chsdbacks Chapter 222: Stop!
Chapter 222: Stop!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Explosions echoed continuously through the woods.
In the dense forest, the intertwined branches blocked out the sky and the moon.
Uchiha Izuna led his six disciples in a swift escape through the forest, their robes fluttering in the wind.
The battle with the formidable enemy had already made Izuna realize that his side was far inferior to the opponent, and this was further compounded by the many unusual occurrences in the battle.
He instantly realized that there was internal strife and traitors within the Hidden Cloud Village, and that continuing the fight would only lead to the annihilation of the entire army. He immediately made a decisive decision to lead his troops to break through and escape.
The seven travelers ran wildly and finally managed to shake off their pursuers temporarily, hiding deep in the dense forest.
"Split up and break out immediately, two people per group!"
"Danzo and Sarutobi form one group, En and Koharu form another, and Kagami and Torifu form a third. Everyone must proceed to the Valley of the End camp to regroup!"
Uchiha Izuna stood still and gave orders in a very fast voice.
Unlike the situation in the original story where Tobirama Senju entrusted his children to others, Izuna Uchiha at this moment only wanted to minimize the casualties of his disciples and decisively chose a strategy of splitting up and escaping.
Furthermore, since Gold Horn and Silver Horn did not eat the Nine-Tailed Fox's flesh, their strength is much weaker than in the original story.
"Teacher, what about you?"
Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke almost simultaneously, their brows furrowed, their eyes filled with worry and unease as they stared intently at Izuna.
Izuna slowly closed his eyes, his voice low and resolute: "I'll hold off the main force led by Kinkaku and Ginkaku, you take the opportunity to escape."
"No! Absolutely not!"
"It's always the guards who risk their lives to protect the Hokage; how can the Hokage turn the tables and protect the guards? Especially since you are the Hokage of Konoha, carrying the future and hope of the entire village on your shoulders!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately stepped forward and raised his voice.
"Yes, teacher!"
Danzo nodded emphatically to the side.
Danzo's eyes suddenly hardened, and he abruptly tore open his clothes, saying in a deep voice, "Master, I have already prepared the Four Symbols Seal, ready to sacrifice myself for you and for Konoha at any time!"
"We swear to protect the Hokage with our lives!"
Yan, Xiaochun, Qufeng, and Jing stepped forward together, their gazes firm, none of them backing down in the slightest, all looking at Uchiha Izuna without hesitation.
Looking at this group of sincere and loyal disciples before me
Izuna slowly opened his tightly closed eyes, his deep gaze surging with relief, emotion, and undisguised pride.
In fact, he had no intention of taking these disciples as his own at first. It was his great-grandfather who insisted that he take them as his personal disciples.
Now, having faced a life-or-death situation, he truly understands how accurate his great-grandfather's judgment of people was.
These six children before me are all resilient, loyal, and courageous; they are the most outstanding juniors in Konoha.
"You don't need to say anything more."
"You are not only my personal guards, but also my personally trained disciples!"
Uchiha Izuna's expression gradually became calm and resolute as his gaze swept over each of his disciples.
"In your lives, there will eventually come a time when you will sacrifice yourselves to protect Konoha, but not now."
"Until that day comes, you must save your lives and live well."
"Where the leaves dance, the fire will never cease. The firelight will illuminate every inch of the village and will also spur new buds to sprout, ensuring the endless vitality of the leaves."
"I am old, and you are the new generation of Konoha. As elders, it is my duty to leave the hope of life to the future of the village."
Izuna's words fell slowly, without any grand pronouncements, yet each word carried immense weight.
Everyone's eyes reddened and their noses stung with tears. Despite their reluctance and unwillingness, they knew that the teacher's mind was made up and there was no way to persuade him otherwise.
"yes!"
The six disciples knelt on one knee, their backs straight, and performed a solemn and respectful Konoha salute to Uchiha Izuna.
"Hurry up and leave!"
Izuna closed his eyes again, slowly turned around, leaving his disciples with a solitary figure.
"yes!"
Yan and Xiaochun suppressed the tears welling up in their eyes, responded heavily, and immediately turned around and quickly left in the predetermined direction.
"Teacher, please take care of yourself!"
Qu Feng and Jing wiped the tears from the corners of their eyes, choked back a few words of advice, and immediately took a step and ran in another direction.
Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi bowed deeply to Izuna's retreating figure, their voices trembling with barely suppressed sobs: "Teacher, please take care!"
Without further hesitation, the two turned and stepped into the depths of the dense forest, running towards the distance.
Uchiha Izuna's eyes were unfocused, and his expression was bitter.
"Brother... Tobirama, will I not even see you before I die?"
Uchiha Izuna gripped the steel sword tightly in his hand, the blade reflecting his somewhat aged face.
"Hopefully, my old tricks will still work..."
Uchiha Izuna muttered to himself.
Just then, two beams of light streaked across the sky!
Two beams of light disappeared into the clouds!
Golden Horn and Silver Horn!
The two held the Six Paths Treasures and grinned lewdly.
"Uchiha Izuna, now that you've met our Silver and Gold Brothers, you're doomed."
Golden Horn and Silver Horn spoke in unison.
Uchiha Izuna chuckled coldly, "Hehehe..."
Silver Horn sneered, "Your eyes are useless, aren't they? It's not too late to surrender now."
The two did not intend to kill Izuna, but rather to use him to blackmail Konoha.
"Enough with the nonsense, let me show you the glory of the Uchiha!"
Uchiha Izuna held a steel sword, aiming it at Kinkaku and Ginkaku.
However, just as the Golden Horn and Silver Horn were about to make their move...
A black crow landed instantly on Golden Horn's shoulder.
When the two men saw the black crow, their expressions changed.
"Oh my god, why didn't you say so earlier?"
Silver Horn couldn't help but speak up.
"Since it was that esteemed person who gave the order..."
Golden Horn nodded.
Upon seeing this, Uchiha Izuna couldn't help but frown slightly.
Why haven't these two made a move yet?
"Uchiha Izuna, you're lucky to be alive."
Kinkaku and Ginkaku glanced at Izuna, then immediately disappeared.
Uchiha Izuna frowned, maintaining his fighting stance, fearing this was a trick by the two.
But as time passed, Izuna Uchiha's senses confirmed that Kinkaku and Ginkaku had already gone far away.
"What happened?"
Uchiha Izuna breathed a sigh of relief, collapsed to the ground, and then fell unconscious.
Just then, two people dressed in black robes appeared next to Izuna.
"Why did those two guys run away? Did they realize we were here?"
A man in black robes said calmly.
Another man in black robes shook his head: "It doesn't seem like it. It appears that those two are subservient to a higher being."
"Furthermore, that crow just now seemed to be used as a messenger..."
"Alright, let's take Izuna away first."
The two men in black robes immediately took action, leading Uchiha Izuna away from the forest, and their whereabouts have remained unknown ever since.
Shortly after the group left.
A white Zetsu slowly emerged from the ground...