Naruto: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

Chapter 191 Meeting the Teacher Openly and Frankly (Part 2)

With a command from the Third Hokage, more than 800 Konoha elites charged forward once again like arrows released from a bow.

This 800-strong team was fully equipped, not only personally commanded by the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, but also comprised members who were all battle-hardened soldiers, with the lowest rank being a senior Chunin with rich experience.

It also includes elite ninja clans such as the Hyuga, Yamanaka, Aburame, and Inukai, who are skilled in reconnaissance in various fields.

Their mission was extremely simple, but also extremely dangerous: to infiltrate enemy territory, find and rescue the Shinichi Battalion, who were trapped in an encirclement.

After realizing that it would be difficult to break through the Kumogakure defenses in the short term, and learning through certain channels that the Kumogakure's pursuit forces were constantly strengthening, the Third Hokage found that the Shinichi Battalion's situation was becoming increasingly perilous.

This morning, Hiruzen Sarutobi issued an order that was almost universally opposed.

He personally led an absolutely elite force to secretly infiltrate the Land of Lightning and meet up with Shinichi Battalion.

This decision is extremely risky, even irresponsible. The Hokage is the pillar of the village. If news of his personal incursion into enemy territory is leaked, or if there is any mishap during the operation, it will inevitably lead to a frenzied siege by the Hidden Cloud Village at all costs.

If the Third Hokage were to encounter danger or even meet with misfortune in a foreign land, the impact on Konoha's morale and the overall war situation would be devastating.

However, faced with almost unanimous opposition and dissuasion from the people in the tent, the Hokage, who usually presented a gentle and kind image, showed an unprecedented toughness and determination this time.

He forcefully suppressed all objections, quickly assembled his team, and set off at noon that day.

The group sped through the night. The Third Hokage frowned, while Orochimaru, who was close behind, glanced at him and chuckled, "Sarutobi-sensei, don't worry, Shinichi will be fine."

Orochimaru returned to the front-line camp alone this morning. He thought he would be severely reprimanded by his teacher, but unexpectedly, Sarutobi-sensei remained silent about the matter and only ordered him to join the rescue team.

Upon hearing his disciple's words, the Third Hokage glanced at Orochimaru indifferently, offering no response, though his disappointment was palpable.

He found that he could understand his disciple less and less. Since the end of the Second Shinobi World War, his disciple, whom he had once valued so highly, had become increasingly unpredictable and profound. It seemed that an invisible barrier had formed between the master and disciple.

To be fair, as the commander-in-chief of the Northeast front, Orochimaru was able to keenly seize the opportunity and select the right people to carry out the mission, and the Third Hokage had no fault in this regard.

During the mission execution phase, after successfully inducing the Eight-Tails to rage and creating massive chaos, Orochimaru did not act together with Shinichi's team, which was tasked with carrying out the subsequent attack. Instead, he chose to retreat alone, which is unacceptable from a personal perspective, but it is also understandable from a mission logic standpoint.

After all, although their missions were connected, they were at different stages and had independent objectives. Orochimaru had perfectly completed his detonation phase, so he naturally had the right to choose his own escape route and timing based on his own judgment.

However, this overly clear, even cold, division of tasks couldn't help but cause the Third Hokage some disappointment.

What disappointed the Third Hokage even more was that this disciple was well aware of his high regard and expectations for Shinichi.

He also fully understood that if he had known the full details and risks of the operation beforehand, he would most likely not have given permission.

Therefore, Orochimaru deliberately chose to deliver a vague report at the last moment before the operation, in a manner that was more like a notification than a request for instructions.

With his keen intuition, the Third Hokage also vaguely sensed that compared to the major blow to Kumogakure, this might just be a side effect.

His disciple seemed to have a deeper purpose; he seemed to be using this dangerous operation as an experiment or a spy to try to verify or discover something.

The Third Hokage couldn't be sure what Orochimaru was trying to find, but it was this unconventional curiosity that drove him to insist on pushing forward the plan, even at the cost of inevitable reprimands and the possibility of completely disappointing his teacher.

