The Next Day
Uchiha Ran and his group rose early in the morning.
Before leaving, Ran personally wrote a letter and left it behind for Hiashi Hyuga, Neji Hyuga, and Hinata Hyuga.
The contents varied, but the core message was simple:
This separation was only temporary.
Once everything succeeded, there would be no need to hide anymore.
---
Sarutobi Clan Compound
Hiruzen Sarutobi was leisurely walking through the courtyard, teasing the birds in their cages, when an ANBU suddenly appeared and knelt respectfully.
Hiruzen clicked his tongue—his good mood instantly ruined.
He glanced at the masked ninja, then handed the birdcage to a nearby servant.
"Take this away."
The servant bowed and retreated.
Only then did Hiruzen look back at the ANBU.
"Come with me. This isn't the place to talk."
He led the ninja to a secluded corner.
"Kakashi," Hiruzen said slowly, "what's important enough for you to report so early in the morning?"
His expression darkened.
"Did something happen to Naruto?"
Kakashi Hatake—the son of Sakumo Hatake, one of Konoha's greatest geniuses—was now an elite jōnin and a top technician of the village. Together with Tenzo, he had been personally assigned by Hiruzen to guard Naruto.
With Kakashi's strength and Tenzo's Wood Release, they could suppress the Nine-Tails at the first sign of instability.
"No, Hokage-sama," Kakashi replied calmly.
"But Danzo Shimura has already led Root operatives toward Naruto Uzumaki's residence early this morning."
"I've ordered Tenzo to block them using Wood Release, and I've also summoned my subordinate, Uchiha Itachi, to assist."
Time is critical.
"Hokage-sama, you must depart immediately. Otherwise, Danzo will succeed in abducting the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki."
Kakashi's voice was flat, emotionless.
Deep down, he was still trapped in the twisted belief that his father had been a failure—a belief carefully nurtured over the years.
Hiruzen noticed none of it.
Danzo's name alone was enough to ignite a storm in his heart.
"Danzo Shimura… how dare he!"
Hiruzen's veins bulged.
"He's nothing more than a Hokage's assistant, yet he dares openly seize the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki?! Does he intend to rebel?!"
He admired Danzo's ambition—but he would never tolerate a challenge to his authority.
Because he was the Hokage.
"Kakashi," Hiruzen said sharply, handing over a token, "use this to mobilize the ANBU forces."
"They must arrive before Danzo succeeds!"
"I'll leave immediately."
Hiruzen hurriedly donned his Hokage robes and hat.
Then he roared, "Asuma! Get out here—wake up! Something big is happening!"
Asuma Sarutobi emerged groggily.
"Hey, old man, what's with all the noise so early—huh? Kakashi, you're here too?"
Kakashi nodded slightly, bowed to Hiruzen, and vanished in a blur.
Watching Kakashi's efficiency, Hiruzen felt a flash of frustration toward his own son.
"Hurry and come with me," he said sternly.
"Your Uncle Danzo has gone astray. He's trying to control the Nine-Tails for himself!"
Asuma's expression sharpened instantly.
"I'll go ahead."
His body flashed away.
The Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki was Konoha's ultimate deterrent—and Naruto was also the Fourth Hokage's only bloodline.
Hiruzen nodded.
That's more like my son.
With determination burning in his eyes, he rushed toward Naruto's home.
---
Naruto's Neighborhood
Danzo Shimura leaned on his cane, squinting coldly at Tenzo.
"What's this, Tenzo?" Danzo sneered.
"Are you really going to stop me—your former superior?"
"I'm sorry, Lord Danzo," Tenzo replied firmly.
"A shinobi's duty is obedience—to their direct superior."
"Kakashi-senpai is my commanding officer. He ordered me to stop you, and I will carry it out."
Tenzo formed hand seals.
Rat—Tiger—Dog—Ox.
"Wood Release: Wooden Wall!"
A massive wooden barrier erupted from the ground, sealing every path leading to Naruto's house.
Danzo's smile turned vicious.
"If you refuse to listen to reason," he said coldly, "then you'll suffer the consequences."
Root operatives surged forward, rapidly forming hand seals.
Danzo lowered his hand.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"
"Water Release: Water Wave!"
"Lightning Release: Earth Flow!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Ninjutsu collided chaotically.
There was no coordination—only one goal:
Kill the traitor, Tenzo.
How dare he betray Lord Danzo.
In an instant—
Tenzo felt a sweet taste rise in his throat.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
Still, he pressed both hands against the wooden wall.
"Ha! Come on!"
He poured even more Chakra into it. The shattered sections regenerated violently, roots and timber surging outward.
Danzo's face darkened.
It was all Hiruzen's fault.
With his so-called morality, he had taken away the only viable Wood Release subject.
Tenzo might not rival Hashirama Senju, but he was the only successful Wood Release user in the past decade.
If his flesh and cells were handed over—
Danzo was confident he could replicate Wood Release.
Perhaps even push it closer to Hashirama's level.
But all of that had been ruined by Hiruzen's shortsighted compassion.
Rage burned in Danzo's chest.
"Out of my way!" he barked.
"A bunch of trash can't even break a defective Wood Release!"
Root operatives immediately stepped aside.
Danzo advanced, staring at the wooden wall with disdain.
He formed hand seals.
Rat—Tiger—Horse—Dog.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
He inhaled deeply, Chakra surging—
And spat out a compressed blast of cutting wind.
The white vacuum cannon tore through the air.
BOOM!
The wooden wall was pierced clean through, the force continuing straight toward Tenzo.
Tenzo's pupils shrank.
His body was blasted backward, slamming into his own wooden structure before collapsing unconscious.
Danzo snorted.
"I may be old," he said coldly, "but I'm not weak."
"Destroy it in one go!"
"Yes!" the Root ninja shouted in unison.
Without Tenzo's Chakra to sustain it, the wooden wall rapidly weakened.
Within moments, it shattered completely—
reduced to splinters and dust.
(A/N)
Guys we have officially reached 150 power stones.
Thank you to all of you handsome men and beautiful girls for this and please continue to support it further.
Bonus Chapter will be uploaded soon just as promised.