Sōsuke vs. Hiruzen Sarutobi

Land of Rain, Six Paths City.

Ninshu Office Building, Leader's Conference Room.

"Teacher Sōsuke, I want to accompany you to the border as your guard." Yahiko explained why he had come.

Konoha had held two rounds of negotiations with Ninshu. Combined with how Shimura Danzō's affair had long since spread throughout the shinobi world, the tense relationship between Ninshu and Konoha was no secret within Ninshu.

Moreover, Mu Yue had not specifically ordered the negotiation results to be kept confidential, so most of Ninshu's middle and upper ranks knew that Mu Yue was going to fight Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The moment Yahiko heard about it, he could no longer stay calm. Once the battle was over, the Shimura Danzō incident would be put behind them. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like Konoha was using this as bait to seize an opportunity to kill Sōsuke.

However, Yahiko felt that with Sōsuke's wisdom, he could not possibly fail to see Konoha's intentions. There had to be a reason he had agreed to those terms, so Yahiko did not question the negotiations themselves. He merely wanted to go with him.

Yahiko did not doubt Sōsuke's abilities, but fortunes were unpredictable. Who could guarantee what Konoha might do?

He might not compare to the monstrous Nagato, but he was outstanding even among jonin.

Before Mu Yue could speak, another series of knocks suddenly sounded outside the door.

"Come in," Mu Yue said as he looked toward the door.

Having received Sōsuke's response, Kakuzu pushed the door open and walked in.

Kakuzu was not too surprised to see Yahiko. He asked Sōsuke, "Have you decided on the accompanying shinobi? Add me in. I want to see your full strength."

Sōsuke's displayed confidence was simply too strong, and he had personally said that