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At the same moment the Second Raikage was killed by the Gold and Silver Brothers, the Second Hokage and his six students, including Sarutobi Hiruzen, were ambushed by Hidden Cloud shinobi. After defeating all the attackers, the group sat down in a circle. The Second Hokage closed his eyes and touched the ground with his index finger. After a brief silence, he spoke:
"We're surrounded… There are about twenty of them. Judging from the tracking ability of this guy here, they must be part of the Cloud's elite—the Kinkaku Force."
Mitokado Homura spoke up. "Including you, Lord Second, there are seven of us. If this keeps up…"
Before he could finish, someone cut him off, saying, "They probably don't know our exact location yet. Let's stay hidden and ambush them—catch them off guard and create an opening to escape!"
But another voice quickly objected, "That won't work… In this situation, someone has to stay behind and distract the enemy. That way…"
Uchiha Kagami didn't finish his sentence—he couldn't. Because he knew whoever stayed behind… probably wouldn't make it back to Konoha alive.
Akimichi Torifu glanced around and mumbled, "So… someone's gotta be the bait… That's a death sentence… Who's gonna do it…?"
Kagami shot him a glare. Everyone went silent.
Danzo bit his lip and stole a glance at Hiruzen, thinking: I'm a shinobi. The day I chose this path, I accepted that I might die honorably on the battlefield. Hiruzen… what are you hesitating for? Don't you have that same resolve?
Danzo clenched his fists, silently screaming in his head: Say it! Say it! Just say it already—"I'll go!"… Why can't I say it? Why can't I step up and volunteer!? He shut his eyes, too ashamed to face the others.
"I'll do it. I'll be the bait."Suddenly, Hiruzen broke the silence with a serious tone.
Everyone was stunned.
Akimichi Torifu and Homura both blurted out, "Hiruzen, you—!"
But no one noticed Danzo's crushed, regretful, shocked expression.
Danzo thought to himself: …I stopped trembling…
Trying to keep things light, Hiruzen forced a grin and said, "Hey, don't worry about me! I know I goof around a lot, but honestly, I think I'm the strongest one here. A genius like me isn't gonna die that easily!"
Danzo, overwhelmed with regret, gritted his teeth and dug his hands into his pants. Damn it… I'm such a coward! he yelled inwardly, cursing his weakness.
Suddenly, Hiruzen patted Danzo on the shoulder and laughed, "You've always been the eternal runner-up, huh? From now on, I'm counting on you, Danzo! If I don't make it—"
Danzo suddenly smacked Hiruzen's hand off his shoulder and shouted, "Shut up! I was just about to volunteer! Don't think you can hog the spotlight at a time like this! I'll be the bait!"
Everyone stared at Danzo in shock. "Danzo…"
Danzo continued, "My father and grandfather both died on the battlefield—like true shinobi! Sacrificing yourself for others is part of our way of life! I carry that same belief! I'll do it! I—"
But just then, the Second Hokage interrupted him. "I'll be the bait. That's final. You all stop worrying about this nonsense. You're the future of the village—the ones who'll carry on the Will of Fire!"
Danzo shouted, "No way! You're the Hokage! You're the most important person in the village! You can't do this!"
Tobirama gave Danzo a stern look. "Danzo, you and Monkey always argue about everything. But right now, what matters most is unity among comrades. Don't let personal grudges cloud your judgment."
Danzo lowered his head in silence, ashamed and filled with regret.
The Second Hokage looked around and said, "We've delayed this decision too long."
Then he turned to everyone and added, "You need to understand yourselves—stay calm, and know what you're doing. If you panic now, your teammates will be the ones who suffer. In short… Danzo, Hiruzen… you're old enough now. Don't let anxiety rule you. One day, your time will come—you'll give your lives for the village. When that day comes, that's when you make the sacrifice."
After a short silence, the Second Hokage stood up, seemingly resolved, and looked straight at Hiruzen.
"Monkey."
Hiruzen looked up, confused.
Tobirama stared at him seriously. "Protect the ones in the village who look up to you and trust you. Train the next generation to carry the torch."
He glanced around at the six disciples and said, "Starting tomorrow… you're the Hokage!"
"Hokage?!"Everyone stared at Tobirama in disbelief. Danzo was frozen, and Hiruzen looked completely stunned.
