Okay! But I'm Still Not Changing It!

Last night.

An explosion occurred in a remote village within the Land of Fire!

The scene was utterly devastated, but based on the ash and explosive tags, it was clear... a fierce battle had taken place there, accompanied by an explosion and a large fire.

However.

As for who was responsible?

And why a battle erupted within the Land of Fire?

There were too few clues.

With the words spoken.

After a short while.

The group glanced at the documents and then exchanged solemn looks.

Yet, no one noticed... Shimura Danzo, the Hokage's advisor, whose expression had turned somewhat grim, tremble slightly.

"Explosive tags, and the traces at the scene, along with a pile of burnt paper," Utatane Koharu, one of Konoha's advisors, began, also with a serious expression. "Have you identified the enemy?"

"It's precisely because we haven't that I'm troubled. Recently, no Konoha ninja have been dispatched on missions there," Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "The Feudal Lord's Mansion wants us to quickly figure out what happened. After all, as everyone knows, the war only recently ended, and now this large-scale attack has occurred." He paused slightly. "Everyone is quite worried."

"Konoha hasn't sent any ninja on missions abroad, and the explosion and fire destroyed everything," Mitokado Homura, also a Konoha advisor, known as Konoha's 'Wise General,' adjusted his glasses, his tone grave. "Then it seems likely that ninja from another village entered the Land of Fire and encountered enemies, leading to a fierce battle?"

He then lowered his head to look at the intelligence again.

"It appears the scale and number of people involved were not small. Have you questioned the surrounding civilians?"

"...Yes!" Hearing Mitokado Homura's question, the Third Hokage paused slightly before continuing, "A group of red-haired refugees suddenly appeared here a few days ago!"

Upon hearing this.

Red hair?!

Everyone was taken aback, followed by a wave of surprise.

Could it be the Uzumaki Clan?

If it were the Uzumaki Clan, this battle would be understandable.

After all, the current situation of the Uzumaki Clan... was well-known.

Seeing everyone fall silent, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead. "Never mind, in that case, I will personally inform the Feudal Lord's Mansion. Konoha ninja will investigate this matter thoroughly as soon as possible! Next, regarding the Kusagakure ninja."

Saying this.

He clasped his hands in front of his chin and scanned the group again.

The others, understanding the unspoken, moved past the matter of the Uzumaki Clan.

After all, this matter involved too much, and they couldn't say much before the situation was clarified.

As for Kusagakure...

"Kusagakure ninja are conducting normal commercial activities in the Land of Fire?" Utatane Koharu blinked in surprise. "These guys have stopped selling information and started doing business? And they even registered with the Land of Fire's Feudal Lord's Mansion?!"

So formal?

This...

This isn't like Kusagakure!

Even the other high-ranking officials present were taken aback.

After all, it was well-known that due to Kusagakure's weak ninja power, not many people took on mission requests within the Land of Grass, forcing Kusagakure to rely on selling information to maintain the village's operations. Now... they weren't selling information anymore?!

"Yes! They did register! They called it a movie," Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, his eyelids twitching, a strange expression on his face. "According to Konoha's ninja investigation, it's a new type of drama, but it seems to contain negative plot points that allude to Konoha!"

He paused slightly.

"So, how do you think we should handle this?"

With the question posed.

Everyone fell into thought once more.

A type of drama.

And it contained allusions... Honestly, this wasn't particularly strange. After all, the Five Great Shinobi Villages also alluded to each other all the time!

However.

A mere Land of Grass dared to allude to their Konoha. It seemed the Land of Grass had become quite bold after its reconstruction!

Utatane Koharu glanced at the information regarding the Land of Grass.

Kusana.

The new leader of the Land of Grass, who single-handedly ended the chaos in the Land of Grass and rebuilt it!

It seemed he was quite a capable ninja.

Yes.

Indeed, quite capable!

After all, a place like the Land of Grass… their ninja strength is just so-so. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been wiped out like that.

As for the Land of Eddies…

The Land of Grass is different from the Land of Eddies.

