Haseo was a crucial piece in this spy elimination plan, which forced him to become an "eyewitness" to the alliance incident between Konoha and Kumo.
Officially, all Haseo knew was about the Hokage's whereabouts after the alliance negotiations. However, his knowledge had now been greatly distorted, making his value as an intelligence source immeasurable.
Still, from the moment he arrived in Konoha until now, it hadn't even been twelve hours yet. Yet according to Danzo Shimura's tone, this information had already spread throughout the entire village.
Most people in Konoha now knew that someone had brought back critically important intelligence, so all spies understood there was now a significant intelligence source named Haseo.
Supporting this conclusion was the fact that this morning, a ninja squad had rushed into the village in an unusually urgent and forceful manner, heading directly toward the Hokage Building. Afterward, Konoha's upper echelons held an extended emergency meeting.
But the speed at which this news spread was suspicious... Undoubtedly, someone was deliberately stirring the pot.
And this person intentionally fueling the fire turned out to be none other than Danzo Shimura standing right before Haseo.
"Compared to stealing this intelligence directly from Konoha's leadership, it's much simpler to get it through me. Furthermore... compared to them, I am the most critical and credible primary intelligence source. That's how it is, isn't it?"
"If you understand, then that's for the best," Danzo said.
His plan certainly wasn't brilliant, but it was highly practical. The only problem was that when facing approaching spies, Haseo possessed absolutely no ability to protect himself.
Yet using Haseo to eliminate spies from other villages completely served Konoha's interests. It wouldn't matter whether he was just an outsider to Konoha like himself, or even the most orthodox native Konohan—they'd be sacrificed the moment they became expendable. Prioritizing the village's safety above all else was one of the core principles guiding leadership decisions.
Of course, smarter spies would realize Konoha's intentions, but they would still take action anyway. Danzo's plan was essentially an open gambit.
The bait was just too good to pass up. Plenty of spies would take the bite.
Haseo lifted his lips in a faint smirk—did he really have a choice? Whether he agreed or disagreed, understood or failed to understand, made absolutely no difference to how this plan proceeded.
Danzo Shimura had come here merely to inform Haseo about this matter.
"I accept the village's arrangement. However, before the operation begins, I have one small, insignificant request..." Haseo spoke up just before Danzo was about to leave.
The other man paused, then assumed a listening posture... At this point, Danzo Shimura didn't seem quite as extreme as he would later become; otherwise, he never would have come to explain anything to Haseo in the first place.
Moreover, for now, he hadn't yet developed ambitions of opposing the Acting Hokage, although he lacked both the intention and capability to do so anyway.
Therefore, even though his actions were not immediately approved by the Acting Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, he still needed to explain them to the Acting Hokage before the plan officially began.
Upon learning of this matter, although Hiruzen inwardly did not fully agree with such a risky strategy—after all, by nature, he did not wish to drag innocent people into the chaos of battle—he could not oppose Danzo's plan from the perspective of the village's interests and as the Hokage.
"At this point, we can only assign more personnel to ensure Haseo's safety as much as possible," Hiruzen said. This was the most he could do when facing Danzo, who had just returned from the hospital. As the person who brought back The Second's message and properly handled the late Hokage's affairs according to agreement, Hiruzen, being The Second's disciple, couldn't allow Haseo—a contributor to the village—to die so easily.
"What is it? Is there something wrong?" Seeing Danzo's rare hesitation, as if he wanted to speak yet held himself back, Hiruzen asked again.
"After finding out he would be walking straight into deadly danger, do you know what that Haseo said?"
Does it matter how he responded? Hiruzen felt puzzled. Fear? Begging for mercy? Most likely nothing beyond that?
"He said to me… 'Can I have a blade? Even a kunai will do.'" Danzo precisely repeated Haseo's exact words.
It wasn't asking for much, but it showed a lot about how someone faced danger. Indeed, in the end, after realizing the inevitability of the situation, Haseo neither wallowed in self-pity nor pretended to be pitiful. He made what seemed like the only right choice—claw his way out.
You can't trust anyone completely—no one can guarantee total safety. Thus, holding the blade yourself becomes the final safeguard.
"He may be somewhat older, but… truly a promising ninja." After a brief silence, Hiruzen finally said.
"Hmm, yes indeed." Rarely, Danzo agreed with Hiruzen's opinion.
Once spoken, the two—who usually disliked each other—suddenly realized that agreeing with one another was almost unimaginable, making the atmosphere instantly awkward.
Without realizing it, both turned their eyes toward the window.
Outside the Hokage's office building, across the entire Hidden Leaf Village, nightfall quietly descended.
Meanwhile, in that third-floor hospital room within Konoha Hospital, Haseo also silently awaited whatever was about to unfold. If the intelligence he represented was indeed important and worthy enough of attention, then enemy actions would undoubtedly grow more urgent.
Therefore, if someone was planning to target him, tonight—after darkness fell—was when it would happen. Relatively speaking, if nothing occurred tonight, it likely wouldn't happen at all.
The bait was tempting, even if there was only one piece—but it had already set everything into motion. Therefore, those preparing to act only feared arriving too late—not too early.
Just quietly waiting for danger to strike felt absolutely unbearable. Haseo prided himself on his patience, but even he couldn't help feeling restless now.
It wasn't danger itself that he disliked, but the sense of powerlessness he felt when facing it... What he'd already been through over the last two days—and what was still coming—felt overwhelmingly intense.
As the night grew darker, Haseo's tension mounted steadily.
Suddenly, in the pitch-black silence, a sharp metallic clang shattered the stillness.
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