NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11: Chapter 11: On the Road
Konohagakure, Root.
A ninja wearing an animal-style mask knelt respectfully before Danzō.
"Danzō-sama, the Second has already departed."
Hidden in the shadows, Danzō tapped his cane thoughtfully, letting out a faint sigh.
"The old master hasn't changed one bit," he murmured, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "Setting out with so few people… Just like back then, when he and I went to Kumogakure for negotiations."
Danzō's gaze drifted, caught in the web of old memories.
"So close… If it weren't for that moment, the position of Hokage would have been mine." His tone darkened, bitterness lacing his words. "Sensei… Surely, deep down, you favored me more, didn't you?"
A long pause followed before he spoke again, his voice lower, more resolute.
"Sensei, Konoha needs a new Hokage. Forgive me, but you'll come to understand—I'm doing what's right for the village."
With a sharp rap of his cane, shadows stirred. Several masked figures flickered through the room, disappearing as quickly as they came.
...
The Shinobi World
News spread quickly through the channels infiltrating Konoha, reaching the ears of the great nations. Each reacted swiftly.
Konoha was at its weakest in history: Sakumo Hatake's suicide, the Fourth Hokage's death, the Uchiha massacre, and the Third Hokage's frailty. The new Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was still untrained, one of the Sannin had defected, another remained a wanderer, leaving only Jiraiya to support the village.
No one wanted to see Konoha regain the dominance it wielded during the Second Shinobi World War—one village standing against four. And now, with the Second Hokage revived, he had become a thorn in their sides.
In secret, plans were made. An assassination attempt on the Second Hokage was underway.
On the road to the capital of the Land of Fire.
Tobirama strolled leisurely down the path.
If he traveled at full speed, he could have reached the capital in less than half a day. But this was a rare opportunity to take in the world's sights, and he intended to savor them.
The roadside was lined with lush greenery, and he passed by villages where farmers toiled diligently in their fields. These scenes of simple, honest labor filled him with a strange sense of peace.
"Remarkable," Tobirama mused aloud, breathing deeply.
Having once lived in the industrialized world of the 21st century, he had almost forgotten the serenity of such untouched landscapes.
The Land of Fire occupied the continent's most fertile terrain, blessed with mild weather and abundant harvests year-round. Compared to the harsher conditions of the other great nations, it was a paradise. No wonder the Land of Fire was always the primary target during the Shinobi World Wars.
"Hokage-sama, there's a roadside inn up ahead. Would you like to stop and rest?"
Shiranui Genma, dressed in his standard Konoha uniform, pointed to a humble establishment further down the road.
Tobirama glanced up, shaking his head. "No need. This body doesn't require sustenance."
His current form, brought back by the Impure World Reincarnation, was nothing more than a reanimated corpse. It lacked blood flow, warmth, and the basic needs of the living.
"You truly were a genius," Genma muttered under his breath, marveling at Tobirama's ingenuity. "A technique like Impure World Reincarnation—it's practically perpetual motion. No need for resources, and it generates endless power. Imagine an army of tens of thousands of such soldiers. The shinobi world would fall under your command."
Tobirama's lips twitched into a faint smile.
But without a real body, it's all just a clever illusion. Nothing more than a hyper-realistic AR simulation.
Ignoring Genma's astonishment, Tobirama continued his journey.
"Dance of the Crescent Moon"
"Argh!"
With swift, graceful strikes, several enemies fell lifeless to the ground.
Genma, standing guard, scanned the surroundings using chakra to sense for any lingering threats.
"All clear!"
Relieved, Iwashi and Genma exchanged brief nods. This was the third ambush they had encountered so far. Though the attackers were mostly weak rogue shinobi, their persistence was telling—someone was determined to disrupt the Hokage's journey.
"Raido, scout ahead and clear the path. Iwashi and I will cover the rear," Genma ordered.
"Understood."
The team of three moved in unison, trailing their leader with practiced silence.
Tobirama observed their efforts without intervening. The attackers posed little threat, and he saw no need to handle every minor inconvenience himself. After all, his subordinates were more than capable.
As they pressed on, Tobirama's sharp senses caught something unusual in the distance.
A caravan, guarded by dozens of well-armed escorts, made its way down the road.
"A convoy?" Tobirama muttered, narrowing his eyes.
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Pls drop some Power Stones
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