Naruto - Leader of Kusagakure

"Is the factory ready?" Danzo's voice was calm but firm as he sat in his office, the dim light casting long shadows across the room.

"Yes, Danzo-sama," the Root ninja replied, bowing slightly. "The facility has been established within the village in the old Uchiha district. We made sure everything was built according to your specifications. So, there shouldn't be any issues."

Danzo nodded, his face unreadable, but a flicker of satisfaction crossed his eyes. "And the hiring process?" he asked, his tone steady.

"We've handled that as well, Danzo-sama. Every recruit has been carefully screened for loyalty and trustworthiness. We ensured no Grass Village ninjas infiltrated the ranks," the Root ninja answered confidently, standing tall.

Danzo's lips curled into a faint smile at the report. "Good. Security is paramount."

He paused for a moment, tapping his fingers on the armrest of his chair, before turning his gaze back to the Root ninja. "And the raw materials?"

The Root ninja hesitated, his confidence faltering. "Well, Danzo-sama... we've secured suppliers for the raw materials, but there is an issue. They haven't agreed to your terms yet, so the negotiations are still ongoing." He spoke carefully, gauging Danzo's reaction.

"Keep negotiating! Inform them that if they agree to our terms, I will offer a 10% discount on future missions commissioned through Konoha. If they refuse..." Danzo's voice trailed off as he let out a cold snort, tapping his cane against the floor with a cold expression. "Then they have only themselves to blame for the consequences."

"Understood!" The Root ninja's face hardened with resolve at Danzo's command. He quickly turned and stormed off to carry out the orders.

Did those foolish merchants think they could defy the Root without consequence? The Root ninja understood the gravity of the situation and knew better than to act recklessly. Any misstep could jeopardize Danzo's carefully laid plans, and he would not risk incurring Danzo's wrath.

"Continue the negotiations," Danzo commanded, his voice cold and calculating. "Inform them that if they accept, I'll offer a 10% discount on any future missions they commission through Konoha. But if they refuse..." He paused, letting out a low, contemptuous snort as he tapped his cane sharply against the floor. "Then they'll have no one to blame but themselves when I show them just how ruthless I can be."

"Understood, Danzo-sama." The Root ninja replied with a sharp nod, his face hardening in resolve. Without another word, he swiftly turned and left, determined to carry out his orders with precision.

These merchants were fools if they thought they could challenge the Root without consequences. The Root ninja knew all too well how seriously Danzo took this matter—and the consequences of failure. He moved quickly, knowing that any misstep could jeopardize the plans Danzo had carefully put into motion.

Danzo watched the Root ninja disappear into the distance, a deep sigh escaping his lips as a sense of unease settled over him. Shaking his head, he hardened his expression once more. This operation had to succeed—there was no room for error.

Any failure would be disastrous. He had spent years meticulously amassing the necessary funds, and if it all fell apart now, it would only serve to strengthen Grass Village's position. That's why he had poured so much into the factory—investing in top-tier equipment, defying Hiruzen's orders, and even risking his relationship with the Daimyo. Every move had been calculated, and it was all riding on the success of this venture.

He had also implemented the strictest security protocols. After all, Grass ninjas were notorious for their lack of honor, and he wouldn't put it past them to attempt sabotage, especially once the factory opened. Danzo knew that the smallest mistake could unravel everything, and he was determined to ensure that everything ran flawlessly.

Regrettably, Danzo couldn't channel all of the money he had accumulated into this operation. Orochimaru had been relentless, insisting that his experiments were at a critical juncture. The promise of success, with the power to crush their enemies and exact long-awaited vengeance, was too tempting to ignore. After all, it was never too late to seek revenge.

Hiruzen was growing weak, and Konoha was crumbling under the weight of its own decline. Only Danzo saw the path to restoring the village to its former glory. He was not yet old; Danzo Shimura still had aspirations, still had dreams.

The success of Root Daily had only further reinforced his belief that the Grass ninjas, despite their cunning and treachery, were not invincible.

Danzo was no longer the man he once was. His eyes burned with a fierce intensity, his grip tightening on his cane as he whispered to himself, "I am the shadow that carries Konoha's darkness."

His voice reverberated in the underground chamber, heavy and oppressive, as though the very walls were bearing witness to his determination.

At that moment, a Root ninja rushed in. "Danzo-sama, Mr. Kado has arrived!"

"Oh, that one?" Danzo's eyes flicked toward the ninja as he shifted his attention back to the present.

Danzo held the wealthy merchant from the Land of Waves in high regard. Kado was perceptive, capable, and notably free from Grass Village's entanglements. Most importantly, he was greedy enough to align with Danzo's own ambitions. Were Kado a Konoha ninja, Danzo would have long since recruited him as his trusted right-hand man.

