In this direction from Konoha, mountains stretched endlessly and forests covered the land.
Hiruzen Sarutobi used his adamantine staff to speed through the mountains.
Combined with the slow descent of Wind Release Ninjutsu, these mountains were like flat ground to him; in just a moment, he was about to catch up with Danzo and the others.
However.
Amidst the mountains and fields, a poisonous mist spread.
Poisonous insects swarmed, enveloping the surroundings.
Suddenly, as Hiruzen Sarutobi leaped up while propped by his staff, another "Hiruzen Sarutobi" appeared on his body, and the two stood together at the top of the staff, forming hand seals.
Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!
Wind Release: Air Cyclone!
Flames covered the entire field.
The Shadow Clone spat out a surging gale from its mouth, sweeping through the entire forest.
In the surging fire, all the poisonous insects and traps were detonated.
"Hokage-sama!"
Several older ANBU Ninjas were moved to tears at this moment.
How many years has it been since they last saw such a scene!
In the past, when they were still young, they had grown up hearing stories of the Third Hokage's prowess in battle.
Today, the elderly Hiruzen Sarutobi remained the strongest in Konoha.
His combined Ninjutsu could incinerate an entire mountainside!
Below, Shikuro Aburame and Torune Aburame fled in distress.
Faced with Hiruzen Sarutobi's large-scale Fire Release, their insects and poison had no place to be used.
Ahead.
"Lord..."
"After we reach the Valley of the End, you guys leave first."
Danzo, with a cold face, slowly came to a stop.
He pulled out his hand that had been tucked inside his clothes and said with a solemn expression, "No matter how strong a wolf king is, there comes a time when he grows old."
"If it were him in his youth, perhaps I truly wouldn't be his match."
"But now..."
"When it becomes absolutely necessary, I will use the power of this hand!"
Danzo continued his hurried run.
Finally—
"Danzo!"
Boom!
One strike.
The huge rock in front instantly shattered.
Danzo turned back and sneered, "Hiruzen, you're hunting me down... have you considered the possibility of being killed by me?"
"You can try!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at him.
Danzo took off his Ninja Tool, turned his back to the Valley of the End, and said, "I've considered this scene, but I never thought it would happen like this..."
Afterward, he revealed that sinister and terrifying hand.
Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in front of him and said, "If you have the confidence to beat me, then come!"
Boom!
The adamantine staff thrust forward violently.
Danzo jumped back, descending along the mountain wall from behind.
A moment later.
Boom!
The two of them landed on the water surface together, creating a huge splash.
Danzo was in no hurry to make a move.
"Hiruzen, you and I have cooperated for years; can't you see the situation today clearly?"
"I want to become the Hokage, but I don't need to join forces with Orochimaru and that guy. On the contrary, I also want to catch that troublemaker!"
Only the two of them were here.
Danzo believed he could clarify certain things.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sneered, "So, are you saying that all of this has nothing to do with you?"
"Of course."
Danzo nodded.
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally gave a relieved smile and said, "Danzo, then what about the Multi-Size Technique?"
"The foundation of the Root Organization is the Aburame Clan and the Yamanaka Clan. Would I do something to dig my own grave?"
Danzo asked in return.
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes, then gently shook his head: "I believe you are doing it for Konoha, but regarding these matters... I cannot trust you."
He sighed softly, "Actually, whether I believe you or not is no longer important."
"..."
Danzo fell silent.
At this moment, he realized—
A person accustomed to lying can no longer gain the trust of others.
He was silent for a few seconds and sighed, "That matter, I will still do it."
At that very moment, a sword suddenly slashed out from under the water.
Danzo dodged, but was still hit by a strike.
He clutched his wound, while also grabbing the scroll he had tucked close to his body inside his clothes, staring behind him as he avoided the blade.
"Yagyū Masahiko..."
Danzo endured the intense pain and kept retreating.
Masahiko had a solemn face: "Lord Danzo, I didn't expect that you would actually betray Konoha and even want to take Yakumo away!"
"You..."
Danzo stared at Masahiko.
He sighed, "Masahiko, those who believe in the darkness should not possess human emotions."
