next day, and his entire family would predictably suffer!

Moreover, Konohagakure was determined to make Sunagakure obediently remain an "ally," forcing them to surrender their northern interests.

Damn Danzo, you really deserve to die!

Ebizo roared inwardly. He now understood that Pakura being left here was not merely so she could hear the information.

She was here as a witness. If he made a move, this woman might even betray him and side with this Konohagakure brat.

"The allocation and compensation are too little. It's nowhere near enough!"

Ebizo did not dare make a decision. All he could do now was stall.

"And I need time to consider this matter carefully. I cannot make a judgment lightly."

"It is regrettable that we have not reached a consensus, but I believe Lord Danzo will understand."

Hidezawa nodded pretentiously, as though he had expected this outcome all along.

Yet he finally breathed a sigh of relief. With things having reached this point, he was basically certain he had achieved his goal. All that remained was figuring out how to deceive those above and below him after returning to the village.

"I have a question I'm curious about."

But at that moment, Ebizo spoke again.

"Why is Danzo doing this?"

"Lord Danzo's goal has never changed."

Hidezawa immediately smiled.

"Lord Danzo has always aimed to become Hokage. Don't you also dream of becoming a Kage, sir?"

A Kage?

Hearing that, Ebizo nearly cursed aloud.

He was already over sixty, and they still expected him to dream of becoming Kage?!

By then, he would practically be in the grave.

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