Danzo ran desperately, trying his best to escape back to Konoha.
After a large number of shadow clones evenly divided his chakra, it consumed a lot of his body.
At this moment, he had less than twenty chakra left in his body, and he was extremely weak and ashamed.
If a Jonin appeared randomly, it could kill him!
Fortunately, he had escaped hundreds of kilometers and should be out of danger.
Because his clones died too quickly, Danzo did not know the situation of the three of them, nor did he know how many casualties the temporary unit had suffered.
But thinking about it was clearly not optimistic.
Sacrificing so many Konoha ninjas to escape for his own life?
Danzo didn't know when he became like this. Thinking back to when he was young, he dared to fight against the Kumogakure ninja force alone!
Unfortunately, nothing has changed.
He no longer dared to think about it deeply. He just wanted to escape back to Konoha and flee with his life.
He would consider the rest later.
It would be better to send his information back so that Hiruzen and the others could prepare!
"That's right! I have to relay the news back, I'm still useful alive!"
"Their sacrifice was not in vain!"
"Don't be afraid!"
Danzo tried his best to find excuses for himself, comforting himself and deceiving himself.
As for the position of Hokage, he didn't even dare to think about it.
Someone had to be blamed for this defeat.
He led the army to the battlefield in public. The villagers didn't care about his specific reasons. They only knew that he caused the Konoha forces to lose.
With something like this, no matter how comfortably he flattered Hiruzen, he would never be able to turn it on him.
It was all the Amegakure Village's fault!
It was all Hanzo's fault!
❀❀❀
One hour later.
Danzo finally escaped to an area more than a hundred kilometers away from the village.
And here, previously, he had met the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen who personally led the expedition team!
Half a day ago, that's when the temporary force was defeated.
Hiruzen learned of the defeat on the battlefield in time through the Yamazaka Clan's secret technique. Then they quickly began to organize forces and deploy troops to counter the next wave of attacks that would arrive in Amegakure Village and left an hour ago, heading northwest.
This time Hiruzen almost drained Konoha Village!
Not to mention the main force of over 10,000 troops that had been involved in the Kumogakure war, all the remaining troops that could be mobilized had been mobilized.
The remaining 3,000 ninja troops were ready to attack!
It's better to fight a hundred miles away from the village than to be beaten at the doorstep!
The Battle of Mount Kikyo, where Konoha was defeated to the entrance of the village in the previous Third Ninja World War, was a very shameful example that not only caused a lot of casualties, but also directly weakened Konoha's prestige.
This caused Iwagakure Village to immediately send additional troops, thus starting the Battle of Kannabi Bridge.
If Konoha were to be messed up by Amegakure Village again, the consequences would be far-reaching.
For this purpose, even though he had officially 'retired', Hiruzen still had to lead the troops directly, he tried to do everything possible, and also wipe away Danzo's mistakes.
Otherwise, after Danzo returned, he might not be able to bear his mistakes!
❀❀❀
Danzo's eyes suddenly turned red after seeing Hiruzen.
For the first time in years, he was completely defeated so he really wanted to talk to Hiruzen.
After all, Hiruzen was the only one in the village who could have a heart-to-heart relationship with him, and the other two advisors were far behind.
However, from a distance, Danzo saw Hizashi! That guy actually ran back first!
And he was talking to Hiruzen and the others, reporting the specific battle situation.
Danzo was shocked and rushed forward, afraid that Hizashi would reveal the dirty things he had done.
But when he thought about it carefully, he immediately pretended to be innocent again. After all, the scene where he tricked Shikaku, Choza, and Inoichi into committing suicide was covered by poisonous fog.
No one should have seen it. Otherwise, Danzo would have died.
Therefore, at most, Hizashi could accuse him of having bad command and being cowardly before the fight.
Danzo could just forgive himself by saying that the enemy was too strong and he was unable to resist, so he could only choose 'strategic retreat'.
Although others might not believe it, it would be fine as long as Hiruzen didn't pursue him.
"Hiruzen!"
"Danzo!"
"I—"
"I already know the situation. If you lose, you lose."
"You—"
"The enemy is indeed too strong. It's not your fault that we were defeated if we didn't prepare well."
"Hiruzen!"
Danzo felt warmth in his heart, feeling Hiruzen's boundless tolerance for him.
Sure enough, that old man was the best!
No matter what happened, Hiruzen would protect him and forgive him...
"It seems your condition is very bad.. You go down and rest first."
"From today on, you don't have to worry about this matter. I will remove you from the position of Assistant Hokage, Root will also be completely disbanded!"
"?!"
Danzo was shocked and his face turned dark.
Taking away his position and dismantling his power would be more uncomfortable than killing him!
"Impossible, you don't have this power!"
"I do!"
"I am the Substitute Hokage!"
Hiruzen said very calmly: "No, you are no longer!"
"Hiruzen, you..."
"This is for your own good, you will understand in the future! Besides, don't make the situation too bad!"
Hiruzen waved his hand, and four ANBU ninjas crossed in front of Danzo to prevent him from doing anything irrational.
No one knew his best friend's desire for power better than Hiruzen. But if he wanted to save his life, removing him from his position now was the lightest punishment.
Danzo's face turned pale, he didn't expect Hiruzen to be so firm.
At the same time, he also saw Jiraiya and Tsunade behind Hiruzen.
Danzo became even angrier.
"Jiraiya! And Tsunade! You..."
When he was in power, the two of them hid and didn't give him any face. Now that Hiruzen went out to war, the two of them would immediately come back to join the war, wouldn't they?
They were indeed Hiruzen's good disciples!
Danzo never doubted Minato from beginning to end, he just thought it was because Hiruzen didn't want to be left alone and wanted to return to power.
That's when Jiraiya and Tsunade came to prepare for another victory.
Danzo still gave in, and was completely defeated.
He was led by some ANBU ninjas and medical ninjas. He was left alone and silent the whole time, at his mercy.
Before he actually became Hokage, almost all of his power came from Hiruzen.
As long as Hiruzen was determined to abolish his position, there was nothing he could do.
He obviously always wanted to defeat Hiruzen, but he always relied on Hiruzen's protection. This was what made Danzo most reluctant!
The source of his greatest desire to become Hokage!
"Why--!"
Seeing Danzo being escorted away, Hiruzen sighed silently.
But he didn't have time to sigh.
Because according to the information, the Amegakure Ninja force was heading towards Konoha and would arrive here in two hours at the latest.
At that time, it would be a very difficult fight!
It might even be a fierce battle that would determine the life or death of Konoha!