Chapter 79 - Sarutobi Hiruzen's Unease
Hearing Mitokado Homura's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo exchanged a glance. Now was not the time for the two of them to argue.
"For the two advisors to come personally, it seems the matter is not small."
Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent for a brief moment, then spoke with a chuckle.
"Of course the matter is not small. Kiri is now demanding an explanation from us. If not for Kiri's questioning, we would still not know what happened until now!"
"A dignified clan patriarch died at the hands of Konoha. Why were we not told about such a major event!"
Mitokado Homura looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo with a face full of dissatisfaction, his tone somewhat unkind.
"It is merely a Kiri ninja; the two advisors are making too much of a fuss."
Danzo let out a light snort and spoke in a low voice.
Hearing Danzo's words, Mitokado Homura turned his head directly, staring at Danzo, and said in a cold tone:
"Do not tell me you did not know about the bounty released by Kiri half a month ago."
"The content of that bounty alone is enough to prove the importance of this person, Kinoshita Jiro, to Kiri. Danzo, do you think I do not know that members of Root left the village some time ago?"
Standing beside Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, who had not spoken until now, also spoke in a stiff tone:
"On our way here, we have already questioned Iruka, and the general situation is already clear."
"Although our relationship with Kiri cannot be called good, it has been peaceful. If the relationship between Konoha and Kiri deteriorates because of this matter, who will take responsibility!"
Feeling the gaze of Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, Danzo's face turned dark.
Even if he did not want to admit it now, he had to say that the possibility of him doing this was the highest. After all, it was not the first time he had done such things.
However, not a single Root ninja he dispatched had returned, so the information Danzo knew was not much, and he could not even make a basic judgment.
"Before Kakashi wakes up, it is hard to make a conclusion on this matter."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes flickered slightly. He took a few hard puffs of his pipe, looked at Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, and spoke with a smile.
The several people present could be said to have spent more than half their lives together. If anyone had any thoughts, they could probably be seen at a glance.
Danzo pressed down hard on the cane in his hand, looked at Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, and said in a cold tone:
"Although the matter of Kiri is difficult to handle, it is probably not a big problem for the two of you, so there is no need to beat around the bush."
Having been exposed by Danzo with a single remark, Mitokado Homura did not look embarrassed and remained indifferent:
"As far as I know, before Kinoshita Jiro died, he handed a scroll to your Root personnel. I wonder if you can take it out?"
What!
A look of surprise appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face; he actually did not know about this matter.
"Before coming here, I made a special trip to the hospital. I obtained a lot of useful information from a Genin named Haruno Sakura."
"Iruka is indeed a good teacher, but he is not very good at gathering intelligence."
Seeming to sense Sarutobi Hiruzen's surprise, Utatane Koharu spoke with a smile.
After listening to Utatane Koharu's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression became somewhat ugly. However, before Sarutobi Hiruzen could speak, Danzo's voice rang out from the side.
"The scroll is not with me. Whether the Root ninjas have returned or not is not difficult to check, but thinking about it now, they are likely dead."
Danzo's eyes narrowed slightly. Although there were only a few words, Danzo had already analyzed the general situation.
For a moment, the entire Hokage's office became somewhat quiet.
"Who did it?" Mitokado Homura spoke in a low voice.
"Suna, Kumo, Iwa, or other small ninja villages?" Utatane Koharu's tone was somewhat unkind.
Danzo's words did not seem like lies. If that was truly the case, then the Root ninjas must have been attacked by another ninja village.
As for Kiri, it was the first to be ruled out by the four people present. After all, who would use a clan patriarch as bait?
Regarding the bounty on Kinoshita Jiro, it had been released for more than half a month. Furthermore, Kakashi's team's mission was also temporary.
Unless someone in Kiri could foresee the future, the possibility of it being Kiri was almost negligible.
More importantly, the current strength of Kiri could be said to be on par with Suna. With such strength, even Sarutobi Hiruzen did not believe Kiri dared to provoke Konoha.
"I am afraid only Kakashi has a general understanding of this matter. Before Kakashi wakes up, I will have to trouble the two advisors with the negotiations with Kiri for the time being."
A trace of worry flashed through Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes. For some reason, Sarutobi Hiruzen had a very bad feeling deep in his heart.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged a glance. The two of them had already heard the intention of dismissal in Sarutobi Hiruzen's words.
"Until this matter is completely clarified, Hiruzen, Danzo, the two of you need to take responsibility for this."
Utatane Koharu spoke coldly, then turned and left together with Mitokado Homura.
"A mere Kiri makes these two feel so restricted; it seems they have truly grown old."
Watching the retreating figures of the two, Danzo let out a dissatisfied cold snort!
A long time has passed since the Third Ninja World War, and the strength of every ninja village has largely recovered.
In Danzo's eyes, the next Ninja World War could erupt at any time. Before the war broke out, constantly weakening the strength of other ninja villages was the righteous path.
"During this period, it is best for Root not to make any moves. Also, regarding the Jinchuriki matter, do not mention it again in the future."
After a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke in a flat tone, his pipe in his mouth.
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Danzo's expression became somewhat ugly. He knew that Sarutobi Hiruzen was using the Kiri matter to negotiate conditions with him.
Regardless of whether he sent people to kill Kinoshita Jiro, Danzo had already taken the blame for this, because he was the Root buried underground.
"Fine, but Hiruzen, you are still too soft-hearted!"
Danzo spoke in a cold voice, then turned and walked towards the door.
Watching Danzo leave, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed lightly. He naturally understood the meaning behind Danzo's words.
Given the strength Kiri had displayed in recent years, it simply could not be mentioned in the same breath as Konoha. Konoha could completely ignore the pressure from Kiri.
However, the things Danzo did in private were becoming increasingly unscrupulous. Danzo probably wanted to do this as well this time, only to have some unknown ninja intercept the opportunity in the end.
"Is handing Root over to Danzo really the right thing to do? Moreover, the ninja world recently seems somewhat unsettled..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, a look of worry on his face.
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