Chapter 209: Danzo's Decision
While Kyosuke was locked in a desperate struggle with Tsuchikage Onoki, unforeseen events were unfolding on other fronts.
Uchiha Ukyo's surprise attack unit was suddenly ambushed by several members of the Kage Guard who specialized in explosive clay. After a fierce exchange, Ukyo was severely wounded and forced to retreat, leaving behind more than a dozen of his comrades' bodies.
Hyuga Hizashi's special reconnaissance squad met a similar fate, ambushed by another Kage Guard unit. If not for Hyuga Saori happening to be fighting nearby, Hizashi would not have made it back alive.
The members of Onoki's Kage Guard were among the most elite in the Five Great Nations, their combat skills and cunning far surpassing even Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand-picked guards. Onoki, the longest-reigning Kage, was a master strategist whose power and influence were unmatched in the shinobi world.
For the first time in nearly a month, the tide of the war had turned. With Kyosuke tied down and several of Konoha's other key figures defeated, the Iwa forces launched their largest counteroffensive yet.
The number of casualties in the Northwestern Corps began to multiply.
Back on Kyosuke's battlefield, after a long, drawn-out battle, the outcome was finally decided.
"Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!"
Using the large-scale genjutsu to force Onoki to back off, Kyosuke, without even wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, turned and fled toward his camp.
He had exhausted all of his own chakra, as well as the sage chakra stored in his curse mark. His stamina was at a dangerously low level. As much as he hated it, the harsh reality of the situation forced him into a humiliating retreat.
It was the first time since his "ascension" that he had been so completely dominated in a head-to-head fight. Neither Minazuki Saya nor Yagura had been able to do this. It was a testament to Onoki's overwhelming power.
He glanced back, and seeing that Onoki was not pursuing, let out a sigh of relief. But that relief was quickly replaced by a profound sense of frustration.
I'll rest, recover, and then I'll come back and crush that damn old man.
But it was not to be.
In the subsequent battles, whether he fought alone or with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Onoki's immense power and vast experience allowed him to counter their every move. On several occasions, Choza and the others nearly lost their lives.
Left with no other choice, Kyosuke and his forces adopted the Sand Village's earlier strategy: they stopped trying to engage Onoki directly and focused on his Kage Guard and the other Iwa forces.
But the destructive power of Onoki's Dust Release was greater than any other ninjutsu. The damage Kyosuke and the others could inflict combined was less than what Onoki could do on his own.
As time went on, their situation became increasingly dire. Despite their best efforts, by the end of May, the front line had been pushed back into the Land of Fire.
Shikaku Nara was forced to send a request to Konoha for reinforcements.
"I will go myself," Hiruzen Sarutobi declared, already dressed in his battle armor.
But his decision was once again blocked by Koharu and Homura.
"Don't be rash. The situation is not yet at its worst," Koharu said, shooting a subtle glance at the silent Danzo. "The reason the northwestern front has deteriorated is that Kyosuke and the others can't handle Onoki. We just need to send one powerful shinobi to support them."
"Besides me, who else is there that can stand against the Tsuchikage?" Hiruzen sighed.
"There is someone," Koharu said, pressing a finger firmly on the map before them.
"The Land of Rice Fields..." Hiruzen thought for a moment, then his eyes lit up. "You mean... Minato?"
"Exactly," Koharu said, looking at the others. "At his speed, Minato can reach the northwestern front within a day. And his Flying Thunder God Technique is a perfect counter to Onoki's Dust Release. To resolve this crisis, there is no better choice."
"Minato... yes, if it's him, he can do it," Hiruzen said, a proud smile spreading across his face.
Seeing this, Danzo's expression remained impassive, but a storm was raging in his heart.
Minato Namikaze. Among the younger generation, he was the only one whose prestige could rival that of Uchiha Kyosuke. But unlike Kyosuke, Minato's background was clean. He was a direct subordinate of the Hokage, with Jiraiya's backing. If it came to choosing the next Hokage, he would be Danzo's greatest rival.
As for the others, Orochimaru had the reputation, but Danzo knew Hiruzen would never hand the hat to him. Jiraiya might be a possibility, but he would likely refuse. Tsunade was crippled by her hemophobia.
Of all people, it was the young Minato Namikaze who posed the greatest threat to his ambitions. He cursed himself for not realizing it sooner. He'd had plenty of opportunities to eliminate him before he became so powerful. Now, even if he had the chance, he wasn't sure he could defeat him.
And so, he said nothing.
Hiruzen shot a subtle glance at Danzo, a knowing smile on his face. He understood his old rival's thoughts perfectly. The decision was made.
"Send word to Minato Namikaze. He is to depart for the northwestern front immediately, without delay."
"Yes, sir."
After the Anbu had left to relay the message, Hiruzen turned to the others with a cheerful smile. "Now, the crisis on the northwestern front can finally be resolved."
"Oh, by the way," he said, as if just remembering something, turning to the still-silent Danzo. "Onoki's sudden arrival is highly unusual. Have you found any clues as to why?"
Danzo gave a curt nod and, under the watchful gaze of the others, revealed what his intelligence network had uncovered.
When they heard that Konoha shinobi were suspected of kidnapping the Tsuchikage's daughter-in-law, resulting in the death of her unborn child, Hiruzen's expression turned grim.
"...Danzo," he asked, his voice carefully neutral, "was this your doing?"
A muscle twitched in Danzo's jaw. "At a time like this? Of course not," he snapped. Seeing the looks of disbelief on their faces, he took a deep breath and repeated, "It wasn't me."
"...Alright. I'll believe you, for now."
"You bastards!!!"
Silence descended on the office once more.
After a long while, Hiruzen finally spoke again, and his words made the other three's eyes go wide.
"Danzo, since you say you had nothing to do with it, I have a mission for you."
"The moment Onoki suffers a setback on the battlefield, I need you to go to Iwagakure as an envoy. Convince him to abandon his attack on Konoha and turn his forces against the Cloud Village instead."
Before Danzo could respond, Koharu spoke up. "Hiruzen, that's too dangerous! I won't allow it."
"If Onoki decides to kill him, Danzo's life..."
"Yes, there is a risk," Hiruzen admitted. "But if we don't do this, how will we ever convince that cunning old fox that we weren't behind the kidnapping?"
"For the sake of the war, for the sake of the village, Danzo, I need you to do this."
"...Fine." To Koharu and Homura's surprise, Danzo, after a brief moment of thought, agreed.
With his agreement, they could no longer object. They were only elders; the final decision rested with the Hokage.
"Good," Hiruzen said, clapping his old friend on the shoulder. He looked out the window at the now-somber streets of the village. "I hope that after this, we can finally bring an end to this long war."
Danzo stood beside him, looking out at the same view, but his thoughts were very different.
Brokering peace with Iwa will bring me great prestige. More importantly... it will give me the perfect opportunity to eliminate Minato Namikaze and remove him from the board for good.
That was the real reason he had agreed. He would never have taken such a risk otherwise. For all his talk of sacrifice, when it came to his own life, his principles were conveniently flexible.
"Don't worry," Danzo said, his voice low. "If I succeed, the war will be over soon."
"Then, I'm counting on you," Hiruzen replied, his placid smile revealing nothing of his own thoughts.
Danzo gave him one last, long look, then turned and walked toward the door. "I'll go make the arrangements with Root. Send word when the time comes."
"Thank you for your hard work," Hiruzen said, watching his old comrade's back until he was gone. Then, he turned back to the window.
"Sigh."
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