Naruto: The Age of Ninja Swords Begins in Kumogakure

Chapter 27 Danzo Azo

"So they're really going to make a move against the Uzumaki clan?"

In an underground base in Konoha Village, Danzo Shimura looked at the intelligence he had just obtained with an extremely solemn expression.

"Go and invite the Hokage over. Tell him you have something important to discuss."

After thinking for a while, Shimura Danzo gave the instructions.

Soon a Root ninja left, and not long after, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived.

"What happened?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi also looked serious. He knew his friend well; he would usually come to the Hokage Building to discuss ordinary matters, but the fact that he had been asked to come here this time meant that it must be something very special.

"This information was obtained from Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village)."

Danzo Shimura handed over the two intelligence reports.

"The Hyuga main family's Byakugan, the Uzumaki's sealing technique, the Hidden Cloud Village and the Hidden Sand Village have joined forces."

After reading the two intelligence reports, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression became even more solemn. He analyzed three key points from them, especially the first two, which were very much in line with the style of Kumogakure.

"It's not just Kumogakure and Sunagakure that have the same idea about the Uzumaki Sealing Technique; Iwagakure and Kirigakure, which possess tailed beasts, must also have similar ideas."

Although according to the available information, they seem to have already produced a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki, but the Jinchuriki often go berserk, which is because the sealing technique is not powerful enough. They must want to obtain a sealing technique that can perfectly seal the Tailed Beasts.

This is an opportunity for us, and our last chance for the Uzumaki clan.

Danzo Shimura's eyes were sharp and cold. He needed Hiruzen's authorization to lead more Anbu ninjas to the Land of Whirlpools to eliminate the Uzumaki clan, a potential threat.

The sealing technique that can perfectly seal the tailed beasts is enough for Konoha alone; there is no need for a second one.

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not respond immediately. He took out his pipe, lit it, and quietly smoked, lost in thought.

He understood what his old friend meant. Over the years, he had invited the Uzumaki clan to migrate and integrate into Konoha three times in the name of the Hokage. In this way, they could obtain all of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, and he would also have more trump cards.

However, his good intentions were rejected by the Uzumaki clan. Now, the four great ninja villages have indeed set their sights on the Uzumaki clan. If the four great ninja villages obtain the Uzumaki Sealing Technique and create a perfect Tailed Beast Jinchuriki like Lady Mito, it will be a big problem.

"Lord Mito is getting on in years, and the village needs a young Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

After a long while, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke up and stated a goal, a goal that had to be accomplished.

Becoming a Jinchuriki of a Tailed Beast is no easy feat; it requires not only perfect sealing techniques but also a vast amount of chakra.

In particular, they possess the strongest Nine-Tails, which places even stricter requirements on the Jinchuriki. Currently, only members of the Uzumaki clan are qualified, and they must be direct descendants.

"I will bring back the best Jinchūriki."

Danzo Shimura smiled more; this was exactly what he had been waiting for, and he knew Hiruzen would definitely agree.

In fact, he understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's thoughts very well. Although he had invited the Uzumaki clan to relocate to Konoha three times before, he knew that Hiruzen did not actually want the entire Uzumaki clan to migrate here.

The problem lies with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. At present, only members of the Uzumaki clan's direct lineage are capable of being the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. If the entire Uzumaki clan were to migrate here, would the Nine-Tails belong to the village or the Uzumaki clan?

At this stage, Mito-sama's status as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has emboldened the Senju clan to act so arrogantly. Even Hiruzen almost lost his position as Hokage back then, and they haven't had much of a good time in recent years.

If the Uzumaki clan were to come, the Senju clan, who have a long-standing marriage relationship with them, would be in for a world of trouble!

If the Nine-Tails ends up in the hands of the Uzumaki clan, which is the same as the Senju clan, it will be too dangerous!

Therefore, it would be best if the entire Uzumaki clan disappeared, leaving only one person as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

However, this is something Hiruzen can't do; he has to do it himself.

