The scene at the Uchiha Clan Land was very complex.
Under the scorching of the Flame Array, the earth was baked into a pitch-black expanse, and two Mangekyo Uchiha were imprisoned in a strange posture by the Water Prison and Water Membrane...
At a glance, it looked incredibly odd.
But Shimura Danzo still resolutely took action!
Because on Naruto, there was the presence of exposed Nine-tails Chakra! You have to understand, this was at the soon-to-rebel Uchiha Clan Land...
Under Sarutobi Hiruzen's strong insistence, all levels of Konoha departments from Anbu to Root have completely removed the surveillance on Naruto...
If it were before, Naruto could never have come to the Uchiha Clan Land; just getting close would prompt personnel to show up and deter him.
Shimura Danzo didn't know why Sarutobi Hiruzen did this...
He only knew.
If as the Hokage Assistant he could capture Naruto today, then Sarutobi Hiruzen's leniency towards the Nine-tails Jinchuriki and his sabotage of the Uchiha Itachi annihilation plan would be pinned squarely on the shoulders of the Third Hokage!
This would definitely be enough to force Sarutobi Hiruzen out of the Hokage position...
Combined with Sarutobi Hiruzen's previous guarantee, Shimura Danzo was uncontrollably excited upon seeing Naruto, not bothering to consider the situation...
Who cares about the unfamiliar Uchiha, the imprisoned Uchiha Itachi, or the frightened Uchihas!
Hokage, Hokage, the Hokage position!
The Fifth Hokage Shimura Danzo charged toward what he deemed his fateful turning point, blowing a clean charge, in stark contrast to the hesitation from years ago when Senju Tobirama asked who would stay behind, now so decisive!
Behind Shimura Danzo, the Root squad swooped toward Naruto like wolves!
"A Nine-tails Jinchuriki appeared in the Uchiha Clan Land... Hmph, this clan is indeed inherently evil! It's fortunate that it's just a simple Tail Beast Cloak, let me use a curse seal to subdue him first!"
Shimura Danzo sprinted while forming hand seals at a speed faster than ever in his life, spitting out a long sword condensed from Wind Release Chakra, tossing his cane to the side with unstoppable momentum!
And behind him, Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart was already trembling.
He longed to call Shimura Danzo to stop... because upon seeing that Water Prison and the fallen Uchiha, Sarutobi Hiruzen was already sure his teacher was back!
The Water Membrane covering Uchiha Itachi looked simple, but to achieve its treacle-like toughness and infiltrate the enemy's five senses requires extremely profound Water Attribute Chakra form transformation and control abilities...
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't know if anyone else could do it...
In any case, he, the Third Hokage, renowned as the "Ninja Doctor," couldn't; he had only witnessed similar mastery from Senju Tobirama.
"Danzo, you should have realized this! Can't you see this Water Prison Jutsu is the handiwork only our teacher could execute!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen cursed painfully in his heart, though he did want his good colleague to probe Naruto, charging in with a knife recklessly was another story!
As a disciple, doing battle with the teacher?
No matter if Shimura Danzo's intentions were good... Sarutobi Hiruzen knew well his teacher was never one to indulge a child!
Especially since Shimura Danzo, through the years, had committed many deeds that could only lurk in the shadows… If Senju Tobirama found out about these things, the most severe family discipline would be likely!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart trembled at this thought.
Did Senju Tobirama know about Shimura Danzo's deeds? He just might!
After all, no one knows when Senju Tobirama possessed Naruto… And by Senju Tobirama's intelligence-gathering ability and knowledge of Konoha's structure, it would be easy to deduce many things from small details!
"Dan... Danzo..." Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his mouth, but only a dry, faint call emerged from his throat, inaudible even to the nearby Anbu.
He might as well leave it be...
Even if he shouted as loudly as possible, even if he yelled that Naruto was the reincarnation of the Six Paths Sage, Shimura Danzo's headstrong ascent would not entertain him, only thinking Sarutobi Hiruzen was afraid, becoming even more excited...
Moreover, Senju Tobirama had told him not to reveal his existence.
Given Senju Tobirama had apparently recovered most of his combat power and had the Nine-tails at hand, Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind quickly turned, burying suspicions about Senju Tobirama being possessed deeply within.
If possessed, then let it be… What else could be done?
With the current ragtag team in Konoha, even if they fought Senju Tobirama, saying no success or damage would be brutal; if successful, they'd be susceptible to attacks from Hidden Rock and Hidden Cloud...
Unlike the time Aomi was present.
In this timeline, Sarutobi Hiruzen was to save Aomi who brought hope to Konoha, and within the village were a series of strong ninjas like Hatake Sakumo, Kakuzu, Shisui, Hiruko, and Tsunade, with Konoha's strength at its peak, crushing even four in one go...
Defeating Senju Tobirama was to sweep the decaying relic into the trash heap of history!
Yet in this other time, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only comply with Senju Tobirama's rampage, for there was no Aomi here, leaving him utterly helpless, effectively kidnapped...