Chapter 54: Danzo, Eager to Take the Blame

Chapter 54: Danzo, Eager to Take the Blame

"How could you possibly have such a thought?"

Kakashi looked at Chiba with utter horror.

Danzo...
Had that man already made contact with Chiba?
Of course.
A genius like Chiba shone like the bright moon in Konoha; who could possibly turn a blind eye to him?
Danzo had always harbored immense ambition and would certainly want to recruit him.

Kakashi quickly put on a serious expression and said, "That man is no good. You mustn't believe a word he says!"

"Ahem, Teacher, that's not what I meant. What I mean is that since the ninja tools were taken by Danzo, we can conduct our research in secret and stall for as much time as we can."

Chiba lowered his voice to explain his plan.

Kakashi's gaze flickered rapidly.
He understood what Chiba was getting at, but...
This kind of trick could never fool anyone. Besides, Danzo essentially represented Konoha as well; his confiscation of the ninja tools was no different from Konoha confiscating them.

That was Kakashi's initial thought.
However.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he realized it was actually quite different.
Chiba wasn't refusing to return them; he simply wanted to study them thoroughly before giving them back. Furthermore, the Artisan Village was clearly in the wrong this case, so they certainly wouldn't dare to make a loud fuss.
This way, everyone would have a graceful way out.
The only sacrifice would be Danzo's reputation.
Yet, as the Darkness of the Shinobi World, he didn't have much of a positive reputation to speak of in the outside world anyway. This matter was a mere trifle to Danzo.

Scratching the back of his head, Kakashi said, "Well, ahem, I'll discuss this with the Hokage when we get back, but you shouldn't make a habit of scheming like this, kid."

"Opportunities like this are rare, and this time we're in the right," Chiba said in a low voice.

Kakashi nodded softly.
As a former ANBU captain, he was not rigid and knew that certain methods were necessary.
Researching ninja tools could never be completed in a day or two; the longer they had, the greater Konoha's benefits would be.
It truly was a rare opportunity.

Provoked by Chiba in this manner, both Kakashi and Tenten felt an urgent desire to return home.
Kazuha...
She didn't have much interest in ninja tools, but she was entirely focused on getting back to practicing her swordsmanship and didn't want to waste any more time on the road.

The four of them consumed military ration pills and set off running back toward Konoha.
By dusk, they had returned to the village and went to report to the Third Hokage.

Kakashi first summarized the events roughly.
Afterwards, he initially intended to let Chiba and the others leave first so he could explain the situation to the Third in private, but Chiba also had something to say.

"Lord Hokage, the chakra steel you promised me last time hasn't been used yet, right?"
"..."
The Third Hokage let out a helpless sigh and nodded.
"Don't use it in a rush. Wait until we make some headway with our research, and we can test it with the chakra steel then."

Chiba chuckled softly.
The Third waved his hand, signaling them to head out first.
He and Kakashi had more important matters to discuss.

Chiba exited as instructed. The moment he stepped out of the Hokage's office building, his right arm was grabbed.
"Tenten, what are you doing?"
"Chiba-kun~ You... you got your hands on chakra steel. Can you let me try working with it?"
Tenten's voice was soft and sweet, carrying a hint of spoiled pleading.

Kazuha blushed as she watched from the side.
Tenten was being...
So bold!
Besides.
That was chakra steel! To ask to try working with it—only she could come up with such an idea.

"Of course you can. But I need to forge a blade and a steel wire capable of channeling chakra. During this time, you should study and research hard."
"That's wonderful! I will!"
Tenten clenched her fists in excitement.
The chakra steel was right in front of her; she had to consider whether this might be the only chance of her lifetime.

After the initial excitement, she inevitably felt a touch of emotional stirring and timidity.
"No, maybe we should forget it. This is precious chakra steel. Even Lord Hokage probably doesn't have much of it. What if I waste it?"
"Don't worry," Chiba comforted her, then added, "If you're afraid, that's all the more reason to work hard and improve yourself."
"Mm!"
Tenten nodded heavily.

She needed to go back and study ninja tools.
Rest?
She would talk about rest after the research was complete.

Kazuha opened her mouth as if to speak, but stopped.
"Rest assured, Tenten isn't someone who easily yields. Pressure will only give her more motivation."
"No, I just meant that after all, it's chakra steel," Kazuha said softly.
"If we can cultivate an outstanding ninja craftsman, what is a little chakra steel compared to that? Tenten has the talent and aptitude in this field, so I should support her."
Chiba stretched lazily. "Let's go, let's head back and rest. Tomorrow is likely to be very busy."

*That's just you,* Kazuha thought silently to herself.
She knew very well that although Chiba-kun appeared to be merely a Genin, he was already worlds apart from them. If not for that, the Third Hokage wouldn't have deliberately built a squad centered around him.
And even.
Brought in Hatake Kakashi.
The Copy Ninja.
She couldn't help thinking of Yuuichi, and then let out a soft chuckle.

"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking that both Teacher Kakashi and you, Chiba-kun, excel at learning others' techniques. In the future, the title of the Copy Ninja might just end up belonging to you."
"Unlikely."
Copying was the most low-level approach.
Digest the enemy's techniques and transform them until they belonged entirely to you—that was the true skill.
Chiba added silently in his heart.

In front of the Hokage building, he parted ways with Kazuha, and each returned home.

Upstairs.
The Third Hokage watched them leave, took a deep puff from his pipe, and then asked, "The Four Symbols Celestials? Whose hands are their ninja tools in?"
"Tenten's. She wants to study ninja tools, and she has extraordinary talent in this area," Kakashi said, mentioning Tenten's "ninja tool notebook."
Although it imitated Chiba's approach, the contents inside were entirely Tenten's original creations; this talent was impossible to conceal.

As the Third was pondering this, Kakashi voiced "his own" thoughts.
Hearing this, the Third gave a wry smile and said, "Kakashi, this was Chiba's idea, wasn't it?"
"Ahem."
Kakashi gave a light cough. "Regardless, this is a course of action beneficial to Konoha. Furthermore, it is a fact that the Four Symbols Celestials attempted to ambush our ninja squad and instigate a war between the Land of Iron and the Land of Fire."
"If you hadn't noticed that something was amiss and another ninja squad had taken the mission, they certainly wouldn't have made it back."
The Third nodded gravely.
"Yes."
Kakashi did not act falsely modest.
Because it was the truth.
The Kiyota clan and the Four Symbols Celestials had been dealt with so cleanly this time not only due to Kakashi's peerless strength, but also because he and Chiba had deployed strategies to divide and conquer them one by one.
An ordinary squad simply couldn't have pulled it off.

"The Artisan Village is indeed in the wrong, and I'm not afraid of them, but I worry that other hidden villages might have ulterior motives," the Third stated, revealing his concerns.
The Four Great Ninja Tools were fine treasures, and everyone coveted them. The reason no one had made a move for all these years was due to mutual restraint; no one dared to be the first to spark a war.
He feared this might be a poisoned bait.

Kakashi pondered for a moment and was about to reply when—
"Hiruzen, I actually think that brat's idea is quite good."
"The ones who were ambushed this time were us; we are the victims. What is there for you to worry about? At the very worst, we can drag it out for a while and use them for research."
"Retreating is not a solution."

A voice came from outside the door.
Then, Danzo pushed the door open and entered.
Kakashi furrowed his brow slightly.
The Third raised his pipe, puffing smoke to mask his expression, and then waved his hand to signal Kakashi to withdraw first.
Next came matters between him and Danzo.