Sand Mist Peace Talks

"Sigh? No, that's not it, you misunderstood... Ugh, forget it, it doesn't matter. I'm tired. I should just find an opportunity to commit suicide. What Root, what Hokage, this world isn't worth it!" Danzo wanted to explain something, but suddenly gave up. His body went limp, and he muttered to himself with dull, lifeless eyes.

"Lord Danzo, please calm down. Do not say such irresponsible things as suicide again! Konoha still needs you!" Namikaze Minato comforted him.

"Minato, you don't understand. You have no idea! I... I no longer have the face to go on living! Every time I see Hiruzen, ugh—I feel like vomiting just hearing his name! Do me a favor, consider it a good deed. For the sake of my lifelong dedication and hard work for Konoha, just let me die!" As Danzo spoke, he actually began to weep.

"What on earth happened to Danzo? Hiruzen specifically asked us to come and take a look! Minato, what exactly is the situation?" Koharu Utatane walked in from outside with a look of confusion.

"Ugh—" Hearing Koharu mention that name, Danzo began to retch again.

"Elder Koharu, you had better stop mentioning the Third Hokage's name for now. Elder Danzo is allergic to it!" Namikaze Minato hurriedly stepped forward to pat Danzo on the back as a reminder. Although he had already guessed the secret history between the three of them, Minato chose to play ignorant, adhering to the principle that less trouble is better than more.

"Are you joking? We four have worked together for decades; do you think I wouldn't know what Danzo is allergic to? Isn't that right, Danzo?" After saying this, she even tentatively called out, "Hiruzen Sarutobi?"

"Ugh—Koharu!!! You!" Danzo looked at Koharu with grief and indignation while retching.

"Huh? It's actually true? Danzo, what has happened to you? You weren't like this before!" Koharu immediately grasped the current situation and began to avoid the name Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"First execute Danzo? Then destroy Hiruzen? Only I, Koharu, shall remain? Konoha shall reign supreme???????? Koharu, are you really that ambitious?" Homura Mitokado, standing to the side, read the words left by Uchiha Gen on the wall subconsciously. He then recoiled in shock.

"Homura, have you lost your mind again? Why are you spouting such nonsense without any proof?" Although Koharu felt the words had a certain ring to them, the content was terrifying! Me? Koharu Utatane! A mere jonin's strength! I have nothing—execute Danzo? Destroy Hiruzen? Heh... hehe!"

"I haven't lost my mind, Koharu. Look at the words on the wall!" Homura reminded her.

"Hmm? 'First execute Danzo, then destroy Hiruzen, only I, Koharu, shall remain, Konoha shall reign supreme'? Slander, this is absolute slander! Danzo, what is going on? Why does your Root have this stuff?" Koharu was furious. Although their relationship wouldn't be ruined by such an obvious provocation, the fact that this was written so brazenly on the main wall of Root made her wonder what Danzo was doing.

"I... sigh... it's too shameful to speak of!" Danzo said, and began to cry again.

Seeing this, Koharu was completely at a loss. How did Danzo become so womanly? Crying at the drop of a hat—is this really the "Darkness of the Ninja World"?

"Koharu, let it be. Let Danzo calm himself down for now. Besides, given our relationship, we won't be swayed by such obvious schemes," Homura said, feeling secretly distressed as he looked at Danzo's state.

Afterward, Namikaze Minato arranged for several Root members to guard Danzo in shifts day and night to prevent him from committing suicide, while also bringing in several psychologists from the Yamanaka Clan to counsel him.

The next day~

"Phew, a new day begins. Time to tidy up and get ready to pick up Pakura." Uchiha Gen woke up and began to wash, as if everything that happened last night had nothing to do with him.

Under Konoha's strict protection, the events concerning Danzo were limited to only a few people in power. Furthermore, since Danzo usually kept a low profile, even though the important Konoha institution of Root had suddenly come to a standstill, the ordinary citizens of Konoha remained completely unaware, living their lives as usual.

In this regard, Root really seemed dispensable. After all, in the original story, Root didn't intervene during the Nine-Tails' attack, nor did it intervene during the plan to destroy the Third Hokage. When Nagato invaded, even when the entire village was gone, Root still didn't intervene... tsk tsk!

Spirit Transformation Technique—Activate!

At the border of the Land of Wind!

Although she had received a prior warning from Uchiha Gen, when Pakura learned that the Sunagakure high command had truly sent her to preside over the peace talks, her heart still felt a sharp pang of pain. After all, this was the village that had raised her! Is my life, Pakura's life, not worth anything? I have performed meritorious service for Sunagakure and shed blood for it!

"Pakura, what are you thinking about? The meeting point is just ahead, cheer up!" Her companion noticed her expression and spoke up to remind her.

"Ah, it's nothing, just remembering some things from the past. If only the Third Kazekage were still here," Pakura sighed. Currently, Sunagakure had too many old people and too few young ones; it completely lacked any pillar of combat power. Even the One-Tail jinchuriki was still just a nursing infant!

The only one with any real combat power, the Fourth Kazekage, looked lackluster compared to the Kage-level figures of other nations. Coupled with her own Scorch Release, the high-end combat power of Sunagakure couldn't even be counted on one hand! And under these circumstances, the village still wanted to sacrifice her to trade for so-called peace...

Well, looking at it from another angle, if sacrificing herself could bring about peace, it wouldn't be a total loss, but that was only if Kirigakure didn't go back on its word!

If Kirigakure didn't keep its promise, Sunagakure would be in even worse shape. Did the high command not consider this at all? Or had they received some concrete information that convinced them Kirigakure would definitely keep its word and withdraw its troops?

If that were the case, her sacrifice wouldn't be in vain. Even so, she felt inexplicably frustrated.

If she had known, she wouldn't have sent the message to Gen. If Kirigakure found out she hadn't died and the negotiations fell through, wouldn't she become a sinner of Sunagakure?

"Pakura!" A voice suddenly rang out in her mind, startling her.

"Who is it?" Pakura immediately went on guard.

Her companions also quickly adjusted into combat stances. Among them, Pakura was the strongest; if she could sense an enemy, it meant there really was an enemy nearby, and the reason they hadn't discovered it was simply because their own strength was too low.

"Don't be nervous, it's me, Uchiha Gen! I am using the Spirit Transformation Technique to possess you and talk. Outsiders cannot hear it; you only need to respond to me in your heart," Uchiha Gen explained comfortably.

"Spirit Transformation Technique? Is that the state you were in last time? You can even possess people?" Pakura relaxed her guard after hearing Uchiha Gen's explanation and replied in her heart.

"Possession is just the basics. Hmm? Pay attention, there is an ambush ahead. It should be Kirigakure!" Uchiha Gen suddenly warned mid-sentence.