As the highest leader of Konoha's ninja forces, the Hokage commands a personal military unit known as the Anbu—the special assassination and tactical squad.
According to publicly available information familiar to Konoha's various ninja clans, the Anbu has an official personnel count of about seventy, divided into four squads each handling different duties. Danzo's *Root*, nominally part of the Anbu structure, officially goes by the name Anbu Training Division with around twenty operatives under its command.
Of course, exactly how many hidden hands both the Anbu and *Root* truly possess remains a secret known only to that seemingly kind-hearted old monkey in the Hokage Tower and his three longtime accomplices.
The real problem, though, was Danzo himself—his shady behavior and years of exploiting the Hokage's favor had made him reckless. As a result, his relationship with Konoha's various ninja clans was terrible, and he was universally shunned—even his subordinates weren't allowed to appear openly within the village.
To make matters worse, Danzo's long-standing feud with the Uchiha clan—the top ninja family in the entire Ninja World—was no secret. And given the Uchiha's well-known stubbornness and short temper, things only got worse. No wonder Danzo always tried to fly under the radar.
But this current embarrassing situation also stemmed from the dirty tactics Danzo had used over the years.
Being on bad terms with the Uchiha was already bad enough—truth be told, plenty of other clans weren't fans of those red-eyed hotheads either. But Danzo had gone much further, frequently abducting talented young heirs or orphaned ninjas to turn them into killing machines for *Root*. There were even records of Policing Department officers catching him in the act multiple times!
Given all that, it wasn't hard to imagine what the Hyuga, Uchiha, and others thought of him.
Moreover, aside from a tiny number of hot-headed warmongers, practically every informed Konoha ninja held deep resentment toward Danzo. Some radicals even openly called for his execution as a traitor to the village.
If not for the Hokage's protection and Danzo's own cautious nature, he'd probably have been killed ages ago by a dozen Kunai to the back on the battlefield!
But now, seeking help from others was a reluctant necessity.
His *Root* organization had never had much manpower to begin with, and most of his agents were currently scattered across the Ninja World on top-secret missions, unable to return anytime soon. To add insult to injury, the Hokage had specifically assigned the Policing Department to provide security for the envoy while refusing to spare even a single team of Anbu for Danzo's mission!
If he didn't go begging the Hyuga Clan for support, truthfully speaking, this trip to the Daimyo's court would likely end in disaster.
But the cunning Hyuga Clan Leader wasn't an easy man to trick. Already unhappy with the Hokage's orders, he certainly wouldn't go out of his way to risk his people for Danzo unless there was something far more valuable in return!
In short: it was time to talk terms—and pay up!
Yet where could Danzo—who always claimed to be clean and selflessly devoted to Konoha—find anything valuable enough to trade with the Hyuga?
So, no matter how much humiliation and mockery Danzo faced just then, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and endure it.
"I understand the various clans of Konoha hold deep misunderstandings about me and Root. But in truth, we're all comrades striving for Konoha's future. No matter how intense our internal struggles become, we still must unite against external threats."
Danzo Shimura suddenly twisted his aged, creased face into a grin that looked as unnatural as a blooming chrysanthemum on a withered tree. The sudden shift from his earlier gloominess made the expression all the more unnerving.
The Hyuga Clan Leader immediately stopped his sarcastic remarks and became vigilant.
This reaction was quite understandable — after all, it's Danzo we're talking about! Normal people would naturally be suspicious of him!
"As a millennium-old prestigious clan, the Hyuga are indispensable pillars of Konoha. Since Konoha's founding, loyal Hyuga members have always stood at the forefront of defending our village, making outstanding contributions to maintaining peace and stability," Danzo continued shamelessly with his flattery.
However, the Hyuga Clan Leader remained unmoved, almost looking like he wanted to laugh!
If the Hyuga truly had such great merits, then why didn't any department within Konoha have leadership positions held by the Hyuga?
Even the relatively minor Nara Clan managed to maintain a long-standing position as Jonin Unit leader with Hokage's support, while the unpopular Uchiha Clan also had the influential Policing Department as their power base. But what about the Hyuga?
Without the [Cage Bird Seal] serving as a fundamental control method, the clan might have already been infiltrated like a sieve!
Furthermore, the Hyuga Clan Leader clearly remembered how many Branch House members he personally activated the [Cage Bird Seal] upon were actually those who had been influenced by Konoha's so-called "Will of Fire" and started distancing themselves from the Main House.
To Konoha's upper echelons, who had always pushed for dismantling family control over ninja in pursuit of "a unified whole", Ninja Clans — especially powerful ones like the Hyuga — were inherently untrustworthy!
