Shadows in the Dark

Shimura Danzō supported Hiruzen Sarutobi's plan to set a trap. The problem was, he had no one to spare.

Root had suffered heavy losses at Uzushio Village and still hadn't recovered.

The few members Root had managed to regain were already out gathering intelligence and sowing discord between other Ninja Villages.

Konoha wasn't afraid of war. It could even fight on two fronts. But fighting four villages at once was more than it could bear. The other villages needed to be at odds with one another.

At this stage, as long as Danzō didn't fixate on becoming Hokage and focused on outside threats, he was a capable ninja.

His temperament had earned him the support of many in Konoha's Pro-War Faction.

"According to my information, Kumogakure spies have been lurking around Kushina Uzumaki lately. They're probably planning to make a move on her." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a pull from his pipe, his gaze darkening. "We might use this chance to flush out all their spies in the village."

Danzō gave Hiruzen a long look. "I can lend you two Root squads. I genuinely can't spare anyone else right now."

"That'll do. I'll send Sakumo along with them." Hiruzen nodded.

Hiruzen had always been pleased with Hatake Sakumo. The man completed every mission flawlessly, possessed formidable strength, and was meticulous in his work. He was as close to a perfect ninja as anyone could be.

"Fine. Oh, and approve another ten million for me. Research funds are running low." Danzō had apparently remembered something and was asking Hiruzen for money again.

Hiruzen frowned. "Danzō, war is about to break out. Konoha needs money everywhere. Isn't ten million a bit much?"

"Hmph. Much? Not at all. This is the Wood Release Experiment. If it succeeds, what's ten million compared to that?" Danzō snorted.

Hiruzen opened his mouth. Was that how budgets worked?

But given the situation, Hiruzen decided to take the gamble. He could scrape together ten million if he had to.

Early the next morning, Uchiha Yi arrived at the village gate. The entire Tsunade Squad had assembled before seven.

Yi noticed the diamond-shaped mark on Tsunade's forehead that hadn't been there yesterday. To his surprise, she had completed the Yin Seal.

That was a tremendous leap for Tsunade. Her strength had clearly grown steadily over the past year.

The destruction of Uzushio Village, Kagami Uchiha's sacrifice, and the mounting tensions between nations had likely put considerable pressure on Konoha's people.

It was probably not just Tsunade. Jiraiya and Orochimaru must have improved during this time too.

Whether the three of them together could beat Hanzō was another question.

"Let's go!" Pleased to see the three of them looking so alert, Tsunade nodded and waved them forward. "Keep up with me. Don't fall behind!"

As she spoke, she glanced out of the corner of her eye toward a nearby corner, then took off beyond Konoha's gates.

Yi and the other two hurried after her.

The staff responsible for logging arrivals and departures at the gate could only smile helplessly as Tsunade Squad left the village so brazenly.

Ordinary ninja did need to register when leaving the village, but some were exempt. Tsunade was one of them.

Her status as a member of the Senju Clan wasn't what gave her that privilege. Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru had spent years working in Anbu, and they were still on its rolls. Anbu members came and went through the village, and Tsunade had flashed the gate staff a signal on her way out. The staff had neither reason nor authority to stop them.

Not long after Tsunade's group left Konoha, three "Anbu" squads led by a white-haired ninja slipped out through Anbu's special passage and followed Yi's group from a short distance behind.

Tsunade ran at the front, though she kept her pace in check. She glanced back at Yi, who followed steadily and still seemed to have energy to spare, then nodded in approval.

The kid had excellent speed and stamina.

In a flat-out sprint, Yi might even be faster than she was.

Hyuga Rinka belonged to the Hyuga Clan and trained in Taijutsu, so her speed was no surprise.

Even Kushina Uzumaki had kept up, her endurance proving impressive. Apparently, she hadn't neglected her physical training while studying Sealing Jutsu.

All the hard work Tsunade had assigned them had paid off after all.

She hadn't given Yi and the others so many D-rank missions just to make their lives difficult. The work was training too.

Wanting to test their limits, Tsunade unconsciously picked up the pace. Gradually, Kushina—the youngest and the only one without an unfair advantage—began to struggle, her breathing turning ragged.

Hyuga Rinka was next. Yi, the Uchiha who should have had the weakest constitution of the three, wasn't even breathing hard.

After all, the Uchiha couldn't match the Hyuga or the Uzumaki in physical endurance!

Even Tsunade had to marvel at what a monster he was.

If she hadn't known Yi's background, she might have suspected he had Senju or Uzumaki blood.

Having roughly gauged their limits, Tsunade stopped accelerating and eased back to a pace they could all manage.

In a cavern beneath the Land of Rain, the aged Madara Uchiha sat before the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path. Special tubes connected his back to the statue, which supplied him with life force.

Black Zetsu waited nearby, and several White Zetsu were scattered around the chamber.

Suddenly, one White Zetsu rose from the ground and called out in an odd voice, "Lord Madara, that Uzumaki child has left Konoha."

"She's finally left Konoha?" A calculating smile crossed Madara's face. "Tell those Cloud Shinobi. If possible, help them abduct Kushina Uzumaki. Then inform Konoha. Try to draw Mito Uzumaki out personally."

"Yes!" White Zetsu promptly melted back into the earth.