I Didn't!

The Jōshūryū Clan.

A clan of insect users from Iwagakure, as famous as the Aburame Clan and one of Iwagakure's great clans. But later, only a few of them remained, and they gradually faded from people's memories until there were only two or three stragglers left.

Their decline had probably begun during the Third Shinobi World War. After losing a battle against the Aburame Clan, they were gradually sidelined by Iwagakure.

Of course.

As far as Kusagakure was concerned, it did not matter what kind of ninja clan it was. As long as it was a ninja clan and obedient... he wanted it!

After secretly arranging the mission, Kusana stopped paying attention to it. As for everything else... he would leave it to Mujie.

After all, he was the leader of the Land of Grass. How could he personally do this sort of thing so casually?

What if Konoha heard about it and loudly announced across the ninja world that the Grass Ninja Leader had once again led the village's ninja to betray their allies, with absolutely no ninja ethics whatsoever? What then?

Did the Land of Grass not need to save face?

And if it failed...

He could simply say that it had been his village's senior adviser acting on his own initiative, that Kusagakure had known nothing about it, that Kusagakure was a peace-loving nation which had always upheld the Five Principles of mutual respect for sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's ninja village affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence toward allies who had formed alliances with Kusagakure. As for their senior adviser's unauthorized decision, they had already punished him with the utmost severity.

Kusana looked over the information in his hand and sighed emotionally. "Little Mujie... really is useful!"

"..."

Having received the leader's secret mission, Mujie immediately fell silent. He looked at it from the front, then flipped it over and looked at the back.

Then.

His mouth twitched as he raised his head and looked at the Grass ninja who had delivered the message. "What kind of wishful thinking is the leader having now?"

He wanted to poach from the Five Great Ninja Villages?

Dream on!

The Jōshūryū Clan was not like those impoverished Uzumaki Clan and Chinoike Clan refugees. They were a powerful family of Iwagakure!

They ate and drank well in Iwagakure. Why would they betray their own boss and come follow a rundown village like Kusagakure?

He immediately said irritably, "The leader can just think about this sort of thing. Don't say it out loud. It makes it far too easy for the Five Great Ninja Villages to beat us up!"

Back then, Kusagakure had merely sold fake intelligence to the Five Great Ninja Villages.

And what happened?

The country was destroyed!

It had been utterly miserable!

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

Was that something so easy to do?

Even if they rotted away in their own village, those people probably would not let themselves be poached!

"I knew it~ The leader is a good person? That Konoha Sannin must have something wrong with his brain to think the leader is a good person! Could there possibly be good people in Kusagakure? How could someone who became Kusagakure's leader possibly be a good person?" Mujie sighed and muttered to himself. Then he looked up at the Grass ninja, who had taken out a little notebook and seemed to be jotting something down, and asked curiously, "What are you writing?"

"Oh~ The leader assigned me a task. He told me to record our conversation!"

"..."

I knew it...

Could the leader be a good person? Would a good person become Kusagakure's leader?

With a dark expression, Mujie hurriedly changed his tune. "As expected of the leader! His vision is truly far-reaching! If you want to strengthen a country, what is most important? What is the most important thing?" He spoke in a solemn tone. "Talent! The leader always emphasizes talent! What should Kusagakure do if it has no talent and lacks talent? Of course, we steal... introduce talent! The major ninja clans have long been dissatisfied with the ninja villages' exploitation. Is that nurturing ninja? That is nurturing tools! They simply do not treat ninja like people!"

He sighed and stood up.

"Only Kusagakure, under the leader's guidance, is thriving! We value talent! We cherish talent! We will never casually treat talented people as tools! We have demonstrated Kusagakure's tolerance and compassion. Otherwise, why would the Uzumaki Clan and Chinoike Clan have so readily joined us? Kusagakure relies on love~"

As soon as he finished speaking.

"..."

The Grass ninja looked at Mujie strangely.

