After realizing they were being pursued.
Danzō stopped retreating.
For one thing, the pursuers were already very close. Continuing to fall back would only give them an opening; stopping here and spreading out their formation would make them easier to deal with. For another, Danzō was curious who would come after him at a time like this. Still, no matter how much he speculated, it never crossed his mind that anyone connected to Naruto or Sasuke might be involved. From his perspective, Naruto was attending the Six Kage Summit, while Sasuke should have been searching the world for Uchiha Itachi.
That misconception in his thinking.
Made it easy for him to reach the wrong conclusion.
But this mistaken assumption.
Would bring no advantage or disadvantage.
It was merely a flaw in his guesswork.
And just as Danzō gave the order, his party halted and spread out ahead.
The group pursuing them from behind—
A Snow Ninja Anbu member skilled in tracking and sensing, running right beside Sasuke, turned grim. He said in a low voice, "Lord Sasuke, it looks like the group ahead has noticed us! They've stopped up ahead!"
"Hmph! I know! I'd be disappointed if they couldn't sense us at this distance! Everyone, prepare for battle!"
Hearing the Anbu member's report, a cold glint flashed in Sasuke's eyes. His Sharingan opened, the Three-Tomoe pattern spinning rapidly as an eerie hue surfaced in his pupils.
"Yes!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
A burst of lightning erupted beneath their feet.
Sasuke and his companions accelerated once more.
Their figures flashed forward.
They sped straight through the dense forest.
"Rat-tat-tat-tat!"
The short distance between them—
Vanished in an instant.
"You're Shimura Danzō of Konoha, aren't you?!"
As he landed in a flash—
A heavy thud rang out, accompanied by a sudden, terrifying burst