"No, Lord Danzo, I simply believe... Yakumo is not suited to be in your hands. Her body is too fragile, and her mental state is unstable."
Masahiko said calmly, "You cannot lead her well."
"She is just a tool."
Danzo's voice was cold.
"Yakumo is not a tool; she is a person."
Masahiko shook his head, "Roots grow underground, but they also need nourishment; otherwise, they will rot and collapse. The same is true for people."
Danzo was silent and said disappointedly, "I once thought that you and I might be the same kind of person. Now it seems... we are not on the same path."
"I agree with some of your views, and I also agree that Konoha needs the support of the Root, but I do not approve of your methods."
Masahiko replied.
Hiruzen Sarutobi observed from the side, not saying a word from beginning to end.
Danzo chuckled, "Whether it is so or not, there will be an opportunity to witness it in the future, provided that... at that time, you are still alive and still in Konoha."
"Everything this subordinate does is for Konoha."
Masahiko answered sincerely.
"Take this!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed and threw a scroll over.
Danzo caught it, a look of suspicion on his face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "This is some of the support I promised you before. In the future... take care!"
"What?"
Masahiko looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, a look of astonishment appearing on his face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent and said, "This was originally a planned operation; of course, there were also some things that went beyond the plan."
Danzo stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi and Yagyū Masahiko, finally said nothing, took the scroll, and used Body Flicker to move upward. In the next moment—
A huge wind bullet attacked from above.
Masahiko quickly formed hand seals.
Water surged and swirled, forming a tall, rotating wall of water.
Boom!
The wind bullet hit the water wall and was immediately deflected and diverted by the continuous flow of water.
In just a moment, the Vacuum Great Sphere was deflected and diverted, crashing into the nearby mountain wall.
Masahiko withdrew his Chakra.
Looking up again, Danzo had disappeared without a trace.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood on the river water of the Valley of the End, looking up at the two stone statues, and couldn't help but smile, saying:
"The Valley of the End seems to have a mysterious destiny."
"Back then, Jiraiya chased Orochimaru, and it seems he took this path as well, only he was defeated by Orochimaru before reaching here."
"Now, it's me and Danzo again..."
He stared at the statues, lost in thought.
A few seconds later, he chuckled, "Getting old, I always like to reminisce."
"Hokage-sama, destiny cannot be broken, but things like Rogue Ninja can be... therefore, I don't believe this is destiny."
Masahiko replied.
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed in spite of himself, "I'm just feeling a bit sentimental. Let's go, let's head back."
"Lord, have you... thought about how to explain this?"
Masahiko asked in a low voice.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a few seconds and said, "In the short term, they still need me to mediate and wouldn't dare to act recklessly, and..."
A sharp look flashed in his eyes.
"I am the Hokage; I only need to be responsible to the Daimyo. Those nobles don't have the right to say anything."
Recommending a new book by Cured Meat and Bean Claypot Rice.
——————
Introduction: Year 41 of Konoha, not long after the end of the Second Great Ninja War.
Undercurrents surge within the Village, and people's hearts are restless; outside the Village, the Four Great Hidden Villages are preparing their troops, waiting for the opportunity to devour Konoha.
At a time of internal and external troubles, a veteran from the establishment transmigrated as Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Along with him came a page of documents in his sea of consciousness: Authority, Diplomacy, Military, Economy, Education—five indicators that bind his future to the Village.
"Orochimaru, you have always been the disciple I am most proud of!" Starting by winning over his disciples, Hiruzen Sarutobi embarked on the path of the strongest Hokage.
"Do you believe in the Will of Fire? Konoha is about to start accelerating!"
"Win over geniuses," "Systematic reform," "Health pills to harvest nobles"
"Lighthouse of the Ninja World," "Konoha Green Card," "Unite Hyuga and Uchiha"
"Support commoners," "Iterative technology," "Universal Hashirama Vaccine"
"Resurrect Tobirama with an Uchiha body"... Hiruzen Sarutobi stands atop the Hokage Rock, the crowd below boiling with excitement:
"In the name of the Hokage, make Konoha great again!"