Danzo's Self-Rescue

In the Hokage's office, aside from the Third Hokage, Hokage advisor Shimura Danzō and the two senior advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, were all present.

Mitokado Homura asked in surprise, "Hiruzen, what is today? You actually summoned all of us."

Utatane Koharu frowned. "Could war be about to break out?"

"There is indeed a rather serious situation." Hiruzen nodded and clapped his hands. "Minato, come in."

Minato Namikaze entered the room and greeted them. "Lord Hokage, three elders."

Hiruzen said, "Minato, tell the elders about what happened during this mission."

"Yes." Minato began recounting the mission. After skipping over a few minor details, he quickly reached the ambush.

Upon hearing that Hidden Cloud Village had devised a way to restrict his Flying Thunder God Technique, the three elders' expressions darkened. It reminded them of unpleasant memories.

"After all these years, Hidden Cloud Village still only knows how to use such underhanded schemes," Danzo said darkly.

The others glanced at Danzo speechlessly. Those words carried little conviction coming from him.

Utatane Koharu coughed lightly and asked, "Was our teacher also assassinated by similar means back then?"

"More or less." Hiruzen nodded slightly and said gravely, "Over the years, I have continuously sent spies into Hidden Cloud Village to investigate the truth behind that coup."

"Our teacher was unable to escape using the Flying Thunder God Technique because they likely poisoned him at the alliance ceremony with something that weakened his senses. The Second Raikage was poisoned as well, which was why he had no reaction at all to Kinkaku and Ginkaku's ambush."

"So it really was poison." Mitokado Homura nodded. The Second Raikage might not have been as strong as the Third Raikage, but he had still been a top-tier Taijutsu expert. It made no sense that he had been ambushed by his subordinates back then and been unable to resist at all.

"Perhaps even our teacher never expected his Flying Thunder God Technique to be restricted this way." Utatane Koharu sighed. Sure enough, the ones who understood you best might be your enemies.

Minato continued, "After we narrowly escaped, we quickly returned to Hidden Hot Springs Village and discovered that the Jashin Cult was preparing a blood sacrifice. They had hired Raiga Kurosuki of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and offered the Second Hokage's Thunder God Sword as payment..."

"What? Our teacher's Thunder God Sword?" All four were visibly moved. Given their status, few matters required them to act personally, but the Thunder God Sword's symbolic value outweighed its practical use. It was the Second Hokage's relic and, in a sense, a symbol of legitimacy.

Minato knew Setsuna had deliberately kept the Thunder God Sword, but he could not omit this part. He could only say deliberately, "Of course it was a replica. I know the real Thunder God Sword is in Konoha."

Danzo and the others wore rather subtle expressions. How could they not know whether Konoha's Thunder God Sword was real or fake?

As for the other Thunder God Sword Minato mentioned, they found it quite plausible.

Although the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were beneath their notice in terms of strength, they trusted the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's discerning eye for swords and ninja tools. They were professionals, after all.

If Raiga Kurosuki had treasured it, then that Thunder God Sword was highly likely to be genuine.

Danzo asked directly, "Where is the Thunder God Sword?"

Minato hesitated. "Naturally, the person who defeated Raiga Kurosuki kept it as a trophy."

"Absolutely not." Danzo spoke decisively. "The Thunder God Sword must not fall into other hands again."

Minato tried to argue further. "But it is only a replica..."

"I can tell you that the Thunder God Sword in the village is the replica."

With Danzo having put it that plainly, Minato could only sigh. "I understand. I will speak to Setsuna and have him hand the Thunder God Sword over to you."

"Who did you say that person was?" Danzo's expression changed drastically.

"Huh? His name is Chiaki Setsuna." Minato was somewhat confused. Elder Danzo had bandages wrapped around his right ear. Was his left ear failing now as well?

"Chiaki Setsuna? That Genin Hiruzen promoted exceptionally?" Mitokado Homura frowned slightly. "What nonsense. How can such a precious ninja tool be held by a child? I think Danzo is right..."

However, Danzo coughed violently several times, then abruptly changed his tune. "But then again, if the Thunder God Sword our teacher lost was recovered by a child of the village, isn't that the passing on of the flame? Since it is fate's guidance, let that sword remain in his hands."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stared at Danzo in shock, as though they were meeting their old friend for the first time. Were those words really coming from Danzo's mouth? Or was he plotting something?

Danzo's old face burned beneath their stares, and he hurriedly changed the subject. "Well, right. Didn't you say at the beginning that more than a hundred Hidden Cloud Village shinobi had surrounded you, along with the Raikage candidate and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki? How exactly did you escape the encirclement?"

Minato repeated what he had told Kakashi and the others a few days earlier.

Danzo's mouth twitched slightly as he screamed inwardly, That brat really is becoming more and more monstrous.

At the same time, he felt a wave of relief and lingering fear. Fortunately, he had not truly sent Minato to pressure him.

Otherwise, given the strength that brat had displayed, he really might have been able to kill him by force.

Most importantly, that brat's mental state truly was abnormal.

Although Hidden Cloud Village had set the ambush first, war had not officially begun. Even if an ordinary person had the chance to kill that A, they would have to consider the consequences.

But from Minato's description, that brat had not considered the bigger picture at all. He had nearly tortured the Raikage's son to death.

If such an extreme-minded brat believed he had been treated unfairly, it was entirely possible that he would kill someone and defect from the village.

Sure enough, Mitokado Homura frowned after hearing this. "He acted somewhat thoughtlessly. He killed so many Hidden Cloud Village shinobi, as well as Raiga Kurosuki of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. This may very well intensify the conflict between us, Hidden Cloud Village, and Hidden Mist Village. A better approach would have been to bring back prisoners. That way, the village could gain more leverage in the clashes between nations."

Danzo coughed several more times. "Homura, I think your thinking is too conservative. The enemy has already bullied us to our doorstep. Must we still consider their feelings? If war comes, then war comes. When has Konoha ever not faced multiple enemies alone in a Shinobi World War?"

Mitokado Homura stared in astonishment. Was this really Danzo? He was not someone in disguise, was he?

Danzo sighed helplessly. He was desperately saving himself, too.

Hiruzen smiled faintly. "Danzo is right. Blindly yielding will only make the enemy think we are weak and easy to bully. I intend to leave Hidden Cloud Village with a painful memory, so they will have no spare attention to harass us for some time."