Because of Love

Sarutobi Hiruzen had originally intended to remain reserved for a few days, but a sudden incident forced him to issue three consecutive Hokage mandates, summoning Danzo to the front lines.

"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has disappeared?!"

When Guo Wang heard this news, the tea he had just brewed spilled all over the floor.

It wasn't just him; the face of Aburame Torune, who had delivered the news, was deathly pale, and the Root guards in the vicinity all shuddered in unison. Even the Anbu, whose emotions had been largely eroded, could not suppress their turbulent reactions in the face of this massive "surprise."

"There should have been a squad of Anbu protecting the Jinchuriki. Where are they? And the Barrier Team—are they all trash!"

Seeing that Danzo, who usually kept his emotions hidden, had smashed his favorite tea set, all the Root members lowered their heads, not daring to utter a single word.

"The Jinchuriki is of the Uzumaki Clan; the Barrier Team's sealing techniques cannot hold her. Besides, a woman blinded by love has a very clear destination..."

A hoarse voice rang out. Orochimaru had arrived at some point, holding a scroll with a very troubled expression.

"The Barrier Team's mission was never to isolate the village from the outside, but to detect if outsiders were entering or leaving. Forget it, we can settle accounts later. The top priority is to capture the Jinchuriki and bring her back."

Over these past few days, Guo Wang had digested all of Danzo's memories and knew that for the five great powers of this world, the Tailed Beasts were the most important assets.

If a Kage is lost, another can be appointed to take their place.

But a Tailed Beast is a peerless treasure; once lost, it is effectively gone forever.

The disappearance of the Jinchuriki was not the terrifying part; what was terrifying was that the Jinchuriki had disappeared while carrying the Tailed Beast.

In Guo Wang's understanding, these Tailed Beasts were equivalent to the divine artifacts of the various holy lands in the Dao Realm, suppressing the fortune of a sect. A sect leader could die, but the divine artifact could not be lost.

By that logic, the Hokage could die, but the Tailed Beast within the Jinchuriki could not leave Konoha.

"This is a massive dereliction of duty. If I were Hiruzen, I would abdicate and apologize right now."

Even two years ago, when Konoha fought four nations alone during its most dangerous hour, they had never let the Jinchuriki, their ultimate weapon, take a single step outside the village. Now, with the war nearing its end, such a thing had occurred. Regardless of his past achievements, Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Hokage, could not shirk the blame.

"The teacher's summons have reached me as well. What should I do?"

Orochimaru twirled the scroll in his hand and tossed the problem to Danzo. He truly did not want to waste time on the battlefield; with his status in Root, an endless supply of test subjects was being sent to his base, and he had barely seen the sun lately.

"Do what you want to do. I will go find Hiruzen myself."

Hearing this, Orochimaru vanished into smoke, satisfied.

Hokage Building.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the agitated Jonin below and pulled his conical hat down with a headache, covering half his face.

"Lord Third, we cannot continue to indulge the Jinchuriki."

"After all, she is not a native of the village; she only has value as a container. If she leaves like this and is captured by people from other ninja villages, we will lose our Tailed Beast."

"That's right, she must be placed under stricter surveillance. If necessary, we can even imprison her."

Listening to the ulterior motives of those around him, Shikaku Nara remained silent.

Led by him, the group of Jonin who were on good terms with Minato could only remain silent, despite their anxiety, as the Hokage had not yet expressed his stance.

After all, the Jinchuriki fleeing the village was enough to declare her a rogue ninja anywhere else.

"The top priority is to track the Jinchuriki down, even if we have to use brutal methods."

"Where is the Intelligence Division? Why hasn't there been any news yet?"

"You can figure it out with your brains; the Jinchuriki is definitely heading to the battlefield in the Land of Lightning. After all, Namikaze Minato is there."

"Damn it, she has no regard for the big picture!"

With Orochimaru, the Jonin Commander, absent, those who hoped to see him ascend to the position of Hokage began to kick him while he was down, hoping to use this opportunity to suppress Namikaze Minato, who was at the height of his popularity following the Battle of Kannabi Bridge.

"Bang!"

A loud kick to the door echoed through the hall, immediately silencing the noisy lobby.

Danzo, wearing a black coat with a white lining and a cold, indifferent expression, stepped in from outside. His sharp, icy gaze swept across the room, and everyone couldn't help but lower their heads.

"Hiruzen, I told you long ago that the Jinchuriki should have been guarded by the people of Root."

In all of Konoha, only this man dared to question the Hokage with such aggressive momentum.

Mitokado Homura, who had been sitting beside Sarutobi Hiruzen, immediately stood up to mediate.

"Alright, Danzo, now is not the time for this. The important thing is how to resolve it."

The lobby of the Hokage Building was usually used for meetings of Konoha's upper echelons, aside from issuing missions. Except for the Hokage and his advisors, even the Jonin Commander had to stand.

Seeing Danzo enter, an Anbu immediately added a seat and placed it beside Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Use the fastest birds to notify those at the border. Dispatch three squads to bring her back. If the Jinchuriki does not cooperate, prioritize stalling her; the men from Root will complete the recovery mission."

As soon as Guo Wang sat down, he acted more like the Hokage than the Hokage himself, issuing orders.

The head of the Intelligence Division glanced hesitantly at Sarutobi Hiruzen, and seeing that he still had no intention of speaking, he nodded and left the hall using the Body Flicker Technique.

"Nara brat, you will temporarily act as the Jonin Commander. Assemble the personnel, and in half an hour, you will accompany me to the battlefield in the Land of Lightning."

"Do we not need to notify Lord Orochimaru?"

Ever since the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, Orochimaru had largely set aside all affairs of the Jonin Squad. With the support of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shikaku Nara, who had orchestrated the glorious victory at Mount Kikyo, had taken over most of the authority of the Jonin Squad.

"I will not repeat myself a second time."

Under the cold, piercing gaze of Danzo, Shikaku Nara offered a bitter smile before nodding and vanishing using the Body Flicker Technique. Disappearing along with him were most of the jonin in the hall. They were the backbone of the Hokage, and ever since news of the situation in the Land of Lightning had arrived, they had been prepared to return to the front lines.

"The main force of Iwagakure has yet to make a move. That three-inch-tall runt Ōnoki must be waiting for us and Kumogakure to exhaust each other. As for the rest of you, while I lead the troops away, you must maintain the utmost vigilance to protect the village."

"Yes!"

Following a thunderous response, all the remaining jonin in the hall departed.

As the leader of the pro-war faction in Konoha, Danzo's influence during wartime was even greater than that of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage.

"Danzo, I am truly sorry that I must trouble you to handle the aftermath every time as Hokage."

Guo Wang glanced at this old rival, who held such complex emotions in Danzo's memories, and rose from his seat.

"I do not do this for you, but to protect this village."