185 CH - 180 Minato's Betrayal?
In the end, Chiyo and the Sand Ninja departed in high spirits, in a hurry to convey the good news of their collaboration with the Grass Village back to their home. The departure was swift, perhaps fueled by the eagerness to share the news of the significant business deal they had secured.
Akihiko reluctantly bid them farewell, escorting the distinguished guests onto the train. He couldn't help but marvel at the success of the collaboration. This time the Sand Village had brought an even more substantial business deal than their agreement with Konoha.
Meanwhile, Hanzo, having received the order, also left alongside Chiyo. The journey back saw the two old rivals engaged in lively arguments, touching on topics ranging from ninjutsu to poison techniques, and even delving into discussions about Sasori and his puppetry skills.
The mention of Sasori caused a brief suspicion in Chiyo, given that her grandson shared the same name and had a talent for puppetry. However, her concerns were laid to rest upon learning that the 'Sasori' mentioned by Hanzo was an ordinary person and was working at a factory in the Land of Rain. She dismissed her doubts after hearing this, It couldn't possibly be her grandson. It was just an odd coincidence.
Akihiko, upon hearing this report, was thoroughly puzzled. While it was fine for Chiyo to praise her grandson, Why Hanzo was getting worked up so much, left him scratching his head. Why were they even arguing about this in the first place? He couldn't help but imagine the scene would take place when they would found out it was the same 'Sasori' they were talking about.
Nevertheless, Rock Village, seemingly encouraged by the collaboration between Sand and Grass Villages, promptly departed with their goods, marking the end of the successful venture. Akihiko couldn't help but feel a sense of celebration in the air, as everyone involved appeared delighted with the outcomes.
At this point, three out of the five major ninja villages had successfully established trade relations with Grass Village. However, rumors circulated that Mist Village remained under lockdown, even more so than Rain Village, making any attempts at cooperation with them impossible.
As for Cloud Village, despite witnessing collaborations between the three major ninja villages and Grass Village, they maintained a stubborn stance. It seemed they deemed Grass Village insufficiently qualified for cooperation with Cloud Village, displaying an indifference to the ongoing developments.
In the wake of the prolonged peace, the entire ninja world gradually emerged from the lingering effects of the Third Ninja War. Although some minor conflicts persisted in specific regions, the overall atmosphere in the ninja world was on an upward trajectory.
Meanwhile, the Land of Grass, having collaborated with the three major ninja villages and the three major nations, experienced an acceleration in its internal development. Intelligence reports from the three major nations indicated that the affordable and high-quality products produced by Grass Village were gaining popularity, bringing substantial wealth to the Land of Grass.
As time swiftly passed, nearly a year neared its end, bringing the gradual transition from summer's warmth to cooler weather. However, on this particular day, Akihiko found himself absent from Grass Village. He had been whisked away to the Land of Rain early in the morning by Hanzo.
The culmination of efforts from over ten thousand workers marked the near completion of the year-long construction of the water-sewer system in the Land of Rain. The occasion called for a grand celebration—a completion ceremony that Akihiko, as the Grass Village leader, was invited to witness.
The construction itself left him amazed—spacious, grand, and incredibly sturdy, resembling an underground city. But amidst the awe, Akihiko's attention was drawn to a peculiar sight—the towering statue erected in the center of the Land of Rain's underground square. The statue depicted a figure, seemingly ordinary at first glance, holding a hammer in the left hand and a shovel in the right, adorned with a sweat-drenched smile.
However, upon closer inspection, it bore a striking resemblance to White Zetsu's Clone. The Land of Rain sewer square was specially constructed to commemorate the completion of the Land of Rainwater project. Therefore, prompting Akihiko's perplexed thoughts on why such a statue stood prominently in this significant space.
At that moment, Hanzo's voice sliced through the air, drawing attention to the statue. "This sculpture is quite impressive. Sasori's craftsmanship is unexpectedly skilled. That old lady praising her grandson as more powerful is laughable. Our Sasori from the Land of Rain embodies optimism, positivity, and collective pride. Can her arrogant grandson even compare to her?"
