To ensure the safety of Danzō, the newly appointed Third Hokage, the squad advanced in a double-triangle formation.
The outer layer formed a large triangle.
At its tip was Hiruzen.
Among the group, his abilities were the most well-rounded.
Coupled with Enma, his powerful summon, he possessed exceptional defensive capabilities.
Should an enemy launch a surprise attack, Hiruzen would be the first line of defense.
The two rear corners of the outer triangle were occupied by Kagami and Torifu.
Their role was to eliminate any enemies attempting to strike from either flank.
Within that formation sat a smaller, inverted triangle.
Koharu and Homura occupied the left and right positions respectively.
One handled medical support.
The other specialized in reconnaissance.
As for Danzō, the man who had just been named the Third Hokage—
He occupied the rear position of the inner triangle.
It was the safest spot in the formation.
It also offered the widest field of view.
From there, he could easily observe the battlefield, issue commands, and reinforce whichever direction needed him most.
The wind whistling through the forest grew sharper.
Determined to avoid pursuit, the group never stopped moving.
After a prolonged sprint, they eventually arrived near a massive river.
Even from a distance, they could hear the roar of rushing water.
This river was known as Dairyō River.
It was one of the unavoidable routes leading out of the Land of Lightning—and one of the greatest natural barriers standing between them and Konoha.
At that moment, the surrounding terrain was perfectly reflected within Danzō’s mind.
Several red markers suddenly appeared near the riverbank.
Enemy units.
Danzō narrowed his eyes.
“Enemy outpost detected.”
“Two o’clock direction.”
“Three thousand five hundred meters away.”
“Six targets total.”
“Four behind the rocks.”
“Two concealed underground.”
The squad immediately turned to stare at him.
Expressions of confusion spread across their faces.
Since when had Danzō learned sensory ninjutsu?
More importantly—
How could his detection range be this absurd?
Three and a half kilometers away?
And he could still identify the exact number and location of enemies?
Even the famed Byakugan, often regarded as the ultimate reconnaissance tool, generally had an effective range of only about one kilometer under normal circumstances.
“Three thousand five hundred meters?”
Hiruzen couldn’t help questioning him.
“Danzō…
are you sure?”
He was genuinely worried.
Had becoming the designated Third Hokage gone to Danzō’s head?
After all, he’d never seen Danzō practice any sort of sensory technique before.
Danzō offered no explanation.
Instead, he slowly turned his head toward Hiruzen.
His gaze was calm.
Firm.
Carrying an authority that had not been there before.
“Follow the chain of command, Monkey.”
Then he spoke a sentence that silenced everyone.
“I am the Hokage.”
The moment those words left his mouth—
Danzō felt something click into place.
His mind became astonishingly clear.
Thoughts moved faster.
His judgment sharpened.
It was as if an invisible burden had settled upon his shoulders, yet instead of weighing him down, it granted him a newfound sense of purpose.
The responsibility of leadership.
The authority of the Hokage.
And for the first time since arriving in this world, Danzō truly began to feel it.
He was no longer merely a transmigrator inhabiting someone else’s body.
At this moment, he was Konoha’s Third Hokage.
The original Danzō’s memories, instincts, and combat experience completely fused with the body.
In an instant, a powerful sense of clarity and exhilaration surged through him.
It felt as though every part of him had finally become whole.
Hearing those words, Hiruzen’s expression stiffened.
His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Because Danzō was right.
At this moment, Danzō was the Hokage.
The others also kept their opinions to themselves.
In times of crisis, the authority of the Hokage was absolute.
Even if that Hokage had yet to be formally inaugurated.
Fortunately, it didn’t take long for Homura Mitokado to verify Danzō’s report.
“Danzō was correct.”
“There are six enemies.”
“Their positions match exactly.”
Homura opened his eyes, his tone unusually complicated.
For years, he had served as the squad’s primary intelligence specialist.
His sensory techniques possessed a range rivaling even the Hyūga Clan’s famed Byakugan.
