Dark clouds loomed overhead, casting a shadow over the land. The Kumo forces—ten thousand strong—had completely surrounded Konoha's camp, trapping its defenders in a desperate situation.
Inside the camp, two figures moved swiftly toward the command tent. They were Yamanaka Inoichi and Aburame Shibi. Without hesitation, they entered, finding Danzo seated at the head of the room.
"Danzo-sama, the Kumo forces number at least ten thousand, while we have fewer than a thousand," Inoichi reported grimly. "To be honest, the disparity is overwhelming. I request permission to send a distress call to headquarters."
"Given the current situation, Kumo has the advantage, but they haven't launched an immediate assault. I suspect they're trying to encircle and starve us out, or perhaps they intend to use us as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the village."
Danzo waved a hand dismissively. "I understand. You two may leave."
...
As they exited the tent, Inoichi and Shibi exchanged weary glances, sighing in resignation.
"There's no denying it—Konoha's deployment this time was a serious mistake."
"Indeed. Their forces outnumber ours nearly ten to one. A direct confrontation would be suicidal. I even noticed Danzo-sama's hands trembling just now. Perhaps... he's afraid too."
The two men sighed again and walked away. If Danzo had overheard their conversation, he would have flayed them alive. Fear? Him? The very thought was laughable.
Danzo had fought across the shinobi world for decades. Who had he ever feared?
As for his hand trembling just now—that was because...
Sitting in his chair, Danzo tilted his head back and suppressed the glee bubbling inside him.
"Heh... Hahahaha! Hiruzen, you've miscalculated after all! You naively believed that since Kumo and Konoha had no major conflicts of late, stationing minimal forces at the border would be sufficient. But those savages don't think logically! They gathered overwhelming strength and trapped our forces here!"
"Konoha has suffered a devastating loss because of your blunder. This time, you'll have no choice but to step down as Hokage!"
The only way for Hiruzen Sarutobi to atone for his mistake was to relinquish his title. How could Danzo not rejoice at this?
Still, he couldn't afford to let his emotions show. A leader must always exude authority to maintain control.
He cleared his throat. "Cough, cough."
A figure entered the tent—a young man with a pale complexion and snake-like eyes.
"Orochimaru, prepare the troops for a breakout."
Orochimaru smirked, his lips curling into a sinister grin. "A breakout? Are you certain, Danzo-sama?"
Breaking through enemy lines now would undoubtedly result in heavy casualties. But Danzo knew this and desired exactly that outcome.
Danzo's expression hardened. "Inform all units—prepare to break through at dawn. Cook at midnight, move at dawn. Any soldier who disobeys will be executed on the spot."
Orochimaru chuckled, his golden eyes flashing with amusement. It didn't take a genius to understand Danzo's true intentions. But Orochimaru had no objections. He had witnessed enough death and destruction during the Second Shinobi World War to grow numb to it. War was simply a cycle of corpses piling up.
Moreover, Danzo's plan aligned with his own interests.
"Understood. I will..."
Just as Orochimaru was about to leave, his eyes suddenly narrowed. His keen senses detected something unusual. Moments later, a gust of wind blew open the tent flap, and a figure stormed inside.
"You bastard! Who gave you permission to barge in here?!" Danzo roared, his fury palpable.
The intruder paid no heed to Danzo's rage. Behind him, a group of Konoha guards rushed in, dropping to their knees in terror.
"Danzo-sama, we tried to stop him, but we couldn't—"
"Useless!" Danzo shot to his feet, ready to put the newcomer in his place. However, before he could act, a short sword was already pressed against his throat.
Danzo's pupils contracted slightly. What was going on? How dare someone threaten him with a blade inside Konoha's camp? Was this insubordination?
Orochimaru's voice broke the silence. "Sakumo, I don't know why you've returned, but have you forgotten the iron rules of a shinobi?"
Hatake Sakumo didn't lower his blade. His steely gaze flicked toward Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, if you have nothing useful to say, then shut up. I didn't come here to negotiate with you."
Orochimaru hesitated, his expression turning awkward. At this moment, he had no choice but to swallow his pride. After all, in the grand scheme of things, Hatake Sakumo stood above even the Sannin.
Ignoring Orochimaru, Sakumo turned his sharp gaze back to Danzo.
"The squad you sent to their deaths—I've already rescued them. Right now, Tsunade is treating their injuries in the main camp. Before they left, every single one of them swore with unwavering conviction that they were fighting for the village, for Konoha. But when faced with the true choice between life and death, their fear was not an act."
"If we absolutely must break through the enemy lines, then I ask that you lead the charge first, Lord Danzo."
Hearing Sakumo Hatake's sharp words, Danzo's brows furrowed. He knew that Sakumo had come back looking for trouble.
"Sakumo Hatake! You had best understand—I am the one in charge here. The treatment you received in the village has nothing to do with me. And your son is not under my command either. This is not where you belong."
Danzo was making every effort to distance himself from Sakumo, trying to leave him with no reason to stay.
Sakumo raised an eyebrow. "You're right—this place should have nothing to do with me. But Kakashi has already been dragged into this conflict, hasn't he?"
Slowly, Sakumo lowered the short blade in his hand. Killing Danzo here would serve no real purpose. But since he had come today, he was determined to reclaim something.
With a calm motion, he sheathed his blade on his back and turned to leave the command tent. The moment he stepped outside, he found himself surrounded.
However, the assembled shinobi were not gripping their weapons, poised for attack. Instead, many of them looked at him with expressions filled with something else entirely—something unspoken.
One man, his left arm wrapped in bandages and his right leaning on a crutch, hobbled toward Sakumo.
Tears welled in his eyes as he looked up at him.
"Sakumo… Thank you."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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