Kakuzu, Go Kill Shirou Emiya!

Land of Fire.

Shirou Emiya set out on a journey with the two little ones.

Hashirama Senju led a group of Anbu ninja as they shadowed them through the forest nearby, silently waiting for Madara Uchiha, who might appear before Shirou Emiya.

Strangely enough.

Madara Uchiha never showed himself.

That left Hashirama Senju somewhat uncertain. He worried that Madara Uchiha might use his absence from Konoha to launch a stealth attack on the village.

However, Tobirama Senju believed that Madara Uchiha had lost one Mangekyo Sharingan, while Konoha Village still had Mito Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki with formidable sensory abilities. Even if Madara Uchiha attacked Konoha, he would gain no advantage. He would surely choose Shirou Emiya first.

"Could Tobirama have misread Madara's intentions?"

Hashirama Senju led the Anbu ninja all the way to the border of the Land of Waterfall, yet still found no trace of Madara Uchiha, making him unable to help but question Tobirama Senju's judgment.

Compared to the tense Hashirama Senju...

Someone else in the Shinobi World was even more anxious.

It was Black Zetsu, who had remained hidden beneath the darkness underground.

Black Zetsu had been secretly following Madara Uchiha. After their unpleasant clash last time, it had vaguely guessed that Madara Uchiha might use some means to approach Shirou Emiya.

But...

Not this kind of method, right?

Black Zetsu watched helplessly as Madara Uchiha quietly infiltrated Waterfall Village, used his Mangekyo Sharingan to forcibly control the village leader, and made him order Waterfall Ninja to ambush and kill a small team about to enter the Land of Waterfall.

"..."

Black Zetsu was completely dumbfounded.

No...

What the hell was he doing?!

He could have just gone and met Shirou Emiya directly!

Did he really expect these Waterfall Village ninja to capture Shirou Emiya? Even all these minor ninja put together would not be enough for Shirou Emiya to handle with one hand!

And yet...

Madara Uchiha was brimming with confidence.

That left Black Zetsu unable to figure out what exactly Madara Uchiha intended to do...

Could Madara Uchiha be counting on these Waterfall Ninja to attack Shirou Emiya, then step in at the crucial moment to help when Shirou Emiya was sent fleeing in panic?

"What a needless complication..."

Black Zetsu could only stare in stunned silence at Madara Uchiha's actions. It wanted to warn Shirou Emiya, but could never find a suitable opportunity.

After all, Shirou Emiya had two Konoha brats beside him, and Black Zetsu did not want to expose its existence in front of others.

Border of the Land of Waterfall.

Shirou Emiya remained as calm and unruffled as ever.

The young Danzo was not worried. He knew a group of Anbu ninja had been following them, so there was nothing to fear even if hostile ninja attacked.

Only the young Sarutobi Hiruzen had clearly become more vigilant.

Once they left the Land of Fire, their small team would no longer be protected by the name of Konoha Ninja. Any trouble they encountered would have to be dealt with on their own.

"Lord Shirou."

As Sarutobi Hiruzen roasted fish over the fire with a branch, he asked Shirou Emiya about his plans. "Why did we come to the Land of Waterfall?"

"It doesn't matter where we go."

Shirou Emiya was still writing down medical records from patients he had treated in a town they had passed through. Without looking up, he said, "I merely picked a direction. Perhaps I'll happen upon a ninja suited to inherit medical ninjutsu, or perhaps I'll find something I need..."

"..."

The young Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully.

"Then when will this journey end..."

The young Danzo frowned instinctively. He had suddenly realized that such a directionless journey could waste a great deal of his time.

"Within ten years."

Shirou Emiya answered without raising his head.

"..."

The moment he said that, neither Sarutobi Hiruzen nor Shimura Danzo could hold themselves together. To boys their age, that span of time sounded far too long.

"Don't worry."

Shirou Emiya put away his pen and carefully rolled up the medical record scroll, reassuring the two boys beside him. "If you don't want to travel with me anymore, you can return whenever you wish. I'll make sure to escort you safely back to Konoha..."

"How could that be?"

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen grinned, took the scroll from Shirou Emiya's hand and stuffed it into his backpack, then laughingly bumped his shoulder against Danzo's.

"No one else in this world could be as lucky as us, getting to travel with Lord Shirou for so long!"

