Under everyone’s gaze, Danzō finally spoke.
“Koharu and Homura’s proposal is prudent.”
“The situation is extremely difficult.
The village faces threats both from within and without.”
“If we return to Konoha immediately, we can stabilize the political situation and prevent even greater chaos.”
The moment they heard those words, Koharu and Homura exchanged a discreet glance.
The anxiety hanging over them finally eased.
Both secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Their reasoning wasn’t without merit.
Tobirama was likely walking toward his death.
Konoha’s elite forces were trapped behind enemy lines.
Continuing to gamble on the battlefield carried enormous risks.
More importantly, Danzō was now the designated Hokage.
His rise would naturally elevate their own positions as well.
If something happened to him here, the consequences would be disastrous.
And beyond personal considerations…
Their concerns were genuinely rooted in Konoha’s future.
The village had existed for only a little over twenty years.
Many veterans who had survived the brutal Warring States Era were still alive.
Those men were monsters.
Battle-hardened warriors with immense strength and fierce pride.
Only Hashirama and Tobirama had possessed enough prestige to keep such individuals united under one banner.
Now Tobirama’s death seemed almost inevitable.
Once that news reached Konoha, unrest would be unavoidable.
And there was still the Uchiha Clan.
Watching.
Waiting.
With the Senju Clan suffering devastating losses, radicals led by Uchiha Setsuna might seize the opportunity to stir up trouble once again.
Compared to rescuing a trapped force dozens of kilometers away…
Maintaining stability inside Konoha was undoubtedly the more important strategic objective.
However—
Before Koharu and Homura could fully relax, Danzō suddenly changed his tone.
“But Kagami’s argument also has merit.”
The two immediately froze.
Danzō continued.
“Abandoning our comrades to die is not consistent with the principles of the Will of Fire.”
“It would also betray Sensei’s final teachings and the hopes he placed in us.”
Confusion appeared on everyone’s faces.
What exactly was Danzō trying to say?
Did he support returning to Konoha?
Or rescuing the trapped shinobi?
Among everyone present, only Hiruzen seemed thoughtful.
His brows furrowed slightly.
As Danzō’s oldest friend and rival, he had a feeling he understood where this was heading.
Sure enough, Danzō continued.
“Hiruzen’s proposal is a reasonable compromise.”
“It balances all interests.”
“It allows us to stabilize the village while also providing support to our comrades.”
“It protects Konoha’s future without betraying the Will of Fire.”
Everyone nodded unconsciously.
Objectively speaking, Hiruzen’s plan really was the safest option.
Measured.
Practical.
Balanced.
Exactly the sort of solution one would expect from him.
Then Danzō paused.
His gaze swept across every person in the cave.
Finally, he spoke again.
“However…”
A strange pressure suddenly filled the room.
Every eye locked onto him.
Danzō’s voice became calm.
Steady.
Absolute.
“I disagree.”
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Koharu and Homura’s expressions changed.
Kagami looked surprised.
Even Torifu blinked in confusion.
Only Hiruzen closed his eyes briefly.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
As expected.
He had guessed it.
Because after spending so many years together, he knew Danzō better than anyone.
When Danzō spent so much time praising everyone else’s ideas…
It usually meant he had already made up his own mind.
And he wasn’t planning to compromise.
Not this time.
Not as Hokage.
The cave fell silent.
Everyone waited for Danzō’s next words.
Because they all realized something important.
The discussion was over.
The decision had already been made.
Danzō’s expression suddenly hardened.
A powerful aura erupted from his body as his unwavering gaze swept across everyone present.
“Never abandoning comrades.
Never forsaking allies.”
“That is the most fundamental requirement of the Will of Fire.”
His voice grew sharper with every word.
“If I cannot even save my own comrades—if all I can do is flee in disgrace—then what right do I have to call myself Hokage?”
He slowly straightened his back.
The authority of a leader radiated from him.
“Sensei entrusted the position of Hokage to me.”
“There is no way I will hide behind the rest of you.”
“Konoha does not need a Hokage who sits safely in the village reading battle reports while talking about the greater good.”
“Konoha needs a Third Hokage who charges into battle.”
“A Hokage who personally upholds the Will of Fire through action rather than words!”
The declaration stunned everyone into silence.
Then realization dawned.
Danzō wasn’t planning to send someone else.
