Danzo, Stop Running! You Can't Escape!

The Land of Fire, Kyoto.

Danzo held the intelligence report in his hand, turning the paper over and over, his face grim and uncertain.

The development of the Land of Water over the past few months has worried him.

He had a feeling.

The system of Guardian Ninja in the Land of Water appears to be an internal conflict, but there are actually other reasons behind it.

Danzo stared at the map.

If there are other reasons, what are the goals of the people behind this?

in addition.

Who is likely to profit?

He considered it for a moment, and a series of pieces of information floated into his mind. Then he frowned.

I feel like something's missing!

"Etc?"

Danzo's gaze suddenly sharpened.

He considered one possibility.

If the so-called "Guardian Ninja" is actually something both sides are using to achieve their own goals, then...

What could be the other purpose?

Dealing with oneself?!

Given the current situation, who will target him?

There is only one possibility.

"Konoha, Konoha..."

Danzo to himself.

If he were the one in power in Konoha, what methods would he use to deal with someone nominally affiliated with the Noble Faction?

Of course it is--

First, ruin his reputation!

Danzo's gaze gradually sharpened. He had been trying to figure out what was going on with the chaos in the Land of Water, and why he always felt like he was looking at flowers through a fog.

Now, he has come to his senses.

All of this is aimed at me!

At the same time, he also realized why he couldn't see through things: there was a problem with his subordinates!

Danzo's face was grim.

"Victory!"

"Danzo."

A figure appeared beside him in an instant.

Danzo his head to the side; under the lamplight, his face was cold and filled with murderous intent, and his tone was as icy as frost.

"Where is the Yamanaka Itsuki?"

"Lord Tree just said that the Land of Water is in turmoil, and every minute of intelligence is crucial, so he went there personally."

Fuma Sheng answered.

Danzo glanced at them coldly and said, "Fool!"

The Fuma Sheng the bewilderment.

Why am I getting scolded again for no reason?

but.

Facing Danzo, he dared not talk back and could only obediently lower his head and accept the scolding.

Danzo a deep breath, but he also realized that this was not Fuma Sheng's fault; he was just a fool who helped with chores.

To be precise, all members of the Fuma Clan are like this.

Aside from having a slight edge, they're practically unwatchable.

This is also the drawback of only teaching techniques.

Knowing only some combat skills, how to prevent espionage and enemy infiltration can only be learned slowly through war and experience.

Kyohiko Yoshimine's strategy...

It's not that it's wrong.

Being strong will definitely allow Genin to survive in more situations.

Danzo couldn't help but sigh again upon thinking of this.

If Kyohiko Yoshimine would help him!

If that were the case, he wouldn't have to worry about whether he could organize the manpower. But then he thought about it again and realized how ridiculous his idea was.

Kyohiko Yoshimine...

Although not a direct descendant of the Senju clan, after awakening Wood Release, this guy is fully qualified to inherit the Senju Clan's "legacy".

Tsunade is just standing guard for Kyohiko now; the one who will truly become Hokage in the future is that kid.

It was precisely because Danzo recognized this that he lost interest in Kyohiko.

He had originally harbored the idea of assassinating Kyohiko.

but.

The last time his Shadow Clone fought against Kyohiko, it completely dispelled that idea in him.

The current Kyohiko is a completely different person from the one before!

Danzo was silent for a moment, then said, "Go and get to work. Make sure to increase patrols these next few days to prevent any trouble in the city."

"Yes, I understand."

After Fuma Sheng retreated and went outside, he savored the taste and began to understand its meaning.

Is that Yamanaka Itsuki a traitor?

Upon hearing this, he suddenly sensed something was wrong.

Yamanaka Itsuki was an important figure on their side, yet even he betrayed Danzo...

Wrong!

Who knows, that guy might never have been Danzo's man, but a spy sent by Konoha!

"Never mind."

"What does this have to do with me? Konoha should be reasonable; they'd only target Danzo!"

Fuma Sheng said.

He wasn't entirely without cunning, but working under Danzo, he didn't think being clever was a good thing, and besides...

Who knows how long Danzo will live?

Their clan is just there to coast along and make money; they're not really going to risk their Danzo for Danzo. They're content with that.

Thinking of this, Fuma Sheng went to do his daily patrol duties.

No matter what, the work still needs to be done!

Inside the Feudal Lord's Mansion.

Maru Ichikyu knelt before the Feudal Lord, remaining silent.

"Child, do you still think Guardian Ninja is the right thing to do?"

