The Problem Senju Tobirama Left Behind

Clearly, Ōnoki had ignored Danzo completely. He had not even bothered with a token show of courtesy.

After Iwagakure's thirty-thousand-strong army landed along the coast, it did not pause for even a moment before marching toward Kumogakure. They swept through everything in their path, forcing the Feudal Lord of the Land of Lightning to flee in haste to the Land of Water.

As a nation whose economic strength ranked second only to Konoha's, the Land of Lightning sat at the highest elevation in the Shinobi World and possessed the world's richest livestock industry. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, it also boasted abundant fisheries. Its varied climate further produced an astonishing variety of precious medicinal herbs.

Compared to the Land of Earth, a barren wasteland filled with gravel and stone, the Land of Lightning was practically paved with gold.

No wonder Ōnoki had plotted so carefully. His army had already occupied vast stretches of the Land of Wind, but that place was even poorer than the Land of Earth. He had also stabbed his former ally, Kirigakure, in the back and seized many island nations at sea, yet the gains had been meager. More importantly, the Land of Earth and the Land of Water stood at opposite ends of the Shinobi World. To send more troops, they could only travel along the coast of the Land of Wind and circle around the Land of Fire. The front line would be too long, making the cost far outweigh the benefit.

Ōnoki and several Elders from his village studied a map of the Shinobi World, then ultimately turned their attention to the Land of Lightning.

Of course, the main reason was that they had just fought a major battle against their neighbor, Konoha, and been harshly taught a lesson by the Shinobi World's big brother. Namikaze Minato had been beaten black and blue against the Raikage, but against Iwagakure's massive ninja army, which relied on numerical superiority and had fairly average individual strength, he slaughtered anyone who stood in his way—and any Summoning Beast that blocked him.

Across the Shinobi World, only Kumogakure had yet to be provoked. Ōnoki held an internal meeting with several confidants and formulated a three-step plan.

First, they would sign a ceasefire agreement with the Konoha they could not defeat. Sarutobi Hiruzen, conservative and steady by nature, did not disappoint Ōnoki. Both sides amicably forgot the ninja who had died on the front lines.

Then, they recalled the troops stationed in the Land of Water and the Land of Wind. Together with the most elite forces that had originally faced off against Konoha, they numbered twenty-one thousand eight hundred men. Publicly, however, they called themselves an "army of thirty thousand ninja," training on a grand scale to put on a show of force.

Finally, while the Raikage and Konoha slaughtered each other after being driven into aggression by a single ceasefire agreement, he, the Zhuge Tsuchikage, would seize the chance to sail for the richest region of the Land of Lightning and reap the profits.

Every step proceeded according to his plan. Watching his army seize a city and plunder supplies so abundant they were nearly beyond imagination, the old Tsuchikage flying in the air could not help but beam with smug satisfaction.

Once I digest the Land of Lightning's resources, I will lead the Four Tailed Beasts against you, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and contend for the position of the Shinobi World's big brother.

Just as Ōnoki was imagining that wonderful future, his son abruptly interrupted his fantasy.

"Tsuchikage-sama, Danzo of Konoha has sent a letter demanding accountability."

Kitsuchi, whose face resembled a square block of stone, tossed the scroll toward Ōnoki in midair. With an unhappy snort, the latter's hands flashed white, reducing it to dust.

"Our goal has been achieved. There is no need to keep playing along with Konoha. Once Kumogakure is wiped out, we will head first to the Land of Hot Water and use Danzo's and Namikaze Minato's heads to consecrate our banner."

"Namikaze Minato appears to be pursuing Kumogakure's routed army. He has already reached the border between the Land of Frost and the Land of Lightning."

Hearing this, Ōnoki waved his short arm and gave an order in high spirits.

"Have Roshi and Han prepare themselves. They will leave with me to block the Raikage. I will make sure he cannot return home."

"Yes!"

Though he had great confidence in his own strength, Namikaze Minato and the Raikage were exactly the sort of opponents the Tsuchikage feared meeting most.

No matter how powerful a mage's attacks were, when faced with an assassin wielding God Speed, all he could do was keep his distance.

To deal with them, he had to bring along two bodyguards. Especially the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, whose speed was the greatest in the Shinobi World and whose monstrous strength did not pale beside Konoha's Lady Tsunade.

Land of Hot Water.

Within Konoha's camp, Guo Wang once again put on the guise of a Jonin.

At his side stood Jiraiya, wearing a pained expression, and Shikaku Nara, who was overseeing the situation.

"After I leave, the defense line here will depend on all of you."

Uchiha Fugaku nodded heavily, his expression solemn. Beside him stood four Elite Jonin who had awakened Three Tomoe, along with the Clan Leader's eldest son.

"Please rest assured, Elder. As long as the Uchiha clan remains, this camp will not fall."

Guo Wang's expression did not change, but Danzo's memories surfaced uncontrollably.

His host had one goal, and one greater goal.

His goal was to become Hokage. Judging by the current trend, that was basically impossible.

His greater goal was far more ambitious. It was to inherit the will of the Second Hokage, Danzo's teacher, Senju Tobirama... and destroy the Uchiha clan.

Seeing that becoming Hokage was essentially impossible, Danzo had spent the latter half of his life working toward that greater goal.

Unfortunately, people had limits, and strength could fall short. Though he was also known as a Kage-level powerhouse, exterminating the Uchiha clan, the strongest clan in the Shinobi World, was beyond him. Not even the Five Kage could accomplish it without cause.

"On the battlefield, there is no distinction between clan and individual. Every ninja is a villager of Konoha."

Guo Wang's words made Fugaku's normally impassive face shift slightly. This was a reminder that there was a problem with both his phrasing and his stance. The one guarding the camp should be Uchiha Fugaku, Konoha Jonin and head of the Military Police Force—not the Clan Leader of the Uchiha clan.

"Yes, Elder Danzo."

Several Uchiha Jonin beside him revealed displeased expressions, but when faced with Guo Wang's cold, indifferent eyes, they still turned their heads away and submitted.

After hearing Fugaku's reply, everyone saw Danzo nod in satisfaction. Then he suddenly walked over to a child.

"You are Uchiha Itachi, correct?"

A gloomy man. Yet it was impossible to say exactly where that gloominess lay. It seemed that everything about him was gloomy, his entire body shrouded in misfortune, making others fear him at first sight.

That was the impression Guo Wang left on Itachi during their first conversation.

"Even in Root, I have heard of your reputation as a genius."

Without waiting for the child to answer, Guo Wang asked the question Senju Tobirama had once posed to Danzo in his youth.

"On the sea, ten compatriots are aboard a ship. One of them has contracted a malignant infectious disease. If he is allowed to live, the other nine will also be infected and die. If you were the captain, what would you do?"

Why ask me such a question upon our first meeting?

The question flashed through Itachi's mind, but in the very next instant, he gave his answer without the slightest hesitation, in accordance with his nature.