Hidden Intent (Third Update)

It was just a matter of doing his utmost

to fight for that slim chance.

At the very least, he could make sure he had no regrets.

Hiashi had already regretted it once, ten years ago. This time, he was unwilling to let the opportunity pass him by again. Even if the path ahead led straight to hell, he was willing to step into it himself—so long as doing so did not endanger the survival of the Hyuga Clan. No matter what, as the current head of the Hyuga Clan, having taken on the heavy burden from his father, the survival of his clan had to remain his foremost concern!

Everyone had their own schemes.

Everyone had their own goals.

Just as Tsunade suspected Danzo,

when news arrived that Naruto had soundly defeated the Fifth Mizukage,

Danzo was nowhere near as calm as he appeared on the surface. It was easy for him to judge whether the report was genuine and how important it was. Naruto had clearly become the greatest obstacle to Danzo's ambitions and the empire he sought to build. As the most despicable old schemer around, Danzo would never let such an opportunity slip by.

But he knew all too well

that dealing with Naruto

was no longer so easy.

And Tsunade, now growing more powerful,

would leave him with little room to maneuver.

Once Danzo realized the problem, he quickly changed his plans. Sai and Yamanaka Fu had joined the delegation for no particular reason; the only order Danzo had given them was to investigate whatever information they could. His real move was hidden in the darkness. Almost as soon as Kakashi and the others led the delegation out of Konohagakure,

another group quietly slipped out of the village

in the opposite direction,

heading for the