Danzo had pursued the Cloud Shinobi with Sakumo and fewer than ten Jonin. Within minutes of the main Cloud Shinobi force reaching the deep crater, they had already hidden off to one side.
They had watched the whole thing and witnessed Takahashi Yū's "heroic" display. Shimura Danzō had pressed handprints into the rock before him.
Sakumo and the other elite shinobi had all been moved by Takahashi Yū's words, let alone Danzo, who was in his prime and free of disabilities. Though full of ambition, his Will of Fire was now second to none!
Under the pressure of the main Cloud Shinobi force, Danzo and the others could only watch in silence. But the moment the barbarian was about to swing his sword, Danzo finally lost control, shouted, and unleashed Wind Release.
Back then, Sarutobi had been the first to tell the Second Hokage that he would serve as bait to buy time, leading the Second to entrust him with the Hokage position in that crisis. Danzo had missed out on becoming Hokage, perhaps the only chance he would ever have in his life!
That incident had left a knot in Danzo's heart, a lifelong source of pain!
He had clearly thought of it first! He had clearly been first! He had only hesitated a little before speaking!
Now!
Another scene lay before Danzo: nearly seven thousand Kumogakure troops, and fewer than ten people at his side!
But!
Shimura Danzō would not allow himself to show weakness in the same place twice!
"Stop!!!"
"You despicable highland barbarians! Trying to take advantage of a wounded man! I, Shimura Danzō, will never let you harm a loyal, righteous man of Konoha!"
Danzo pulled Takahashi Yū's gravely wounded body behind him and stood alone at the front of the squad. Facing the vast force of Cloud Shinobi in the crater, he let out a courageous roar!
Teacher! Watch me. This time, I didn't hesitate!
Hatake Sakumo silently drew the short blade from his back and stood just behind Danzo to one side, sharing the weight of the gazes from the swarming Cloud Shinobi.
Bewilderment showed in Takahashi Yū's clear eyes.
Wait, guys, don't you know how tough my body is?
Can their mortal bodies even hurt me?
They can't hurt me, but they can hurt you! Are you really going this hard on the "fire"?
Danzo also knew that Takahashi Yū's body was extraordinary, but Takahashi Yū had overlooked something: he had never been injured before. The common understanding of body-training shinobi in the shinobi world was that once they suffered external injuries in battle, their physical defenses would drop drastically.
Because an incomplete body obstructed the flow of chakra.
Coupled with Takahashi Yū's "dying" speech, which could have moved even the First, this had led Danzo's group to mistakenly believe he truly intended to nobly "meet his death."
Seeing Takahashi Yū's "guilty" gaze, Danzo declared passionately:
"Takahashi, don't feel guilty! Rather than make me, Shimura Danzō, stand idly by and watch you die, you might as well gouge out my eyes and cut off my arm!"
"Besides, if they want to kill us, they'll have to pay a heavy price!"
Unfamiliar! Far too unfamiliar!
Takahashi Yū returned to the thought he had started with.
Is this that guy's Infinite Tsukuyomi world!?
Someone save me. Danzo's Will of Fire is practically burning me now!
Takahashi Yū lay behind everyone, questioning his life.
Across from them, the barbarian whose long sword had been knocked flying by Danzo's Wind Release quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fuck, you just sighed in relief! Didn't you?
You really think finishing off a troublesome enemy is sinful? Is that it?
Huh?
Wait! Why do I also think he could kill me with an iron sword...?
Have I been assimilated?
Fuck! No wonder it's the strongest genjutsu!
The Will of Fire!
Terrifying!
The barbarian really had quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He could not imagine how the Third Raikage would berate him upon waking if he had swung, how the shinobi of his village would shun him, or how everyone else in the shinobi world would view him.
After all, he would have killed a powerful warrior through dishonorable means during a real man's one-on-one battle.
"Lord Tomoi, should we...?"
The Cloud Shinobi who spoke made a throat-slitting gesture.
Moving in squads, the vast Cloud Shinobi force had already begun subtly surrounding the Konoha group.
Aside from the unconscious Third Raikage, Tomoi was the most senior Cloud Jonin in the crater, and he had temporarily assumed command.
Stroking his chin, he hesitated. He was no reckless youngster and now understood the situation. Even in the best case, the Eight-Tails would need a long time before returning to the battlefield; the Third Raikage had already suffered severe injuries. To put it bluntly, even if he recovered, he would no longer wield the overwhelming power he had possessed at his peak.
Kumogakure's only remaining assets were the Two-Tails stationed in the village and the seven thousand elite troops before him. Their remaining fighting strength was practically negligible.
They had already lost the ability to keep participating in the war. They might even have to rely on their geographical advantage to defend their home.
But whether it was Konoha's White Fang, Shimura Danzō, or even Takahashi Yū, a man capable of defeating the Third Raikage, this "juicy prize" of fewer than ten people before him made Tomoi salivate!
In the end, he extended two fingers and flicked them forward.
The Cloud Shinobi advancing in front immediately drew their blades, pointing their weapons at Danzo's group.
Danzo flung off his combat uniform, exposing an upper body covered in cursed seals!
I was still blaming others for losing their lives to save their comrades. I never thought this day would come for me too, Danzo thought, then shouted:
"You Kumogakure barbarians! Konoha will make you pay!"
Pah!
Suddenly, several pale red ripples connected to Takahashi Yū's prone body, and faint killing intent slowly began flowing from him as well!
"Exactly!"
Uchiha Shunji descended from above, landing in front of Danzo in a dashing pose.
Delia and Kenichi also landed beside Shunji, long swords in hand.
As soon as Yamanaka Ayano landed, she hurried over to Takahashi Yū and took out the bandages she carried.
"Captain, so even you have a day when you need me to bandage you up."
Green light, utterly at odds with the killing intent, emerged from the smiling Ayano's palms. It was the Mystical Palm Technique she had taught herself in the village.
Nara Yūma also landed at the bottom of the crater with a troubled expression.
Although Takahashi Yū had not seen Gekko Yūma, he believed that the swordsman, whose ability every man in the world envied, was right beside them.
Not everyone had the courage to leap into an encirclement.
Takahashi Yū smiled proudly. As their captain, he was quite popular with his "people."
"It's the Uchiha Three Devils!" a Cloud Shinobi shouted.
"What the hell!?" Shunji nearly failed to hold his dashing pose. What kind of damned title was that!?
Delia and Kenichi both wore equally exasperated expressions.
"Watch out!! If the Uchiha Three Devils are here, the Transparent Sword must be nearby. Protect the boss! Sensory shinobi, stay alert!"
A resigned figure materialized beside Takahashi Yū, appearing out of nothing as though optical camouflage were slowly reverting to its original colors.
With his presence exposed, Yūma could only sheepishly deactivate his bloodline ability. He held his katana across his body, facing off against the surrounding Cloud Shinobi.
The Cloud Shinobi swallowed.
If asked whom they hated most, it would undoubtedly be Shimura Danzō, Konoha's commander-in-chief on the Land of Lightning battlefield! His schemes were vicious, and many of their comrades had fallen at his hands.
If asked whom they feared most, it might also have been him.
Shimura Danzō, Konoha's White Fang, the Uchiha Three Devils, the Transparent Sword-and all the rest were long-renowned Jonin too!
Despite the encirclement formed by so many of their comrades, the Cloud Shinobi could not feel safe!
Before you continue