Gathering

"This guy is even more stubborn than Sarutobi. How can these little ones grow up without experiencing the flames of war?"

Early the next morning, Danzo grumbled as he left the Shimura Clan Grounds.

In the end, he failed to gather another team, merely resting in his original body's house for the night.

Shimura Yi was protecting these children like treasures, spoiling them so much, how could they become ninjas?

Danzo felt a sense of disappointment, like seeing iron that couldn't be forged into steel.

But now was not the time to waste time with him. Waking up early, Danzo received a message from Root.

The personnel from various clans had completed their assembly and were ready to depart for the front lines at any moment.

"Ryoma, have the routes and other aspects been confirmed?" Danzo asked, speaking to the empty surroundings as he walked, but he was certain that Ryoma was hidden somewhere nearby.

With the enhancement of his mental faculties, Danzo could now faintly perceive the movements around him even without relying on his eyes.

This was also how he could detect Sarutobi's Telescope Technique.

Currently, in terms of mental strength, he was like someone with a passive skill-like sensory ninjutsu buff. Within a specific range, he could detect hostility in advance.

"Your subordinate has already arranged for personnel to confirm the routes, and small teams are stationed at intervals to ensure that the marching process will not be discovered," Ryoma revealed himself, respectfully addressing Danzo.

Danzo nodded.

This could be considered one of his small strategies.

Since the goal was to launch a surprise attack and end the war as quickly as possible, the concealment should begin from the moment of gathering forces to head to the front lines.

Arriving at the village entrance, a large, dark mass of people was already fully equipped and ready to go.

Because of the large number of people, the Uchiha and Hyuga Clan members would travel with him to the front lines in advance, while other families would arrive in batches.

"This time! We will let those people from the Land of Lightning know that a tiger's backside cannot be touched!"

Sarutobi stood on a makeshift high platform, loudly boosting morale.

The large group of ninjas below had calm expressions, but many of the civilians who came to watch were filled with enthusiasm, wishing they could roll up their sleeves and rush to the front lines to die.

Listening to Sarutobi's words, Danzo couldn't help but chuckle and mutter, "With this level, he wouldn't even be able to become an elementary school principal in the past."

"Where the leaves dance, the fire shall never be extinguished. The firelight will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout." Sarutobi clenched his fist and looked at everyone below, saying, "Everything we sacrifice is worth it! Everything is for the village!"

"For Konoha!"

Although this sentence had been said thousands of times, every time they heard it, the members of Konoha Village felt a sense of honor.

The ninjas below, who had originally had calm expressions, were like they had been injected with chicken blood, shouting along with Sarutobi, "For Konoha!"

This sentence was simplified by Sarutobi from the Second Hokage's will. From the time he ascended to the Hokage position until now, he had said it no less than thousands of times, at least that's how it was for Danzo.

As for others, he didn't know.

Biting his lip hard, Danzo tightened his face to prevent himself from laughing.

At such a solemn moment, there were countless eyes staring at him. If he laughed at this time, it would affect his reputation.

"This time, Shimura Danzo will be the commander-in-chief of the war."

After a long and rambling introduction, Sarutobi finally introduced Danzo.

"Danzo? Who is Danzo?"

"How dare you call Lord Danzo by his name!"

"Lord Danzo is from the same class as the Hokage, and he had glorious achievements during the Second Shinobi World War!"

"Never heard of him before."

As Danzo expected, his name was only known to some of the more experienced people.

But everyone who knew his name was mostly an elder of their clan, and their status was not low.

"But why is Lord Danzo still so young?"

"Could it be that Lord Danzo also possesses the bloodline of the Senju?"

"If Lord Danzo leads the team, this expedition will definitely be foolproof!"

The ninjas below were in an uproar when they saw Danzo's young face, but with Tsunade as a precedent, this matter was not so difficult to accept.

Especially after hearing the elders of their families introduce Danzo's background, these younger generations were even more in awe.

This was someone from the same class as the Third Hokage, a disciple of the Second Hokage, and from the Shimura Clan.

Regardless of seniority, strength, or ability, this seemingly young man undoubtedly gave them great confidence.

"Uncle Dan is so amazing?"

Away from the crowd, Naruto stood on a tree branch with Chakra attached to his feet, staring wide-eyed at Danzo on the high platform, his eyes full of disbelief.

Such powerful people admired his father and mother, who exactly were they?

But at the same time, Naruto had another layer of doubt in his heart.

"Ah!"

His mind in turmoil, Naruto's already unskilled Chakra became even more chaotic, and he lost his balance and exclaimed, falling from the tree branch.

Naruto's shouts and movements attracted the attention of others.

And Danzo had just noticed Naruto's figure, and the moment he lost his footing and fell, his figure, which was originally standing on the high platform, shot out.

The distance was a bit far.

But Danzo, with his A+ level speed, without relying on Chakra or the Body Flicker Technique, steadily caught Naruto before he hit the ground.

"Uncle Dan?"

Naruto looked around in confusion, only to realize that he was being held in Danzo's hand again, and he looked at him a little embarrassed.

"Kid, if you want to watch, come to the front openly, can you see clearly from so far away?" Danzo's eyes moved, and he smiled as he carried Naruto towards the crowd.

"Uncle Dan, what are you doing!" The small Naruto was held in Danzo's hand, struggling like a little chick.

"No! Let me go!"

Watching himself getting closer and closer to the crowd, Naruto's pupils shrank, and he struggled even more violently.

He could roughly guess what Uncle Dan was going to take him to do.

But how could such a thing be possible?

Although he already knew his identity and wanted to gain the recognition of others, Naruto currently had no clue.

But unfortunately, even if Naruto was unwilling, the commotion between the two had already attracted the attention of many onlookers.

Sarutobi frowned as he watched this scene, feeling puzzled and somewhat surprised by Naruto's address.

"Uncle Dan?"

This seniority was a mess.

Everyone watched this scene with cold eyes.

"That monster is causing trouble again, right?"

"The whiskers on his face are disgusting."

"A monster is a monster."

One venomous word after another entered his ears, and Naruto's struggling movements gradually stopped, his face somewhat dim.

"Didn't you say you wanted to gain everyone's recognition?" Looking at Naruto, who had stopped struggling in his hand, Danzo's smile faded, and he said calmly.

This time, Naruto didn't answer, remaining quietly in Danzo's hand.

He didn't know what to do.

Especially after learning his identity, Naruto became even more sensitive to these villagers who didn't know the truth.