On the road from the Land of Fire to the Land of Grass, a carriage rolled steadily onward. Tall, dense trees flashed past the windows as Danzo sat inside, resting with his eyes closed.
Although the Shinobi World now had fast, convenient means of transportation such as trains.
Danzo preferred the traditional carriage to those tin cans on rails.
Suddenly, the carriage jolted, then slowed.
"This is the third time. What exactly is going on?"
Danzo called outside the carriage, displeased.
"Lord Hokage, it's another attack just like the others. Our men have already gone after the attacker."
"Another identical attack?"
Danzo was no fool. These repeated attacks already made the situation quite clear.
"A diversion? The person behind this is targeting me."
Not a single man sent to pursue the attackers during the previous two incidents had returned. This was an obvious attempt to lure his guards away. If he failed to see through even that, he might as well stop being Hokage.
It seemed someone was coming after him.
Who could it be? Jiraiya and Tsunade?
No. Besides Tsunade still being unconscious, Jiraiya wouldn't do something like this.
Then who could it be?
"Ryoma, if it happens again, all of you..."
Once he finished giving his instructions, the carriage continued onward without lingering.
Sure enough, another attack came before long.
Several kunai flew toward the carriage compartment, seemingly intended to kill Danzo outright.
Bzzzz!
A buzzing sound rang out, and a swarm of tiny black insects appeared, intercepting the kunai.
"Everyone, after them!"
At Aburame Ryoma's command, everyone except the Root member driving the carriage followed him in pursuit.
The carriage gradually slowed until it finally stopped.
Once the members of Root had gone far enough away.
The person behind the attacks finally appeared.
Wearing an Akatsuki cloak,