161 CH - 157 Do you know Danzo?

"Uchiha Obito, a student of Class 1-C, was found to have cheated during the final exams. Following an investigation, the breach of examination regulations has been confirmed, significantly impacting the school's management protocols. In adherence to school regulations, Uchiha Obito has received a formal criticism notice as a penalty. Let this serve as a cautionary example for all students!"

As everyone's eyes in the class focused on Obito, he couldn't help but feel a wave of shame wash over him. Internally panicking, thoughts raced through his mind—'How will I salvage my reputation?' and 'How can I lead the freshmen now?'

Gazing at the 'Criticism Notice' before him, Obito covered his face, attempting to shield himself from the embarrassment. The thought of returning to Konoha overnight crossed his mind. However, What If even Kakashi somehow found out about this, he couldn't imagine the teasing that would follow.

Rin, by his side, shook her head in disappointment. "Obito, how could you resort to cheating?"

"I... I thought it might be similar to the Chunin Exams," Obito's gaze drifted, avoiding direct eye contact with Rin.

In truth, he wouldn't have been caught. With fewer invigilators like back in the cave, he had felt overly relaxed. He pondered, 'Could the examiners in the first-year exam really catch me?'

After all, he was Uchiha Obito, the hero. His current prowess far exceeded his school days. It wouldn't be easy for anyone to discover his cheating.

"Result... let's just forget it," Obito sighed, once again hiding his face. "No need to dwell on it."

"You're right, dwelling won't change things now," Rin consoled Obito. "There's still a chance for a makeup exam. I'll help you prepare during the break."

"Rin, spare me from that, please. That strange knowledge is really unbearable for me," Obito pleaded.

"Don't worry, Obito. Just have faith in yourself," Rin encouraged him. However, her tone shifted, a note of seriousness creeping in. "I heard from the teacher that if things persist like this, you might end up repeating the year or even facing expulsion."

At her words, Obito seemed taken aback for a moment, then something seemed to click in his mind. His eyes narrowed slightly. "Expelled?!"

Rin's concerned expression deepened as she emphasized, "Yes, expulsion is a real possibility." She hoped Obito was grasping the gravity of his predicament. Yet, as she observed Obito's slight trembling, concern etched her face. she inquired anxiously, "Are you okay, Obito?"

"Nothing, just remembered something," Obito responded, his eyes flashing with a hint of excitement. He deliberately masked any excitement bubbling within him, not divulging further in Rin's presence.

'Expelled.' The word echoed in his mind. Once expelled, Madara-sensei couldn't coerce him into studying anymore. That manipulative bastard wouldn't be able to deceive him any longer. What a perfect solution.

Furthermore, he was already immensely powerful. Even without the hassle of studying, he wouldn't end up like that Zetsu, reduced to menial tasks like picking up garbage.

With determination etched on his face, Obito muttered to himself, "I, Uchiha Obito... will undoubtedly become the first student to be ever expelled!"

Seeing Obito fall silent, Rin, thinking he was anxious about the prospect of expulsion, seized his hand with a determined expression. "Obito, don't worry. I won't let you get expelled. Starting from tomorrow, starting from today, I will always be by your side, helping you study, Obito."

"...Rin, really, don't worry. It's a rare holiday; you should relax. I'll manage on my own," Obito, hearing this, panicked, attempting to convince her to reconsider.

"It's okay, Obito. I am always here for you," Rin responded, believing Obito was concerned for her well-being and feeling moved by his consideration.

"Rin, I... thank you!" Obito expressed his gratitude, a hint of emotion evident as his mouth twitched.

"You're welcome. It's what I should do, Obito," Rin replied with a bright smile.

Obito, gazing at Rin's warm smile, acknowledged her kindness. In any other circumstance, he would be touched and eager for their meeting. However, he didn't need her kindness now.

Why was it so challenging for someone who merely sought expulsion? With a forced smile, Obito looked at Rin. It's just... Rin's hands were surprisingly soft.

…

On the other side, upon learning about Uchiha Obito's cheating scandal, Akihiko's face twitched slightly. Considering Obito's past behavior, such a mistake did seem in line with his character.

However, it also highlighted a significant flaw in the academy's examination monitoring system. If not for Obito's inadvertent slip-up, he might have succeeded in cheating this time as well. This aspect should be duly noted, with an aim to tighten surveillance and catch him in the act in the future.

