They arrived at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.
This was the front line where Konoha resisted the combined assault of Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
Yet, things were unusually quiet here at the moment.
[Jiraiya]: "Super invincible Shocking News.log: Hiroki actually became a Shadow Candidate!? Wait, Minato became a Shadow Candidate too? Doesn't that mean—"
[Jiraiya]: "Doesn't that mean I, their teacher, am about to be surpassed by Minato!? No way—We need to move up the plan to discuss finding summoning beasts with Orochimaru and Tsunade!"
[Orochimaru]: "Hiroki is here—Need to put up some protection—"
[Orochimaru]: [Access Denied]
[Tsunade]: "Hiroki—Has he already become this strong—"
When Hiroki's group arrived at the border, the first thing to greet them was line after line of scrolling comments—
Then came the figures who had long been waiting for them.
"You're here." Shimura Danzō stood at the entrance to the camp, leaning on a cane, half his face hidden beneath bandages. His expression was not exactly solemn, but neither was it particularly calm.
"Mm." The Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen, answered as he removed the conical hat from his head and shook off the rainwater. He swept his gaze over everyone in the camp.
Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and—Hatake Sakumo.
Nearly all of Konoha's most promising next generation had gathered here, with the exception of Dan Katō.
Though, if one had to be precise—Dan Katō could join them at any time.
"Sensei." Jiraiya and Tsunade stepped forward and greeted him in unison.
"You've worked hard." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, his gaze passing over his three disciples, each vastly different in temperament yet equally gifted. "You must have already learned of the situation through the intelligence scrolls, so I won't repeat myself. Next, you may have to directly face and deal with the corpse