I Didn't!

The Jōshūryū Clan.

A clan of Bug Users from Iwagakure, they were as famous as the Aburame Clan and were also a powerful clan within Iwagakure. However, in later years, only a few members remained, and they were gradually forgotten by people, to the point where only a handful were left.

The decline began around the Third Shinobi World War. After being defeated in a battle against the Aburame Clan, they were gradually marginalized by Iwagakure.

Of course.

For the current Kusagakure, regardless of the clan, as long as they are a ninja clan and are obedient... he wants them all!

After secretly arranging the mission, Kusana no longer paid much attention to it. As for the rest... he would leave it to Mujie.

After all, he was the Leader of the Land of Grass, so how could he easily do such a thing?

If Konoha heard about it and loudly proclaimed throughout the Ninja World, "The Leader of Kusagakure has once again led the village's ninjas to betray their allies, showing no Ninja Virtue!" what would happen then?

Would the Land of Grass still have any face?

And if it failed...

They would simply say, "This was the unauthorized action of our village's senior advisor. Kusagakure is not aware of this. Kusagakure is a nation that loves peace and has always upheld the five principles of mutual respect for sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference in internal ninja village affairs, equality, and peaceful coexistence with its allies. We have already severely punished our senior advisor for making a decision on his own."

Kusana looked at the documents in his hand and sighed with emotion, "Little Wu... is quite useful!"

"..."

Upon receiving the secret mission from the Leader, Mujie fell silent. He looked at it from the front, then from the back.

Then.

The corner of his mouth twitched, and he looked up at the Grass Ninja who had come to deliver the message, "Is the Leader thinking of something good?"

He actually wanted to poach from the Five Great Shinobi Villages?

What a pipe dream!

You have to understand that the Jōshūryū Clan was different from the impoverished Uzumaki Clan and Chinoike Clan. They were a prestigious family in Iwagakure!

They were living the high life in Iwagakure, so why would they betray their own leader to follow a rundown village like Kusagakure?

He immediately said with annoyance, "Let the Leader think about such things, but don't say them out loud. You'll easily get beaten up by the Five Great Shinobi Villages!"

In the past, Kusagakure only sold false intelligence to the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

And the result?

Their country was destroyed!

It was miserable!

And now they were thinking of poaching from the Five Great Shinobi Villages?

Was it that easy to poach?

They probably wouldn't let you poach them even if they were rotting away in their village!

"I knew it~, the Leader is still a good person? Only someone with a screw loose would think the Leader is a good person! Is there any good person in Kusagakure? How could someone become the Leader of Kusagakure and not be a good person!" Mujie sighed and muttered. Then he looked up at the Grass Ninja who had taken out a small notebook as if recording something and asked curiously, "What are you writing?"

"Oh~, this is a mission from the Leader. He asked me to record our conversation!"

"..."

I knew it...

Could the Leader be a good person? Would a good person be the Leader of Kusagakure?

Mujie, with a dark expression, quickly changed his tune and said, "As expected of the Leader! He has great foresight! To want a strong country! What is most important? What is the most important thing?" He said with a serious tone, "Talent! The Leader always emphasizes talent! Kusagakure has no talent, what should we do if we lack talent? Of course, we should steal... introduce talent! Nowadays, the major ninja clans are already dissatisfied with the exploitation by their villages. Is that cultivating ninjas? That's cultivating tools! They don't treat ninjas as people at all!"

He sighed and stood up.

"Only our Kusagakure, under the leadership of the Leader, is flourishing! We value talent! We cherish talent! We will never treat talent as mere tools! This shows the inclusiveness and kindness of Kusagakure. Otherwise, why would the Uzumaki Clan and the Chinoike Clan have joined us so easily? Our Kusagakure relies on love~"

As he finished speaking.

"..."

The Grass Ninja looked at Mujie with a strange expression.

As expected of someone who had studied in prison, Mujie's words were now quite eloquent.