As expected of someone who had studied in prison. Lord Mujie now had quite a way with words.

Just then.

"Lord Mujie, someone has come to visit! He claims to be a ninja from Iwagakure!" A clansman suddenly ran in from the doorway and reported.

"..."

The two fell silent and exchanged looks. Then the Grass ninja bowed slightly and said, "Then I shall return first to report back. Forgive the disturbance, Lord Mujie!"

As soon as he finished speaking.

Just as he turned to leave.

Mujie hurriedly shouted, "Right! Wait! Wait! Leave that little notebook behind!"

However.

As if he had not heard him, the Grass ninja leaped away. Without drawing anyone's attention, he quietly disappeared before Mujie's eyes.

"..."

Mujie stared blankly out the window, unable to stop himself from sighing inwardly.

As expected of a Grass ninja!

That guy.

He ran really fast!

At that moment.

There was no one left outside the window.

"Damn it! If the leader makes things difficult for me later, I'll make things difficult for you!" Mujie muttered. He sighed wistfully, shook his head, and straightened his appearance. "Forget it. Time to go see those Iwa ninja! Instead of going to the leader this time, they came to find me? Could something be going on?"

Once Mujie had put his cheerful smile back on, he headed to the reception room and found the Iwa ninja already waiting there.

However.

Only one person had come this time!

Iwagakure's leader for this visit—Kitsuchi!

Mujie quickly sat down and said with a grin, "Tea! Bring tea! Have some sense, will you? Jonin Kitsuchi is Kusagakure's honored guest!"

"Um... there is no need to trouble yourselves!"

"There is! There is!" Mujie looked curiously at the stern-faced Iwa ninja before him and bluntly asked, "May I ask whether Jonin Kitsuchi has come to see me because you need some help?" He generously patted his chest. "Don't worry! Just say it! We Grass ninja always uphold both ninja ethics and loyalty. We would take a blade in the ribs for our brothers without hesitation!"

"..."

Those words...

Why did they sound so strange?

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

"Good! Good! That's great! Kusagakure loves making friends!"

"Adviser Mujie, you understand that is not what I mean!" Kitsuchi looked at the grinning Mujie. Thinking of how every time they reached a crucial point over the past few days, the topic had been diverted, he paused slightly before speaking bluntly as well. "Kusagakure occupies an important geographical position. It borders both our country and the Land of Fire. As a vital passage between our two countries, once war breaks out..."

As soon as he finished speaking.

At that moment.

Mujie also became serious. "Sorry, I understand what you mean! But the leader issued a policy just a few days ago: the Land of Grass will not participate in any war between major powers. The Land of Grass is a peace-loving nation! Therefore, if war breaks out between the Land of Earth and the Land of Fire, the Land of Grass will only remain neutral!"

"..."

A peace-loving nation?

Did the Land of Grass deserve to say that?

Why had the First Great Ninja War been fought so fiercely?

He had heard it was because this bunch had been selling intelligence recklessly!

However.

Before Kitsuchi could speak, Mujie righteously added, "At the same time, Konoha and Kusagakure are very close! We are allies! Brothers! Beloved friends and family! We will never betray our allies!"

As soon as he finished speaking.

Kitsuchi's eyelid twitched slightly. Looking at the Grass ninja before him, he could not help but marvel inwardly at that shamelessness... as expected of a Grass ninja! But this time, he said nothing more. He crossed his hands atop the table, slightly raised his chubby face, and stared intensely at Mujie.

He just kept staring.

Until Mujie was nearly embarrassed.

"Um..."

"Adviser Mujie!" Kitsuchi directly interrupted Mujie's words. This time, he did not beat around the bush and said sternly, "I know that deep down... you are extremely dissatisfied with your leader!"

"???"

Mujie: ⊙ω⊙

He stared dumbfoundedly at Kitsuchi, who had spoken those words with such a serious expression.

Who said that?

I didn't!