How foolish.
Even someone like Senju Yukika, who never hesitated to clash with Hiruzen Sarutobi, always carefully weighed the risks before tearing off the mask of civility.
If Yukika had been in Sarutobi's shoes, he would've paid a different price to rescue Danzo. But at the same time, he would've used the opportunity to make White Fang owe him—deeply. He'd want Hatake Sakumo to become indebted to the Hokage, maybe even serve him to death.
After all, from Sakumo's perspective—and everyone else's—the Hokage would've made a tremendous sacrifice to protect him. Serving him loyally afterward would be only natural.
But that wasn't something Yukika wanted to see.
Sakumo's strength was considerable. Yukika saw him the same way he saw Orochimaru—a potential asset.
Someone he might pull into the Senju camp.
"Our teacher would never let White Fang die for this. Of that, I'm sure," Jiraiya said, shaking his head and denying Yukika's implication. "The problem is, what if Sunagakure keeps pressing? If they don't change their conditions, this could get ugly."
The command room fell into silence.
Danzo's capture had already dealt a blow to Konoha's morale.
If, at this moment, the newly crowned hero of the Leaf—White Fang—were to die…
It wouldn't just be morale that suffered. The entire ninja force might lose the will to fight.
Even if Sarutobi managed to rescue Danzo later, the shadow cast by their top commander being captured would still cripple their effectiveness.
What's done was done.
Konoha's shame had been paraded before the whole ninja world.
Now, all they could do was wait for White Fang's decision.
"Someone has to take care of this in the end," someone muttered.
"Waiting for orders from the Hokage could take too long. And every passing minute, Lord Danzo's life is at risk."
"Leave this to me."
Sighing, White Fang slowly rose to his feet.
When you live by the sword, one day you have to pay the price.
Sunagakure had made their demands clear—they wanted his life.
But whether they were worthy of taking it… that remained to be seen.
With his short blade strapped across his back, White Fang's eyes were full of resolve.
There will always be fools who die for honor. And this time, he had no path of retreat.
Yukika raised an eyebrow. He knew exactly what was about to happen.
This man was planning to storm the enemy camp alone to rescue Danzo—so that no one else would get dragged into the mess.
But…
Wasn't that basically suicide?
Yukika let out a helpless sigh. Honestly, he didn't want to get involved.
Danzo's fate didn't matter to him, and it wasn't worth the brainpower.
But Sakumo…
His death in the original timeline had been deeply unjust. A Kage-level powerhouse, manipulated into suicide—that was just disgraceful.
He shouldn't die because of some cowardly scheme.
As he watched Sakumo walk out of the meeting room, Yukika rubbed his chin and exchanged a glance with Orochimaru. The two stood and left.
Since White Fang had chosen that path…
Then maybe it was time to finalize their first experiment in Hollowfication.
...
Night fell.
The Sunagakure camp was quiet.
Suddenly, a thunderous cry shattered the silence.
Chaos erupted.
First, prisoners from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, locked away in various quarters, began scrambling in panic toward the exits. Then, outside the room where Danzo was held, a sudden flash of blades lit up the dark.
The battle broke out suddenly, but inside the camp, Chiyo remained calm.
This was exactly what she had been waiting for.
Your greatest enemy often knows you best.
When Chiyo proposed exchanging Sakumo's life for Danzo's, she already knew what the man would do next.
With a man like White Fang—one who valued honor deeply—he would never want others to suffer on his behalf.
So of course he would come to rescue Danzo himself.
No matter the cost, he would offer his life for his ideals.
Konoha shinobi were always so foolish.
Even someone like White Fang.
And Danzo?
From the very beginning, Chiyo had no intention of letting him go.
She didn't just hate Sakumo.
She hated all of Konoha.
Negotiations?
That was just bait to lure Hatake Sakumo into their trap.
So she waited for his arrival.
And the moment that shadow slipped into the room where Danzo was restrained, Chiyo calmly pointed toward it and spoke.
"Detonate the explosive tags."
Her voice was steady as she gave the order to her subordinate, but her eyes glimmered with a fervent light.
She would have her revenge—for her son and daughter-in-law.