Danzo's Self-Rescue

In the Hokage's office, besides 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 occasion is this? 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 you encountered during this mission."

"Yes." Minato began recounting the mission. After omitting some minor details, he quickly reached the ambush.

When they heard that Hidden Cloud Village had devised a way to restrict his Flying Thunder God, 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. Somehow, those words carried very little conviction coming from him.

Utatane Koharu coughed 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 continually sent spies into Hidden Cloud Village to investigate the truth behind that coup."

"Our teacher was unable to escape with Flying Thunder God because he was likely drugged during the alliance ceremony with a poison 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 master. It made no sense that he had been ambushed by his subordinates and could not even resist.

"Perhaps even our teacher never expected his Flying Thunder God technique to be restricted in such a way." Utatane Koharu sighed. As expected, the ones who understood you best might be your enemies.

Minato continued, "After we narrowly escaped, we soon 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's Thunder God Sword as payment..."

"What? Our teacher's Thunder God Sword?"

All four were moved. Given their positions, there were few matters that required them to act personally, but the Thunder God Sword held greater symbolic value than practical value. It was the Second's relic, and in a sense, a symbol of legitimacy.

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

The expressions of Danzo and the others became rather subtle. Did they not know whether Konoha's Thunder God Sword was real or fake?

As for the other Thunder God Sword Minato mentioned, they instead felt that it might be genuine.

Although the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were not worth mentioning in their eyes, they trusted the swordsmen's judgment when it came to appraising ninja tools and blades. After all, they were professionals.

If Raiga Kurosuki had treasured it, that Thunder God Sword was very likely authentic.

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 said decisively, "The Thunder God Sword must never be allowed to fall into other hands again."

Minato still tried to argue. "But it's only a replica..."

"I can tell you that the one in the village is the replica."

Seeing Danzo put it so bluntly, Minato could only sigh. "I understand. I'll 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 puzzled. Elder Danzo's right ear was wrapped in bandages; had his left ear stopped working too?

"Chiaki Setsuna? That Genin Hiruzen promoted exceptionally?" Mitokado Homura frowned slightly. "This is absurd. 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 fate has guided it so, 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.

Had those words really come 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 first that over a hundred Hidden Cloud ninja 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. That brat really was becoming more and more monstrous.

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

Otherwise, given the strength that brat had displayed, he truly might have been able to kill Danzo outright.

Most importantly, that brat's mental state was indeed far from normal.

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

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 a temperamental brat believed he had been treated unfairly, it was entirely possible that he would kill Danzo and defect from the village.

Sure enough, Mitokado Homura frowned after hearing this. "He acted somewhat rashly. He killed so many Hidden Cloud ninja, as well as Raiga Kurosuki, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. This could very likely intensify the conflict between us, Hidden Cloud Village, and Hidden Mist Village. A better approach would have been to bring back captives, so the village could gain more leverage in negotiations 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 opinions? If war comes, then war comes. When has Konoha ever not faced multiple enemies in a ninja war?"

Mitokado Homura stared in astonishment. Was this really Danzo? Had someone disguised themselves as him?

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

Hiruzen smiled faintly. "Danzo is right. Blindly yielding will only make our enemies think us weak and easy to bully. I intend to leave Hidden Cloud Village with a painful memory, one that will prevent them from finding the energy to harass us for some time."