Therefore, hearing Danzo's flattery sounded especially ridiculous to the Hyuga Clan Leader.
"This tea is quite good," the Hyuga Clan Leader said casually.
"It's high mountain cloud mist tea from the peak of Raimei Canyon. Even the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning cannot enjoy it anytime he wishes," Hiashi Hyuga added from beside him.
"Is that so?" Hyuga Soushu also picked up his teacup and took a sip but couldn't taste anything particularly special.
"Why isn't Mr. Danzo drinking tea? Are you not thirsty?"
The Clan Leader asked after hearing this.
"The Envoy Deputy should preferably be nominated by the Hyuga Clan."
Danzo ignored the conversation topic and started throwing out bait instead.
"Drink tea, drink tea," the Hyuga Clan Leader sneered slightly without showing the slightest interest, then turned to invite Soushu at his side.
Which part of me gives you the impression I'd sell the Hyuga Clan's full backing for a hollow Envoy Deputy role?
What a joke! It was absurd even to dream of such a ridiculous offer!
Besides, he had already dismissed Hokage's request for the Hyuga Clan to serve as intermediaries for contacting the aristocracy. Why would he bother dealing with Danzo?
Everyone knew perfectly well about the old monkey's character! He wouldn't give up power easily, just like those abolished Ninja Clan meetings and Jonin Units — without real benefits or authority being offered, there was no way one could expect to gain anything!
The Hokage has already been reduced to this state, forced underground like a tree root. So what real benefit could Danzo—who only managed the title of "Shadow Ninja" among small villages and weak states—possibly offer the noble Hyuga Clan?
That's why the Hyuga Clan Leader no longer even bothered to acknowledge Danzo, not even with an empty promise.
"It seems Soushu-kun is also fond of fine tea. Then please take a bit of it back later to savor at your leisure!"
"Then I shall gratefully accept this generous offer from the clan head!"
Of course, Hyuga Soushu politely thanked the clan leader.
Although he still didn't fully understand the purpose behind the Hyuga Clan Head's summons, since there was a benefit presented, he'd just accept it!
And if this so-called High Mountain Cloud Mist Tea really was that valuable, perhaps selling it would fetch enough Chakra Metal to reinforce his Torch Pole weapon!
Summoned without explanation to serve as background decoration, Hyuga Soushu chatted amiably with the clan leader, the previous awkwardness seemingly dissipating along with the mist rising from the cloud mist tea.
Shortly afterward, the Root ninja who had been defeated by Hyuga Soushu in one strike during that night's encounter was dragged out again on some arbitrary pretext, openly mocked in front of Danzo—as if he were an untouchable boss in a video game, utterly outclassing his foes without them even mounting a response.
Even after being confronted directly by three Hyuga clan members, Danzo still swallowed his pride forcefully, even managing to force a faint smile occasionally and muttering meaningless agreements no one acknowledged.
Yet no matter how roundabout Danzo became or how humbly he behaved, the Hyuga Clan Leader completely ignored his presence. Instead, the tone used when conversing with Hyuga Soushu became increasingly warm and amiable. In the eyes of the clan leader, Soushu had clearly ascended into a rising star representing the entire Hyuga lineage.
As for any suspicion or wariness previously held? Those were clearly non-existent now!
"The Intelligence Division!"
Nearly twenty minutes into pleasant conversation when Danzo suddenly slammed the table, capturing all three men's attention before uttering just three words.
"Hmm?"
The Hyuga Clan Leader's expression immediately changed. "Mr. Danzo, have you taken a dislike to our tea?"
"Don't talk to me about this damn tea anymore!"
Unable to contain himself any longer, Danzo struck the short table before him with one palm, channeling enough chakra to crush teacups into powder while leaving the short table itself undamaged.
Well now!
Hyuga Soushu couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, quite intrigued by this display from Danzo.
Yet with this ripple of chakra, more than ten other chakra presences brimming with murderous intent locked tightly onto the panting, furious Danzo.
At a single signal—the smashing of a cup by the Hyuga Clan Leader—those shadowed Hyuga Jonin would immediately unleash their full power, tearing apart this audacious traitor who dared to offend the Main House!
"Mr. Danzo, the teaware you crushed was worth seventy thousand yen—that's equivalent to a standard A-rank mission. And we used such expensive utensils precisely to demonstrate the Hyuga Clan's hospitality towards guests."
Though Danzo's demeanor was fierce, the Hyuga Clan Leader remained unruffled. "As an uninvited guest bringing ill will, do you think such behavior aligns with your original intentions?"
Danzo opened and shut his mouth a few times—utterly speechless.
"As for what your Intelligence Division has to say," the Hyuga Clan Leader chuckled, then turned to ask, "Soushu-kun, what do you think?"
