Attitude

Hanyu was a crucial part of the spy-clearing operation, so he had been forced to become a "witness" to the Konoha–Cloud alliance incident.

On the surface, all Hanyu knew was what had happened to the Hokage after the alliance incident. Now, the intelligence in his possession had been greatly exaggerated, making him an invaluable source.

However, less than twelve hours had passed since he arrived in Konoha, yet from Shimura Danzō's tone, it seemed the news had already spread throughout the village.

Most people in Konoha knew someone had brought back extremely important intelligence. As a result, every spy also knew that Hanyu was an important source of information.

One piece of evidence was that a squad of ninja had stormed into the village that morning with extraordinary urgency and brutality, then headed straight for the Hokage Building. Afterward, Konoha High Command had held a lengthy emergency meeting.

In any case, the news had spread unusually fast... There was no doubt someone was stirring things up.

And the person doing so was, as expected, Shimura Danzō, standing right in front of Hanyu.

"Rather than trying to get this intelligence from Konoha's leaders, it's much easier to start with me. And... to the spies, I'm the most important and most trustworthy firsthand source of information. Is that right?"

"Better that you understand," Danzō said.

His plan was hardly brilliant, but it was highly practical. The only problem was that Hanyu had no means of protecting himself if the spies came after him.

But using Hanyu to eliminate spies from other villages was entirely in Konoha's interests. It wasn't just outsiders like him who could be sacrificed for Konoha; even the most legitimate Konoha shinobi could be sacrificed when necessary. Prioritizing the village's interests above all else was one of the fundamental principles of leadership.

The more perceptive spies would certainly realize what Konoha was up to, but they would still take the bait. Shimura Danzō's plan was practically an open trap.

The bait was too tempting for the fish to resist.

Hanyu pursed his lips. Did he even have a choice? Whether he understood or not, whether he accepted it or not, his feelings about the plan made no difference at all.

Shimura Danzō had come here only to inform Hanyu of the plan.

"I'll go along with the village's arrangements. But before the plan is put into action, I have one tiny, insignificant request..." Hanyu spoke up before Danzō could leave.

Danzō stopped and listened. At this point, he didn't seem as extreme as he would become later. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come to explain anything to Hanyu.

At the same time, he had no intention of challenging the Acting Hokage—not yet, at least. Nor did he have the power to do so.

So even if he hadn't sought the Acting Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's approval from the outset, he still had to explain himself before the plan began.

When Sarutobi Hiruzen learned about it, he couldn't entirely agree with a plan that might cost someone their life. After all, his nature made him reluctant to drag innocent people into a bloody struggle. But from the village's perspective, and in his position as Hokage, he had no grounds to oppose Danzō's plan.

"At this point, all we can do is send more people and do our best to keep Hanyu safe." Faced with Danzō, who had just returned from the hospital, Sarutobi Hiruzen could do little more than make this arrangement. Hanyu had brought the Second's message back to the village and had properly carried out the agreement concerning the Hokage's last rites. As a disciple of the Second, Sarutobi couldn't let someone who had served the village so well die without a fight.

"What is it? Is something wrong?" Seeing Danzō unusually open his mouth as if to speak, only to stop himself, Sarutobi asked.

"After learning he was about to be plunged into danger, do you know what Hanyu said to me?"

What did it matter what he said? Sarutobi was puzzled. Fear, begging, asking for help? It had to be something like that.

"He said to me... 'Could you give me a blade? A kunai would do.'" Danzō repeated Hanyu's exact words.

It was hardly a significant request, but it revealed a person's true attitude when faced with danger. Yes, once Hanyu realized the situation was unavoidable, he neither wallowed in self-pity nor tried to make himself look pitiful. He made the most sensible and correct choice:

Fight to survive.

No one deserved absolute trust, and no third party could protect him completely. Keeping a blade in his own hands was the last safeguard he had.

"He may be a little old, but... he really is a promising shinobi," Sarutobi Hiruzen said after a brief silence.

"Mm. That's true." For once, Danzō agreed with Sarutobi.

The two men had never liked each other. Once they realized they had just agreed with one another, something so unthinkable suddenly, the air turned awkward.

They both turned to look out the window.

Outside the Hokage Building, night was beginning to fall over the entire Hidden Leaf Village.

Meanwhile, in the hospital room on the third floor of Konoha Hospital, Hanyu waited for events to unfold... If the intelligence he represented was important enough to be taken seriously, then the enemy would act with greater urgency.

So if anyone was going to come after him, it would happen after nightfall. Conversely, if nothing happened tonight, then nothing would happen later, either.

The bait was tempting, but there was only one piece of it. It had drawn forces from all sides, so anyone preparing to act would worry only about being too late—not too early.

Waiting quietly for danger to arrive was truly unbearable. Even Hanyu, who considered himself a patient person, was beginning to grow anxious.

He didn't hate danger. He hated feeling powerless in the face of it... The things he had experienced over the past two days, and the things he was about to experience, were simply too much.

As night deepened, Hanyu grew more and more tense.

Just then, a clear metallic clink rang out in the silent darkness.