Fire's Joy Makes a Grand Entrance!

At those words, everyone looked up toward the distant sea.

The once-calm waters were suddenly crowded with warships. Konoha Ninja in standard-issue vests packed their decks, their eyes fixed on the battlefield with murderous intent.

At the front of one ship stood two imposing figures, the pressure of Kage-level power faintly radiating from them. They were Shimura Danzō, commander of Konoha's eastern ninja forces, and his deputy, Hatake Sakumo.

"It's Konoha's Fire's Joy and the White Fang!"

"Why are Konoha's people here? We kept this operation secret."

"Did that signal flare draw them here?"

Inside the harbor, the ninja of the Three Great Shinobi Villages exchanged uneasy looks and whispered among themselves.

On the warship's deck, Shimura Danzō stepped forward. His expression was grave as he declared, "You Three Great Shinobi Villages dared attack Konoha's allies. You're courting death."

"The Uzumaki Clan has always loved peace and kept to itself for generations. Yet because they possessed Sealing Techniques, you jackals came circling?"

"For this crime, every last one of you deserves death!"

Danzō turned toward Hanzo of the Salamander among the Amegakure forces. His voice turned icy. "And what hole did you crawl out of, you piece of trash? A shabby, low-ranking ninja from some insignificant little country dares set his sights on Konoha? Dreams of ruling the Shinobi World?"

"Are you tired of living, Hanzo of the Salamander?"

"Say that to my face again, you rat!"

Under Danzō's blistering tirade, Hanzo of the Salamander's confident expression froze. His face darkened.

Who the fuck are you?

You show up and start tearing into me?

If I couldn't sense two Kage-level fighters on Konoha's side, I'd beat that attitude right out of you.

In the distance, Ōnoki watched Danzō. Hanzō might have come from a small country and known little of