"Father, is it right to hand over power to Konoha? Are we the Feudal Lord, or are Senju and Sarutobi the Feudal Lord?"

Maru Ichikyu raised his head, a hint of determination in his eyes, "I still believe that things shouldn't be like this between us and Konoha."

Disappointment was evident in Feudal Lord's eyes.

"Why!"

He sighed softly, stood up, and walked over to him.

Maru Ichikyu knelt on the ground.

The Feudal Lord sighed softly, "Child, you are still too young and haven't experienced much turmoil. If you had gone through that period, you would understand why the Land of Fire was the first to ally with Hashirama Senju and his forces."

He reminisced about the past.

After a few seconds, the Feudal Lord said, "Do you know that the Land of Fire occupies the most fertile land in the entire Shinobi World?"

"This..."

Maru Ichikyu was silent for a moment, then lowered his head. "Yes, I understand."

"Did you know that among the Five Great Nations, we actually provide the least amount of funding to Konoha? Did you understand? Percentage!"

"That's what the Feudal Lord says."

Then.

"The Land of Lightning has the highest expenditures, which is why the Kumogakure is so powerful now. The Kumogakure ninjas are also quite capable, causing considerable trouble starting with the second generation."

"The Land of Earth..."

"The Land of Wind..."

He gave examples one by one.

Maru Ichikyu looked up, his face filled with astonishment, and an indescribable emotion welled up inside him.

What my father said...

He really hadn't considered it.

"Do the math. Did our Land of Fire pay a heavy price?"

"That's really not much."

Maru Ichikyu was also talented, so after only a little calculation, he understood that what his father said made sense.

In terms of percentage of expenditure, the Land of Fire actually gave away the least.

Then he thought, "But what if we could take control of this power..."

"On what grounds?"

Feudal Lord was amused. He bent down and waved for him to get up.

"Stand up and let's talk. Today we are not ruler and subject, but father and son."

He sat back down in his seat.

After a moment's hesitation, Maru Ichikyu stood up and said, "Father, we can take them and turn them into subjects and generals, instead of what they are now."

"You've been deeply Danzo."

The Feudal Lord smiled helplessly, "Think about it, do you really have the power to Guardian Ninja?"

"Of course it's in my hands!"

Maru Ichikyu said.

The Feudal Lord leaned back. "You think you can command Danzo?"

"Certainly!"

Maru Ichikyu a solemn vow.

Feudal Lord nodded. "Then call him over, I want to talk to him face to face."

"Good."

Maru Ichikyu nodded and immediately went out to send someone.

Half an hour.

One hour...

An hour and a half later, Maru Ichikyu finally realized something was wrong.

No matter what.

Even if Danzo went out on business, he should have returned by now. Has something happened?

He was pondering it.

The Feudal Lord, still half-asleep, looked at the children wandering around outside and beckoned to a guard to call him in.

After a short while, Maru Ichikyu quickly entered.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he hurriedly said, "Father, something might have gone wrong. I'll send someone else to check..."

"Don't send any more."

The Feudal Lord rose from his chair, wearily rubbed his back, and then waved for the guards to leave.

Wait until no one is around.

He then said seriously, "Child, you've misunderstood something."

"Yes, please give your instructions."

Maru Ichikyu had now come to his senses.

The Feudal Lord said, "First of all, Danzo respects your money and status, but whether he listens to your orders is his business. Just because you give him money doesn't mean he will obey."

He smiled as he said this.

"If people obeyed for money, the country would be too easy to govern. But now, out of so many families, very few are truly loyal to me."

"Secondly, the nobles are making you do this because they can benefit from it. You think you've done something great? Wake up!"

He sighed.

"What's the difference between you, Danzo, and the Guardian Ninja, and me and Konoha?"

"I'm not that old yet. I can hold out for the next ten or twenty years, giving you enough time to gain experience."

Look at this, think about it carefully!

The Feudal Lord, holding a scroll, patted him on the shoulder and walked into the house with his hands behind his back.

He was indeed tired after talking for so long.

Maru Ichikyu stood inside the hall, looking at the scroll in his hand, which contained information about events that had occurred in the Land of Water.

The Guardian Ninja of the Land of Water has taken his final bow.

Kirigakure didn't even need to use many ninjas; they only deployed elites and Jinchuriki, yet they still managed to wipe out the two major clans.

The gap in strength is too big!

What happens next?

The nobles did not hesitate at all and sided directly with Kirigakure, forcing the Feudal Lord to step forward and take the blame.

In the end, it was the Feudal Lord went to apologize and renewed cooperation with Kirigakure.

