Conflict

Inside the tent, Danzo considered it for a long time before ultimately abandoning that option.

If he pursued speed alone, he could indeed raise it in a short time to a level comparable to, or even surpassing, the Second Hokage and Fourth Generation.

But without enough points in the mental aspect to activate it, he would be unable to control that speed.

It would be like flooring the accelerator and sending a car racing ahead, only to lack the skill to control it. One careless mistake, and crashing through the guardrail, wrecking the car, and dying would be entirely possible.

He reached out and activated Brass Body, the follow-up skill granted by Body Amplification. Aside from speed and mental power, the only things Danzo could choose were strength and physique.

Danzo had just experienced the effects of strength.

Everyone had a mortal body. Unless they were among the rare few who focused heavily on physical training, no one could normally take a single slash from Danzo.

But likewise, if he slipped up and got slashed himself, Danzo would not be able to take it either.

That searing torrent surged through his body once again. The piercing pain was even worse than before, but this time Danzo had prepared himself and did not pass out from the pain as he had previously.

Feeling the changes within his body, the pain in Danzo's eyes lessened slightly.

Watching his own body slowly become tougher and sturdier was an exceedingly strange sensation.

Just as Danzo activated the skill, Mitokado Homura arrived at Si Ming Mountain.

"Where is Danzo?"

The moment he stepped into Konoha's camp, Mitokado Homura's first question was about Danzo.

"Lord Danzo gained some insight from the battle and is currently in seclusion." As Danzo's confidant, Yume Ryoma was the first to step forward and answer.

"In seclusion?"

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses and snapped, "A ninja in seclusion? Do you take me for a fool? Bring him out. I need to settle the matter of his deserting his post and causing battle losses."

He did not believe for a moment that Danzo was in seclusion.

As far as he was concerned, Danzo was hiding because of his earlier departure from the unit, too afraid to face him.

Yume Ryoma's face, which had softened after their victory, turned cold again at Mitokado Homura's words. "Lord Danzo has ordered that no one is to disturb him."

Yume Ryoma's attitude made Mitokado Homura's expression stiffen. Then he said angrily, "In my capacity as a Hokage Advisor, I order you to bring Danzo here."

Had he not left Konoha in over a decade only for young people nowadays to become this disrespectful toward their elders?

"Lord Danzo is unavailable. He also instructed that once you arrived, you were to oversee matters concerning the Kumogakure prisoners." Yume Ryoma retained the same tone, his face as expressionless as ever.

"Oversee prisoners?!"

Mitokado Homura's eyes widened. "Sarutobi sent me to the front lines to take over his position! He abandoned his post! He caused casualties in a battle we were guaranteed to win!"

"What face does he have to remain on the front lines?!"

In his view, whether he or Koharu had commanded this battle, they could have easily secured victory.

And yet Danzo had assigned a dignified Hokage Advisor to logistics management!

A cold gleam flashed in his eyes. He had originally intended to catch up with Danzo properly and avoid making their relationship too strained. But since things had come to this, he would not hold back.

"A battle guaranteed to win?"

Yume Ryoma frowned, unconsciously imitating Danzo as he curled his lips into a mocking smile. "I wonder who kept opposing the deployment of troops and wanted to sacrifice Hizashi Hyuga's life in exchange for peace."

Mitokado Homura's expression froze. Koharu had brought up that matter at the time, but he had not opposed it.

Having his face slapped by a junior made Mitokado Homura's face burn.

To conceal his agitation, he glared and roared, "What kind of attitude is that? Do you know who you are speaking to? Is this how Danzo teaches his subordinates?"

After being contradicted again and again, he had reached the end of his patience.

He had seen this subordinate of Danzo's before. He was merely a dog basking in his master's power, though he did have some nerve.

Unfortunately, he did not know that the Lord Danzo he admired was now a half-crippled ordinary man, utterly incapable of holding his position securely.

Mitokado Homura thought disdainfully.

"Lord Mitokado, the losses this time were entirely the result of Hizashi Hyuga bringing it upon himself. This matter cannot be blamed on Lord Danzo." Uchiha Fugaku arrived after hearing the news and explained.

Mitokado Homura stared at Fugaku. "So you intend to stand on Danzo's side as well?"

His eyes were full of scrutiny. Since when had the Uchiha clan become so close to Danzo?

"This truly was not Lord Danzo's fault." Fugaku stood by his words. Between the Uchiha and the village, it was Danzo who had given him a promise, not Mitokado Homura.

The other Uchiha clan members gathered around them, while members of the other clans also began looking in their direction.

Danzo had just led them to victory, and his strength was plain for all to see.

This was a world where strength commanded respect. They were outside now, on the battlefield, not in Konoha.

Mitokado Homura might try to throw his seniority around, but few would listen.

"Lord Mitokado."

Seeing the others gather around with unfriendly expressions, Kakashi, who had been observing from the shadows, finally could not remain still and emerged with the Anbu.

Wearing a mask, Kakashi stood opposite Mitokado Homura. His stance was obvious: he too stood on Danzo's side.

However, Kakashi had stepped forward only because he did not want to see fellow Konoha shinobi come into conflict.

"Regarding Lord Danzo, I have already reported through the battle report to the Hokage. This matter truly was not caused by Lord Danzo." Kakashi explained.

While part of the reason for the battle losses had indeed been Danzo leaving the unit, before departing, Danzo had already ordered them not to approach Si Ming Mountain or clash with Kumogakure's main force.

Hizashi Hyuga had disobeyed orders. That was indeed his own fault.

"Heh."

Mitokado Homura sneered. "Kakashi, you have chosen Danzo's side again. Interesting. Let me offer you some advice: fence-sitters never end well."

He stared intently at Kakashi. Although the mask concealed his face, Mitokado Homura, as a Hokage Advisor, naturally recognized one of Konoha's jonin. He had not expected Sarutobi's Anbu to come to the front lines only to be brainwashed by Danzo again.

"I am merely stating the facts." Kakashi's face beneath the mask turned cold. He did not deny his identity being exposed and answered calmly.

But after saying that, he immediately led the Anbu away in a blur. He no longer wanted any part in this mess.

He was going to find Danzo. Only Danzo had the status and position to keep Mitokado Homura in check here.

Once the Anbu left, the surrounding crowd gathered closer again.

And as the crowd closed in, the team that had only just arrived at the battlefield with Mitokado Homura began to stir behind him.

But now was not the time for infighting.