At the designated ambush site, Hiruzen Sarutobi waited carefully in hiding. According to the plan, he would face Kinkaku and Ginkaku alongside Danzo and Kazemori Masaki. His mind was linked to a ninja from the Yamanaka Clan, so any intelligence the clan received would also be passed on to him.
"Lord Sarutobi, Kinkaku and Ginkaku are pursuing Lord Kazemori this way." The Yamanaka ninja learned this from the Hyuga Ninja beside him and immediately informed Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Yes, I can feel them too," Hiruzen Sarutobi replied within their mental link.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was not a sensory ninja, but the Nine-Tails' chakra was so powerful that even he could sense its ominous presence. Although Kinkaku and Ginkaku had only consumed a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra, Hiruzen Sarutobi had witnessed the true power of the Nine-Tails and could imagine how strong the brothers were.
They did not have the First Hokage's Wood Release Secret Technique, which could suppress tailed beast chakra, nor Madara Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan, which could control a tailed beast's mind. They also lacked Mito's Sealing Jutsu, powerful enough to subdue a tailed beast. Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help wondering whether he, Masaki, and Danzo could defeat opponents like these.
At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not afford to entertain such doubts. He could only fight with everything he had. As he sensed that chakra drawing closer, he began gathering his own chakra—
"Kinkaku and Ginkaku have men following them, don't they? Let's separate them first," Hiruzen Sarutobi told the Yamanaka ninja through their mental link.
"Understood. Kinkaku and Ginkaku are moving very quickly and have pulled ahead of the others. Please use your Ninjutsu when I give the signal, Lord Sarutobi," the Yamanaka ninja said.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly and waited calmly where he was. The instant the