Starting From Being Adopted by the Second Hokage!

Chapter 597: Chapter 597: From Tomorrow On, You Will Be the Hokage

"We’re surrounded."

Inside the Land of Lightning, Senju Tobirama crouched on the ground, closing his eyes as his fingers touched the earth to sense the surroundings.

"There are... twenty enemies."

"Judging from this tracking ability, they are Kumogakure shinobi. Most likely Kinkaku’s elite unit." frёewebηovel.cѳm

After the First Great Ninja War ended, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, led six guards to the Land of Lightning to sign a peace agreement.

During the process, the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers launched a coup, suddenly ambushing and killing the Second Raikage on the spot.

Tobirama escaped with his six guards, but the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers had no intention of letting them go and led an elite force in pursuit.

For the moment, they had evaded the Kumogakure pursuit. Listening to Senju Tobirama’s explanation, everyone fell into silence.

Facing such circumstances, they all understood that today they were likely doomed.

"We only have seven people including the Second-sama." Mitokado Homura said with a grave expression. "This situation is extremely difficult to handle."

He voiced what many were thinking.

"Homura, why are you being so timid!" Utatane Koharu said unhappily. "The enemy still hasn’t pinpointed our exact location. We should set an ambush and create a breakthrough to escape!"

She believed that even in a desperate situation, they must not abandon hope for survival.

Even if the chance of success was small, they could not simply give up!

However, her words did not receive agreement from the others.

"It’s useless, Koharu." Uchiha Kagami said. "In this situation, someone has to act as bait and lure them away."

Although he hated to say it, this was the only chance of survival.

"Bait..." Akimichi Torifu murmured softly. "That person will definitely die."

Whoever became the bait would have to face the Kinkaku and Ginkaku brothers along with a group of Kumogakure elite shinobi.

There was no possibility of survival.

"Who will go?"

After Akimichi Torifu spoke, silence filled the area.

Yes—who would become the bait and lure away the Kumogakure shinobi to buy time for the others to escape? fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

Everyone fell into hesitation.

They were not afraid of death, but if one could live, who would willingly choose to die?

Shimura Danzō knelt halfway on the ground, trapped in hesitation and conflict.

I am a ninja. I decided long ago to die like a ninja on the battlefield.

Sarutobi... what are you thinking right now?

Do you have that resolve?

Thinking this, the hand resting on his knee unconsciously tightened into a fist.

Say it. Say it now!

Why... why can’t I say it?!

Shimura Danzō did possess the resolve to die, but the fear of death prevented the words from leaving his mouth.

Not everyone can calmly face death.

Just as he struggled internally, Hiruzen suddenly spoke.

"I’ll go!"

The moment those words fell, everyone looked toward him.

"Sarutobi."

"Hiruzen, you..."

Seeing the complicated expressions on everyone’s faces, Hiruzen smiled.

"Don’t worry. I may not look like it, but I think I’m the strongest among us. I won’t die..."

For some reason, once Hiruzen stepped forward voluntarily, the fear in Danzō’s heart suddenly disappeared.

Damn it... so I was just a coward!

While Danzō was drowning in self-reproach, someone patted his shoulder.

"Danzō, everyone will be in your care from now on."

All along, Hiruzen had regarded Danzō as a good friend—someone he could entrust his life to.

But before he could finish speaking, his friend angrily interrupted him.

"Shut up! I was about to raise my hand! Don’t try to act cool alone. I’ll be the bait!"

Shimura Danzō had made up his mind. If Hiruzen was willing to sacrifice himself as a hero to protect everyone, then why couldn’t he do the same?

At that moment, his fear of death vanished completely.

"Danzō..." Hiruzen looked at his friend in surprise.

Senju Tobirama, who had been silent until now, looked at the two who were willing to step forward and said solemnly,

"The bait will, of course, be me."

"You are all young inheritors of the Will of Fire who will protect the village in the future."

"No! You are the Hokage!" Shimura Danzō protested loudly. "There is no stronger ninja in the village than you!"

In his view, only a powerful Hokage could lead the village forward. Anyone could be sacrificed—except the Hokage.

"Danzō, you and the monkey are always competing." Senju Tobirama said calmly. "But what we need now is unity among comrades. Don’t bring personal grudges into this."

"Hesitation in making decisions is a fact. One must first examine oneself and calmly understand one’s own limits. Acting as you are now will only place your comrades in danger."

"In any case, at your age, there is no need to rush. The moment of death will eventually come."

"Until then, preserve your lives."

Senju Tobirama stood up and looked toward Hiruzen.

"Monkey, protect those who admire the village and trust in you. Then nurture them into people capable of carrying the next era."

"From tomorrow on, you will be the Hokage."

Shimura Danzō looked at Hiruzen in disbelief.

"Monkey, Konoha is in your hands!"

"Yes!"

Not far away, three figures concealed their presence in the shadows, silently witnessing everything that had happened.

Uchiha Madara sat on a tree branch, resting his chin on one hand as he let out a bored yawn.

"Tobirama really looks pathetic."

Wasn’t it just two Kage-level weaklings and a bunch of jōnin fodder?

Was there really a need for such a dramatic farewell scene?

At this moment, Senju Tobirama’s attention was entirely focused on the young successors before him and the rapidly approaching Kumogakure pursuers.

He did not notice the three figures hiding their presence.

"So this is how I lost the position of Hokage..."

Shimura Danzō’s expression was complicated, yet he did not blame the version of himself from this timeline.

At that time, perhaps he truly lacked Hiruzen’s resolve to face death.

"Kid, aren’t you going to help Tobirama?" Uchiha Madara turned his head, only to discover that Renya had already disappeared.

Only Shimura Danzō remained beside him.

Uchiha Madara: "..."

Looks like that kid really cares whether Tobirama lives or dies.

If only he cared about me that much, the Eye of the Moon Plan would have been completed long ago.

Then I wouldn’t need to travel through time after death just to witness my future self achieving peace in the ninja world.

"No more discussion. I will act as the bait and lure the enemy away. You all return to the village and properly assist the monkey."

Senju Tobirama cut off everyone’s attempts to persuade him.

He was already an old man. There was no way he would let the younger generation die as bait.

That would not align with the village’s Will of Fire.

Such responsibilities could only fall to him. It was, in a sense, the village’s inheritance.

"Hokage-sama!" everyone looked at Senju Tobirama with reluctance.

"Tsk tsk, scenes of farewell before death are really touching."

An untimely voice suddenly interrupted the sorrowful atmosphere.

Everyone instinctively looked toward the direction of the voice—only to discover in shock that it came from directly above them.

A long-haired man dressed in a black robe sat on a tree branch, resting his chin on one hand as he watched them with great interest.