Chapter 169: Kagura: I don't want Lord Danzo to become a rogue ninja either

Land of Rain.

The Mist Ninja Camp.

Hozuki Mangetsu and a group of Mist ninjas were still discussing why the Konoha ninjas left the joint pursuit force without so much as a greeting.

"At least they could have informed us."

"It doesn't matter, Danzo and his followers aren't much of a force anyway…"

"So, if it's just us left, do we continue to pursue the group of rogue ninjas led by Uchiha Obito? We still don't have detailed intelligence. Those guys from the Konoha didn't even leave us with any information before they left!"

"Forget it."

"It doesn't matter if they've left."

"The Land of Rain is always raining; this is the environment suited for our combat. We'll slowly investigate the Akatsuki organization here while questioning Konoha's breach of promise…"

While they were still chatting, a sudden cry of attack came from outside; the camp was clearly under attack!

Hozuki Mangetsu immediately led a group of Mist ninjas out and saw Shimura Danzo at the entrance, with a group of Konoha ninjas attacking the camp, all possessing the Sharingan and even capable of using Wood Release!

Hozuki Mangetsu quickly drew his Twin Swords - Hiramekarei, swiping a Konoha ninja aside, saving one of his subordinates!

"Shimura Danzo, what is going on?"

Hozuki Mangetsu glared at Shimura Danzo: "Are the Konoha ninjas attacking us to break the alliance between the Konoha and the Mist?"

"I didn't want to do this…"

Shimura Danzo seemed to sigh but quickly showed a scornful smile, saying to Hozuki Mangetsu: "However, I'm worried that a civil war is about to break out in Konoha, and we have to start a war between our two villages…"

Shimura Danzo calmly leaned on his cane, squinting his eyes, and spoke a philosophy of life: "When an organization faces a greater threat, internal conflicts will be eliminated. For the peace within the Konoha, you have to be sacrificed…"

"…"

Hozuki Mangetsu was furious, showing his sharp teeth: "You want to start a war, do you think the Konoha can really defeat the Mist ninjas who survived the Blood Mist?"

"Yes."

Shimura Danzo nodded calmly, saying: "In fact, now Konoha only needs to send the young... Akihara Kagura over, and he alone would be enough to crush the Land of Water."

"…"

Hozuki Mangetsu gritted his teeth.

This bastard actually makes sense!

Just Akihara Kagura, the Wood Release ninja alone, and the Mist can't handle him, now it seems Konoha has many more Wood Release ninjas…

Mist ninjas love war, but they don't like losing; Mist ninjas love killing, but they don't like being killed; Mist ninjas love blood, but they don't like their own blood being spilled.

"Let's retreat, Mangetsu."

A Mist squad leader came to Hozuki Mangetsu's side, softly requesting: "The enemy's attack was too sudden, we must retreat immediately… If Shimura Danzo wants to start a war, we'll break through first and report today's events to the Third Hokage of the Konoha, asking them to punish Shimura Danzo."

"Let's go!"

Hozuki Mangetsu could only nod.

This Mist squad leader was a strategist assigned to him by the village elders, worried that he might not handle things thoroughly. Hozuki Mangetsu highly valued his wisdom.

Once the Konoha and the Mist truly start a war, the current Mist Village is far from being a match for the Konoha, just as Shimura Danzo said, just one Akihara Kagura is enough.

Hozuki Mangetsu led the other Hidden Mist ninjas to quickly retreat. In the unclear situation, he dared not rashly divide his forces, lest spreading out their strength would lead to being surrounded and attacked by the enemy.

"Collective retreat!"

"Everyone, retreat quickly!"

A group of Mist ninjas rapidly fled the camp!

That Shimura Danzo, who had been standing at the entrance, raised his palm and gently waved: "Pursue them, we must not let them leave!"

"Yes, Lord Danzo!"

A group of masked ninja with dual Kekkei Genkai shouted vigorously!

According to their plan, this group of dual Kekkei Genkai ninja, led by the Shimura Danzo impersonated by White Zetzu Awei, drove the Mist ninjas to join with the real Konoha envoy, Homura Mitokado.

