Chapter 40: Returning to the Village
Hiruzen Sarutobi grew somewhat angry upon hearing Danzo's words; Danzo was still making excuses even now, wanting to monopolize the fruits of the Uchiha's demise.
With an event as massive as the Uchiha being wiped out, the Great Clans in the Village would surely guess it was related to the Hokage. Even if he pushed all the blame onto Danzo when the time came, the clans would certainly understand that Danzo only had such audacity because of the authorization from him, Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Regardless, Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation was bound to suffer. If he didn't secure some benefits, he would be at a bit of a loss.
"Danzo, I don't care what excuses you find. You must bring me forty pairs of Three-Tomoe Sharingan and at least two hundred million ryo in cash. Otherwise, don't ever think about returning to your position as Advisor, and Root shall not show its face again."
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's exorbitant demand, Danzo glared at him with gritted teeth.
Forty pairs of Sharingan—that was eighty eyes! Could Danzo produce them? Yes! However, after handing them over, Root's inventory would be practically empty. As for the two hundred million ryo, Root couldn't produce that even if they were beaten to death!
With veins bulging, Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "I can give you the forty pairs of Sharingan, but as for the two hundred million ryo, don't even think about it."
After speaking, Danzo turned to leave.
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi said through gritted teeth, "Not a single Ryo less than two hundred million."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's relentless pressure infuriated Danzo even more, but he had no choice; he had to give the two hundred million ryo. Without looking back, he said through gritted teeth, "Hiruzen! You will regret this!"
"Danzo! I am the Hokage!"
This was followed by the loud bang of the Hokage Office door slamming shut.
Puffing on his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a sinister gaze, "Danzo's ambition is growing larger and larger."
Meanwhile, as Danzo walked out of the Hokage Building, his expression was also extremely gloomy as he muttered, "Hiruzen is showing less and less regard for me."
The next day:
News spread throughout Konoha Village that the Uchiha Clan had been massacred by Itachi Uchiha.
Many Konoha civilians went to the Uchiha Clan Compound and saw the corpses being carried out one by one.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Sasuke lay unconscious in the hospital.
Naruto used the Transformation Jutsu to walk the streets of Konoha, listening to various news regarding the Uchiha Clan.
Upon arriving at the Ninja Academy, Shikamaru, Choji, and Shino sat down beside Naruto.
Shikamaru whispered to Naruto, "Dispel your Shadow Clone and have your real body come to the academy!"
Naruto looked at Shikamaru in surprise. Last night, Kakashi had also told his real body to come to the academy, and today Shikamaru was saying the same thing.
"What do you mean? I don't quite understand."
Using Secret Telepathic Communication, Shikamaru said to Naruto, "News leaked from the Hokage Building last night that Hokage-sama and Advisor Danzo had an argument, seemingly over an unfair distribution of interests. This morning, when the Anbu went to organize the Uchihacorpses, they found Uchiha Fugaku's home had been ransacked, with not a single Ryo of wealth left behind. Hokage-sama and Advisor Danzo had another argument over it."
Naruto secretly chuckled to himself upon hearing this. He hadn't expected his spur-of-the-moment idea from last night to have such an effect.
Using Secret Telepathic Communication as well, Naruto asked Shikamaru, "But what does that have to do with me?"
"You're wrong! Advisor Danzo has always wanted to be Hokage, and you are the Jinchuriki. Whether it's Advisor Danzo or the Hokage, they both want to keep the ultimate weapon that is the Jinchuriki in their hands. So, you're in quite a bit of danger right now. My advice is that from today on, you shouldn't return to the Wooden Hut by the river. Stay inside the Village. If it's inconvenient, you can completely rely on the Transformation Jutsu. Within the Village, whether it's Advisor Danzo or Hokage-sama, they will have some reservations and won't move against you openly."
Naruto also felt that what Shikamaru said made sense. The Wooden Hut by the river was only a cover for learning Ninjutsu. He had basically learned most of the techniques left by Minato Namikaze. Now, what his Shadow Clones continued to practice—Chakra Precision Control, Sealing Jutsu, and Medical Ninjutsu—could be entirely practiced within the Spirit Spring Space.
As for the Body Tempering Technique his real body trained in, now that he had the Lightning Release Body Forging Technique, he could perfectly well temper his body within the Village. Plus, he wasn't short on money now and could easily buy some weights. Returning to the Wooden Hut by the riverindeed didn't seem to have much point anymore.
Having understood this, Naruto nodded and said, "Alright! I won't go back to the Wooden Hut by the river for the time being. However, I should leave some measures there so others don't take it over."
Seeing that Naruto understood his meaning, Shikamaru nodded with a smile and said no more.
During the class break, Naruto's Shadow Cloneremained at the Ninja Academy.
His real body took a trip around Konoha Villageand bought quite a few materials for setting up a Barrier.
After returning to the small Wooden Hut by the river, Naruto set up a large-scale Genjutsu Barrieraround it, encompassing the entire hut and his usual training grounds within the Genjutsu Barrier.
"I might not be able to come back for a while!"
After muttering to himself, Naruto turned and left.
However, two days later, Hiruzen Sarutobi found Naruto.
"Naruto, did you set up that Genjutsu Barrier at the Wooden Hut by the river?"
Naruto knew that Genjutsu Barrier would be discovered sooner or later, so he didn't hide much and nodded, saying, "That's right! I set it up. Is something wrong?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi blinked, wondering about something, but he still asked Naruto, "Why did you suddenly want to move back into the Village to live?"
"Am I not allowed to live in the Village?"
"It's not that! It's just... when you set up the Genjutsu Barrier at the Wooden Hut, did you see anyone wearing a mask protecting you?"
Hearing this, Naruto's lips twitched as he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "Don't tell me someone got trapped in the Genjutsu Barrier?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded somewhat guiltily and said, "It's possible they are indeed trapped in the Barrier. Why don't you go take a look?"
Naruto nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go take a look now."
When Naruto arrived at the Genjutsu Barrier of the small riverside hut, he saw Kakashi wandering around aimlessly, seemingly looking for the exit of the Genjutsu Barrier.
Between laughter and tears, Naruto deactivated the Genjutsu Barrier and looked at the dazed Kakashi with a half-smile.
After his daze, Kakashi also noticed Naruto. Although Kakashi wore a mask and his expression couldn't be seen,
Naruto was certain that Kakashi's face was definitely not looking very good.
Naruto said with a beaming smile, "Hurry up and leave! I'm about to open the Barrier."
Kakashi sighed and used the Body Flicker Technique to quickly leave the vicinity of the hut, watching as Naruto tinkered there.
Once Kakashi had left, Naruto reactivated the Genjutsu Barrier.