Silence filled the Hokage's Office. No one spoke up to stop Hiruzen Sarutobi, because this was their best option at present.
With the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha gone from the shinobi world, Third Raikage A had long been regarded as the strongest ninja alive.
He was a man who could subdue the tailed beast Eight-Tails, Gyuki, through physical strength alone. He stood at the very pinnacle of the shinobi world.
Sending anyone else now would only send them to their death. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was the best choice.
At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still the Shinobi Hero who had mastered all five nature transformations. Even if he could not defeat Third Raikage A, he could hold him off.
"Lord Hokage, urgent news from the front!"
Just then, an ANBU ninja wearing a dog-faced mask suddenly burst in, holding up an intelligence report as he called out.
His arrival shattered the heavy atmosphere in the Hokage's Office, only to drive the tension to another peak.
Danzo took the report from the Dog-Faced ANBU. After reading it, his right hand trembled slightly, and he nearly lost his grip, almost letting it fall onto the desk.
He exhaled sharply!
"At the Land of Earth border, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, has reached the battlefield with all of Iwagakure's elite forces. Orochimaru has led our ninja in holding them off for now, but the Konoha Army has suffered heavy losses. I'm afraid they won't withstand the Iwa Shinobi's second assault."
Danzo let out a soft breath, composed himself, and quietly delivered the news that no one present wanted to hear. People said good things came in pairs, but apparently bad things did too.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing, but the trembling hand holding his pipe made it clear that he was nowhere