"Hokage…" he repeated, then bowed deeply. "Yes, sir!"
Danzo clenched his teeth, thoughts filled with frustration: Why?! Why are you always ahead of me?! Why…?!
Tobirama turned and walked away from the group. His voice rang out from a distance:
"Live and return to Konoha. You are the future of the village—the chosen heirs to the Will of Fire. Help me protect our home!"
Danzo stood up, about to chase after him, but Hiruzen grabbed his arm.
"What are you doing?! Can't you see what sensei is trying to do?!"
Danzo stood frozen, staring blankly at Hiruzen, who was yelling at him.
"Follow Kagami. Torifu and I will take the rear! Move out—now!"
Danzo nodded and ran after Kagami. Akimichi Torifu watched everyone leave, then looked back at Hiruzen.
"Never thought you had it in you. I'm with you… Hokage."
Tears welled up in Hiruzen's eyes as he clenched his teeth.
"I don't want your support. I don't want this damn title!"
Then he ran off after Kagami too.
Torifu stayed silent and followed behind.
Meanwhile, the Second Hokage knelt on the ground, using sensory jutsu to scan the area. He smiled.
"Looks like their sensor's pretty good—he figured out we split up and sent people to chase Hiruzen. Might as well take him out first."
With that, Tobirama vanished toward the enemy sensor ninja's location.
At the same time, the Kinkaku Force was watching their own sensor ninja who was scanning the ground.
"Have you found him or not? Where the hell is the Second Hokage?!"
The sensor ninja responded, "His sensory jutsu's stronger than mine. I can tell he's somewhere in this area, but I can't pinpoint his exact spot."
Suddenly, a massive blade of water shot toward the sensor ninja. The team quickly countered with Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall, raising a giant wall of earth to block it. Water splashed everywhere, blinding their vision.
Then, from the water, a figure appeared—Second Hokage, wielding the Thunder God Sword, slashing straight at the sensor ninja!
Two members of the Kinkaku Force rushed in with giant blades to intercept him. They blocked the sword, and two others followed up with a lightning attack—Lightning Style: False Darkness, sending twin lightning bolts at Tobirama.
Tobirama absorbed the lightning with his Thunder God Sword, then slashed mid-air, launching a massive bolt of lightning from the blade right at them.
The Kinkaku Force scattered to dodge. The leader fired a signal flare into the sky and shouted, "Second Hokage! Took us long enough to find you!"
Tobirama smirked. "You lot are nothing but cannon fodder. Even if you find me, so what?"
The leader shouted back, "How much do you even know about the Kinkaku Force? Today we'll show you just how powerful we are!"
Four shinobi behind him leaped forward, casting Earth Style: Earth Rock Prison. The ground around Tobirama rose up, trying to trap him.
But just as they closed in, a deafening roar came from inside the earth prison—
"Water Style: Water Purification Wave!"
A huge surge of water burst from within, shattering the walls and creating a massive lake around them. Tobirama stood calmly on the water, watching them.
"No time to play anymore… Eight Gates Technique: Gate of Opening, Gate of Rest, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit—five gates, open!"
A massive stream of chakra exploded around him. Tobirama charged straight into the Kinkaku Force—
"Konoha Style: Hundred Falling Willows!"
His Thunder God Sword split into countless whiplike blades, flying around with every swing, slashing wildly toward the enemy.
The leader shouted, "It's a genjutsu! Use Earth Style to block him!"
Several shinobi quickly cast Earth Style: Earth Flow Fortress, raising multiple high walls. But Tobirama's Thunder God Sword shattered the walls like paper.
Just as he was about to follow up, a Cloud ninja leapt into the air, locked on Tobirama's position, and cast Wind Style: Pressure Damage, launching a wind sphere from his mouth.
Tobirama cut through it with his sword and immediately spat out a water arrow that shot up toward the airborne ninja. The enemy tried to defend with Earth Style: Giant Rock, forming a boulder between him and the arrow.
But the water arrow pierced straight through the rock—and into the Cloud ninja's chest.
The leader drew his weapon and charged. The Kinkaku Force coordinated a barrage of ninjutsu, surrounding and trapping the Second Hokage.
"....."