Naruto: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

Chapter 193 No Meeting Allowed!

"You bastard!! What are you doing back here?"

Danzo Shimura angrily cursed out.

He regretted it!

Although for decades he had always liked to tell Hiruzen with a stern face, "You'll regret this!"

But at this moment, Shimura Danzo looked at the boy's back.

He truly regrets it!

He regretted believing that the kid would obediently follow the main force to retreat, regretted rushing over to cover the rear, and regretted even more that he never thought that the kid had never intended to listen to anyone's orders from beginning to end!

Now look what happened, his trip today was a complete waste.

Not only did they fail to pull this hothead back from the fire, they also got themselves caught in the crossfire.

"Lord Danzo!"

"Lord Danzo!"

At that moment, thirty figures darted out from the forest on the flank; they were the Root members who had been ordered to escort Shinichi to safety.

Two of them immediately stepped forward. One of them supported the swaying Danzo, while the other, whose hand was glowing with the green light of medical ninjutsu, pressed it against Danzo's severed arm to stop the bleeding.

The rest of the group scattered instantly, forming an iron wall to firmly protect Shimura Danzo around them.

Danzo Shimura abruptly flung his left hand away, roughly brushing aside their support. His remaining left eye fixed intently on the Root squad leader, his voice weak from blood loss, yet still ruthless: "A bunch of useless trash! You can't even keep an eye on one person!"

The squad leader knelt on one knee, bowed his head deeply, and remained silent.

"Elder Danzo! Don't blame them."

At this moment, Shinichi Higashino, who had his back to him, finally spoke, his voice so calm that no emotion could be discerned: "I insisted on coming here on my own."

From the moment this mission began, not only Orochimaru had his own ulterior motives, but Shinichi also had his own.

He could probably guess what Orochimaru was thinking.

But Shinichi didn't expose him; instead, he followed Orochimaru's script and continued acting.

Otherwise, with his abilities, he could have easily escaped with the entire Shinichi Battalion after his second incursion into Kumogakure, which caused such chaos.

But that's not enough.

Far from enough.

What he wanted was not only for all the members of the Shinichi Battalion to entrust their lives to him, but also for someday in the future.

Even if he stood on the opposite side of the village, even if the Hokage himself gave the order, these people would still stand behind him without hesitation, look at him, and say, "You! Are the true! Hokage!"

Although it's almost impossible for Shinichi to go that far, he doesn't have to do that. But he must have that absolute loyalty!

Therefore, he meticulously designed the scene of "covering the rear alone".

The deeper strategic move lies in this land, the Land of Thunder.

This place is very special.

On that bloody night decades ago, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, single-handedly covered the retreat on this very land, sacrificing his own life to save the lives of his six disciples.

That sacrifice has long been an unhealable wound in the hearts of Konoha's leadership, a regret that has remained unresolved for decades.

So Shinichi chose this place.

The same country, the same desperate situation, the same choice, similar identities, and even the final location for "covering the retreat" was chosen in this forest, which he deduced was very likely the same forest where the Second Hokage covered the retreat back then!

Decades ago, the Second Hokage died alone here.

Decades later, Shinichi Higashino, who was already regarded by many as a "substitute for the Second Hokage," also stepped forward here.

So how much of a shock will this battle bring to the high-ranking officials of Konoha?

Shinichi knew all too well the destructive power of the "white moonlight" (a term used to describe someone who is deeply loved and cherished).

The Second Hokage's choice back then, after decades of remembrance and embellishment, has long since become an unshakable totem of faith in the hearts of Konoha's leaders, a light that shines ever brighter in memory but can never be touched again.

What Shinichi wants is for them to express the regrets, memories, obsessions, and even beliefs that have accumulated over decades!

Everything was transferred to him.

He wanted to become that "living Tobirama," that "miracle" who made the same choice in the same desperate situation but ultimately returned alive.

