Prologue

Izumi Orange's face was pale; she was, of course, aware that Kumogakure and Iwagakure had gone to war.

In fact, the Root organization had even fanned the flames behind the outbreak of war between the two ninja villages.

Because of this, she was devoted to Shimura Danzō with unwavering loyalty.

She wore the Falcon mask without complaint, returned to the underground base of Root, and requested an audience with Lord Danzō.

Reporting every word Byakuya had said without a single error, she bowed her head deeply, not daring to look at Danzō's expression.

She worried that she might see disappointment on Danzō's face; if that were the case, the possibility of killing the Third Raikage, as Byakuya had suggested, would not hold water.

For some reason.

The scenes of the brutal training she had endured in Kumogakure during her childhood flashed before her eyes like flickering lights.

Those who have not experienced it could never imagine how cruel and inhumane it truly was.

Shimura Danzō said softly, "So, he wants intelligence on the Three Great Sage Regions."

It was not a question, but a repetition of what she had just said.

"Heh, tell him that Root does not have intelligence on Mount Myoboku or Shikkotsu Forest, only the intelligence on Ryūchi Cave collected from Orochimaru. Once he completes this mission and returns, it shall be handed to him along with his mission reward."

That brat had previously reported encountering that Azure-Black Serpent in the Land of Rivers; he must have been laying the groundwork for today, so as not to arouse too much suspicion.

Danzō gave it a second thought. Shuten-doji's background was very clean, and based on his life in Konoha, he shouldn't know about secret matters like the Sage Regions or senjutsu. It likely had to do with that Azure-Black Serpent, but since it was ultimately just a guess, it would be better to have him explain it clearly himself.

"As you command."

"Additionally, have him write down what he kept from me and hand it to Hiroya."

"Yes."

Izumi Orange waited for a while, and seeing that Danzō had no further instructions, she returned to the Ninja Academy.

Danzō also left the underground base, heading to the Hokage Building to see Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The method Byakuya spoke of to kill the Third Raikage was something Konoha had already been working on.

He simply wanted to test the intelligence-gathering capabilities of Falcon and Shuten-doji.

The result was self-evident.

Falcon had failed.

Even with her background in Kumogakure, she had still failed.

Shuten-doji, however, had pointed out the key.

Borrowing a knife to kill.

Moreover, since both Kumogakure and Iwagakure were enemies of Konoha, he, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was happy to see the two sides fight until they were both exhausted; it would be best if the Raikage and the Tsuchikage perished together.

Hokage Building.

Standing at the pinnacle of Konoha, the Hokage did not even look up: "Danzō is here, I see."

"Namikaze Minato has achieved excellent results on the Kumogakure front, pinning down the Eight-Tails jinchūriki and A. It is time to proceed with the next phase of the plan regarding Iwagakure."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the intelligence report from the front lines in his hand and nodded slightly: "Thanks to Minato; Jiraiya has taught a fine student. You didn't come to see me just to discuss this settled matter, did you?"

"I intend to send someone to contact Pakura of Sunagakure and attempt to form an alliance."

"Hm? Elaborate."

"This will certainly fail, but it will signal Konoha's weakness to Sunagakure."

Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly looked up, staring at the impassive Shimura Danzō: "What exactly are you trying to do?"

"If I were a high-ranking official in Sunagakure, I would feign agreement to the alliance. Once Konoha stopped focusing on the Land of Rivers front and shifted its attention to the Land of Hot Water front, I would tear up the treaty and launch an attack on Konoha."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was one of shock: "You want to lure the enemy deep? No, Konoha does not have the spare combat power for that right now."

"I do."

"Where?"

"Me," Shimura Danzō stated solemnly.

"You?"

"Yes, me. I will defeat the elite Sunagakure forces that penetrate deep into Konoha's heartland. They will surely believe they have outplayed us and grow arrogant. Our side, however, will be fighting for the safety of the village, with everyone prepared to shatter like jade rather than surrender! Arrogant troops are destined for defeat! A desperate army will win! This is the art of war.

After this battle, Sunagakure will never again pose a threat to Konoha, and the various resources within the Land of Rivers will become the spoils of Konoha."

"No," Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his hand heavily on the desk, "it is too risky. If it fails, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"What is so unimaginable? Sarutobi Hiruzen, do not forget that the Nine-Tails jinchūriki is still in the village."

"The Nine-Tails jinchūriki..."

Shimura Danzō's gaze was cold: "A war orphan who survived by luck, whom Konoha has raised to this day—the debt of gratitude is heavy enough. If the time comes to repay that debt of upbringing, she has no reason to refuse."

"What if the Nine-Tails goes on a rampage?" Sarutobi Hiruzen countered.

"You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"She taught the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki Clan to Namikaze Minato."

Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent for a long time before sighing, "How do you know this?"

Shimura Danzō chuckled, "It seems you are well aware of the matter. Even if the Nine-Tails goes berserk, we can use the Four Violet Flames Formation in conjunction with the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques to reseal the monster."

Yet, Sarutobi Hiruzen still shook his head, "I do not agree."

"I have already sent people."

"Shimura Danzō, you..."

Danzō turned and walked toward the door, "Hiruzen, you are too weak. It is precisely because of your weakness that Konoha is now surrounded by enemies on all sides."

"Do not forget, I am the Hokage!"

"Heh."

Walking down the corridor, Shimura Danzō sneered inwardly. If Senju Tobirama hadn't designated him as the Third Hokage, the position of Hokage would have been anyone's guess.

Of course, there were some things he had never made clear.

In reality, regardless of whether Sunagakure agreed or not, the very act of Konoha actively seeking an alliance already exposed its own weakness.

This was also the reason why Shimura Danzō did not care whether the mission succeeded or not.

--

Izumi Orange relayed the words of that old bastard Danzō to Byakuya with a sweet smile.

"Congratulations."

Byakuya cleaned the puddle in front of the warehouse, "What is there to be happy about?"

"It means you are highly valued."

"I wish I weren't."

Izumi Orange walked around him with her hands behind her back, skipping along. She leaned over slightly to observe Byakuya's expression from below, "We are both insignificant little people; only by giving our all can we fight for even a sliver of a chance to survive."

"That is you."

"Oh? Could it be that in this era where human lives are as cheap as grass, student Byakuya, who comes from a commoner background, has a way to stay out of trouble? I certainly don't believe it."

After saying this, she waved her hand, "See you next time."

"Goodbye, Teacher Izumi Orange."

He locked the three heavy doors of the warehouse.

Byakuya returned home, full of worries.

He took out paper and a pen.

He would pin the Ryūchi Cave incident on the two bounty hunters from the Bounty Exchange who had died at his hands.

In any case, he had mentioned this matter to Orochimaru before.

The fact that Shimura Danzō didn't know about it proved, conversely, that Orochimaru had not told that old bastard Danzō that he had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique.

As for Senju Tobirama's ninjutsu, he would claim his late parents had told him about the great deeds of the Second Hokage, including various god-like techniques. Additionally, he would claim to have heard it from other ninjas who all spoke of how incredibly powerful the Second Hokage was, discussing his unique Water Release ninjutsu and the Shadow Clone Technique he had developed.

After all, Konoha did not have the perversely strict secrecy system of Kirigakure, which had led to the ninjas of Kirigakure not even knowing the abilities of the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

In short, that was it.

He finished writing.

He ate.

He headed toward the forest outside the village.

The time-limited mission issued by the Fate Grid had to be completed tonight.

Starting tomorrow, he would begin the development of new Storm Release ninjutsu.

Time waits for no one.