At this moment.

"Mujie-sama, someone has come to visit. They claim to be ninjas from Iwagakure!"

A clansman ran over and said.

"..."

The two looked at each other in silence. Then the Grass Ninja bowed slightly and said, "Then I will go back to report. Excuse me, Mujie-sama!"

As he finished speaking.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Mujie quickly shouted, "Wait! Wait! Leave the little notebook behind!"

However.

The Grass Ninja seemed not to hear him, leaping up and disappearing from Mujie's sight without drawing anyone's attention.

"..."

Mujie stared blankly out the window, unable to suppress a sigh of admiration.

Truly a Grass Ninja!

This guy.

He's so fast!

At this moment.

There wasn't a single person in sight outside the window.

"Damn it! If the Leader gives me trouble later, I'll give you trouble!" Mujie muttered, letting out a long sigh. He shook his head, then tidied his appearance. "Never mind, I should go see those Iwagakure ninjas next! They're coming to find me instead of going to the Leader? Could something be up!"

Once Mujie put on his usual cheerful smile and entered the living room, he saw the Iwagakure ninjas who were already waiting there.

However.

Only one person had come this time!

The leader of this Iwagakure delegation—Kitsuchi!

Mujie quickly sat down, saying cheerfully, "Serve tea! Serve tea! What a lack of foresight, Upper Ninja Kitsuchi is an honored guest of Kusagakure!"

"Uh... no need to trouble yourself!"

"We must! We must!" Mujie looked curiously at the stern-faced Iwagakure ninja before him and directly asked, "Upper Ninja Kitsuchi, are you here because you need help with something?" He generously patted his chest, "Don't worry! Just say it! We Grass Ninjas always uphold both ninja and righteousness, we'd go through thick and thin for our brothers, no hesitation!"

"..."

These words...

Why do they sound so strange?

Kitsuchi's mouth twitched, but he still took a deep breath and said seriously, "I've come to the Land of Grass this time at the request of the Tsuchikage to form an alliance with Kusagakure!"

"Great! Great! That's wonderful! Kusagakure loves making friends!"

"Advisor Mujie, you understand, I don't mean it like that!" Kitsuchi looked at the cheerful Mujie, recalling how every time they got to a crucial point in their discussions over the past few days, the topic was always diverted. He paused slightly this time and also spoke directly, "Kusagakure's geographical location is important! It borders both our country and the Land of Fire. As a vital passage between the two nations, once a war breaks out..."

His words trailed off.

At this moment.

Mujie also became serious, "I apologize, I understand what you mean! But just a few days ago, the Leader issued a policy stating that the Land of Grass will not participate in any wars between major powers. The Land of Grass is a peace-loving nation! Therefore, the Land of Grass will remain neutral in the war between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire!"

"..."

A peace-loving nation?

Does your Land of Grass deserve that?

Why were you guys so fierce in the First Shinobi World War?

I heard it was because you lot were indiscriminately selling information!

However.

Before Kitsuchi could even speak, Mujie continued righteously, "Furthermore, Konoha and Kusagakure are very close! We are allies! We are brothers! We are dear friends and family! We will not betray our allies!"

His words finished.

Kitsuchi's eyelids twitched slightly. He looked at the Grass Ninja before him and couldn't help but sigh inwardly, This thick skin... truly worthy of a Grass Ninja! But this time, he didn't say much more. He crossed his hands on the table, his chubby face tilted slightly upwards, staring intently at Mujie.

He just kept watching.

He watched until Mujie started to feel a bit awkward.

"Uh..."

"Advisor Mujie!" Kitsuchi directly interrupted Mujie's rambling. This time, he didn't beat around the bush, and said seriously, "I know that in your heart... you are very dissatisfied with your Leader!"

"???"

Mujie: ⊙ω⊙

He stared at Kitsuchi, who was saying this with a serious expression, completely bewildered.

Who said that?

I didn't~