Chapter 91: The Unusual Grass Village

The Third Hokage furrowed his brows as he read the urgent and grave plea for assistance sent by Moyo, the ruler of the Ghost Lamp City from the Grass Village.

"The seal of the Box of Ultimate Bliss seems to be loosening. We earnestly request the assistance of the Five Great Nations to save the Shinobi World from disaster!"

The Box of Ultimate Bliss, a legendary ultimate weapon from the Sage of Six Paths era, was said to grant any wish of the one who opens it. It is said that centuries ago, someone nearly conquered the Shinobi World using this box.

The Third Hokage had heard rumors of the Box of Ultimate Bliss since his youth, but he had never believed them. Still, the Grass Village's plea felt ominous to him.

The Grass Village, a small and humble village squeezed between the Rain, Rock, and Leaf Villages, had always been like a weed in the Shinobi World.

The Grass Village's way of surviving was to abandon dignity and prioritize survival, like grass flattened underfoot.

Because of conflicts with the Daimyo of the Land of Grass, the village couldn't get funding and had set up the Ghost Lamp City to imprison criminals from various countries, using their shinobi as guards to maintain the village's expenses.

Now, they were proactively seeking help from the Leaf and even the Five Great Hidden Villages, suggesting there was indeed a situation they couldn't handle themselves.

The Third Hokage handed the document to the nearby Homura Mitokado and asked in a deep voice, "Homura, what do you think?"

Pushing up his black-framed glasses, Homura Mitokado analyzed, "Given the Grass Village's usual conduct, they wouldn't dare deceive us, the Leaf. It seems they really have encountered a problem."

"Although there's no current intel that the Box of Ultimate Bliss has been opened, the other villages have shown a great deal of interest, and we can't lag behind."

The Third Hokage pondered, puffing on his pipe.

He had a lingering fear of the Six Paths' tools from the Tobirama squad days. Back when they were pursued by the Gold and Silver Brothers wielding five of these tools, they were in dire straits, forcing Tobirama to cover their retreat. 

The Third Hokage suspected that despite Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique, he likely died because of the unpredictable power of these tools.

"Moyo mentioned in his plea that the Cloud Village had dispatched the Third Raikage's son, the magnet-using ninja Troy, indicating Cloud Village's deep coveting of the Six Paths' tools."

"The Sand Village sent Chiyo and Third Kazekage's apprentice Rasa. Since losing their tailed beasts, their ambitions have grown."

"The Mist Village also agreed to send three from their Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Only the Rock Village remains inactive."

"We, the Leaf, must respond as well."

Summing up the intelligence, it seemed inevitable to support the Grass Village. With three of the Five Great Hidden Villages involved, the Leaf, as the leader of the Shinobi World, could not be absent.

Moreover, Moyo had always been on good terms with the Third Hokage. He had also aided the Leaf with troops during the last Shinobi War.

"Let's send Jiraiya and Sakumo Hatake. The shinobi sent by the other villages are all elites. If there's a conflict, we won't be at a disadvantage," suggested Homura Mitokado.

The Third Hokage worriedly shook his head, "Jiraiya went to Mount Myoboku to train in sage techniques and currently can't be contacted."

"Sakumo also took an S-rank mission recently and is currently accompanying the Fire Daimyo in the Land of Birds."

Tabulating the Leaf's stationed forces, the Third Hokage felt a wave of irritation. His three disciples: Orochimaru had become estranged from the village due to Danzo's antics and disappeared without a word months ago. Tsunade and Jiraiya were both training away in the immortal abodes and were unreachable.

"Bang!" The doors to the Hokage's office were abruptly pushed open, and Danzo stormed in with a sour expression.

The Third Hokage stood up, anger on his face. "Danzo, you are no longer the Hokage's advisor. You have no right to be in this office!"

Ignoring the Third Hokage's complaints, which he had heard over a thousand times, Danzo coldly spoke, "Send Uchiha Hanma. Based on Root's intel, the Box of Ultimate Bliss hasn't been opened in a century and is likely a ruse. Let him handle the errand."

Homura Mitokado narrowed his eyes and asked, "Given the Uchiha's current momentum, if the Box of Ultimate Bliss does exhibit power and Uchiha Hanma obtains it, we will be at a disadvantage."

The recent Uchiha movements had made the Leaf leadership, led by the Third Hokage, uneasy. Hanma had negotiated for the Uchiha to take on missions outside the village again, and the Uchiha in the police force had stopped clashing with village shinobi. The constraints Tobirama had placed on the Uchiha seemed entirely ineffective now.

Danzo snorted, not looking Mitokado in the eye, considering only the Third Hokage a peer.

The Third Hokage soothed the agitated Homura with a glance and pondered Danzo's motive, feeling a chill in his heart.

"Danzo, have you made up your mind?"

Staring at Danzo, the Third Hokage asked slowly.

Homura Mitokado also turned, his eyes flickering as he looked at Danzo.

"This time, I won't back down. With Uchiha Hanma absent, the Uchiha clan cannot rally. I will convince Lady Mito to let me inherit the Nine-Tails' power."

Danzo stared at the Third Hokage with firm determination.

The Third Hokage and Homura Mitokado looked at Danzo with complex expressions, yet felt a sense of relief deep down.

Finally, they found a candidate to become the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki.

Since Uzumaki Mito's conversation with the Third Hokage following the public opinion incident, her attitude towards the Leaf had subtly changed, appearing more scrutinizing.

This had made the Third Hokage and his peers very uneasy. The Nine-Tails within Uzumaki Mito was the most valuable asset the First Hokage had left for the Leaf.

If Uchiha Hanma were in the village, his presence and the potential involvement of Tsunade would make discussing the Nine-Tails with Mito and taking action risky. 

For the Third Hokage, the matter of the Nine-Tails was of utmost importance, brooking no mistakes.

After a lengthy deliberation, he slowly agreed to Danzo's request. The Nine-Tails far outweighed the potentially usable Box of Ultimate Bliss. Additionally, there were no suitable ninjas in the village to undertake the mission to the Grass Village. Jiraiya and others were away; Sakumo was on a mission. The other villages had sent younger ninjas, preventing the Third Hokage and his peers from acting. If the higher-ups engaged directly, it could escalate tensions, possibly igniting the Third Shinobi World War.

This balance of power dictated that the leaders from each village wouldn't personally step in unless it threatened to tip the scales radically.

"Prepare yourself then, Danzo."

"Becoming the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki is no simple task."

Danzo nodded grimly before turning to leave, resentment festering within. If not for the Third Hokage's softness granting Uchiha the breathing room, there'd be no need for concessions now.

Only by wielding the Nine-Tails' power could Danzo thoroughly suppress the Uchiha. Ascending to Hokage, he believed he could lead the Leaf to reign supreme in the Shinobi World.

Walking the village streets, Danzo glared at the distant Hokage Rock, a spine-chilling smile spreading across his face.