On the other side.

Homura Mitokado was also traveling at high speed.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had informed him about the severity of the situation, and Homura Mitokado, worried about what Shimura Danzo might do, quickly made his way towards the Land of Rain.

To ensure Homura Mitokado's safety and to get the news as soon as possible, Sarutobi Hiruzen even dispatched his own Hokage Guard Platoon to protect Homura Mitokado. Once Homura Mitokado confirmed the negotiation results with Shimura Danzo, he could return to Konoha to report as soon as possible.

As a result,

Homura Mitokado encountered a group of Mist ninjas being pursued and saw a group of double Kekkei Genkai ninjas in Konoha uniforms chasing the Mist ninjas. The old man was somewhat confused about the situation.

"What exactly is going on?"

"Lord Homura Mitokado!"

Upon seeing Homura Mitokado, Hozuki Mangetsu, without caring which side he was on, questioned while being cautious: "Does Shimura Danzo want to provoke a war between Konoha and Mist Village? Is this the decision of all Konoha's higher-ups?"

"Of course not!"

Homura Mitokado was startled!

What exactly was Shimura Danzo up to? Concealing unauthorized experiments from them and having a group of powerful private armed forces, why would he still want to provoke a war between two villages?

The group of double Kekkei Genkai ninjas who were chasing the Mist ninjas also stopped, observing Hozuki Mangetsu's team and Homura Mitokado's team, as if they were discussing something.

"Where is Danzo?"

Looking at the group of double Kekkei Genkai ninjas, Homura Mitokado understood that these guys were the troops Shimura Danzo had secretly hidden and coldly said: "I am here to see Danzo on orders from the Hokage himself. Stop this senseless battle!"

"..."

The group of double Kekkei Genkai ninjas hesitated.

However...

Someone in charge soon arrived.

Shimura Danzo, leaning on a cane, walked out amidst a group of people.

"Danzo!"

When Homura Mitokado saw Shimura Danzo, his mood immediately relaxed: "Stop this pointless fight. Why attack the Mist ninjas? Do you want to start a war?"

"Only war can save Konoha."

Shimura Danzo shook his head, squinting his eyes: "Everything I do is for Konoha. Now is the time when we must start a war..."

"What nonsense are you talking about..."

Homura Mitokado frowned deeply.

Konoha had already ended wars with the outside world and internal conflicts within the village. Now, if Danzo and Hiruzen could come to an agreement, a long period of peace and tranquility would welcome them...

"The monkey already knows what I've done..."

Shimura Danzo looked at Homura Mitokado and coldly said: "However, I do not wish to engage in conflict with him. I do not want Konoha's strength to be wasted in internal strife, so a war must be started to prevent anyone from blaming me..."

"Monkey sent me to negotiate with you..."

Homura Mitokado roughly understood Shimura Danzo's thoughts, knowing that Shimura Danzo was worried that his unauthorized human experiments would bring retaliation, and proactively persuaded: "Danzo, you don't need to go to such extremes. What you've done this time is beneficial for Konoha. The monkey isn't blaming you. Let's talk this over..."

"It has already happened..."

"But now I have a better solution."

Shimura Danzo interrupted Homura Mitokado, his squinted eyes slowly opening, coldly saying: "For the village, everything can be sacrificed. Ninjas must learn to sacrifice themselves. Now is the time for your sacrifice..."

"Me?"

Homura Mitokado frowned with confusion.

Shimura Danzo coldly began to fabricate his story: "The Mist ninjas killed Konoha's Hokage Advisor, Lord Homura Mitokado, in an attempt to provoke a war between Konoha and the Mist Village. Both I and Hiruzen are your friends. We definitely will not stand by and watch your sacrifice..."

"..."

Homura Mitokado's face immediately turned ugly, staring hard at Shimura Danzo: "Danzo, you want to kill me?"

"Your sacrifice is valuable."

