After hearing Senju Haruto's reasoning, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to accept his recommendation.
After all, this meeting was no small matter — it could very well determine the future relationship between the Hidden Leaf Village and the Hidden Cloud Village.
As far back as the Second Hokage's administration, there had been intentions to sign an alliance treaty between the two sides.
However, due to a coup in the Hidden Cloud, things ended in tragedy — they ambushed the Leaf's envoy, and even the Second Hokage, Lord Tobirama Senju, lost his life in that battle.
The memories were still vivid, as if it all happened yesterday.
That was why the presence of a sensory-type ninja was of the utmost importance.
Once Ibiki summoned Kaze Yamanaka, Hiruzen appointed him on the spot to accompany him to the Land of Iron.
The assignment came without warning, but since it was a direct order from the Third Hokage, Kaze had no right to refuse.
Still, on his way back to prepare, he made sure this information reached Danzo.
"Hiruzen, that conniving old fox…" Danzo gritted his teeth, inhaling sharply. He had no way of knowing that Kaze had been recommended to Hiruzen by Senju Haruto.
What he did know was that Hiruzen had previously suggested that Danzo should voluntarily give up his position as a Hokage Advisor and stop attending high-level Leaf meetings.
"And now… he's aiming at Root — the very organization I built with my own hands."
Danzo's gaze sharpened as he began to piece together Hiruzen's plan.
By using this opportunity to pull Kaze from his side, Hiruzen was repeating what he'd done with Tenzo before.
Once Kaze returned, it wouldn't be surprising if Hiruzen moved to disband Root altogether, absorbing all of its strength into his ANBU.
Kaze Yamanaka and Torune Aburame had long been Danzo's right- and left-hand men — the pillars of Root.
Needless to say, Hiruzen's decision left Danzo deeply displeased.
"Kaze."
"Lord Danzo."
Kaze knelt on one knee before Danzo, awaiting his orders.
Although Root had been created to serve the Hokage, every member of Root answered only to Danzo himself. In their minds, his orders outweighed even those of the Hokage.
"My original plan was to force the Hyuga clan to hand over Hiashi, so everyone could see Hiruzen's weakness and incompetence. Then, once the matter escalated, I could pressure him into stepping down as Hokage."
"After that, we would move on to dealing with the Uchiha clan and prepare for war with the Hidden Cloud."
"But now… things have gone this far. Kaze, I need you to carry out an important task for me."
Meanwhile, Senju Haruto had finished his final preparations, ready to accompany Hiruzen to the Land of Iron for talks with the Raikage.
"If I remember correctly, the Third Raikage died during the Third Great Ninja War, holding off ten thousand enemy ninja for days on end to protect his men until he finally collapsed from exhaustion."
"In other words, at this point in the timeline, the Raikage should be the Fourth."
Sitting cross-legged on his tatami mat, Haruto sifted through the details he remembered from the manga, piecing together the Hidden Cloud's current state.
Assuming their timeline was intact, the Fourth Raikage, A, would now be in power.
Because of his father's death, A had sworn to inherit his will — and had ordered his younger brother, Killer Bee, to train in the Tailed Beast Bomb at Kumogakure's Thunder Gorge.
"A even forbade Bee from leaving the village. Even if enemies attacked, Bee was to destroy them from a distance with the Tailed Beast Bomb."
In other words, at this dual-Kage meeting, A would definitely not bring Killer Bee.
"I wonder what kind of reward I'll get for this check-in…"
Haruto took a deep breath, anticipation rising in his chest.
He hadn't checked in that many times, but his previous rewards had followed certain patterns:
From the Ninja Academy — mastery over all five basic chakra natures.
From Ichiraku Ramen — enhanced cooking skills.
From the Hokage's office — the First Hokage's bloodline limit.
From the Hyuga clan's compound — the Byakugan.
"So maybe this time it'll be related to the Land of Iron… or to the Raikage himself."
Either way, Haruto would welcome it.
Time passed quickly, and soon the day of departure arrived.
Haruto followed Hiruzen and Kaze Yamanaka to the village gates, where all the luggage had been handed over to Kaze.
After all, Hiruzen was elderly, and Haruto… was still "growing."
"Growing, huh…" Kaze's face twitched at the excuse, unable to hide his exasperation.
In wartime, someone Haruto's age would already be serving as a core member of the combat units.
But since the luggage was light — just a few changes of clothes and some food for the road — Kaze didn't comment further.
"All right, let's move out," Hiruzen said warmly, taking the lead.
"I didn't think we'd be walking the whole way…" Haruto muttered. But when he thought about it, in the Shippuden era, whether it was Naruto's team rushing to help the Sand Village or tracking down Sasuke…
Even at the Five Kage Summit, everyone traveled on foot.
Especially during the mission to aid the Sand — Gaara had been taken by the Akatsuki, Kankuro was on the brink of death, and Temari still ran with Naruto's team for three days and nights straight.
It was hard to tell whether the world map of the ninja continent was tiny… or everyone just had absurd stamina.
"If this were my old world, forget supporting another country — in three days I probably wouldn't even get out of the province."
Haruto sighed inwardly, shaking his head. Still, walking meant he could enjoy the scenery along the way.
"Haruto."
Suddenly, Hiruzen called out to him.
"Hmm?"
"You must have wondered why I didn't bring more people along."
"Not really," Haruto replied without thinking. He had more important things to worry about.
"Ahem." Hiruzen cleared his throat, masking a trace of awkwardness before continuing.
"The Land of Iron is a very special country. Long ago, the ninja nations agreed never to attack it."
"That's why, from the First Great Ninja War onward, it has remained untouched by conflict."
"They have no hidden villages, no shinobi — only a warrior class who protect the land."
"They are a neutral nation with a unique culture, authority, and fighting style."
What Hiruzen was really telling him was that in the Land of Iron, no ninja could make a move.
"That's why the Raikage agreed to hold the meeting there," Hiruzen said seriously.
"Mm." Haruto gave a token response, but his gaze drifted back toward the village.
Right now, he had only one thought in his mind:
By the time the sun set, Danzo would never see another dawn.