Momoka had only carried Mito-sama a short distance when the Third Hokage arrived. Seeing that the Nine-Tails had not gone berserk in Momoka's arms, he let out a tremendous sigh of relief, then immediately asked the surrounding Anbu what had happened here.
As he spoke, his gaze swept toward a middle-aged ninja who had just arrived behind him.
This man was none other than his old comrade-in-arms, Shimura Danzō. At this moment, the Root Leader no longer wore his usual calm, calculating expression. Rare panic showed on his face.
"Sure enough, this guy was behind it."
Looking at Danzō's expression, then at the mysterious ninjas sprawled across the ground, the Third Hokage cursed inwardly.
Not long after the Four Violet Flames Formation appeared, he had received word from the Anbu. Upon learning that the incident had occurred at the Senju Clan Compound, he realized something was terribly wrong. Combined with Orochimaru's warning before he left, he had vaguely guessed that Danzō was involved.
Now, seeing Danzō's expression, he was completely certain.
The two Hokage Advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, arrived shortly afterward. Mitokado Homura immediately asked the Third Hokage, "Hiruzen, what exactly happened? How did the Nine-Tails Chakra leak out? And Mito-sama—she's all right, isn't she?"
Bombarded with so many questions when he had yet to fully grasp the situation himself, the Third Hokage did not answer. He merely signaled for the Anbu ninja beside him to continue speaking and ordered the other Anbu to seal off the area and prevent word from leaking out.
"Damn it, they're still alive."
At the same time, Danzō looked at the Root ninjas being watched by Momoka and a group of Senju Clan ninjas ahead of him, and his heart sank to the bottom.
He secretly tried to form hand seals, intending