This behavior of prioritizing personal thirst for knowledge above all else sent a chill down the spine of the Third Hokage.

Orochimaru's increasingly enigmatic and unpredictable nature, coupled with his increasingly erratic behavior, led the Third Hokage to grow more and more disappointed in his disciple.

Upon seeing this, Orochimaru was startled. Sarutobi's aura was very faint and light, but it was precisely this incomparably calm and indifferent demeanor that made Orochimaru's heart tremble inexplicably, and a rare sense of panic arose.

He suddenly thought of a sentence: true disappointment is when even blame feels superfluous. Has Sarutobi-sensei felt this way about him?

This thought made him speak again subconsciously, as if trying to salvage or prove something with his words: "Sarutobi-sensei, with Shinichi's ability and wisdom, if he is determined to escape, I believe that no one in the entire Hidden Cloud Village can stop him."

"Perhaps." The Third Hokage remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly, before turning his gaze back to the road ahead and saying nothing more.

He knew, of course, that with Shinichi's abilities and alertness, he could easily escape safely if he wanted to.

but..

What if the child doesn't want to?

Just like his former teacher, as the fastest ninja in the world, no one can stop him if he wants to leave, and no one can kill him if he doesn't want to die.

In the end, the teacher still died because he chose to stay behind, leaving the chance of survival to his disciples.

As his thoughts raced, the Third Hokage couldn't help but recall the child from five years ago who had told his fatherless comrade in the cemetery, "I'll cover their retreat."

Since the outbreak of this great war, everything that child has done has been a fulfillment of that heavy promise made back then.

This time, facing the Cloud Village's relentless encirclement and suppression, when the situation reached its most dangerous point, the Third Hokage was 100% certain that this child would make that choice.

Just like my teacher made that choice back then!

The troops sped through the dense forest and cliffs. The Third Hokage's gaze swept around, and he suddenly felt that the terrain and scenery in front of him were becoming more and more familiar. After a moment of confusion, he remembered.

This is it!

Decades ago, on that night of blood and fire, on this very treacherous land, he, Danzo, En, Koharu, Kagami, and Torifu, along with their companions, fled like dogs in a sorry state.

Their teacher, however, resolutely turned away and stayed in that desperate place, using his own life to block the pursuers for them.

The regret and helplessness he felt then are still deeply etched in his heart. He hates himself for not being strong enough, for being powerless, and for being able to accept the path of life paved with his teacher's life in vain.

Decades later, he has returned to this land that holds his deepest regrets.

Over the years, he has always kept his teacher's entrustment in mind, working diligently and cautiously to protect the village. He knows that his wisdom is far inferior to his teacher's, and he has left too many regrets and helplessness during his tenure, but he has never slackened and has always tried his best to do his best.

However, in countless midnight moments, the Third Hokage also felt a deep sense of regret.

Why couldn't I have been more persistent back then? Why couldn't I have been more assertive and insisted on staying?

Why...

Why didn't they stay to fight alongside their teacher, sharing life and death?

So now, he has arrived.

That night, decades ago, this land buried his teacher.

Decades later, he absolutely refuses to allow that child, who possessed the same will and wisdom as his teacher, to be buried here in the same way!

Therefore, the Third Hokage arrived! He disregarded his own safety! He spared no expense! He came regardless of any consequences!

"You are still young, that moment will come eventually..."

As he sped along, the surroundings became increasingly familiar. In a daze, the teacher's last words seemed to travel through time and space, echoing in his ears once again.

That moment...

Yes, that moment!

The Third Hokage's gaze swept calmly over his subordinates, most of whom were very young, much like himself, Danzo, Koharu, and Enma decades ago...

And what about himself?

The Third Hokage suddenly realized that he was no longer young and was about the same age as his teacher when he sacrificed himself.

At the same time, the inexplicable throbbing in his heart grew stronger, as if reminding him of something.

If the worst-case scenario truly unfolds when Shinichi and the others are found, then...

