[A/N] Support & Read Up to 10 Advanced Chapters on Patreon!!

  ...

  "Fourth Hokage, you will regret this!"

  In the end, Danzo slunk away.

  However, the expression on his face as he departed suggested that he was merely biding his time, plotting something in the shadows.

  Minato rubbed the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I truly don't uand… why Danzo-elder holds such deep prejudice against the Uchiha."

  Minato g the group photo taken during his inauguration as the Fourth Hokage, which sat on his desk.

  He suddenly noticed that Fugaku, the Uchiha head, and Danzo were standio each other in the photo.

  "If only everyone in Konoha… could be as seemingly united as they appear in this photograph."

  "Kaigetsu-kun, e take a look at this photo. Fugaku- head and Danzo-elder are standing side by side." Minato turhe photograph around.

  The extent of the internal division within the vilge momentarily filled him with a sense of mencholy.

  "No, Minato, if I were you, I wouldn't describe their positions like that," Gojo Kaigetsu said, casually gng at the photo.

  "Then how should I describe it? Danzo-elder and Fugaku- head are standing together?"

  "I would say, the first person from the left is Fugaku- head, and the seventh person from the right is Danzo-elder."

  "..." Minato took a deep breath. "Kaigetsu-kun, I know you're full of ideas. Tell me, is there any possibility that the Uchiha d Danzo-elder could achieve a grand reciliation?"

  Gojo Kaigetsu gave Minato a look that could only be described as one reserved for a plete fool. "That possibility… Minato, you might as well hope for the Raikage to issue a statement urging ninjas to read more books, g that knowledge ge destiny."

  "..."

  Minato chuckled awkwardly, then said meaningfully, "The Roanization under Danzo-elder's trol is also a part of Konoha. Let him take Root to observe the first post-Third Shinobi World War mission outside the vilge, guided by Kaigetsu-kun."

  "After witnessing the results, Danzo-elder might settle down a bit."

  "Ah, Minato, you're still too kind."

  "Enough, I'm the Hokage!"

  The two exged smiles, the air filled with a sense of camaraderie.

  Seizing the opportunity, Minato asked, "I've already issued the mission ing Kirigakure in the name of the Hokage."

  "Acc to iigations, apart from Kirigakure, the other freat Shinobi Vilges seem to be experieng internal turmoil, though it hased to the point of rebellion."

  "Kaigetsu-kun, what do you pn to write for the article on the front page of 'Iki'?"

  "That…"

  Gojo Kaigetsu stroked his , lost in thought.

  His initial pn was to focus on exploiting Kumogakure relentlessly. However, sidering the current u across the shinobi world, he had some new ideas.

  First, there was the Land of Earth. It was too… earthy, and Gojo Kaigetsu wasn't particurly ied. Moreover, Iwagakure and Kumogakure had a deep-seated rivalry, which could be used to keep each other in check.

  He decided to set the Land of Earth aside for now.

  Then there were Kirigakure and Sunagakure.

  Kirigakure was already being targeted. Plus, with the uping joint operatioween Konoha and Kumogakure to exploit them further, it wouldn't be wise to push them too hard, lest they retaliate desperately against Konoha.

  After sidering all options, only Sunagakure remained.

  Sunagakure had been a signifit source of lost prosperity during the previous Shinobi Wars. Now was the time for payback.

  Gojo Kaigetsu cleared his throat. "I have a pn that plunge Sunagakure into internal flict!"

  "What?!"

  Minato’s eyes lit up. "Have you already e up with the article?"

  "Yes. If this article had been published in the first issue, the people of Sunagakure might have scoffed at it."

  "But after two issues of 'Iki,' their sophisticated ninjas, nobles, pacifists, and merts are likely already yearning for the Konoha depicted in the magazine."

  "Therefore, even if the article cims something outndish, they will still be ined to try it."

  Gojo Kaigetsu wished he had a fan in hand. It would have perfectly plemehe dramatic atmosphere.

  "Don't keep me in suspense!"

  "The title of the article is-'Konoha's Kunai Must Be Washed Seven Times.'"

  "?"

  Gojo Kaigetsu's creative juices were flowing. He spoke clearly and rapidly:

  [In Konoha, there is a ninja tool shop.]

  [A vagrant vilger from Sunagakure, living in Konoha, like the Konoha vilgers, washes kunai at the ninja tool shop in his spare time to earn a living.]

  [There is an unwritten rule in Konoha's ninja tool shops: all ninja tools must be washed seven times with water. The kunai washing job is paid per piece.]

  [This vagrant vilger earned very little after a long day's work. So, he had a brilliant idea: he started washing the kunai one or two times less.]

  [As expected, his work efficy greatly improved, and he earhe shopkeeper's favor, leading to a rapid increase in his wages. The Konoha vilgers who also washed kunai to earn a living asked him for his secret. He didn't hide it, saying, "Look, is there any differeween a kunai washed seven times and one washed five times? Just wash it two times less." The Konoha vilgers mumbled in agreement but gradually distahemselves from him.]

  [The owner of Ninja Tool Shop had two prerequisites for judging people: first, they had to be i; sed, they had to be ho. Therefore, the shopkeeper only occasionally ied the kunai washing process.]

  [During one iion, the shopkeeper used chakra to detect that the kunai hadn't been washed enough times and questiohe Sunagakure vilger. He argued, "Doesn't washing it five times instead of seven still keep the kunai ?" The shopkeeper simply said, "You are a disho person. Please leave."]

  [The Sunagakure vilger walked onto the street, indignant… To make a living, he applied for a kunai washing job at another ninja tool shop in the vilge.]

  [The shopkeeper sized him up for a while before saying, "You're that Sunagakure vilger who only washes kunai five times, right? I'm sorry, we don't need you!" He faced reje at the sed shop, the third shop… He hit a wall everywhere he went.]

  [Not only that, but his ndlord soon asked him to move out because his "reputation" was ively impag the work of other tenants (mostly Konoha vilgers).]

  [The official in charge of fn affairs also spoke to him, hoping he would move to another try because he was affeg Konoha's atmosphere… Left with no choice, he packed his belongings and moved to another nation, starting over from scratch.]

  [He bitterly warher Sunagakure vilgers who po make a living in Konoha, "When washing kunai in Konoha, you must wash them seven times!"]

  [Upon hearing this story, a high-ranking official in the Land of Wind, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "My first rea upon hearing this was shame, followed by refle."]

  ["We should be ashamed of our vilgers, of our citizens' dishoy."]

  ["We should refle whether Konoha's invincibility in the Shinobi Wars is reted to their practice of washing kunai seven times with water."]

  ["Because a kunai washed seven times represents the vilge's unity and ehe sharpness of the metal for killing enemies."]

  ...

  Support and Read 10 Advance Chapters, Ahead of Others!!https://[email protected]/dragonnx

  [Repce '@' with 'a' to Access Patreon Normally]