Chapter 332
Danzo's words were shocking—almost outright rebellious!
But in reality, the higher-ups of Konoha would not condemn anyone on moral or ethical grounds over such matters. This was a high-level meeting, where anything could be discussed. Whatever was said here would never be known to the outside world—only the final decisions would be.
"If we reject Lady Mito's decision, then we lose our foundation for claiming the Uzumaki treasure," Hiruzen Sarutobi stated bluntly, getting straight to the point.
"And Uzumaki Kushina as well!" Danzo glanced at Hiruzen. "She is still young. The treasure may belong to her, but Konoha should hold it in trust!"
"That reasoning might work for outsiders, but does it hold up within our own ranks?" Hiruzen countered. "Haruto Saito was the one who discovered and excavated the treasure, all while being hunted by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, risking his life to bring it back! We can't afford to alienate him..."
Hiruzen's stance was clear—he did not wish to continue disputing the Uzumaki treasure issue with Haruto. The cost of doing so was simply too high.
First and foremost, it would mean opposing Mito Uzumaki's decision—a nearly insurmountable obstacle. Even if one argued that the treasure did not belong to her now that she bore the Senju name, she was still the legal guardian of Kushina Uzumaki.
More importantly, using the treasure to restore peace to the Land of Whirlpools was a matter of great significance.
From a strategic perspective, if the Land of Whirlpools could achieve stability and rebuild a strong ninja village, it would serve as a buffer against Kirigakure's aggression. Even if it only prevented one large-scale military mobilization due to the turmoil in the Land of Whirlpools, the savings in military expenses would amount to billions.
The meeting gradually approached its conclusion amidst debate.
"What qualifications does Haruto Saito have?" Danzo nearly stood up in his agitation. "You expect him to establish a ninja village? With just that bit of money? Is he even capable? It's a complete waste! It might even bring trouble to Konoha! The Mist Village wants him dead more than anything—if he dares to openly appear in the Land of Whirlpools, his survival is far from guaranteed..."