"I'll do it!"

On that night decades ago, when faced with the desperate situation of needing someone to act as bait to lure away the Cloud Hidden pursuers, he, then a passionate young man, uttered resounding words, intending to sacrifice himself to exchange a chance for life for his teacher and comrades.

However, his teacher stopped him, pushed him back onto the path of life, and then turned away alone, heading towards the end of his fate.

Decades have passed, but the land remains unchanged, the choice remains unchanged, and the heart that is determined to protect it remains unchanged.

The only thing that changed was himself. He was no longer the young man who needed protection, but the shadow of Konoha.

That moment that belonged to the teacher back then may now be quietly approaching him. That's why his heart is so inexplicably pounding right now.

However, the Third Hokage felt no fear whatsoever; on the contrary, he became even more composed.

He knew that his current ideas might be too willful or irresponsible for the village's future, but the village already had young people worthy of being entrusted with its future.

Tsunade, Jiraiya, Minato, and that kid Shinichi—whoever takes over the Hokage position in the future, they will all be able to do a better job and lead Konoha to a more prosperous era.

On that night decades ago, his determination was thwarted by his teacher.

On this night, decades later, perhaps it will be the time for him to fulfill that promise that was decades overdue!

If something truly goes wrong on this trip, then...

Go see your teacher openly and honestly!

Then tell him personally: Your disciple has done his best to fulfill your entrustment. The village you protected has been inherited by descendants. And the young man you pushed back to the path of life has grown into a towering tree that can protect the next generation.

And in the last moment of his life, he made the same choice as you did back then!

Thinking of this, the Third Hokage suddenly unleashed a majestic aura. This aura was not flamboyant or violent, but rather unusually calm, yet it was pure and condensed to the extreme, as if just a little bit of it was as heavy as a mountain!

This change was extremely subtle, and only Orochimaru, with his exceptional insight and keen observation, noticed it.

In an instant, his eyes narrowed, and he was secretly alarmed.

He had always watched as Sarutobi-sensei grew older and his peak was fading, while he himself continued to improve and explore.

He had secretly assessed his own abilities and thought that he was gradually approaching, and perhaps even able to rival, his teacher in some aspects.

But at this moment, feeling the teacher's sudden burst of imposing aura, Orochimaru realized how terribly wrong he had been.

If I were to fight the teacher right now...

The thought flashed through Orochimaru's mind, and he immediately realized that he probably couldn't even last ten rounds.

The Third Hokage was unaware of the shock his disciples were experiencing behind him; at that moment, the inexplicable tremor in his heart was growing stronger and clearer.

come on!

The Third Hokage suddenly quickened his pace again, his figure almost transforming into a streak of light tearing through the night, resolutely rushing forward towards "that moment" that might ultimately belong to him.

At this moment, the "Light" who had been in charge of Konoha for many years did not know that at the same time he made this decision...

The other person, "Dark," who had been with him for decades, both as an opponent and a partner, had already ushered in his own moment on the battlefield ahead.

The light and darkness of Konoha, these old friends and rivals who have accompanied, competed and been entangled with each other for decades, on this same night, on this land where their teachers were buried and where their regrets were left, unexpectedly made the same decision.

This time, however, the darkness, which had always lagged behind the light by half a step, finally took the lead over the light for the first time in its life.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi knew about this, I wonder what he would think?

Was it astonishment?

Is it clear?

Or is it some kind of indescribable feeling?

But in any case.

This night was a night where light and darkness converged on different paths.

This night is a night for the passing down of the torch from tree to root.

Rumble!

Dust billowed into the sky, the ground was torn into ravines, the road was twisted beyond recognition, and countless trees around were cut in half as if by invisible sharp blades, falling down one by one with a crash, the wood chips and dust mixed into a chaotic mess.

In the heart of this chaos and destruction, Shimura Danzo moved with lightning speed, narrowly dodging a fierce slash from the side with a swift turn. With a backhand slash of his katana, a flash of cold light appeared, and a line of blood exploded from the neck of a Cloud Village ninja.

