After promising Orochimaru that he would continue to increase the budget for the Research Bureau, Takeshi also received something in return from him.
That was the White Zetsu Detector developed by Orochimaru through his studies on Hashirama's cells.
This detector only alerts the user to the presence of White Zetsu and their approximate location.
For ordinary shinobi, Orochimaru had developed another version of the detector.
With the help of the White Zetsu Detector, the Internal Affairs Division really did discover White Zetsu traces all around Konoha, with some of them even hiding in the sewers, spending their days surrounded by filth.
One couldn't help but marvel at the sheer "dedication" of this group.
The restructuring of the Barrier Team was also proceeding smoothly, with most internal matters being handled well by Takeshi and the advisors.
The only thing left was external threats.
Three jonin squads sent to scout Uchiha movements had gone missing—the Inuzuka squad investigating Amegakure, the Sarutobi squad investigating the Land of Fields, and the Aburame squad investigating Hoshigakure.
All three of those locations required Konoha's close observation.
And then there was the Iwagakure squad that had entered Kusagakure…
"The number of missions from the Land of Grass plummeted after the Third Shinobi World War. Even if Iwagakure has taken the country into its sphere of influence, it doesn't really affect Konoha's finances."
Koharu's tone clearly implied she thought abandoning the Land of Grass was the best option.
In her view, even if Konoha dispatched troops to oppose Iwagakure, it wouldn't change the hearts of the people of the Grass.
"We can send someone to approach Iwagakure, denounce their actions, and if Ōnoki shows no intention of changing his mind, then let him be."
Homura spoke the rest of Koharu's thought aloud.
Hiruzen sat with his eyes closed, silent, as if none of this discussion concerned him.
Danzō's expression darkened. He glanced at Takeshi, and seeing that the latter had no intention of speaking, he coldly rebuked the other two.
"This kind of concession will only fuel Ōnoki's ambition."
"When did I ever say we should concede? I only suggested we make contact with Ōnoki first."
Homura bristled. This was supposed to be a meeting—what was wrong with voicing his opinion?
Just because you act tough, Danzō, doesn't mean you're going to grab a blade and go fight Ōnoki yourself.
"The Daimyō's office seems to have little confidence in us lately."
Just as the two were about to start quarreling in the conference room, Takeshi's voice broke the tension, cutting off the argument in time.
"It's time to show the Daimyō what Konoha is capable of. What do the advisors think?"
Takeshi turned his head toward Hiruzen.
Hiruzen opened his eyes and looked at his disciple with a complicated expression before slowly nodding.
Just as he had once supported Sakumo, even though Takeshi's path differed from what he had envisioned, he would not act to obstruct him.
Hiashi and Fugaku both nodded as well.
As for Danzō's stance, it went without saying.
Of the six advisors, four were already in agreement. Even if Homura and Koharu were reluctant, they could no longer stop Takeshi's decision.
"In that case, Clan Head Fugaku, we will have the Uchiha lead the vanguard."
...
Three days after the meeting ended.
Citing the protection of Konoha's expatriates in the Land of Grass, Konoha issued a public statement and, on the very same day, dispatched a force of several hundred across the border into Grass territory.
Ōnoki, who had waited days without seeing any response from Konoha, had been smugly pleased, assuming Konoha had decided to swallow the insult this time and let him take the advantage. He hadn't expected Konoha to suddenly respond with such a bold move.
After all, the force Ōnoki had dispatched numbered only a few dozen. Compared to Fugaku's several-hundred-strong force, it was nothing at all.
"Haha, interesting. So the brat from the Shimura clan wants to test his strength against this old man?"
Ōnoki laughed heartily upon hearing the news, but there was no mirth in his eyes.
"Still too young, reckless. It seems this elder must give him a proper lesson."
"Old man, are you planning to start a war with Konoha?"
The deep, steady voice of Kitsuchi rang out. He couldn't understand why his father insisted on provoking Konoha at such a time.
After all, Konoha had an ally nearby, and that ally was not far from the Land of Earth either.
"Hmph. I'm not foolish enough to pit myself against Konoha alone. Take men and station yourselves in the Land of Grass. There will always be idiots willing to stick their necks out first."
Ōnoki snorted coldly, looking at him with disappointment.
This boy had inherited none of his cunning, and lacked the ability to master kekkei tōta. All he could do was follow orders.
At least his strength was reliable.
"Remember, do not truly clash with Konoha. Keep the situation locked in a standoff. If necessary, you may even concede some ground."
Ōnoki's real plan was to take advantage of the Fourth Hokage's severe injuries and seize as many benefits as possible. If circumstances made it impossible, he wouldn't force the issue.
Not long after Fugaku's force entered the Land of Grass, Kitsuchi marched in with a thousand men of Iwagakure, advancing in force upon Kusagakure.
The two sides confronted each other outside Kusagakure.
Konoha insisted that Iwagakure's entry into Kusagakure was a violation of the peace treaty following the Third Shinobi World War, and that it posed a grave threat to Konoha's expatriates.
Iwagakure, on the other hand, claimed that the treaty had never defined the exact ownership of the Land of Grass, and that their entry had been at the invitation of Kusagakure's village chief, for the purpose of safeguarding Kusagakure's security.
...
The only ones utterly dumbfounded were the officials sent by the Daimyō of the Land of Grass.
Neither side seemed to care in the slightest about the sovereignty of the Grass, treating them as if they didn't exist.
And when Takeshi learned that Iwagakure held a numerical advantage, he ordered an additional five hundred reinforcements into the Land of Grass.
At the same time, he instructed Koharu to notify Sunagakure, reminding them to fulfill their duties as allies if necessary.
And, of course, the notification was delivered openly and conspicuously.
Whether Sunagakure would actually come or not, that was beyond Takeshi's concern.
In truth, treaties of alliance between villages were usually as good as worthless scraps of paper. Whether they were honored depended entirely on the mood of those who signed them.
Unfortunately for Takeshi, Rasa was in no mood to be cooperative.
The reason was simple—their village's sole tailed beast, Shukaku, had been stolen.
He had only hesitated for a few years, unable to decide which unlucky soul to make the next jinchūriki, and in that time, the massive beast had vanished. Along with it, hundreds of monks from the Temple of Wind had also been killed.
The Daimyō of the Wind was truly furious.
The beast itself he might not care about, but the monks of the Temple he absolutely demanded justice for.
Every year they were required to travel to the capital to perform rituals. Now that they were dead, who was supposed to conduct the chanting?
Would it be you, Rasa?
Soon, an angrily worded letter landed on Rasa's desk.
It clearly stated: either Sunagakure delivered the head of the murderer, or Rasa himself shaved his head bald and came to the capital to chant sutras.
Otherwise, Sunagakure's already meager military funding would be cut by another thirty percent!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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