Hatred Is a Cycle

Konohagakure, Hokage's Office.

Danzo, the leader of Root, known as the darkness of the shinobi world, arrived early in the morning to meet his old friend, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hiruzen, the Land of Rain is becoming increasingly presumptuous. In just one month, five Konoha squads have gone missing over there!"

Danzo's tone was filled with dissatisfaction. The Land of Rain had always been utterly respectful toward Konoha, yet now it dared to allow its people to attack Konoha's shinobi?

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at his furious old friend and said calmly, "Two of those were Root squads, weren't they?"

Danzo immediately fell silent. Indeed, Hanzo's request for aid from Root had genuinely reached him, and he had indeed dispatched two squads to provide support.

It was just that both squads had already become experimental subjects for some Jashin cult leader.

That was why Danzo was so enraged.

"Don't think I don't know what you're up to, Danzo."

Hiruzen Sarutobi lightly tossed a file in front of Danzo and continued, "I've already sent someone to negotiate with the Land of Rain. Hanzo's response was that the Land of Rain is currently in the midst of a civil war. He has sealed the borders and can no longer provide shelter to Konoha's shinobi."

As an old politician himself, Danzo immediately understood the implications.

"Hanzo means that from now on, any shinobi from any country who enter the Land of Rain will be responsible for their own lives and deaths?"

Hiruzen took a puff of smoke and slowly nodded. "That's right."

Danzo frowned. His first reaction upon hearing this was that Hanzo might be harboring rebellious ambitions again.

But after thinking it over, he found that unlikely. After all, Hanzo was already old, and his strength was far from what it had