He didn't even look at the fallen corpse; his left hand had already gripped the long knife thrust at him by another enemy like an iron clamp, and with a flick of his wrist, the weapon changed hands.

There was another soft hissing sound.

Two fountains of blood gushed out simultaneously, blooming into scarlet flowers under the moonlight. The two Cloud Hidden Ones collapsed to the ground before they could even scream.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. Shimura Danzo's feet did not stop, his figure leaving a series of blurry afterimages as he barely dodged several intertwined lightning bolts that shone with dazzling blue-white light. The violent current struck the spot where he had just stood, scorching the ground black.

As he dodged and weaved, Shimura Danzo's hand moved with lightning speed, his chakra rapidly compressing and condensing in his throat.

Wind Release: Vacuum Ball!

The next instant, he opened his mouth and spat!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Countless invisible bullets formed from wind-style chakra poured out like a torrential rain, each one accompanied by a shriek that tore through the air, like a continuous barrage of machine gun fire!

The eight Cloud Village ninjas at the forefront didn't even have time to dodge or defend before their bodies were instantly pierced by countless "vacuum orbs." Blood mist exploded under the moonlight, and their bodies were riddled with holes like rags before they crashed to the ground.

However, Shimura Danzo did not stop for a moment. He moved again, like a whirlwind that swept across the ground, and at the same time, he quickly formed hand seals.

But at the same instant he made his move, the nearly one hundred Cloud Village ninjas who had already gathered to his side and behind him also completed their hand seals.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Spear!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Ball!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Serpent!"

"Lightning Release..."

'

A series of sharp shouts rang out in the night sky.

In an instant, lightning shot into the sky, and dozens of dazzling lightning ninjutsu pierced through the air!

Some transformed into straight beams of light, some condensed into sharp spears like javelins, some rolled into crackling balls of lightning, and others slithered along the ground like snakes, with hundreds of bolts of lightning weaving a net of death that enveloped Shimura Danzo's location from all directions!

The lightning illuminated his face, but his expression remained unchanged. He took a deep breath, his chest expanding like a bellows, his chakra compressing and condensing in his throat!

Wind Escape·Vacuum Jade!

The next instant, he opened his mouth and spat!

A massive, solid, high-pressure vortex, carrying destructive power, shot out like a cannonball!

If "Vacuum Jade" is like the sweeping fire of a machine gun, then "Vacuum Giant Jade" is like the roar of a rocket launcher!

boom!!!

The typhoon and a sky full of lightning collided violently!

In an instant, a deafening explosion tore through the night sky, and a chaotic shockwave swept outwards like a tsunami. The lightning bolts were torn apart, shattered, and rolled back by the gale, turning into countless fireflies of scattered lightning!

Dust, gravel, and broken wood were thrown high into the air, only to be crushed into dust by the raging wind pressure in mid-air!

He single-handedly fought against nearly a hundred Cloud Village ninjas, including many Jonin who unleashed lightning attacks together!

Although Wind Release is inherently effective against Lightning Release, the fact that Shimura Danzo was able to directly counter such a large-scale combined attack with a single ninjutsu highlights the depth of his Wind Release mastery!

"What?! How could that be...?"

A Cloud Village Jonin's pupils shrank, his face filled with disbelief, but his shock lasted less than half a second.

call out!

Amidst the billowing dust, a figure darted out like a whirlwind!

It was Shimura Danzo!

He gave the enemy no chance to breathe, and while still in mid-air, he slashed his katana through the air with his right hand!

Wind Release: Vacuum Wind Blade!

A massive, condensed vacuum wind blade, its edges shimmering with a bluish-white high-frequency vibration, slashed horizontally toward the direction where the Jonin was located with near lightning speed!

not good!!

The Cloud Village Jonin's hair stood on end, and he instinctively roared, "Scatter!!"

He had already leaped to the side with all his might, but it was still too slow.

