460. Danzō's Ambition

"Wow, Konoha is truly bustling!"

"No wonder it's the place that nurtured someone like Lord Danzō!"

Looking at the towering buildings and the bustling streets before him, Yahiko, the leader of the Land of Rain, who had been invited to visit Konoha, couldn't help but express his admiration.

Accompanying him were Konan, the chief secretary of the Land of Rain, and Nagato, the head of the Anbu Department.

"What do you think of this place?"

Yahiko nudged Nagato beside him, as this was Nagato's first time seeing Konoha after its reforms.

"It's really impressive," Nagato praised sincerely.

As the possessor of the Rinnegan and a descendant of the Uzumaki clan, Nagato's sensory abilities far surpassed those of ordinary people.

Thus, he could clearly feel the joy and contentment emanating from the hearts of Konoha's citizens.

This was enough proof that Konoha was now on the right path.

Not to mention the endless stream of new technologies and policies.

However...

"I'm still curious why Lord Danzō invited all three of us this time," Nagato voiced his doubts.

Normally, such diplomatic activities were handled by Yahiko and Konan.

The fact that he had been specifically invited this time suggested that there was something important to discuss.

Something so important that it required the presence of all three of them!

Yahiko and Konan both shook their heads.

"We're not sure either. We heard that the leaders of the Land of Rice, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Hot Water have also come," Konan said, looking somewhat nervous.

For Danzō to summon so many national leaders at once, the matter at hand must be extraordinary.

Yahiko, however, seemed carefree. He patted his companions on the shoulders and said with a smile:

"Relax! Lord Danzō wouldn't harm us, right?"

"Of course not."

As soon as Yahiko finished speaking, a hoarse yet steady voice tinged with amusement sounded from behind them.

The trio from the Land of Rain turned around to see Danzō's kind and composed face.

"Lord Danzō!" X3

The three of them bowed in unison.

Their respect and reverence for Danzō were deeply ingrained.

Without Danzō, the three of them, and perhaps the entire Akatsuki organization, would have been destroyed in that betrayal.

Not to mention defeating Hanzō of the Salamander, unifying the Land of Rain, and carrying out reforms to improve the lives of its people.

Danzō was the great benefactor of Akatsuki and the entire Land of Rain.

For someone like him, no amount of respect was too much.

However, Danzō disliked formalities and immediately waved his hand, signaling them to dispense with the courtesy.

"You must have taken a look around Konoha. What do you think? Any areas for improvement?" Danzō led the three to the top of the Hokage Monument, the highest point in the village, and asked with a smile.

"No, no, Konoha's prosperity has far exceeded my expectations."

"If only the Land of Rain could become like this one day," Yahiko said, squatting on the ground with a blade of grass in his mouth, grinning foolishly.

Now a national leader, he could only relax like this in front of someone like Danzō...

Hearing Yahiko's answer, Danzō nodded, then turned to the other two.

"What about you?"

Faced with Danzō's question, Konan and Nagato also shook their heads.

As orphans, they were acutely aware of the living conditions of the lower classes in the ninja world.

Thus, to them, Konoha's current state was nothing short of paradise. How could they possibly find any faults?

Even if there were any, it would be like nitpicking.

Danzō didn't seem entirely satisfied with their answers.

"What's wrong, Lord Danzō? Are you dissatisfied with the Land of Fire's development?"

Perhaps sensing Danzō's shift in mood, Nagato asked with some confusion.

Konoha was now the center of the ninja world, the undisputed leading nation.

Its technology, culture, commerce, and military strength were all far ahead.

Under such circumstances, how could the "Father of the Nation" still be dissatisfied?

Facing Nagato's confusion, Danzō sighed softly and said:
"I am not dissatisfied with the Land of Fire's development, but with the current state of the ninja world!"

"With the ninja world?"

Yahiko and Konan exchanged puzzled glances, while Nagato pondered the meaning behind Danzō's words.

"That's right, with the ninja world."

"As you know, my ambition has never been limited to a single village or nation, but encompasses the entire ninja world."

"Thus, bringing happiness to the people of the Land of Fire is only the first step. My ultimate goal is to ensure that all people in the ninja world can live peaceful and stable lives!"

Danzō's words were resolute, like a dazzling beam of sunlight piercing through the gloom shrouding the land!

Hearing this, Yahiko and the others couldn't help but feel stars shining in their eyes.

This, this is what you call vision and ambition!

Yes, this is vision and ambition!!

Without realizing it, Yahiko and the others stood a little taller, basking in Danzō's radiant presence.

Fortunately, Nagato, having served as the head of the Land of Rain's Anbu for so many years, remained rational and practical.

He immediately asked:
"What does Lord Danzō plan to do next?"

To this question, Danzō gave his answer without hesitation.

"If we want to bring true peace and stability to the entire ninja world, and allow everyone to enjoy advanced technology and systems, there is only one way..."

"Unification."

Danzō's voice was soft as he spoke, but the final word struck the three like a thunderclap.

"Uni... unification?"

Yahiko looked at Danzō with disbelief.

Nagato, on the other hand, quickly fell into deep thought.

"That's right. The reason the ninja world has been plagued by so many conflicts is primarily due to the existence of nations."

"Nations fight over resources, making it impossible for them to unite and collaborate, and to allocate the ninja world's resources fairly."

"For example, the Land of Wind lacks water resources, so they invade the Land of Rain."

"While the Land of Rain has abundant water, it lacks food and is weak in national power, leaving it vulnerable to constant invasion and plunder, which leads to war."

"The same applies to other nations. Each nation has its own interests, and when conflicts accumulate to a certain point, war breaks out."

"This is the result of nations being unable to unite and cooperate, leading to mutual suspicion."

"If the entire ninja world were unified, a joint government could allocate these resources."

"By building roads, digging tunnels, and regulating water distribution, we could prevent conflicts from arising and accumulating, thereby indirectly preventing war!"