Though Kado wasn't part of Konoha, Danzo still considered him an invaluable partner. He recognized the importance of maintaining the right professional decorum.

With a steady gaze, Danzo lifted his head, his expression unyielding. "Prepare a banquet."

Without another word, he turned and strode out, the heavy silence of the room settling in his wake.

…

Before long, in a lavishly decorated private room, Kado eagerly poured a drink for Danzo.

"Come on, Brother Danzo, try this! This is top-tier sake from Grass Village—the Grass Special Edition. Just this small bottle costs 1.8 million!" Kado grinned widely as he poured the golden liquid into a delicate glass.

He leaned in slightly, clearly proud of his rare acquisition. "Not only is it expensive, but it's also incredibly rare. They say only a million bottles were ever produced, so with every bottle consumed, one less remains in the world. I went to great lengths and spent a fortune to have this brought all the way from Grass Village."

Hearing that the sake was from Grass Village, Danzo's eyelid twitched ever so slightly, but he chose not to acknowledge it. Instead, he smiled and said in a calm, measured tone, "Is it that precious? Then I must savor it properly."

He lifted the glass Kado had poured for him, his expression neutral. Though his disdain for anything related to Grass Village ran deep, Danzo knew well that Kado had his own business dealings with them. Merchants, after all, would flock to where the profits were, no matter the source.

Taking a sip, Danzo nodded thoughtfully, "The flavor lingers on the palate, endlessly memorable. It's smooth going down, and the aftertaste is surprisingly refined. Not bad at all."

Kado beamed at the praise, clearly pleased, and Danzo saw it as the right moment to steer the conversation. "Kado, my friend," he said, his tone shifting slightly, "what brings you here today?"

"Hahaha, indeed, I do have some business to discuss with you, Brother Danzo!" Kado chuckled, his tone light but his eyes sharp. He glanced around the room, lowered his voice, and continued, "I've heard you're planning to open a factory soon?"

He offered a warm smile, almost as if to soften the weight of his next words, "First, let me congratulate you. But..." He paused, his smile slipping into something more thoughtful. "Are you confident about this, Brother Danzo?"

The room fell into a brief silence. Danzo sat back, his expression thoughtful. Despite his careful preparations, doubt gnawed at him. He had invested a significant amount in acquiring the new equipment developed by Grass Village, but still, uncertainty lingered.

He had spared no expense, yet the production costs for his factory were still higher than those of Grass Village's. This disparity was why he had pushed so hard to lower the cost of raw materials. If his products were to compete, they had to be both cheaper and of better quality than those from Grass Village.

But something about Grass Village's ability to maintain such low prices troubled him. How could they do it? Did they have access to more advanced equipment? What was their secret? Danzo couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something crucial.

Seeing Danzo remain silent, Kado sighed softly, his understanding apparent. "It seems even you, Brother Danzo, aren't entirely sure about this."

Danzo shook his head, his voice steady as he replied, "Who can ever be entirely sure? When I allied with the four great ninja villages to amass wealth, I wasn't sure. When I started the newspaper, I wasn't sure. Yet, both times, I succeeded."

There was no mistaking the confidence in his words. His aura of self-assurance was so palpable that it even made Kado flinch slightly. No wonder Danzo had risen to such a powerful position within Konoha.

Kado sighed, shaking his head. "But this time is different," he said, his tone more serious. "Grass Village has dominated the manufacturing sector for years. Their products are known for both their high quality and low prices. If we can't match that standard, we won't be able to carve out a piece of their market. And..."

He paused, locking eyes with Danzo, his expression hardening. "Grass Village's products control the entire ninja world. We only have one shot at this. If we fail and face retaliation from them, it'll all have been for nothing."

Hearing Kado's words, Danzo fell into thoughtful silence. He knew Kado was right—this was their only shot at taking on the monopolistic power of Grass Village. If they missed this opportunity, it might be years before another chance came.

After a long pause, Danzo raised his gaze to Kado and asked, his voice steady, "Tell me your purpose for coming here, Kado."

Kado chuckled softly, a knowing smile spreading across his face. "Hahaha, as expected of you, Brother Danzo. Let's just say..." He stood up, hands clasped behind his back, his demeanor calm yet confident, "I'm here to propose a collaboration."

Danzo arched an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but still cautious. "You seem to have a lot of confidence in me," he remarked, studying Kado's expression. "Even I don't have much faith in this venture. Where does your confidence come from? Do you have a way to further reduce production costs...?"

Before Danzo could finish his sentence, Kado leaned in slightly, lowering his voice, a sly glint in his eyes. "I do," he said firmly. "I have a way in Grass Village..."