In Konoha, Hiruzen is a leaf bathed in sunlight, while I am a root in the darkness!

"If they remain obstinate and inflexible, we must act discreetly and leave absolutely no trace."

Finally, he gave a solemn reminder: Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't have much patience left with the Uzumaki clan, but Lady Mito was still alive, and some things couldn't be done too obviously, otherwise, there would be big problems.

"Do I need you to remind me?"

Glancing sideways, Shimura Danzo naturally understood this principle: this operation absolutely could not be made public.

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't care about Danzo's attitude, knowing that his friend was just like that and was probably still holding a grudge about what happened back then.

They have been partners for decades. In fact, the Sarutobi clan and the Shimura clan were allies for many years during the Sengoku period and often cooperated in battle.

The Shimura family's Wind Release technique can be perfectly integrated with their Sarutobi family's Great Flame Technique, greatly increasing its power. Furthermore, he and Danzo had grown up together since childhood and had a life-or-death bond.

"Was it related to this information that you switched the teacher's Thor's Sword a few days ago?"

He then asked about another matter. A few days ago, Danzo Shimura suddenly went to the Hokage Building to look at the information and belongings left by his teacher. Out of curiosity, he went over to take a look and found that his teacher's Thunder God Sword had been switched.

He was puzzled at the time, unable to understand why his friend would do such a thing.

The fact that he suddenly obtained such important information, especially from the Hidden Cloud Village, made him wonder.

"That's not your concern!"

After glancing at his friend, Shimura Danzo naturally wouldn't reveal the truth; that was, in his opinion, a trump card at this stage.

Although I was quite annoyed by that brat's audacity and behavior, I could understand it.

Perhaps only someone with this kind of personality could survive in a place like Kumogakure; being overly cautious is not the mainstream style in Kumogakure.

With that kid's intelligence, his status in Kumogakure will definitely continue to rise in the future. If he can solve the problem of chakra aptitude, he might even become a high-ranking member of Kumogakure.

He could even assign some credits to that kid, such as intelligence on the Uchiha clan who were the main force in the war in the Land of Lightning, so that he could advance faster and higher in the Hidden Cloud Village and obtain more intelligence.

He is quite tolerant of talented and intelligent people like this.

Seeing that Danzo was unwilling to say more, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not press further, but he knew in his heart that his friend must have placed a good person in Kumogakure, and that the person's status must be quite high.

This is a good thing. Among the five great ninja villages, only the Hidden Cloud Village is purely militant, advocating external conquest and plunder, posing the greatest threat to Konoha.

Even our teacher died at the hands of the Hidden Cloud Village back then, so it's a good thing to be able to plant a high-level spy within them.

"Keep an eye on your people and don't let them cause any trouble. We finally managed to recover some of the teacher's belongings, and we can't afford to have news of them being stolen now."

He solemnly reminded them that the matter of the Thunder God's Sword could be a big deal or a small one, and if the Thousand Hands Clan used it to cause trouble, it would be very complicated.

With the Ninja World War about to begin, he didn't want any trouble to break out within Konoha.

"Are you teaching me how to do things?"

Shimura Danzo glanced at the kid again, still quite at ease with him, after all, he had the kid's bond in his hands.

A knife doesn't have to be sharp, as long as you can hold the handle!

Seeing his old friend's confidence, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt relieved. He then changed his expression and said in a slightly ingratiating tone, "Azo, lend me a few tens of thousands of taels more."

"Are you going to buy those random books again?"

Danzo Shimura's eyes held undisguised contempt and disdain. He knew all too well his old friend's little hobby, and that his friend had borrowed money from him many times over the years.

Before, you called me Danzo, but now you're calling me Azo. What kind of person do you take me, Shimura Danzo?

"No, I just wanted to buy some good tobacco leaves. You know, Biwako doesn't like me smoking, and she won't give me money to buy cigarettes."

Hiruzen Sarutobi resolutely rejected the idea. How could he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, read such filthy books? The book about the doorman, Sarutobi, in his office drawer was definitely not his.

(End of this chapter)