The Birth of a Rogue Ninja

A bitter late-spring rain suddenly came pouring down.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, carried a black staff as he slowly walked to the riverbank.

The Naka River was a great river that encircled Konoha.

The Sarutobi Clan and Shimura Clan lived just across the water from each other. When they had first moved into Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen had met Shimura Danzo here for the first time.

From then on, the two had forged a bond that lasted a lifetime. They had weathered decades of storms together, all the way to this day.

But... perhaps this friendship would come to an end today.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had never doubted that Danzo could escape Root. Root was the old nest Danzo had managed for twenty years; as long as he was in Root, he would surely be able to flee.

But where would Danzo go after escaping?

There was only one place!

Danzo would come here and wait for Sarutobi Hiruzen.

And Sarutobi Hiruzen needed Danzo to give him an explanation.

Too much had happened lately. Ever since the Third Great Ninja War ended, Konoha had been battered by storms and plagued by unrest.

So Sarutobi Hiruzen was not in a good mood. Or rather, his mood was terrible.

He carried the Adamantine Staff Enma had transformed into, his face brimming with murderous intent. No matter how one looked at it, this conversation would not be a gentle one.

Sure enough... Danzo sat alone by the river, silently watching the rushing waters of the Naka River.

He looked to be in an utterly miserable state, covered in bright red blood to the point that the original color of his clothes could no longer be seen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart suddenly clenched. This was the first time he had ever seen Danzo in such a