Over a thousand Konoha ninja arrived to reinforce the front line.
The ninja who had just suffered defeat at the front breathed sighs of relief. Thank goodness. Help had arrived.
Utatane Koharu entered the commander-in-chief's tent and motioned for everyone to leave.
Once the others were gone, she stepped forward to examine Danzo's injuries.
"Danzo, your injuries haven't healed yet."
"They have."
"No," Utatane Koharu said. "Hiruzen has decided that your injuries haven't healed yet. You'll return to the village to recuperate, and Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Hatake Sakumo will take charge of the war in the Land of River."
Danzo whipped his head around to look at Utatane Koharu standing beside him.
"Don't look at me like that," Utatane Koharu said. "Eight hundred Konoha ninja died at the front. Behind them are eight hundred families in Konoha. Hiruzen is under a lot of pressure, so bear with it.
You'll return to the village to recuperate on medical grounds. Only then can we give the Konoha ninja an explanation.
Being a ninja is cruel. Victory and defeat are the only measures of a ninja's worth.
Win, and you have everything. Lose, and you have nothing."
Danzo turned back and lowered his gaze to the scroll before him. It contained important intelligence a spy had just sent back—a summary of the Sand Ninja Forces' movements.
Soon, none of this would have anything to do with him.
He knew that if he refused, Hiruzen Sarutobi had other means at his disposal.
Hiruzen, he thought, have you been looking for a chance to push me aside all along?
After the Second's death, Hiruzen Sarutobi had relied on the support of several advisers to stand against Konoha's major clans and secure his position as Hokage.
Now it was time for Hiruzen Sarutobi to consolidate his