That's right—Han, the Five-Tails Jinchūriki, was not killed by Konoha's forces.
Instead, he was sealed and brought back to Konoha after the war.
Currently, he was being held in the deepest levels of Root's prison.
At Danzo's request, only a few individuals knew about this, and even Jiraiya was under a gag order.
Of course, Jiraiya would likely report it to Hiruzen Sarutobi,
But Danzo was confident that he and his old friend had a silent understanding on this matter.
Publicly, Konoha had declared that Han had been killed, and that the Five-Tails had returned to the wild.
After all, there was a huge difference between a dead Tailed Beast and a captured one.
Since the original distribution of Tailed Beasts had been personally decided by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju,
If the international community found out that Konoha had captured the Five-Tails, there would be severe backlash and fear.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't stupid—he would never expose this secret voluntarily.
After Hiruzen and the two Elder Advisors left, Shisui appeared outside Danzo's hospital room.
"Come in."
With Danzo's permission, Shisui entered, followed by Shimura Kabuto, who was carrying a fruit basket.
"Sensei!"
Kabuto ran over excitedly.
Seeing the white-haired boy, the cold expression on Danzo's face softened, replaced by a faint smile.
"Kabuto, have you been studying well while I was away?"
Kabuto nodded enthusiastically, his white hair swaying.
"Of course, Sensei! I've even started helping with minor injuries at Konoha Hospital!"
"Also, I've been studying the biology and industrial knowledge you assigned me!"
"But… some of it is really difficult…"
Kabuto no longer had the timid, orphaned demeanor he once carried.
Now, he was like an ordinary child, eagerly sharing his progress with his guardian.
Of course, if other parents saw Kabuto's level of talent, they would probably be drooling with envy.
Even Danzo himself was shocked at Kabuto's exceptional medical ninjutsu aptitude.
After listening to Kabuto's report, Danzo rubbed his head approvingly.
"Good, good! Well done. When I have time, I'll take you to Ichiraku Ramen."
Kabuto's eyes immediately lit up with excitement.
"Ichiraku Ramen?! Yay!"
Shisui, watching their joyful interaction, hesitated to interrupt.
But Danzo noticed that Shisui had something to report.
He lightly flicked Kabuto's forehead and said:
"Your senpai and I have something to discuss. Go play outside for a bit."
"Oh."
Kabuto scratched his head.
Then, he pulled out a copy of "Human Anatomy" from his shoulder bag and began reading intently.
Seeing this, Shisui couldn't help but smile.
"Kabuto really loves learning."
Danzo chuckled as well.
"As long as he enjoys it. But you, as his senior, should also take him out more."
"Knowledge isn't just in books—it's also in the world."
Shisui nodded seriously.
"I understand, Sensei."
Seeing his serious demeanor, Danzo patted his arm and said:
"Relax. Sit down and tell me what's on your mind."
Shisui didn't hesitate—he sat beside Danzo's hospital bed.
"Sensei, we received intel from Kirigakure."
"Sunagakure's offensive is weakening, and the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, has actively sought peace talks with Kirigakure."
Shisui quickly relayed Root's gathered intelligence.
Danzo was not surprised.
To him, in an era where the ninja world was moving toward peace, this negotiation was only natural.
After all, with other nations focusing on rebuilding, Sunagakure couldn't afford to keep fighting alone.
Besides, this war had already dragged on for too long.
Neither Kirigakure nor Sunagakure could hold out much longer.
At this point, it was simply a matter of who had the stronger will to fight.
"Looks like Rasa isn't up to the task. What is Kirigakure demanding in return?"
"Is it Pakura's head?"
Danzo casually guessed, basing it on the original storyline.
The moment he spoke, he saw Shisui's eyes widen in shock.
"Sensei, as expected of you! How did you guess that?"
Shisui asked, full of curiosity.
Danzo coughed a few times before responding with an air of certainty:
"Because Kirigakure lost a huge number of ninja to Pakura in this war."
"To pacify their internal anger, they need something valuable from Sunagakure in return."
"Pakura's head is the perfect bargaining chip."
Even so, Shisui frowned.
"But Pakura, the 'Scorch Release User,' is a celebrated war hero. There's no way Sunagakure would hand her over so easily, right?"
No sooner had he spoken than he heard his teacher let out a cold, disdainful laugh.
"Shisui, you still don't understand the darkness of human nature."
Danzo's expression was filled with contempt as he explained:
"Pakura isn't in danger because she fought poorly—she's in danger precisely because she fought too well."
"Huh?"
Despite all the political insight Shisui had gained under Danzo's tutelage, he was momentarily dumbfounded.
Fighting well leads to death? Fighting poorly is safer?
So strong warriors deserve to be betrayed?
Danzo then asked him a question:
"Shisui, what do you think of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa's performance on the battlefield?"
Shisui thought for a moment, then answered seriously:
"To be fair, the Fourth Kazekage is strong. If he hadn't faced you, Sensei, he probably wouldn't have lost so badly."
"But in terms of achievements… he's definitely inferior to Pakura."
Danzo tapped the armrest of his hospital bed and said:
"That's the key issue."
Shisui's expression shifted as realization dawned on him.
"Sensei… you mean the problem is that Rasa performed too poorly, while Pakura performed too well?"
"So her overwhelming success is actually threatening his position as Kazekage?"
"And he might take this opportunity to eliminate her?"
Though he grasped the reasoning, Shisui's tone carried hesitation.
His personal values made it difficult to accept such an act.
Danzo, seeing this, gave him a satisfied nod, like a teacher pleased with a bright student.
"Of course, this is just my speculation."
"It all depends on whether the Fourth Kazekage has the guts to go through with it."
As Danzo's analysis sank in, Shisui furrowed his brows deeply.
His mind raced, recalling intelligence reports about Sunagakure's internal situation.
With repeated war losses and the death of Elder Chiyo, the village was in chaos and full of discontent.
This was a serious political crisis for Rasa, who had only recently taken office.
Meanwhile, Pakura's victories against Kirigakure were piling up, bringing her fame and respect.
The stark contrast only made Rasa's reputation worse.
There were even whispers in Sunagakure suggesting Pakura should replace him as Kazekage.
Though those voices were quickly silenced, they had existed—like a shadow cast over Rasa's leadership.
As Shisui connected all the dots, his eyes darkened.
For the first time, he found himself thinking:
"Rasa might actually go through with this."
---
Meanwhile, inside the Kazekage's office, Rasa finally received Kirigakure's demand:
Pakura's head.
Only her blood could wash away Kirigakure's humiliation.
That was their condition for peace.
Upon reading the absurd demand, Rasa's first reaction was fury.
But then, he quickly calmed down.
Just as Root's intelligence had suggested, the resentment within Sunagakure was growing.
Though opposition against him wasn't open rebellion, it was still like needles piercing his heart.
Rasa looked out at the village, wrapped in yellow sand, his gaze turning colder and colder.
"I have no choice, Pakura."
"Sunagakure can't afford any more instability."
"Only your sacrifice can bring peace to the village."
With that, Rasa made his decision.
A sealed letter was swiftly sent across the vast desert of the Land of Wind,
Arriving in the hands of Pakura, the hero of Sunagakure's front lines.
(1.5k Power Stones, LFG)
_
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