Yet Danzō had detected the enemy long before he had.
It was almost unbelievable.
The others were equally shocked.
Especially Hiruzen.
Initially, he had assumed Danzō was simply eager to show off after being chosen as Hokage.
Instead, the man had genuinely delivered.
He’s changed…
Hiruzen couldn’t help thinking.
Something about him is different now.
“What do we do?”
“Should we avoid them?”
Kagami asked from the rear of the formation.
They were still deep within the Land of Lightning.
Everyone was exhausted and carrying various injuries.
If possible, avoiding unnecessary combat would be the wiser option.
Danzō naturally understood that.
Yet he immediately shook his head.
Because on the map inside his mind, he saw more than just the red markers representing enemies.
There was also a single blue marker.
A friendly unit.
And its status was alarming.
Critically wounded.
Near death.
“There is a Konoha shinobi inside that outpost.”
Danzō’s cold statement instantly changed everyone’s expressions.
When Tobirama had traveled to the Land of Lightning for peace negotiations, he hadn’t brought only his six students.
He had also been accompanied by an elite force.
His personal guard.
Many of its members were descendants of the Senju Clan.
Though they no longer openly carried the Senju name, they remained Tobirama’s most loyal and formidable warriors.
Unfortunately…
Kinkaku and Ginkaku’s rebellion had erupted too suddenly.
To protect Tobirama and his students, the unit had suffered devastating losses.
Even those fortunate enough to escape the initial massacre had been hunted relentlessly by Kumogakure’s rebel forces.
And everyone knew what awaited captured Konoha shinobi at the hands of enemies who hated them so deeply.
“What’s your decision?”
As Hiruzen asked the question, all eyes turned toward Danzō.
His next command would likely affect their entire escape plan.
Yet Danzō didn’t hesitate for even a second.
“We eliminate the enemy as quickly as possible.”
“And we rescue our comrade.”
His voice became even colder.
“Leave at least one survivor.”
“I want intelligence regarding Kumogakure’s movements.”
The resolve in his words was unmistakable.
Immediately, everyone’s expressions hardened.
At this point in their lives, they were only in their twenties.
The Will of Fire still burned brightly within their hearts.
Without hesitation, they answered in unison.
“Yes, Hokage-sama!”
Several kilometers away, on the reverse side of a rocky hillside…
A Kumogakure shinobi emerged from a cave.
The forehead protector of the Hidden Cloud gleamed beneath the moonlight.
He licked his lips.
In his dark-skinned hand was a blood-soaked kunai.
“Well?”
“Did you get anything out of him?”
Another Cloud shinobi crouched atop the slope and glanced down.
The first man shook his head in frustration.
“No.”
“That Konoha bastard is tougher than I thought.”
“I ripped out every fingernail he had.”
“And he still refused to say a word.”
The ninja above snorted dismissively.
“If he won’t talk, kill him.”
“It’s not like they’re escaping our net anyway.”
He rubbed his sore arm and laughed mockingly.
“That Tobirama Senju actually stayed behind to cover those brats’ retreat.”
“What an idiot.”
“Yeah…”
The interrogator casually agreed.
Then he eagerly reached into his equipment pouch.
One torture instrument after another appeared in his hands.
A twisted grin spread across his face.
“Since we don’t need him alive anymore…”
“I might as well have some fun first.”
The other Cloud shinobi felt a chill run down his spine and clicked his tongue.
This guy was strong.
But his hobbies were disturbingly twisted.
Then again, such people weren’t uncommon on the battlefield.
Especially among the infamous Kinkaku Force.
Compared to some of the others, this barely counted as unusual.
Just as the sadistic shinobi prepared to continue his “entertainment,” the reconnaissance ninja positioned atop a nearby rock suddenly widened his eyes.
His expression changed dramatically.
“Enemy attack!”
The warning had barely left his mouth—
When several dark figures burst out of the forest like arrows released from a bow.
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