He was planning to lead the charge himself.
The moment they understood that, everyone’s fists unconsciously tightened.
Even Koharu and Homura, the most conservative members of the group, felt their blood begin to boil.
That’s Danzō for you.
Hiruzen sighed inwardly.
At that moment, he seemed to see traces of both previous Hokage standing behind his old friend.
The Will of Fire blazed around him like a roaring inferno.
Still…
Something felt strange.
Whenever Danzō talked about “a Hokage hiding in the village reading reports,” why did he keep looking directly at him?
Was there some deeper meaning behind that?
Hiruzen couldn’t quite figure it out.
After the initial surge of emotion passed, however, reason returned.
He couldn’t help voicing his concern.
“That all sounds inspiring, but…”
“If you’re personally leading the assault, isn’t that a bit too dangerous?”
Danzō didn’t even hesitate.
He simply looked at him and said:
“Hiruzen.”
“I am the Hokage.”
The words struck like a hammer.
Hiruzen’s expression froze.
For some reason, it felt as though something had lodged itself in his chest.
A feeling of frustration.
Of helplessness.
For several moments, he couldn’t find a response.
Meanwhile, Danzō secretly enjoyed the reaction.
For some reason, every time he said those words, he felt even more synchronized with this body.
As though he was gradually becoming the real Danzō.
In truth, however, this decision wasn’t born from hot-blooded impulse.
It was the result of careful calculation.
Although he was Tobirama Senju’s disciple, he was still only in his twenties.
His qualifications were lacking.
He had never commanded a major war.
He had no legendary accomplishments to his name.
Nor did he come from one of Konoha’s most influential clans.
A man with that résumé becoming Hokage?
Naturally, many people would object.
Especially the veterans who had survived the Warring States Era.
Every one of them had carved their reputation out with blood and steel.
How could such people willingly allow some young upstart to stand above them?
Even if Tobirama himself had chosen him.
That alone wouldn’t be enough.
But everything would change if he rescued Tobirama’s trapped forces.
First, personally leading a rescue mission under such dire circumstances would be a major achievement.
Second, the trapped shinobi were largely descendants of the Senju Clan.
Officially, they had already abandoned the Senju name.
But only a few years had passed since that decision.
Their influence throughout Konoha remained immense.
Many occupied positions throughout the village’s administration, military structure, and various industries.
On the surface, they appeared scattered.
In reality, they represented an enormous hidden force.
Saving their lives…
Combined with his status as Tobirama’s disciple and designated successor…
Would give Danzō a genuine chance to earn their support.
And that support would become one of his most valuable political assets.
Of course—
The most important factor was something else entirely.
Kinkaku and Ginkaku weren’t there.
The enemy’s strongest combatants were occupied elsewhere fighting Tobirama.
Even if their teacher ultimately fell, he would almost certainly buy them precious time.
As long as those two descendants of the Sage of Six Paths didn’t appear—
Danzō was confident he could retreat safely with the help of Hiruzen and the others.
The calculations were complete.
The benefits outweighed the risks.
The plan was sound.
A sharp light flashed in Danzō’s eyes.
He looked around at the group one final time.
Then he asked:
“Will you follow me back onto the battlefield?”
Even Koharu and Homura, despite all their reservations, found themselves unable to refuse.
Not after a speech like that.
Not after invoking the Will of Fire.
In the end, they could only grit their teeth and answer:
“We obey the Hokage’s command!”
The moment those words were spoken, something changed within Danzō.
Deep inside his consciousness, the Tree of Fortune suddenly grew taller.
The branch representing Prestige expanded once more.
At the same time—
A vast surge of energy flooded into his body.
Chakra roared through his pathways like a raging river.
His chakra network expanded.
Strength increased.
The amount of chakra he possessed rose yet again.
Danzō’s eyes lit up.
So that’s how it works…
Could it be that the Prestige branch directly affected his chakra reserves?
The greater his prestige…
The greater his chakra?
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
And if that was true—
Then rescuing the trapped forces had become even more important.
Danzō slowly scanned the faces of his companions.
Then he turned sharply toward the west.
Toward the battlefield.
Toward the trapped Konoha shinobi.
Killing intent surged from his body.
His voice echoed through the forest.
“Let’s go.”
A cold smile appeared on his face.
“It’s time those Kumogakure bastards learned…”
“…what true pain feels like.”
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