Naruto: Aizen's Shadow in Konoha

"Wait, Sakumo, you're not coming with us?"

Hearing Hatake Sakumo's words, Zashi asked anxiously, momentarily forgetting the earlier discussion about the illusion. His concern was shared by the others, who now turned toward Sakumo, their expressions filled with nervous anticipation. 

Sakumo's words had implied something different—something unsettling.

"No. I need to go back. Cloud Shinobi likely set all of this up hoping we would flee in panic. The intelligence scroll we're after is still inside that base. When they think we've escaped..."

Sakumo's eyes gleamed with determination.

"They won't expect me to return and ambush them."**

"But this is far too dangerous! I can't agree to it!" Zashi shook his head vehemently, rejecting the idea outright. 

Sakumo locked eyes with him, his gaze unwavering. "Zashi, you know as well as I do: if we return to Konoha without achieving anything, it will spell disaster for us. The Hokage faction and the great ninja clans will exploit this failure to the fullest. They'll strip us of everything."

Zashi's breath hitched, and his whole body tensed. He knew Sakumo was right. 

If they failed here, their position within Konoha's hierarchy would be compromised beyond repair. 

"Don't hesitate, Zashi! If we get that scroll, it will give us the leverage we need to turn things around!" Sakumo's voice took on a rare tone of urgency.

Zashi clenched his fists, his expression twisted in anguish. "Damn it..." After a moment of internal struggle, he gritted his teeth and relented. "Alright, I agree."

Sakumo exhaled slowly, nodding. He turned on his heel, ready to head back toward the heart of Cloud Shinobi Village.

"Sakumo! Remember this!" Zashi called after him. "If you can retrieve that scroll, great! But if not, forget it! Your life is more important than anything!"

Zashi's voice cracked with emotion. "When we return to Konoha, even if we lose everything, as long as we're alive, we can rebuild! That's what matters most!"

The sturdy man, his heart heavy with worry, had tears welling in his eyes.

Hearing Zashi's words, Sakumo paused briefly. He didn't turn back but raised a hand in a silent gesture of victory—a promise to return.

Without further hesitation, Sakumo dashed toward the base, his form vanishing into the darkness.

Watching Sakumo disappear into the distance, Zashi wiped his eyes and forced himself to suppress the rising tide of emotion. His face hardened, his usual resolute demeanor returning.

He glanced around at his comrades, his gaze fierce and determined.

"Alright, everyone, we're breaking through!" Zashi barked. "Make as much noise as possible! Let Cloud Shinobi know exactly what it means to fight Konoha shinobi!"

The surrounding ninjas responded in unison, their voices ringing through the night like a battle cry that shook the heavens.

"Move!"

Zashi led the charge, his forces striking with relentless intensity as they forced their way out of Cloud Shinobi Village. 

Before leaving, Zashi glanced toward the direction where Hatake Sakumo had vanished. 

'Sakumo... this is as much as I can do for you. The rest is in your hands.'

Meanwhile, inside the intelligence base, the tension between Third Raikage and Hatake Sakumo was palpable. Around them, the Cloud Shinobi shadow guards stood in formation, poised but cautious. 

One of the younger Cloud Shinobi, turned to his cousin, the captain of the Shadow Guard, with a puzzled expression. 

"Cousin, why aren't we helping Lord Raikage? Why aren't we rushing in to surround Konoha's White Fang? Is he really that terrifying?"

Maintaining his composure, the captain of the shadow guard made a grim look. 

"Terrifying doesn't even begin to describe it. Hatake Sakumo's speed and attack power rival those of the Kage-level elite. But what makes him truly fearsome is his White Lightning Chakra Mode. It surrounds his body with electricity, rendering him immune to almost all physical attacks. Without that, even someone as skilled as him couldn't move so freely through entire armies of shinobi."

"Immunity to physical attacks on top of that speed and power? That's... insane!"

"It gets worse. Konoha's White Fang isn't just fast—he's also incredibly resistant to genjutsu. When five Kage-level shinobi once tried to ambush him, one of them was a renowned genjutsu master, but... he was the first to die."

"How can someone be that overwhelming in every aspect? How are we supposed to fight someone like that?"

Cloud Shinobi Village, known for its reverence of power, even respected strength in its enemies. Learning the full extent of Hatake Sakumo's abilities filled the shaodow guards not only with fear but also with admiration and awe. 

"That's precisely the problem,"

The shadow guard captain said with a sigh. "Hatake Sakumo is so far beyond what we can comprehend that the only order we've been given is to hold our ground and observe."

"So we're just supposed to stand here and let him escape?"

"It all depends on what Lord Raikage decides. If anyone can come up with a plan, it's him.

In the heart of the base, Third Raikage faced Hatake Sakumo, his expression carefully measured. Despite being in the heart of Cloud Shinobi Village, he knew better than to underestimate his opponent.

"Konoha's White Fang," the Raikage began, stepping forward with authority, "can we talk?"

Sakumo remained still, his gaze steady. "Speak."

The Raikage met Sakumo's eyes, his voice calm and deliberate. "After tonight, there will be no place for you in Konoha. I want to offer you an opportunity—join Cloud Shinobi Village."

---

The Raikage's words were not spoken lightly. "Our village honors strength above all else, and you are among the strongest I've ever encountered. If you come with us, I'll make sure your status is second only to mine. You'll be respected as one of our own. What do you say?"

The Third Raikage's offer hung in the air, his voice filled with genuine sincerity as he addressed Hatake Sakumo. 

The moment his words were spoken, a wave of excitement rippled through the gathered Cloud Shinobi. Many of them exchanged glances, their eyes now glowing with anticipation and approval. 

Unlike other villages such as Sunagakure, Cloud Shinobi Village held no deep-seated blood feud with Hatake Sakumo. Even among the Kage-level powerhouses who had barely escaped from Sakumo's assault in the past, some were from their own ranks. 

As for the Elite Jōnin who had fallen to Sakumo's blade… 

It was widely acknowledged within Cloud Shinobi that these shinobi had brought their fate upon themselves by challenging someone of Sakumo's caliber. Their loss was seen more as a source of shame than a cause for hatred. 

This reflected the unique ethos of Cloud Shinobi Village—a place that revered strength above all else. Victory and defeat were part of the path of the warrior, and there was no place for petty resentment in the face of overwhelming power. 

If Hatake Sakumo were to accept the Raikage's offer, not only would the Cloud Shinobi accept him, but they would also embrace him wholeheartedly. 

No one was more eager for this possibility than the shadow guard captain, whose admiration for Sakumo was written plainly across his face. 

In that moment, every member of Cloud Shinobi seemed to be imagining the same scenario—Konoha's White Fang standing among their ranks, a warrior of legend joining their cause. 

---

Then, with every eye fixed on him, Hatake Sakumo's lips curled ever so slightly. A small, enigmatic smile appeared on his face as he prepared to speak. 

The anticipation grew thick, every Cloud Shinobi present holding their breath in suspense, waiting for the legendary swordsman to deliver his answer. 

Finally, Sakumo's voice, calm yet resolute, cut through the silence.

...

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