"Hokage-sama!"
One by one, ANBU Ninja descended from above.
Yamato used Body Flicker to reach Hiruzen Sarutobi's side and asked, "Are you alright?"
They had felt that massive Wind Release Chakra even from far outside the valley; one could only imagine the scale of the battle that had taken place here.
Upon arriving at the scene, he found the surroundings only slightly damaged... For a moment, Yamato couldn't figure out what had happened.
"I'm fine."
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.
He had already sent Enma back; no one else knew what had transpired here except for the two of them.
Looking slightly weary, he said, "Masahiko arrived just in time. Danzo has retreated."
"Masahiko, why are you here too?"
Yamato was somewhat puzzled.
Masahiko briefly explained the situation after returning from the hospital and how he had discovered Anbu members kidnapping Yakumo on his way.
Yamato became lost in thought.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Masahiko and said, "So you're saying these two children, Shin and Sai, did not participate in this rebellion?"
"Yes. They even helped hold back Akai Osamu and assisted Kurenai in killing the Rogue Ninja and bringing Yakumo back. My Shadow Clone saw this with its own eyes."
Masahiko nodded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, a flicker of worry between his brows. "We'll discuss the details on the way back. Let's return to the Village first."
"Yes!"
Masahiko replied.
On the road.
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, "Masahiko, those two children, Sai and Shin, have followed you for a month. What do you think of them?"
"Sai likes to draw, is kind-hearted, and has very good abilities."
Masahiko paused slightly before continuing, "Shin gets along very well with Naruto; the two are quite similar. To be honest... I don't think they are suited for the Root Organization."
"Similar to Naruto?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned.
One Naruto was already enough of a headache; he couldn't even imagine having another.
"He's a child who knows how to take care of others. I actually think it might be better to let him protect and mentor Naruto."
Masahiko suggested.
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment and nodded slightly. "I'll consider it."
After that, he stopped asking questions.
Some matters were not convenient to discuss in such a setting.
Masahiko also traveled in silence, his gaze immersed in the records on his status panel.
[Episode 19 of "naruto: prequel" has finished filming!]
[Editing...]
[Production successful!]
[Total screen time: 6 minutes 32 seconds]
Screen time ratio: 31.2%]
[Due to the large number of characters in this episode, as a villain, your screen time exceeded 30%, and your salary has been increased.]
[Prompt:...]
The notification popped up a short while after he had finished his business and retreated from the battlefield.
Previously, Masahiko was either fighting or on his way to reposition and disguise himself, so he had no time to study it closely. Looking at it now... a ratio of about one-third.
A lot of things really did happen!
Masahiko composed his thoughts and looked toward the distant Konoha, pondering the future.
The Root Organization—
He had to think more about how he would report and debrief to Hiruzen Sarutobi later!
...Konoha was in the middle of the New Year Festival. It should have been bustling, but now it was a mess.
Kakashi swung his blade to slay a giant snake, sweat dripping from his forehead. After taking several deep breaths, he saw another giant snake in the distance.
Just as he was about to rush over... Whoosh!
A figure flashed through the air.
In an instant, the giant snake's head and body were incredibly sliced into several pieces.
The person landed on a roof, the blade-claws on one foot retracting.
Maruboshi Kosuke looked at Kakashi and said, "Konoha has more than just you as a Jonin. There's no need to push yourself so hard."
"Senior..."
Kakashi wiped away his sweat.
Maruboshi Kosuke said, "Leave the rest to me. You should go to the Hokage Building to take charge of the overall situation, rather than fighting here!"
Kakashi was stunned for a moment, his expression becoming somewhat dazed.
He thought of his teacher.
After becoming Hokage, Minato Namikaze went on fewer missions, spending more time commanding from the rear.
Precisely because of this, many things could not be balanced.
He couldn't help but fall silent.
Had he, too, unknowingly started walking down this path?
Kakashi was startled and also felt lost.
He wasn't prepared to take on such a responsibility.
"Don't think too much."
Maruboshi Kosuke smiled, then disappeared with a Body Flicker.
Only then did Kakashi realize—
The man's leg, which had previously been amputated due to injury, had been replaced by a special prosthetic.
A puppet prosthetic mixed with special metals?
He was secretly amazed and also guessed whose handiwork it was.
Only Hiruzen Sarutobi could provide so much special metal, and only Masahiko could create such a unique puppet prosthetic.
Feeling slightly exhausted, he forced himself to head toward the Hokage Building... In the vast wilderness.
Shikuro Aburame stopped and coughed repeatedly. Although he was masked, it was clear his condition was extremely poor.
"Father..."
"Within the organization, call me Captain!"
Shikuro Aburame scolded in a low voice.
Torune Aburame lowered his head and asked, "Captain, are you alright?"
"It's an old problem."
Shikuro Aburame looked back into the distance.
Danzo's arm had been resealed, and he was currently catching up quickly.
"My Lord, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
Danzo shook his head slightly. "Let's go."
"My Lord, where are we going?"
Shikuro Aburame asked.
This wasn't just his question; it was the question of all the Ninjas from the Root Organization who had followed him in the defection.
Naturally, Danzo had long since made plans: "The Land of Rivers!"
He paused for a moment.
"Can your body still hold out?"
"No problem, My Lord... The Land of Rivers..."
As soon as Shikuro Aburame finished speaking, he couldn't stop himself from covering his mouth and coughing.
Afterward, he seemed a bit hesitant.
Danzo said, "Toge has already established a base there ahead of time."
Everyone looked at each other, feeling surprised and confused. "That's a place the three Great Ninja Villages are watching closely. Won't it be too risky for us to go there?"
"It is the most suitable place for us."
Danzo didn't explain further.
Everyone nodded and stopped asking.
Although Danzo was no longer a Konoha Advisor, his strength and years of prestige remained.
Everyone in the Root Organization still trusted him considerably, especially those like Shikuro Aburame and Fu Yamanaka who knew the inner workings of the plan.
Danzo took out a scroll.
After opening it, he took a quick glance and then put it away.
This was a scroll regarding the previous notes, which detailed how to turn the Water Severing Wave into a combined Ninjutsu—
One person would release the Water Release, while one or two others would be responsible for using Chakra to assist in continuously compressing the water column, forming it into a high-pressure water blade.
In addition, it also discussed how the technique could be developed for individual use.
Through this information, even if one couldn't master the Water Severing Wave, they could at least master the multi-person application of the Water Severing Wave Ninjutsu.
But whether it could still be considered the Water Severing Wave would need to be viewed dialectically.
The lower half contained answers regarding the Darkness Walking Technique and the Soul Binding Technique.
Quite a bit was written about the Darkness Walking Technique, with some results already achieved.
The Soul Binding Technique was concise and clear—
Masahiko didn't understand it and needed to study and ponder it further.
"My Lord, Yagyū Masahiko..."
"Don't worry about him. He's a smart man and knows very well what he wants,"
Danzo replied, "Hiruzen values him highly and has been training him with great care. It was never possible for him to be as loyal and reckless as you all."
At this point, he gave a light chuckle: "The fact that he was still willing to give me this has already surprised me quite a bit."