The wind blade was faster than the eye could perceive; his body had barely left the ground when he felt a cold sensation on his waist.

The next moment, my vision spun around.

He saw his lower body still suspended in mid-air, the horrified faces of his twenty colleagues behind him, and how they, too, had been caught in the massive, extended wind blade...

One knife, cut it off!

All twenty-one Cloud Village ninjas were killed instantly, their blood spraying out like ink, drawing a tragic arc under the moonlight.

"call...

'

Having done all this, Shimura Danzo finally let out a soft breath, the white mist condensing into a ball in the cold night sky.

His eyes flashed like lightning as he quickly scanned the surroundings. At his feet lay dozens of Cloud Village corpses, their blood soaking the soil, but there were still thousands of people around him!

Further away, even more dark figures were pouring out of the mountains and forests, densely packed, like a tide closing in from all directions, completely trapping him in this forest!

Is this Ninja Darkness really that strong?

This thought arose in the minds of all the Cloud Village members present. After only a few minutes of fighting, under the siege of thousands of them, this "Dark Ninja" of Konoha was not only unharmed, but had also cost them dozens of lives!

"Keep attacking! Kill him!"

A Cloud Village commander shouted sharply.

The moment the words were spoken, a murderous intent surged into the sky!

shhhhhhhh!

First came a deluge of kunai, shuriken, and senbon, pouring down like a torrential downpour, sealing off all space for dodging in all directions.

Following closely behind was another burst of combined lightning attacks: lightning snakes dancing, lightning spears piercing the sky, lightning balls rolling, and electric nets intertwining, turning the entire forest into a pale, electric inferno.

Finally, taking advantage of the chaos and suppression created by the ranged attacks, the Cloud Hidden elites, skilled in swordsmanship and physical combat, charged out like a pack of wolves, following closely behind, and rushed straight at that lone figure!

Danzo Shimura, however, seemed oblivious. He moved nimbly through the hail of bullets, his katana flashing like the wind as he parried flying kunai and sliced ​​through lightning snakes that hurtled along the ground. His footsteps were so fast that they left only a blur.

In the midst of this life-or-death struggle of dodging and counterattacking, his mind unexpectedly drifted off for a moment.

"Teacher, when you faced the elite troops led by Golden Horn and Silver Horn alone and were trapped in a desperate situation, what were you thinking?"

"Is it regret that the mission was not yet completed? Is it relief that the disciples have safely retreated? Or... is it simply a matter of calculating how many more enemies we can take with us?"

The moment this thought crossed his mind, Danzo Shimura felt a sudden surge of panic.

He made too many mistakes in his life.

They have resorted to any means to achieve their goals, betrayed morality, sacrificed the innocent, walked in darkness, and strayed too far from the light.

If I were to truly reunite with my teacher in the afterlife, how would he view me?

Will the teacher be disappointed? Will he shake his head? Will he feel that this disciple is no longer worthy of being called the successor of the Will of Fire?

Do I still have the right to see my teacher openly and honestly?

A single thought can make all the difference in an instant.

Swish!

A kunai, piercing through the air under the cover of lightning, came straight for his face!

Danzo Shimura snapped back to his senses and dodged sharply to the side at the last second.

laugh!

The kunai grazed the edge of his right eye, leaving a trail of warm blood!

The moment the excruciating pain exploded, the entire field of vision in my right eye was stained crimson, and then, as if a curtain had been drawn, I was plunged into complete darkness.

He stumbled half a step, instinctively covering his right eye with his left hand, and sticky blood gushed out from between his fingers.

At the same time, the inexplicable tremor in the Third Hokage's heart grew stronger and more turbulent, like a premonition.

It was as if something extremely important was quietly slipping away, about to leave him forever.

What is it? My own life? Or... something else?

"Hokage-sama!"

A Jonin from the Hyuga clan spoke in a deep voice, his menacing Byakugan staring at the dark forest ahead: "A Cloud Village squad of thirty people has been spotted two kilometers ahead. They are scattered and appear to be on patrol duty."

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