Maru Ichikyu felt that his worldview had been shaken.

If Kirigakure is this powerful, how strong must Konoha be?

He remained silent for a long time, staring outside.

Danzo still hadn't arrived by dawn.

Later, his guard told him...

Danzo has fled.

As for his former subordinates, he only found one corpse.

Maru Ichikyu know.

My father is right. Danzo obeys his orders only because he was willing to do so before; he doesn't actually respect him.

He and the Guardian Ninja were essentially a miniature version of the Land of Fire and Konoha.

"My lord, should we send someone to investigate again and find out what's really going on with Danzo?"

"No."

Maru Ichikyu waved his hand. "Since he killed my men, there's nothing more to discuss. It doesn't matter where he goes, just don't come back."

"Yes! Then, what about the others?"

The guard hesitated.

Those ninjas are not easy to deal with; it would definitely not work to let these Samurai control them.

Maru Ichikyu was about to give an order, but after thinking about it, he was speechless.

He had never even had contact with Danzo, so how could he possibly command them?

In the suburbs, Danzo fled in haste.

Once he understood everything, he knew that the Land of Fire could no longer protect him.

His Feudal Lord is not Maru Ichikyu.

On matters of principle, Feudal Lord understands things very clearly and would never do anything foolish.

so.

Upon hearing the message from Maru Ichikyu's guard, his first reaction was--

The Feudal Lord plans to join forces with Konoha to lure him away and kill him!

From Danzo's perspective, he found this kind of operation commonplace, and he would have done the same if he were in charge.

but.

He didn't expect...

As he used the Body Flicker Technique to flee swiftly northward, a figure appeared and disappeared in the woods ahead.

That is--

Minato Namikaze?!

Danzo's expression was grave.

Minato Namikaze's strength may not be as great as Kyohiko's now, but it is still considerable, making him one of the most formidable opponents in Konoha.

The main thing is still the Flying Thunder God...

Space-Time Ninjutsu.

Created by his Teacher, it is the most difficult and bizarre Ninjutsu to deal with.

"Kyohiko said you can run, and I didn't quite believe it at first. How could you possibly run with your abilities?"

Minato Namikaze sighed, "As it turns out, he was right again!"

Danzo's face was grim. "Where is he?"

As he spoke, his fingernail quietly tore through his palm, and a drop of blood appeared.

at the same time...

Danzo immediately retreated and ran to the other side.

Reaching the edge of a rock, he pressed down on the spot.

Summoning Technique!

Baku)

Minato Namikaze's eyes narrowed.

He knew a little about this kind of summoned beast; it could absorb and pulverize any object, and the Flying Thunder God Technique would be countered by it.

Danzo was well-prepared!

but.

Minato Namikaze smirked slightly. "Danzo, I'm not just good at the Flying Thunder God."

"Oh."

Danzo sneered.

However.

The next moment, a figure with a livid face emerged from the ground, and this land...

Covered by special vegetation, he could not Earth Style underground for long.

"Wood Release Barrier?"

Danzo realized that Kyohiko had arrived and had been hiding in the shadows, intending to deliver a fatal blow.

He glanced around.

"The two strongest ninjas of Konoha together could easily handle the Third Raikage, and you're only doing this to deal with me? You really think too highly of me!"

Danzo may seem to have no intention of escaping again, but in reality, he has been constantly thinking of a solution.

but.

The surrounding area is full of trees...

If I had known this would happen, I would have stayed in the city.

In the city, he could at least gather a group of people to fight them, and even use the Feudal Lord as leverage to force Konoha to let him leave.

He was secretly annoyed.

"I know what you're thinking. Actually, if it weren't to prevent you from resorting to desperate measures, we could have used a simpler method."

Kyohiko crawled out of the ground, "Don't run, you can't escape."

His face was covered with fine black lines, and celestial patterns crisscrossed his features.

Although it was night, Danzo could see clearly.

"This is..."

"The power of the First?"

He was surprised.

How does this kid possess the Sage Power of Hashirama Senju?!

Kyohiko said, "Yes, but no."

His Chakra quietly spread outwards, strengthening the surrounding Wood-Grass Barrier.

For this reason, he was willing to communicate more with Danzo.

Anyway, time is on his side.

After his Danzo shock, Danzo also realized his own dire situation.

Delaying the process will only make things worse for him.

This is not the time to think about those things...

Danzo a deep breath.

Then--

The Baku opened its massive maw, let out a roar, and a howling wind swept everything around it into its mouth.

Danzo the first attack, his target being Minato Namikaze!