The Root's stronghold was not located within Konoha, and there were no sentries nearby, so Danzo easily escaped the encirclement without worrying about Konoha's pursuers.
But after leaving Konoha, Danzo fell into a state of confusion, wondering where he should go next. He had nowhere to settle down in the vast Shinobi World.
Orochimaru's Sound Ninja Village... Danzo decisively rejected it. The best outcome of going there would be being a dependent, and the worst outcome might be that Orochimaru would pack him up and send him to Konoha as an apology.
Danzo was pondering his next move, so he wasn't moving very fast, but Danzo still very careful, cleaning up any traces he had left behind.
Footprints and scents will become tracking methods for the Anbu, and Danzo is quite skilled in this area.
Even with such caution, a voice that Danzo least wanted to hear still appeared.
" Lord Danzo, let's stop here. If we continue to flee, we'll leave Konoha's territory. I believe the Root ninjas are more adept at dealing with missing-nin."
Danzo stopped in his tracks, boldly turning his back to the newcomer, revealing his complete confidence.
" Hiashi, are you sure you want to stop me? Or do you not care about the stain on the Hyuga Clan?"
" Danzo, the Lord Hokage very lenient, so this time I'm here to arrest you in the name of the head of Konoha's Intelligence Division."
Hyuga Hiashi emerged from behind the tree, his chakra veins bulging around his eyes. The Chakra, Danzo signature feature of the Hyuga Clan, had already locked onto Danzo's Byakugan, so there was no way Danzo could escape.
" Intelligence Division? A hastily assembled department. Is this all the Hyuga Clan's ambitions are?"
"Directly under the command of the Anbu."
Danzo up. He hadn't expected Tsunade to be so resolute, even willing to share some of the Anbu's power. With such a 'generous' Hokage, it would be hard for these clans not to be loyal.
"What, you got a taste of the Hokage's bones, so you're eager to show your loyalty to her?"
Hyuga Hiashi's face remained unchanged. Once he became the head of the Hyuga Clan, he no longer cared about personal honor or disgrace, especially since Danzo's words seemed so powerless at this moment.
Like the dying screams of prey, it only helps the hunter pinpoint the location more accurately.
Hyuga Hiashi remained silent, and Danzo dared not make any rash moves. Although the longer they stayed here, the greater the risk of being caught by Konoha's pursuers, Hyuga Hiashi was no small fry in the Anbu. His strength was at least that of Elite Jonin, and if he couldn't be dealt with in a short time, it would only make the already precarious situation even more dangerous.
But fate was clearly not on Danzo's side. The two sides had only been locked in a standoff for two minutes when Hyuga Clan ninjas arrived to provide support. If Danzo was not mistaken, the Hyuga Clan had probably come out in full force this time.
"That's quite a large sum. If I had paid a little more attention back then, this situation probably wouldn't have happened."
Danzo sighed with regret. He had countless opportunities to defeat Naoki Senju beforehand, but his arrogance made him miss them time and time again. Now the situation had reversed, and it was his turn to run away.
" Danzo, surrender now, for the sake of your family and clan."
"My people? Ha! Without me, where would they be? Why should I sacrifice myself for them?"
Danzo's voice gradually deepened, clearly indicating that he was ready for battle.
Hyuga Hiashi also adopted a Gentle Fist stance, showing no fear of Danzo, but also not Danzo.
" Lord Danzo, please enlighten me."
"Hmph! Wind Release: Wind Cutter Blade."
The wind blade, drawn into a thin line, cut forward, clearly intended to counter the Hyuga Clan's Air Palm. Hitting this wind blade would obviously be no less difficult than hitting a willow leaf from a hundred paces.
Most Hyuga Clan ninjas would choose to use the Rotation technique to withstand the attack in such situations for the sake of safety, but Hyuga Hiashi's combat experience allows him to make riskier, but more rewarding, decisions.
" Gentle Fist, Air Palm."
Hyuga Hiashi Chakra cleaving through the wind blades, then continued its relentless momentum, carrying terrifying power as it struck Danzo.
"This is indeed very troublesome..."
Danzo frowned slightly, dodging the Air Palm strike and beginning his retreat. However, the other Hyuga Clan ninjas who arrived worked together seamlessly to intercept Danzo. The longer the battle dragged on, the more Hyuga Clan ninjas would arrive, creating a deadly trap for Danzo.
Danzo dodged the Air Palm in a sorry state, looking for an opportunity to escape or counterattack. As Danzo became increasingly disheveled, his eyes suddenly lit up. He saw a still-young Hyuga Clan ninja.
If I remember correctly, he should be the strongest genius of the younger generation of the Hyuga Clan, the son of Hizashi Hyuga. He's certainly a good hostage...
" Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves "
The powerful Wind Release forced Neji Hyuga, Danzo instantly unleashed a speed that even Hyuga Hiashi couldn't react to, taking Neji Hyuga hostage.
Neji! Didn't I already tell you not to come this time?!
Hyuga Hiashi couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. The worst-case scenario had occurred, and he hadn't even managed to spot Neji Hyuga.
Despite having a kunai Kunai against his neck, Neji Hyuga remained defiant, retorting defiantly to Hyuga Hiashi 'Neji Hyuga questioning.
"You!"
Hyuga Hiashi choked. If Danzo this time, the Hyuga Clan's status in Konoha would plummet.
" Hyuga Hiashi, if you want Hizashi's child to live, then get out of the way!"
Danzo!
Hyuga Hiashi clenched his fists. He hadn't expected Danzo to even know Neji's identity. This was really troublesome...
However, Neji Hyuga clearly had his own ideas. He glanced at the kunai at his neck Kunai making a sound, estimated the distance, and judged that there would be a risk, but it wouldn't be fatal.
Then...
" Gentle Fist, Rotation!"
Danzo in Danzo's arms, Neji Hyuga suddenly erupted, unleashing Chakra from every pressure point on his body, transforming it into the sharpest weapon. Danzo was completely unprepared; Neji's appearance was too deceptive. A child this age was just someone who couldn't sit still and joined in the fun—what Ninjutsu could he possibly know?
But the sudden burst of the Rotation directly tore Danzo's arm to Danzo, leaving it a bloody mess. Although it was only some superficial wounds, it was enough to prove that Neji Rotation was already quite advanced.
Damn it!
Danzo, unwilling to give up, captured Neji Hyuga again. This time, he planned to cripple Neji and then take him hostage.
But Danzo has been held up for too long, Naoki Senju clearly won't let him live any longer.
" Neji, well done."
Naoki Senju descended from the sky riding a Wood Dragon, causing Danzo to retreat in terror. This time, however, no Root ninja risked their lives to buy Danzo time.