Main world.
Konoha Year Twenty-Two, spring.
Snowfield, northern Land of Fire.
Hiruzen Sarutobi led the others in a desperate sprint toward Konoha. The cold wind howled past their ears, and snow scattered beneath their running feet. No one spoke. Only heavy breathing and footsteps echoed across the snowfield.
Mitokado Homura ran behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, his gaze settling on the figure drawing ever closer ahead-Danzo. Danzo ran at the very front, his pace almost twice as fast as usual. His retreating figure looked particularly hurried against the snowfield, as though something were chasing him.
"What's gotten into Danzo...?"
Mitokado Homura's voice was very quiet, tinged with confusion.
"He may have suffered a shock."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was calm, but a barely perceptible, complicated gleam flashed in his eyes.
"Kinkaku and Ginkaku's rebellion, Sensei's decision... they hit him hard."
Mitokado Homura fell silent for a moment and said nothing more. Utatane Koharu ran in the middle of the group, her face still pale, the fear in her eyes not yet entirely gone. Torifu Akimichi ran beside her, panting heavily, his forehead covered in sweat. Kagami Uchiha brought up the rear, his face livid. The fury in his eyes mingled with Kinkaku and Ginkaku's words, twisting his expression.
No one knew that a massive rebellion that would nearly destroy Konoha was about to erupt.
No one knew that Shimura Danzō, running at the very front with a calm expression, was brewing a storm in his heart powerful enough to change Konoha's fate.
Deep in the snowfield.
Tobirama Senju stood on a rise, his silver hair fluttering in the wind, his red eyes fixed on the distant horizon. Wounds covered his body-a cut from the Seven Stars Sword on his left arm ran deep enough to expose bone, his right leg had been burned