Danger Sense

Facing Hiruzen Sarutobi's personal offer to recruit him, Senju Genma didn't hesitate for a moment. He accepted at once.

Hiruzen was delighted by Senju Genma's unequivocal answer.

Only now did he truly consider Senju Genma one of his own.

Danzo! Now that I have Senju Genma, how can you possibly compete with me? I'm leagues ahead of you. You'll spend the rest of your life beneath me!

"By the way, this is for you. It's a letter Tsunade sent back."

As he spoke, Hiruzen took a letter from inside his robe.

Perhaps to reassure Senju Genma, he said, "Orochimaru and the others personally led several thousand brave soldiers to campaign against Hanzo, and the good news keeps pouring in. Everywhere our forces go, the people welcome them wholeheartedly. We truly have every advantage on our side, and the scene of flourishing life and all things striving forward remains vivid before my eyes."

"In any case, the troops are advancing smoothly. You don't need to worry about Tsunade's safety. She's doing very well!"

Senju Genma nodded gratefully, took the letter, and declared, "Lord Hokage, your wisdom is unmatched!"

Hiruzen was very pleased by Senju Genma's praise.

"All right, go home for today. I'll notify Tiger. In a little while, you'll officially join the Anbu. The village will also issue some wartime missions. There's no need to rush—you'll see each other again soon."

Seeing Senju Genma and Hiruzen getting along so well, Uzumaki Mito smiled kindly.

Konoha would surely have a bright future!

Under Hiruzen's gaze, Uzumaki Mito led Senju Genma out of the Konoha Arena.

The Land of Rain battlefield.

As soon as Konoha's main force entered Amegakure's sphere of influence, they ran into a force sent to intercept them.

Fortunately, the demigod Hanzo didn't appear. Amegakure's forces were no match for the Konoha Ninja and were quickly driven back.

"Be careful!" Orochimaru called softly from behind Nawaki.

Although he said that, he didn't stop Nawaki from pursuing the fleeing Rain Ninja.

Orochimaru had already experienced one war. In his eyes, this conflict was simply a trial for Nawaki.

After being tempered by this war, Nawaki would soon become a true powerhouse too.

"Don't worry, Sensei. I'll be fine. Those guys are no match for us," Nawaki said confidently.

The two pursued the remnants of Amegakure's forces, soon leaving Konoha's main force behind.

After they had chased for a while, Orochimaru suddenly stopped on a tree and furrowed his brow.

"Be careful, Nawaki. Something's not right here. It's too quiet!"

Nawaki looked back at Orochimaru and landed steadily on the ground.

He looked up—and saw a horrifying sight.

Steel wires crisscrossed the area, covered in Explosive Tags.

"Nawaki!" Orochimaru shouted.

"I told you to be careful! If anything happens to you, Tsunade will beat you up."

Several branches sprouted from Nawaki's back, then quickly intertwined, taking the shape of Senju Genma.

"Genma?!"

Senju Genma didn't answer. Instead, he clapped his hands together.

"Wood Release: Wood Shield!"

A wooden shield shaped like a fanged demon's face emerged from the ground on either side of Nawaki's feet, enclosing him.

The Explosive Tags all around them detonated. More than a dozen went off at once, unleashing a violent explosion.

Orochimaru's face was grim. He growled, "How could this happen? Damn it! Damn it!"

"Orochimaru, don't grieve just yet. It's not over!"

Senju Genma's voice came through the smoke, and hope flared in Orochimaru's eyes.

When the smoke cleared, a gigantic demon face appeared before Orochimaru.

The mask split open down the middle, revealing Senju Genma and Nawaki inside.

"Genma? What are you doing here?"

"Didn't I tell you? I planted the seed of a Wood Clone in Nawaki." Senju Genma folded his arms and spoke smugly.

Orochimaru's brow furrowed. "But how did you know Nawaki was in danger?"

As expected of a future scientist—he quickly identified the key question. He hadn't begun his scientific research yet, but his thirst for knowledge was already strong.

"I have the ability to sense danger," Senju Genma explained, resting his hands on his hips.

"Sense danger?" Orochimaru murmured, still puzzled.

Clearly, it wasn't an ability most people had.

But the battlefield was hardly the place to press him for answers.

While Orochimaru was thinking, the Rain Ninja who had been fleeing began quietly closing in around them again.

Senju Genma patted him on the shoulder. "Think about it later. We'll have plenty of time to talk."

Orochimaru lowered his head and met his gaze.

There was something strange in Orochimaru's eyes, as if he wanted to strip Senju Genma bare. The atmosphere between them suddenly turned a little awkward.

Senju Genma didn't know how to describe it. All he could say was that it felt tense.

But Senju Genma knew his own limits. He knew he was handsome, but he had always only attracted women. No man had ever tried anything improper with him.

He believed the strange atmosphere was just his imagination. Orochimaru probably wasn't about to change his orientation.

Once the three of them had finished chatting, seven Rain Ninja leaped onto the surrounding trees.

"Boss, that looks like Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Elite Jonin. He's a disciple of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage!"

The Rain Ninja in the lead replied coldly, "What's there to be afraid of? We're all Jonin here! I'm an Elite Jonin, you're a Jonin, and there are seven of us against three. We've got the advantage."

"Lord Kazama is wise!" one of the Rain Ninja fawned.

Senju Genma and Orochimaru positioned Nawaki between them. Senju Genma quickly said, "Two Jonin and five Chunin."

"I'm only a Wood Clone. I'll handle the Chunin. You take the Jonin. How does that sound?"

Nawaki looked unsure. Orochimaru replied, "Can you handle it?"

"No problem! I'm a Jonin now, after all!" Senju Genma said firmly.

"Fine. Just hold them off," Orochimaru said with a nod.

He didn't say anything like "Don't die." It was only a Wood Clone, so it wouldn't matter much if it died. As long as it could buy time and keep the Ninja from hurting Nawaki, Orochimaru was sure to win.

Orochimaru used the Body Flicker Technique to reach the trees and attack the two Jonin.

Senju Genma dashed toward the five Chunin.

The five Chunin didn't let Senju Genma get close. They all threw Shuriken and Kunai to stop him.

"Wood Release: Tree Wall!"

Senju Genma couldn't even be bothered to clap his hands anymore. A shield made of multiple wooden vines rose in front of him, blocking every weapon.

"Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!"

The five Chunin were plunged into darkness, robbed of their sight.

"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!" Senju Genma spat a high-pressure jet of water from his mouth, sharp as a blade.

"What?!"

"Damn it!"

"Argh!"

"Ugh!"

"Please, no!"

As the screams rang out, the darkness before the five Chunin lifted. Their bodies and the surrounding trees had been sliced in half, and their broken forms crumpled to the ground as blood spread everywhere.