He wanted those high-ranking officials to remember him not as a cold tombstone and a regretful past, but as a living, breathing new light who perfectly inherited his teacher's will and was worthy of being entrusted with the future.

Anyway, it was Yixin who was covering the rear alone, so what did it have to do with Shinichi Higashino?

If anything really happens, I can just use a psychic spell to escape.

However, the plan still took an unexpected turn.

Shinichi never expected that Shimura Danzo would actually come, and even risked his life to go deep into the Land of Lightning for him.

This was completely unexpected.

He had originally thought that he might as well just leave half-heartedly.

After all, Danzo Shimura was a typical troublemaker. Nobody knew what absurd things he would do under the guise of "for the good of Konoha" or "for your sake," and then make him take the blame.

But at that moment, his shadow clones, which he had dispatched to scout the border ahead, discovered an unexpected group.

An elite rescue team, personally led by the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, secretly infiltrated the Land of Lightning.

It was the appearance of this team that changed his mind.

That night, besides Shimura Danzo, did Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado... also have regrets in their hearts?

Over the years, have you ever asked yourself these questions again and again in the dead of night?

"Why didn't I stay behind and die alongside my teacher?"

If you really think about it, there must be one.

So, Shinichi is back.

He not only wants to become a "living Tobirama" in the hearts of Konoha's higher-ups.

He also wants to become the one in their hearts, the one they've dreamed of countless times, remembered countless times, and questioned countless times.

Finally, I was able to turn around and stay, to face life and death with my teacher, and fight side by side with that younger version of myself!

So, he came.

Come and save those who deserve it.

To complete the play that needs to be completed.

To become the light that can never be erased from their hearts.

"so what?"

Danzo Shimura shoved aside his subordinates who tried to help him, took a few steps forward, stood beside Shinichi, and demanded sharply, "What good is your arrival? Are you going to bring these thirty equally disobedient good-for-nothings, and all thirty-two of us, to die here together?"

As he spoke, his gaze swept across the opposite side. The dust was slowly settling, and the dark, dense army of Yunyin was regrouping, their killing intent even more solid and chilling than before!

"Elder Danzo." Shinichi didn't turn around, but simply gazed silently at the enemy formation ahead: "Who said there were only thirty-two people?"

At this point, Shin turned his head to look at Shimura Danzo.

"To be precise, it's 366 people."

"Varied...."

Danzo was still suspicious when, a moment later, a sudden commotion came from the depths of the dense forest behind him!

"kill!!!"

"Support Captain!!!"

A roar like thunder pierced through the night fog!

Danzo Shimura turned around abruptly and saw figures rushing out like a flood breaking through a dam in the forest behind him, where moonlight and dust mingled!

"So, Elder Danzo," the boy turned back, meeting Danzo's shocked gaze, and smiled slightly, "now you understand why I came back, don't you?"

"My teammates were willing to risk their lives to save me, their captain who had taken the initiative to cover the rear, and turn back to fight back."

"Then, as their captain, how can I abandon the other person who volunteered to cover my retreat?"

"Aren't you right, Elder Danzo?"

Shinichi could probably understand what Shimura Danzo was thinking at this moment. He wanted to fulfill the regrets he had left unresolved back then, to achieve a self-redemption that was decades overdue, and then to go to see his teacher openly and honestly.

As for Shinichi...

To achieve self-redemption?

you can!

But should I be open and honest with my teacher?

You are not allowed to see him!

For the rest of your life, you'd better work for me!

Shimura Danzo didn't speak; he just stared blankly at the group of wounded but bright-eyed Shinichi Battalion members.

The more than 300 team members who should have already withdrawn and left this battlefield of death were all in his sight at this moment, charging towards the battlefield at full speed!

Then, he slowly shifted his gaze back to the boy's still smiling face.

After a moment of silence, Shimura Danzo suddenly smiled with relief.

"good!"

I'm asking for monthly votes, recommendation votes, and support.

7