She raised her head and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, "From what aspect is this an insinuation?"

"The destruction of the Land of Eddies!"

"???"

That's it?

Everyone was surprised again. After all, after the Land of Eddies was destroyed, quite a few ninja villages did blame Konoha.

But everyone in the village knew…

That was impossible!

Konoha and the Land of Eddies were as close as brothers!

It was impossible for them to do such a thing!

This insinuation was completely harmless!

Even the Hokage's assistant, Shimura Danzo, let out a cold snort, "Neglecting your duties! Ninjas should only do what ninjas are supposed to do!"

"Cough cough!"

At this moment.

Mitokado Homura, known as the "Strategist" of Konoha, cleared his throat twice and said with a serious expression, "Regarding this! Konoha needs to condemn the Land of Grass! And demand that they stop broadcasting that… drama!"

However.

As soon as he finished speaking.

The other higher-ups hesitated and said.

"...Is this okay? The Land of Grass has already allied with Konoha! And serves as a buffer zone between Konoha and Iwagakure. If we're too harsh… what if Kusagakure defects to Iwagakure?"

"Is that the point?"

"How is that not the point? The Land of Grass can effectively defend Konoha against attacks from Iwagakure!"

"No! What I mean is, does condemning them have anything to do with whether the Land of Grass will defect?"

As soon as these words were spoken.

The crowd, who had been discussing animatedly, suddenly fell silent.

That's right!

Does it have anything to do with it?

It has no relation at all!

It's as if the Land of Grass wouldn't defect to the other side if they didn't condemn them.

You must know…

Kusagakure was infamous in the ninja world for its lack of ninja ethics. Once in danger… they would sell out their allies without hesitation!

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched.

Although Konoha and Kusagakure were allies now, he wouldn't be surprised if they sold Konoha's intelligence directly later!

"Let's do as Homura suggested!" Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with emotion, his expression becoming serious. "At the same time, Kusagakure must guarantee that their ninja will not approach Konoha without reason!"

He paused slightly, as if thinking of something.

No matter what, they were allies of Konoha now. After hesitating, he continued, "And they are not allowed to conduct any ninja operations within the Land of Fire! As for other commercial activities, as long as they are reported at the Feudal Lord's Mansion, it will be fine!"

"Understood!"

Soon.

Kusagakure also received the condemnation.

However, everyone took a look and then ignored it.

After all, Kusagakure had received too many condemnations for selling information.

The most severe time was when they were directly wiped out near the end of the First Great Ninja War.

Therefore, they were used to it.

No big deal!

So.

[Got it!]

A simple three words were enough.

Mujie took the reply written by the leader and fell silent when he saw those two words. "That's it?"

"That's right!" Kusana looked at Mujie in confusion. "That's right, what else would you want?"

"Just those three words? Leader, our Land of Grass is a country, big or small, we can't be so flippant about this!"

"Of course, it's not that simple! Once you go down there, you can elaborate on it yourself." Kusana pondered for a moment, then continued, "Write it like this… Due to the close relationship between Kusagakure and Konoha, this matter has caused trouble for Konoha. Kusagakure deeply apologizes for this. We are aware of the situation and hope Konoha will trust Kusagakure. Kusagakure and Konoha have a long-standing relationship, dating back to the founding of the ninja villages… Do you understand?"

"…I understand!" Mujie sighed with emotion and nodded. "Leader is leader, you've learned! You've learned! You can spin so many words out of this! It's just…" He hesitated, "Should we change our ways?"

As soon as he finished speaking.

Kusana rolled his eyes. "The Land of Grass has been selling intelligence for so many years, and we've been condemned so many times. Have you guys ever changed?"

"I… understand! So shameless… Leader is truly an excellent Kusagakure ninja!"

"…"

Who was this guy trying to insult?

Could you call it shameless between countries?

Kusana glared at Mujie, then said with a serious expression, "Next, the Uzumaki Clan and the Chinoike Clan are joining…"