This defeat was more than just a costly loss—it forced them to abandon the main encampment in the Land of Water.
Fortunately, the situation for the Mist ninja wasn't much better. In terms of high-level combat power, aside from the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, whose fate remained unknown, even the clan head of the Kaguya clan had fallen on the battlefield.
According to Root's intelligence, after Konoha's main forces were breached, Uchiha Fugaku led his personal guard into battle. At the cost of five Uchiha Jonin, he personally slew the Kaguya clan head.
This was one of the key reasons Konoha's forces hadn't suffered a total collapse.
Even so, the Konoha ninja army had lost more than half its troops, and its remaining high-end combat power was scarce. Ten days ago, they had already sent word to Konoha requesting reinforcements.
As Danzo walked through the camp, he could see the grief, hatred, and fear in the eyes of many ninja. Negative emotions hung over them like a heavy fog.
Among them, Root members stood out like priests or political officers, their presence at odds with the rest of the army.
Their unwavering belief gave them a resolute will—something that continued to exceed even Danzo's expectations.
His presence drew attention, and as he moved forward, murmurs of respect followed him.
"Lord Danzo…"
A voice interrupted his steps. Uchiha Shisui had suddenly appeared before him.
"The clan head requests your presence."
Danzo paused, then replied, "Hmm… But I have someone else to meet first. If it's not urgent, you may come along."
"Yes."
Shisui nodded and moved to stand beside Yakushi Nono, maintaining perfect composure.
"This is the place," Nono said as they arrived.
It was a tent for Genin. Each tent held twenty beds, arranged in a military barracks style.
Before they even entered, they could hear the sounds of an argument inside.
"A perpetual Genin's father? So what if he died? He was just another nobody."
"He even claimed his father defeated the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist!"
"Hahaha!" The tent erupted with cruel laughter.
"Shut up!" A voice, filled with shame and anger, tried to push back but was drowned out by the jeers.
—
"Guy."
A single voice cut through the noise, neither loud nor forceful, yet it resonated through the tent like a command.
A hush fell over the room.
Shisui glanced at Danzo's back. Such delicate chakra control—he wasn't sure even he could replicate it at this level.
The silence stretched.
"…Danzo-sama?"
Might Guy looked toward the entrance in surprise.
"Step outside."
"Yes, Danzo-sama."
As Guy followed Danzo out of the tent, the murmurs behind them reignited.
"Did Danzo-sama just speak to Might Guy?"
"I told you it was true! We carried him back ourselves!"
—
A small group walked toward a quieter area of the camp. Guy followed in silence, his face heavy with emotion. The death of his father, combined with the distrust of his peers, weighed heavily on his heart.
Danzo finally stopped and turned to face him.
"Guy, this… is youth."
The man before him had thick eyebrows and a determined gaze—an almost comical figure at first glance. Who would have thought that, in the future, this very person would nearly kick the entire world into oblivion?
"No matter how much others laugh at or fail to understand you, you must keep moving forward."
The words, tinged with a certain dramatic intensity, made Guy's eyes widen. In his mind, he saw his father smiling, giving a thumbs-up, teeth gleaming in encouragement.
"…Yes. My father did the same."
Guy nodded firmly, his eyes shining with resolve.
Danzo smiled faintly. It seemed this young man didn't need his comfort—his father had already given him all the strength he needed.
Instinctively, Danzo reached out and ruffled the boy's bowl-cut hair.
"Discipline yourself well. One day, I hope you will become as great a ninja as your father."
He gave Guy a few simple instructions, telling him that if he ever encountered trouble, he could come to him directly.
As for the Eight Gates, Danzo instructed that once Guy had fully organized his father's notes, he should submit them to the Third Hokage.
The reasoning was simple—having such a technique was akin to carrying a treasure that invited disaster.
To support Guy's training, Danzo also ordered Nono to ensure he received an ample supply of training resources. It was one of the few things he could do for the boy.
Once Guy had left, Shisui finally spoke.
"Is there truly such a technique that can grant a Genin the power of a Kage-level ninja in an instant?"
Danzo nodded. "Yes. It is incredibly powerful… but the cost is immense."
Seeing Shisui's contemplative look, Danzo seemed to read his thoughts and added,
"It's not just about sacrificing one's life. Most people don't even have the qualifications to pay that price."
The concept of unlocking the body's eight gates had been theorized as early as the time of the Second Hokage. By opening them, one could achieve an entirely new level of power.
When Danzo first arrived in this world, he had studied the idea as well. But after understanding its core principles, he had chosen to abandon it.
The difficulty of mastering it was no less than learning over a dozen forbidden jutsu.
Moreover, it required extraordinary talent in taijutsu and unwavering determination—traits possessed by only a handful of individuals.
"Let's go," Danzo said at last. "Fugaku is probably growing impatient."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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