Shimura Danzo looked at Homura Mitokado and began persuading him, "The death of someone with such an important identity will inevitably lead to a war between Konoha and the Mist Village. Konoha is bound to win this war, and the conflict between me and the 'Monkey' will be resolved in the midst of this war..."

"All of this..."

"Requires only your sacrifice!"

"For Konoha, please make this sacrifice!"

"You!"

Homura Mitokado was furious inside.

The idea of Shimura Danzo was quite rational, indeed. As long as he, the Hokage's advisor, died, Konoha would have no choice but to go to war with the Mist Village. Regardless of how many disagreements there were between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, they would have to be resolved during the war...

Moreover...

Konoha had a good chance of winning this war.

The only one who needed to be sacrificed was himself, the Hokage's advisor.

Honestly...

Homura Mitokado was not afraid to sacrifice himself.

However, dying as part of this scheme was particularly suffocating for him!

Suppressing his dissatisfaction, Homura Mitokado tried to appeal to reason and emotion: "Danzo, we have been old friends for sixty years..."

"For Konoha, anything can be sacrificed."

Shimura Danzo shut down Homura Mitokado with a single sentence, even bluntly saying, "Whenever the 'Monkey' and I had conflicts, you always stood on his side. This time, it's simpler to eliminate you, cutting off one of the Monkey's arms!"

"Kill him."

Shimura Danzo raised his palm, his somewhat aged voice mixed with an undeniable power: "No one present is allowed to leave alive!"

Homura Mitokado was completely shocked by Shimura Danzo's ruthlessness!

Killing him and framing the Mist Village to start a war between Konoha and the Mist, while also eliminating himself, who had always stood by Sarutobi Hiruzen...

Because they had always been old friends, Homura Mitokado always believed that Danzo's extreme actions were for the sake of Konoha. He never thought that one day, Shimura Danzo's extremity would fall upon him, his old friend...

"This kind of dark and extreme method..."

Homura Mitokado shook his head in disbelief, trembling slightly: "Danzo, you've truly gone mad..."

Shimura Danzo simply lowered his hand calmly.

"Lord Danzo's order, kill everyone present!"

Seeing his gesture, the group of dual Kekkei Genkai ninja, as if having received the command, rushed to kill, intending to eliminate Homura Mitokado along with them!

Homura Mitokado, being targeted, had no choice but to meet up with the Mist ninjas and escape towards Konoha.

"Your Konoha is really interesting..."

Hozuki Mangetsu mocked Homura Mitokado while escaping with the Mist ninjas: "We always thought the era of the 'Blood Mist' was dark enough, but we never realized that Konoha hid its darkness well too..."

Homura Mitokado felt a burning shame.

After Shimura Danzo lost power, he had been wholeheartedly helping Danzo to regain control. He never expected Danzo to want him dead!

"First... let's escape!"

Homura Mitokado was too embarrassed to look at Hozuki Mangetsu, only mentioning their escape plan: "As long as we escape to the border of the Land of Fire, Konoha has outposts there. We need to be faster, or once caught by him..."

"Never mind."

"Let's not talk about this."

Hozuki Mangetsu glanced at Homura Mitokado and then at the group of dual Kekkei Genkai ninja chasing them: "Those guys are not easy to deal with, their stamina is unimaginably strong, and they will catch up and kill us sooner or later..."

"Indeed, the stamina of a Wood Release ninja is substantial..."

Homura Mitokado mentioned feeling even more embarrassed, and quickly shared a useful piece of information: "However, they possess the Sharingan but do not have the Uchiha clan's bloodline, unable to deactivate the Sharingan, which continuously drains their stamina..."

"They have at least three groups of people…"

Hozuki Mangetsu brought up an important piece of information again: "We have not yet clarified their exact numbers, but there are at least three groups of them. The masks of the people chasing us these past few days have all been different, which means it should be three groups taking turns to pursue us…"

"Uh…"

Homura Mitokado held more specific numbers in his hand but also hesitated to reveal them: "It seems Danzo has quite a few successful experiments in his possession…"

"That…"

The captain of the Hokage Guard, Shiranui Genma, landed beside Homura Mitokado, a Senbon in his mouth: "If we can find a safe place, we can use the Flying Thunder God Formation to send someone back to the border outpost to deliver the message."