He smirked disdainfully at Chiyo's supposed arrogance and looked at the statue with a sense of satisfaction. "Their contributions were crucial. Without them, this project wouldn't have wrapped up so swiftly. With this exceptional sewer system, even heavy rain won't flood the Land of Rain."
It had been just over a year since the war's end. The Land of Rain now basked in peace, free from the fear of ninja attacks, hunger, or cold. Even the water system was perfected, ensuring the region's safety during storms.
Reflecting on the time before the Third Great Ninja War when Akihiko sought collaboration with the Land of Rain, the Grass Village's reputation was abysmal. Initially met with overwhelming opposition from the Rain Ninjas, the Land of Rain hesitated to cooperate with the Grass Village.
Had Hanzo not intervened, disregarding Grass Village's negative reputation and silencing dissenting voices, relying on his authority as a legendary figure in the ninja world to choose to ally with Grass Village...
The Land of Rain might still have been embroiled in conflict. Where would it stand today? While he… not particularly adept at governing, He exhibited remarkable insight in assessing people.
Hanzo, with a sincere demeanor, revealed, "Despite the kids insisting on not receiving wages, the Land of Rain isn't one to be ungrateful. After negotiations, we decided to construct a giant statue in their honor—a token of gratitude and a commemoration of all they've done for the Land of Rain. It seems they bear a striking resemblance. Have they stumbled upon another extraordinary ninja clan? Regardless, it has significantly facilitated the statue project."
While he praised the statue, Hanzo keenly observed Akihiko's expression, he asked, "Oh, what's the matter? Do you find the statue so impressive that you want one for yourself? No worries, I'll have a word with Sasori later."
"...No, thank you," Akihiko responded, withdrawing his contemplative gaze. The longevity of these individuals, surviving for over a millennium, was now laid bare.
Thinking of Black Zetsu, the manipulator behind the scenes for centuries, Akihiko felt a twinge of pity. As the will of Kaguya's son and Hagoromo Otsutsuki's younger brother, Black Zetsu orchestrated the affairs of the ninja world for more than a thousand years. Even Uchiha Madara, a prominent figure in the ninja world, was under his control. Now... HE WAS reduced to a book spirit and was mockingly called 'Little Zetsu' by Uchiha Obito, and even a hundred thousand clones that were reserved for the final plan were now working on the surface.
Moreover, Akihiko personally had to ensure that Black Zetsu was the will of Madara and state that he actually resembled Madara with slight alterations. Otherwise, Uchiha Obito might question whether this peculiar being was truly the will of his revered Madara-sensei.
Sighing inwardly, Akihiko participated in the Land of Rain's celebration, addressing the crowd with a few words on stage. Grass Village's contribution to restoring peace in the Land of Rain earned him considerable popularity among the people of the Rain People.
Akihiko, preparing to depart, was interrupted by a White Zetsu clone rushing over, beaming with news. "Lord Akihiko, important information from Konoha!"
Intrigued, Akihiko turned back, urging the clone to continue. "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is in labor!"
Confused, Akihiko responded, "In labor? So what? Why is this information important?"
Considering Obito's preoccupation with studying Madara's ideology at the academy, Akihiko pondered, "Could it be... Danzo?"
White Zetsu, upon hearing Akihiko's speculation, paused briefly and then smiled, affirming, "Lord Akihiko is truly insightful."
Continuing, the clone added, "The Fourth Hokage and his disciple are being apprehended and investigated by ROOT."
Akihiko was shocked, "The Fourth Hokage's master and disciple? Minato and Kakashi? Why were they detained by ROOT for investigation?"
As the conversation unfolded, the White Zetsu clone scratched its head, cautiously stating, "It seems that ROOT operatives found a significant number of Grass Talent Plan brochures in the Fourth Hokage's quarters."
Akihiko was momentarily stunned by this, unsure of how to react to this. 'What in the world...'
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
.
.
.
You can read 10+ chapters ahead of everyone on my Patreon
p@treon.com/Kaiszer
(replace ' @ ' with ' a ' for the link