"..."

Young Danzo rolled his eyes at him.

What was there to be happy about?!

If it were only a few weeks or months of travel, young Danzo could accept it. But was he really supposed to waste ten years accompanying Shirou Emiya?

"Don't worry."

Shirou Emiya took a blank scroll from young Sarutobi Hiruzen and continued, "Neither of you has the talent to become a Medical Ninja. While I dislike fighting, conflict between ninja is unavoidable in this era. If you want to maintain peace, words alone will never be enough. Only sufficient strength can uphold your ideals..."

"..."

Young Danzo's breathing suddenly grew heavier.

"As expected of Lord Shirou!"

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen hurriedly sat beside Shirou Emiya, his words completely unreserved. "Then please give us plenty of guidance from now on, Lord Shirou!"

"Guidance would be overstating it..."

Shirou Emiya tapped young Sarutobi Hiruzen on the head with the pen in his hand and spoke casually. "I can't teach you any particularly powerful techniques. We'll have to see what talents you possess before discussing anything else. I hope you won't be disappointed..."

"..."

Young Danzo suppressed his ambition.

Because he knew Shirou Emiya possessed something he wanted—the Curse Mark that could instantly elevate an ordinary ninja's power!

Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen was about to say something, his eyes suddenly narrowed as he stared fixedly toward a direction in the forest!

"Someone's coming!"

"How is that possible..."

Young Danzo looked in disbelief at the group of Waterfall Ninja filing out one after another.

Konoha's Anbu should have been guarding the perimeter. How could ninja from another village have gotten close to this place? Especially when these Waterfall Ninja looked so murderous!

Within the forest.

Konoha's Anbu were no longer here.

Because two hours earlier, they had discovered the target they had been tracking.

"Lord Hokage!"

While resting, one of the Anbu noticed a flash of red concealed beneath a large tree. He immediately pointed toward it to alert Hashirama Senju!

"Madara!"

Hashirama Senju recognized that figure at a glance!

As old friends of many years, Hashirama Senju knew his friend better than anyone. Without waiting for the Anbu behind him, he leaped forward in a rush.

"Lord Hokage!"

A group of Anbu followed after him in swift succession!

Once the figure clad in Red Plated Armor emerged, everyone recognized his identity. It was Madara Uchiha, whom they had been searching for all along!

Yet when Madara Uchiha noticed Hashirama Senju and the Anbu pursuing him, he merely gave them a cold glance before leaping away into the distance. He clearly had no intention of fighting this group of Konoha Ninja.

"Madara!"

Hashirama Senju could only chase after him relentlessly.

The Anbu glanced back toward the area where Shirou Emiya was resting, then chose to pursue Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha first. Their foremost mission was to assist the First Hokage in surrounding and killing Madara Uchiha, Konoha's greatest threat!

As for Shirou Emiya...

There was a ninja Konoha had planted within his team. Young Danzo was their contact and knew how to leave them a message. It would not be too late to return and carry out their second mission afterward.

Besides...

Shirou Emiya was not weak.

According to Tobirama Senju, Shirou Emiya was strong enough to suppress the Nine-Tails single-handedly. There was no need to worry that such an important figure would encounter danger.

"Lord Shirou."

"It looks like they mean trouble..."

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen grabbed a kunai, his expression tense as he watched more than a dozen burly Waterfall Ninja surround them.

"Should we run first?"

"We probably can't get away."

Shirou Emiya raised his eyes, without the slightest trace of panic on his face. He could sense that the surrounding Konoha Anbu had long since been lured away by Madara Uchiha's Wood Clone.

But...

Madara Uchiha's true body...

He had long since followed this group of Waterfall Ninja and hidden himself nearby.

What was this guy...

trying to do?

Shirou Emiya did not quite understand Madara Uchiha's intentions. He could only guess that the appearance of these Waterfall Ninja was definitely connected to Madara Uchiha.

That Madara Uchiha...

He wasn't planning to put on some clumsy little show, was he?

Still...

Madara Uchiha was no longer important right now.

Shirou Emiya's gaze fell on the Waterfall Ninja as he tried to find the target of his trip to the Land of Waterfall among them.

"Kakuzu, go!"

The Waterfall Ninja captain loudly called for his strongest subordinate to charge forward. "You kill that man! Leave these two brats to us!"