"As long as someone from the outpost rushes back to Konoha…"

"The reinforcements should be able to rush back immediately…"

A member of the Hokage Guard, Raidō Namiashi, also took the initiative to say: "The village's Kagura is also a practitioner of the Flying Thunder God Technique. If he can come to support us, Kagura is also currently the strongest combat power in the village, right?"

"…"

Homura Mitokado considered the feasibility of this plan.

"However, it will take a little time."

Another member of the Hokage Guard, Iwashi Tatami, added softly.

"Even if he can't make it…"

Iwashi Tatami adjusted his sunglasses and outlined the worst-case scenario: "We can still send the message back to avoid a war between the two countries…"

"We can hold them off for a while."

Hozuki Mangetsu, holding his Twin Swords Hiramekarei, spoke: "If you are setting up the Flying Thunder God Formation, how long will it take? Can you make it in time?"

"It will be ready soon."

Shiranui Genma, with the Senbon in his mouth, nodded.

"Then it's up to you guys."

Hozuki Mangetsu could only place his hope on these members of the Hokage Guard as he quickly turned to face the oncoming pursuit of the dual Kekkei Genkai ninja squad!

This is the Land of Rain!

Extremely suitable for Water Release ninja battles!

Hozuki Mangetsu raised his hand, and countless raindrops fell on him, converging into a giant water figure, blocking all the pursuing enemies!

This group of dual Kekkei Genkai ninja, undaunted, quickly sprouted vines from their arms, tying up the water figure's limbs like ropes, absorbing the water figure's chakra!

However…

Just a little bit of time was enough.

The Hokage Guard completed setting up the Flying Thunder God Formation and used it to send away the fastest ninja, hoping he could bring back good news.

Inside the Konoha Village.

Akihara Kagura was still quietly waiting for news at the Root base.

While White Zetzu Awei was having fun impersonating Shimura Danzo, Aburame Torune came with the real orders from Shimura Danzo, bringing the message that Danzo hoped for a meeting.

"Did Yamanaka Fū return to be by Lord Danzo's side?"

After hearing Aburame Torune's report, Akihara Kagura sighed deeply: "When did Lord Danzo fall to such a state, with only you two bodyguards left by his side…"

"Yes."

Aburame Torune knelt on one knee before Akina Kagura, not daring to dwell on this topic too much. After all, he couldn't say that Danzo's dire situation was all because Lord Kagura helped him, right?

Moreover…

The only two bodyguards…

Were spies Akihara Kagura had placed with him.

"Then let's meet."

Akihara Kagura slowly brought his palms together, exhaling slowly and said: "First, take Lord Danzo to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice Fields. I will use the Flying Thunder God technique to hurry over there as soon as possible."

"He can't stay here any longer. I'll find him a place to stay. It just so happens to let him help me negotiate with Lord Orochimaru..."

"Lord Danzo seems not too willing to leave Konoha..."

Aburame Torune spoke softly about Danzo Shimura's thoughts.

"Try to persuade him."

Akihara Kagura shook his head, seemingly with some helplessness, and said: "I don't want Lord Danzo to become a rogue ninja either, but there's no other way. Perhaps tonight, someone will send back to Konoha the good deeds Lord Danzo has done. Tomorrow early in the morning, when I go to the Hokage Tower for the meeting, I will try my best to prevent Lord Danzo from being put on the Leaf's wanted list."

"Go back and tell Lord Danzo first..."

"Now, the Third Hokage's power and prestige in the village are very high. Even if we raise any objections, they will be suppressed. If we really want to do something, we must have an opportunity with a large scene, so that the Hokage must be wary of not acting rashly..."

"At that time, let everyone in the ninja world know the true face of the Hokage, and that will clear Lord Danzo's name..."

"This world has both darkness and light."

"If someone is defamed, naturally, someone else will clear their name."