And Obito, truly. Akihiko had provided him with numerous exercises, even the 'Grass Ninja Secret Scroll,' and arranged several teachers for extra classes, yet... he still resorted to cheating in the exam.

Was he worthy of his age, securing entry into the academy through the back door, courtesy of Madara? Was he worthy of the hard work put in by Zetsu, tirelessly collecting garbage even in winter? Was he worthy of his childhood friend Rin, who had always been by his side? Was he worthy of Minato, who let him go?

The conclusion was clear. He was not worthy of anyone. This kid needed proper education, or he would end up as a wastrel.

Akihiko sighed, glancing at the intelligence in his hand. Seemingly unconcerned about the spy beside him, he muttered, "Konoha has already started selecting the Fourth Hokage?"

As the words fell, Nono, who was currently engrossed in her work, suddenly froze upon hearing the news about Konoha initiating the next Hokage selection. However, It kinda made sense. Since Lord Third was showing signs of aging.

Observing her assistant's abrupt change in demeanor, Akihiko looked at her in confusion and inquired, "What's wrong? Feeling tired? If you are, you can leave early today."

As he spoke, Nono snapped out of her momentary distraction, offering a gentle smile. "It's nothing, Leader Akihiko. I'm not tired."

"Not tired? Then keep at it. I'm feeling a bit fatigued, so I'll leave early today," Akihiko declared, feigning a hint of discomfort in his shoulders.

Nono's lips twitched as she watched Akihiko decisively turn away, seemingly ready to leave. Sometimes, this guy truly made her want to hit him.

However, before he could take more than a few steps, Akihiko abruptly turned back. "Oh, right!" He peered at Nono. "Do you happen to know Danzo Shimura?"

At his inquiry, Nono's expression froze, her pen hand trembling slightly. Had she been found out? The thought flitted through her mind, and she realized it had been a long while. Perhaps Akihiko had already discovered her identity.

Considering this, a sense of relief washed over her. Sporting a smile, she prepared to respond. Yet, before she could utter a word, Akihiko interjected.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Akihiko's concerned expression prompted his inquiry. "Or... would you like to take a break for a bit?"

Had she not been discovered? Nono was momentarily taken aback, then quickly smiled and shook her head, saying, "I'm fine!"

She hesitated for a moment before responding, "During my time in Konoha, I did encounter Elder Danzo once, but... Leader Akihiko, why do you inquire about him?"

"Oh, that," Akihiko blinked, a hint of embarrassment coloring his expression. "Due to the war, the Five Great Ninja Villages harbor some misunderstandings toward our Grass Village."

Nono, observing Akihiko's somewhat awkward demeanor, couldn't help but feel incredulous. It wasn't just misunderstandings; they outright disliked the Grass Village. Her lips twitched slightly, but she nodded without expressing her thoughts.

"During this period, our movies have faced significant resistance in entering the Five Great Ninja Villages," Akihiko sighed, sounding somewhat helpless. "So, Mubuki came up with an idea. We'll select a representative within the Five Great Ninja Villages, sell the movies to them at an extremely low price, and let the representatives from other villages showcase them. As for how much they earn, it's none of our concern in the Grass Village. It's a beneficial deal for the Five Great Ninja Villages."

As he finished speaking, Nono felt a sense of relief. It appeared she hadn't been discovered. However, after a moment of hesitation, she inquired, "I heard that Elder Danzo was captured by the Grass Village once. Why does the Leader still want to cooperate with him?"

"Just for the money, nothing more," Akihiko shook his head, crossing his arms. "Even though I'm at odds with Danzo, I still highly value him. In the entirety of Konoha..." he grew a bit emotional, "Only Danzo is someone I respect. If we're going to collaborate, in my opinion, only Danzo is worthy."

"And, just to clarify, we didn't capture him. He visited the Grass Village and chose to stay because he liked it here," Akihiko corrected Nono with a serious tone.

Nono automatically tuned out Akihiko's shameless words. However, it seemed that Leader Akihiko held Danzo-sama in high regard. She was slightly stunned hearing Danzo-sama praise from Akihiko. Before she could respond, Akihiko continued.

