285. It Must Be a Blitz!

"Senior Danzo, are you really planning to do this?"

In a hidden training ground, a group of Konoha's elite had been assembled.

The one speaking was none other than the current Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

Dressed in his Hokage robe, he looked at the gathered elite with deep concern.

Just moments ago, Danzo had proposed an extremely risky battle plan.

He intended to lead these elite forces in an unprecedented blitzkrieg against the Hidden Cloud Village!

The plan was to take advantage of the Cloud ninja forces that had recently invaded the Land of Fire.

Before they could establish a solid defensive line, Danzo would gather a small, highly skilled squad to launch a surprise attack.

This tactic had two advantages:
First, it wouldn't require too much of Konoha's manpower or resources, allowing the village to rebuild quickly.

Second, it wouldn't give the Cloud ninja enough time to fortify their defenses, as the attack would be swift and unexpected.

However, the risks were also obvious. Danzo and his team would be deep behind enemy lines, and if anything went wrong, it could spell disaster for Konoha.

At least, that's how Minato saw it. But Danzo didn't share his concerns.

"Don't worry, I'm confident we can crush the Hidden Cloud in the shortest time possible,"
Danzo said in a calm yet commanding tone, addressing Minato's worries.

After all, the Hidden Cloud was undeniably the second strongest ninja village in the world, boasting powerful fighters like the Third Raikage, the A-B Combo, and the Two-Tails Jinchūriki.

In the current ninja world, only Danzo could confidently make such a bold claim.

Danzo's confidence stemmed from the powerful force he had meticulously cultivated—the Earth Branch Squad of the Root.

"This time, I will deploy the entire Earth Branch Squad," Danzo declared, making his determination clear.

His resolute attitude surprised Minato, but it also earned his admiration.

To throw all his carefully trained elite into battle for the sake of the village, and to personally lead the charge—such courage and spirit were rare among leaders.

However, given Danzo's importance to Konoha, Minato still wanted to try to dissuade him.

But before he could speak, Danzo raised his hand and said, "My mind is made up. No need for further discussion."

With that, he stood up, and the Root members, each wearing masks with their respective zodiac animal symbols, rose with him.

Among them were Kakuzu (Ox), En Oyashiro (Dragon), Hiruko (Snake), Aburame Ryoma (Horse), Shisui (Rooster), and Kakashi (Dog).

Except for Pakura (Rabbit), who was on a mission in the south, all available Earth Branch members were mobilized.

But Danzo wasn't done yet.

"Additionally, I need to requisition a few more people," Danzo said before leaving.

Minato was taken aback but quickly composed himself, replying solemnly, "Senior Danzo, whatever you need, I will provide!"

After all, if the elder was willing to risk everything for the village, how could he, as Hokage, not offer his full support?

With Minato's promise, Danzo unhesitatingly selected ten more elite ninjas, including Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga Hizashi.

Notably, he didn't call upon the Ino-Shika-Chō trio this time and even recalled his old friend, Akimichi Torifu, from the border.

This meant that after their departure, the village's remaining high-tier fighters would be Minato, the Third Hokage, and Akimichi Torifu, along with the Ino-Shika-Cho team and other ninjas.

This lineup should be enough to handle any emergencies.

After assembling his forces, Danzo made a stop at Konoha Hospital.

He picked up Shizune and shared a meal with her.

Afterward, he headed to where the Seven-Tails was being held.

The Seven-Tails resembled a giant scarab beetle, its head covered by a helmet-like exoskeleton, and its tail had transformed into seven massive wing-like structures.

Seeing Danzo again, Chōmei was in a foul mood.

After all, Danzo had severed several of its tails that night, crippling its prized flying ability.

Moreover, Danzo had placed numerous seals and barriers around it, restricting its freedom and slowing its chakra recovery. It was a disgrace for a tailed beast!

So, when Danzo approached, Chōmei's expression was far from friendly.

But remembering Danzo's terrifying strength from that night, it suppressed its anger and asked, "What do you want now?"

Danzo didn't respond. Preparing for the upcoming mission, he had no time for idle chatter.

As soon as he stepped into the barrier, he drew his katana and slashed twice. Before Chōmei could react, two brilliant sword flashes erupted, leaving it severely injured once again.

Danzo then activated the power of the Hell Path, draining a massive amount of dark red chakra from Chōmei.

The Seven-Tails, which had just begun to recover, was left weak and limp on the ground, much like the Three-Tails had been.

In fact, it was even worse off, as the Three-Tails had only been drained, while Chōmei had been both drained and injured.

After dealing with Chōmei, Danzo left without a word. The Seven-Tails could only watch in frustration as Danzo walked away, indifferent to its resentment.

From Danzo's perspective, a weakened tailed beast was in the village's best interest.

Next, Danzo visited a place he hadn't set foot in for a long time—the Sarutobi clan's compound.

"I didn't expect you to come here," said Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been informed in advance.

He sat on a cushion in the courtyard, a small table beside him with a steaming teapot and two teacups, one clearly meant for Danzo.

Danzo, leaning on his cane, slowly entered the courtyard. He looked at his old friend under the moonlight.

Time had turned Hiruzen's hair white and covered his face with wrinkles and age spots, giving him a somewhat gentle appearance.

If Minato hadn't died during the Nine-Tails' attack and Hiruzen had successfully transitioned power to the new Hokage, perhaps this man who had dedicated his life to Konoha wouldn't have been so harshly judged.

Danzo sighed inwardly and sat down on the cushion opposite Hiruzen.

Hiruzen poured tea into the cups and gently placed one in front of Danzo.

Danzo took the cup, sipped the steaming tea, and then glanced at the Sarutobi residence behind Hiruzen.

"Without Biwako, this place feels so empty," Danzo remarked.

Sarutobi Biwako, Hiruzen's wife, had been one of the casualties during the Nine-Tails' attack.

Hearing Danzo's words, a flicker of sadness passed through Hiruzen's eyes.

The loss of Biwako had hit him hard.

Yet, in the current situation, there hadn't even been time to hold a proper funeral for the former Hokage's wife.

With his children living elsewhere and his grandson not yet born, the house felt especially lonely at night.

Hiruzen lit his pipe and took a deep puff.
"War is like that. Anyone can die—you, me, anyone," he said, his voice slightly hoarse.

Then, he looked directly into Danzo's eyes and asked, "Danzo, you're about to leave, aren't you?"

Danzo nodded without hesitation. He hadn't come to hide this fact; in fact, he had come specifically to inform Hiruzen.

Hearing Danzo's confirmation, Hiruzen suddenly coughed violently, as if the smoke had choked him.

After a few harsh coughs, he regained his composure and said, "I know what you want to say." He tapped his pipe on the table.

"Don't worry, I'll prioritize the village's interests."

Satisfied with Hiruzen's assurance, Danzo drained his teacup and stood up, leaning on his cane.

"Thank you for the hospitality," he said.

As he stepped out of the courtyard, he left one final remark:
"The village can't afford any more turmoil. If anything happens while I'm gone, I won't let it slide. You know how I am, Hiruzen."

With that, Danzo disappeared into the night, the rhythmic tapping of his cane fading into the darkness.

After Danzo left, Hiruzen stared into the darkness outside the gate for a long time.

Finally, he exhaled a cloud of smoke and tapped the ashes from his pipe into a nearby flowerpot.

The embers quickly died out in the darkness...