The Foundation of a Great Nation! A Twenty Million Ryo Bounty!

Deep within the jungle, inside a hidden cave.

Danzo and the other three were resting and recuperating.

Danzo had taken four high-level Water Style attacks head-on, injuring his internal organs. Lin Hai's right hand had been pierced by a kunai, and he was gritting his teeth as Akimichi Torifu bandaged it.

"Torifu, why didn't you protect the merchants? Why did you come to support us?" Danzo wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and demanded in a low voice. "They absolutely cannot die in the Land of Waterfalls! If something happens, who will dare work for Konoha in the future?"

As Torifu applied medicine to Lin Hai's wound, he explained,

"Following me would have made them more conspicuous and put them in greater danger.

They said they had their own escape route. They didn't even take the twenty million with them, saying they would settle the payment once they returned safely to Konoha.

I figured they were black-market people to begin with, so they had their own connections. Takigakure's attention was all on us, so their chances of surviving were higher if they acted alone."

After thinking it over briefly, Danzo nodded in approval, then turned to Uchiha Kagami. "Kagami, how were you exposed?"

"I walked into a genjutsu ambush." Kagami's tone was frustrated. "I was forced to activate my Sharingan and reflect the genjutsu. I killed two of them, but one chunin got away."

"What's done is done. There's no point talking about it." Torifu finished the bandaging and stood up. "Lin Hai's puncture wound needs at least four hours of rest, and Danzo, your internal injuries need three hours as well. We can only lie low here for now."

Danzo closed his eyes. "Rest for five hours. Once we've recovered, we'll plan our breakout. Takigakure would never dare send out its entire force to hunt us down."

Lin Hai looked at his right hand, wrapped up like a dumpling, and felt somewhat worried. "Captain Danzo, now that our identities have been exposed, will Takigakure take this chance to declare war on Konoha or retaliate?"

Danzo opened his eyes and sneered. "Lin Hai, you think too highly of Takigakure and too little of Konoha."

"As long as we aren't captured alive, there's no proof. Takigakure can only swallow this in silence. If they dare bring this matter into the open and claim that Konoha ninja were intercepted and killed in the Land of Waterfalls, Konoha will answer them with a devastating blow!"

Lin Hai froze.

Kagami explained from the side,

"The Land of Waterfalls is tiny and lacking in resources. Its ninja are basically just village militias.

Takigakure Village was only barely established recently with the daimyo's support.

They have fewer than a thousand stationed ninja, just over a hundred jonin at most, and only around three hundred chunin.

The four-man team led by the chunin you killed today was already among their elite."

Danzo continued,

"Konoha's foundation is beyond anything they can imagine.

We have nearly four thousand active jonin alone, and that doesn't even include the elders and clan heads of the major clans!

Eight thousand chunin, and countless genin. Pick any border garrison at random, and it would have more people than all of Takigakure Village!"

"At a time when Iwagakure and Takigakure are both making restless moves, Konoha is an absolutely neutral nation.

If Takigakure dares to tear off the pretense, they'll be forcing Konoha to stand against them.

So long as we escape, they'll have to swallow this bitter pill whether they want to or not!"

Lin Hai finally understood.

Wasn't this exactly how the world police of his previous life operated?

If you didn't obey, they would hit you with an iron fist!

Takigakure Village, the Takikage's office.

"They got away?!" The Takikage slammed his hand on the desk and glared at the ANBU kneeling on one knee.

"Yes... The Konoha ninja are extremely strong. The teams that ambushed them ahead and pursued them from behind were almost completely wiped out." The ANBU's voice trembled. "According to the survivors, there are four of them, and two are severely injured. They should still be within our territory recovering."

The Takikage narrowed his eyes, a vicious glint flashing through them.

"We absolutely cannot let them leave the Land of Waterfalls alive! Deliver my order: spread the news immediately that Konoha ninja stole twenty million ryo and fled! Especially through the underground black markets!"

The ANBU was taken aback. "My lord, it would be too humiliating if this gets out. Shouldn't we handle it quietly...?"

"Idiot!" the Takikage roared. "I have my own plans! Go!"

The ANBU did not dare say another word. He accepted the order and withdrew.

Watching the empty office, the Takikage's lips curled into a cold smile.

"Twenty million ryo... Since Takigakure can't get it back, don't expect Konoha to take it away either! There are plenty of mad dogs in this world who'll risk their lives for money..."

The image of a man surfaced in the Takikage's mind, and he snorted inwardly. I hope you can get rid of these Konoha rats for me!

Five hours later, in the hidden cave.

"The wound has basically healed. As long as he doesn't engage in intense taijutsu combat, it won't be a problem." Torifu finished examining Lin Hai's right hand.

Danzo stood and stretched his limbs. "Move out. At our current pace, we can withdraw to the Land of Fire border in four days."

The four quickly erased their traces and left the cave.

At an underground black market, inside a dimly lit tavern.

A man wearing a white headscarf and a mask over his lower face sat at the bar. He pushed a thousand-ryo bill toward the bartender.

"Twenty million? Konoha took twenty million from Takigakure? Tell me everything."

The bartender skillfully pocketed the money and lowered his voice as he replied ingratiatingly,

"My lord, it's absolutely true!

Konoha ninja disguised themselves as merchants and sold soldier pills to Takigakure at inflated prices.

Takigakure tried to rob them afterward, but got beaten black and blue instead.

Now Takigakure is hunting those four Konoha ninja everywhere. I heard they haven't escaped the Land of Waterfalls yet.

The notice boards outside are covered in their wanted posters!"

A chilling green light suddenly flashed through the man's eyes beneath his hood. The bartender was so frightened that he stumbled backward repeatedly, then scurried into the kitchen.

The man ignored him. A low, hoarse chuckle came from beneath his hood.

"Takigakure's trash, played for fools. But this works out perfectly... Twenty million ryo will be mine, Kakuzu's."

The man rose and left the tavern. He walked straight to the black market notice board, tore down the four hand-drawn wanted posters of the Konoha ninja, and strode into the night.

Two days later, in a forest deep within the Land of Waterfalls.

"Past these woods is the final supply town in the Land of Waterfalls. In another two days, we'll rendezvous with the relief force." Kagami pointed at the map as he spoke.

Danzo surveyed their surroundings with a grave expression.

Over the past two days, they had encountered three waves of Takigakure encirclement attempts and killed more than thirty enemy ninja.

Though their results were remarkable, their supplies had been completely exhausted.

"We're out of water and soldier pills." Danzo gave his orders. "Torifu and I will go into town to purchase supplies. Kagami, go to a nearby high point and fire Konoha's highest-level distress signal. I have a bad feeling about this pursuit. We need the relief force to cross the border and meet us!"

"Lin Hai, stay here and keep watch. If you spot Takigakure ninja, retreat immediately and contact us using ninja bees!"

The three quickly split up to carry out their tasks.

After confirming that his teammates had left, the exhausted Lin Hai used the Transformation Technique, turning into a dead branch attached to a large tree.

Two straight days of intense fighting and fleeing had pushed a six-year-old body far beyond its limits.

The moment he relaxed mentally, Lin Hai fell into a deep sleep.