"Mr. Danzo must have grown up in a privileged environment and knows nothing about practical matters," Hyuga Soushu mercilessly mocked. "Otherwise, he wouldn't be so clueless about real action."
"And besides, everyone knows Mr. Danzo simply isn't qualified to run something as crucial as the Intelligence Division."
"Danzo-san, tell us plainly—how can the Hyuga Clan agree to lobby the Daimyo's court nobles and aristocrats?"
Danzo had no patience left for beating around the bush.
"It's simple! Reactivate the Eastern Coastal Defense Garrison, and place it under the control of the Hyuga Clan!"
The Hyuga Clan Leader stated his demand clearly without hesitation.
"Absolutely impossible!"
Danzo's face darkened further as he immediately stood up and shouted angrily. "I knew those ninja clans were up to no good! That so-called coastal defense garrison would just be a front for secret communications with the Land of Water!"
"You dare collude with a foreign nation? That's a crime punishable by clan annihilation!"
"Is the Hyuga Clan trying to stage a rebellion?!"
"I don't know if the Hyuga Clan wants to rebel, but if Mr. Danzo pushes any further, you won't be leaving this room alive today."
Hyuga Soushu kindly reminded him at the appropriate moment.
"You can't make this decision yourself, so why don't you go consult with Lord Hokage first?"
The Hyuga Clan Leader nudged the teacup slightly across the table, the soft clink making Danzo shiver uncontrollably, as though the Jonin assembly of the Hyuga Clan would storm into the room at any moment.
But fortunately, the worst-case scenario didn't happen. The sliding paper door at the entrance was silently pulled open by a servant standing outside.
"Please convey to Lord Hokage—this is the united decision of the Hyuga and other clans."
The Hyuga Clan Leader said expressionlessly. "Furthermore, there's no need to accuse the Hyuga Clan of colluding with foreign powers. That's really quite inappropriate!"
"After all, if the Hyuga Clan doesn't step forward and work hard to handle some affairs, the Prime Minister at the Daimyo's court will become dissatisfied!"
"If the Prime Minister becomes dissatisfied, then esteemed officials like the Minister of the Imperial Court, Minister of Treasury, and Minister of Rites will also become unhappy!"
"The same applies to various ninja clans in Konoha."
"We fully understand the village's difficult situation, however..."
"...without power or funding, it's hard for us to serve the village properly!"
At this moment, a messenger crept silently into the reception hall from outside, coming to stand beside Danzo's low table.
This wasn't just polite farewell etiquette anymore—it was practically an outright eviction!
"So this is your demand?"
Danzo no longer wanted to keep pretense. He stood up with a gloomy expression and asked, "If we agree, will the Hyuga Clan and other ninja clans finally consent to send more clan ninjas? Will this mission to the capital finally succeed?"
"Why mix all these matters together?"
The Hyuga Clan Leader still refused to give even a slightly vague response. "I'm only making this suggestion for the good of the village. I hope you and Lord Hokage can understand our sincere intentions."
"What sincere intentions indeed!"
Danzo coldly snorted, then swept out the door with his sleeve.
Hyuga Clan Leader slightly raised his cup to bid farewell to the guests, maintaining a composed demeanor and displaying the bearing of a seasoned leader.
"How long do you think it will take before we receive a response, Soushu?"
After a few moments of silence in the Reception Hall, Hiashi Hyuga suddenly broke the quiet.
"Roughly within an hour."
Hyuga Soushu estimated a rather bold timeframe.
The Hyuga Clan Leader gave no clear indication of approval, merely signaling his eldest son and Soushu to continue drinking tea.
This time, Soushu had miscalculated.
Less than thirty minutes later, a servant entered to report that an Anbu directly under the Hokage had arrived requesting an audience.
Though slightly puzzled, the Hyuga Clan Leader ordered for the Anbu to be brought inside.
The Anbu officer was none other than the dog-masked operative Hyuga Soushu had crossed paths with twice already.
After conveying the Hokage's formal greetings, the masked shinobi wasted no time handing over a stack of documents.
Upon opening the folder, the Hyuga leader's face immediately lit up with a bright smile.
[Appointment orders] — each one left blank for names but already stamped with the official seal of the Hokage of Konoha!
Every position, from the Eastern Coastal Defense Garrison commander all the way down to the various administrative ninja roles, was included.
"Convey to Lord Hokage that by tomorrow we can finalize the personnel list for rebuilding the Eastern Coastal Defense Garrison, and within three days we'll be ready to visit the Daimyo's court!"
Now thoroughly pleased, the Hyuga Clan Leader returned a fitting response!
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