"Well then, since you're not acquainted with him, let's put it aside. Send someone directly from the village to negotiate with Konoha." Akihiko yawned. "I'm heading back. Remember to get some rest too."

"Yes, thank you for your concern, Leader Akihiko," Nono replied with a gentle smile, nodding.

It wasn't until Akihiko's figure disappeared that she helplessly revealed a wry smile. She had almost thought she had been discovered. After a sigh of relief, Nono returned to her senses, gazing at the stack of documents in front of her. She sighed again, shook her head, and began organizing the papers.

While the atmosphere in the Grass Village was quite positive, the workload was substantial. After all, it even includes tasks from the Rain Village. It seems like the alliance between Grass and Rain was indeed close.

"The Rain Village's budget allocation request for water management—I need to ask him about this tomorrow. But why would they consult the Leader about Rain Village's matters? Moreover, regarding the education issue for Rain Village's children, is it necessary to involve the Leader in such a significant matter?" Nono muttered, perplexed. She couldn't comprehend why Hanzo, as the Rain Village leader, would seek advice from the Grass Village leader.

It seemed that Leader Akihiko was genuinely respected by many, even the leader of the Rain Village acknowledged him. During this time, she also realized that Leader Akihiko, despite being somewhat unorthodox and frugal, was indeed a respected and influential leader.

Unfortunately, she was a spy from Konoha. With a complex look in her eyes, Nono organized the files. She stretched lazily, her tight uniform accentuating her figure. "This should be enough. Time to go home."

As she spoke, she stood up, surveyed Akihiko's somewhat messy desk, shook her head helplessly, and tidied it up. Then, her gaze lingered on the intelligence laid out on the desk, eyes filled with complexity. Especially the prominently placed photograph of Danzo-sama. She muttered to herself, "I didn't expect the Leader to value Danzo-sama so much."

Speaking of Which, the leader intended to do business with Danzo-sama. So, did she need to inform Danzo-sama about this?

…

A few days later, in a certain underground location in Konoha. A ROOT ninja approached Danzo with urgency."Danzo-sama, there's a secret message!"

"Hmm? Has the intelligence finally arrived?" Seated on a stone chair with closed eyes, Danzo, upon hearing his subordinate's words, abruptly opened his eyes. His gaze, emitting a shinobi's dark aura, calmly stated, "Bring it here. Let me see."

"Yes!" As the subordinate handed over the secret intelligence, Danzo slowly opened it, glanced at it, and a cold smile played on his face. "Just as I thought."

The wandering miko had successfully infiltrated the Grass Village as he had requested, even becoming the assistant to the Grass Village leader, getting close to the center of power in the Grass Village.

Of course, how could his plan for secret infiltration fail? Danzo's lips curled slightly, and he continued to read.

The intelligence was succinct, so he finished reading it quickly. However, not long after he had finished, Danzo crumpled the paper into a ball with both hands. His eyes, filled with complex emotions, gazed into the distance. "I didn't expect you to still value me so much." Then, he snorted, "However, wanting to do business with me? Ridiculous thought!"

Did they think the same tactics would work on him again? That wandering miko might not see it, but this scheme, where the Grass Village would ask to pay first for business, was all too familiar to him.

Thinking of that staggering 150 million, his heart still ached. Therefore, in his mind, he had decided he would do business with anyone but these swindlers.

Just as he was on the verge of outright rejecting Nono, planning to instruct her to disregard such matters and to refrain from bothering him in the future with similar issues, a momentary pause took hold of him. While being captured had undeniably tarnished his reputation, considering the potential ramifications if a similar fate befell Hiruzen, he found a glimmer of hope.

Reflecting on this, Danzo's left eye brightened slightly, and the corner of his mouth lifted."Very well. Before incurring substantial losses, I will intervene on Hiruzen's behalf and shift the tide. Let him realize that Grass Village should not be underestimated, and decisive action must be taken against them."

At that moment, a Root ninja rushed in, respectfully stating, "Danzo-sama, the Hokage requests your presence."

"Hiruzen?" Danzo furrowed his brow. "Why summon me now? What could he possibly want?"

As his words echoed in the room, the Root ninja responded, "Someone from the Grass Village is on their way." After a brief hesitation, he added, "They wish to discuss business."

Danzo was momentarily taken aback. The Grass Village is already here?

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