Inside the fortress.
Besides Danzō and his group, there was also a large group of samurai from the Land of Iron and a Kirigakure guard who had been left behind, Ao.
His Byakugan could see outside, relaying information to the samurai inside.
And in everyone's understanding, Sasuke's figure, no matter how strong, would be considered extremely powerful if he could rival even one Kage.
Facing the combined attack of three Kage, he would surely die!
But the subsequent developments far exceeded Ao's expectations; witnessing the Kazekage defeated, Chōjūrō engulfed in Amaterasu, and Mizukage Terumī Mei severely injured by a Kagutsuchi arrow.
Even Ao couldn't restrain himself.
He immediately ran out of the fortress to help the Mizukage.
"What happened? It's been so long, is the fight outside still going on? Did the Raikage and the others lose?"
Yamato was confused, secretly worried about Kakashi and Naruto.
Danzō also frowned. Seeing Ao's panic, had the three Kage really lost?
Impossible, right?
If Sasuke was really that strong, should he flee immediately?
As Danzō was considering whether to go see or just run away...
Naruto's clone suddenly brought the dying Gaara, along with Kankurō and the others, back into the fortress.
"Sakura, Sakura! Hurry, please save Gaara!"
Naruto rushed to Sakura, asking her to heal Gaara.
"Huh? This is Gaara? Why does he look almost done for?"
"He was hit by Sasuke's attack! But he's still alive, quickly heal him!"
"But, I'm currently—"
Sakura pointed to Torune, whom she was treating, indicating that she was busy.
Torune had been attacked by Jūgo who had entered Cursed Seal mode, and his condition was critical.
"Ah..."
Naruto was at a loss.
On one side was a Konoha ninja, on the other was his friend Gaara. It was difficult to choose!
Moreover, given Naruto's nature, he couldn't possibly sacrifice someone else's life just to save his friend.
"Treat the Kazekage first!"
At that critical moment, Danzō suddenly gave an order, telling Sakura to treat Gaara first.
Naruto, Kankurō, and the others were surprised to see Danzō. They didn't expect Danzō to be so kind?
"But, this is a great debt. Sunagakure won't forget this, right?"
Danzō looked at Kankurō and Temari, smiling faintly.
This was the real purpose.
Just to gain a favor from Sunagakure so that they would support him in the future.
Torune?
The life of a subordinate was not comparable to his and the village's interests!
Danzō's cold and ruthless nature was often revealed at times like this...
Moreover, this Danzō from Parallel World 5 was not the same as his former self in Parallel Worlds 2 and 4. He had committed many evils, even surviving until Hiruzen's death, and had fully become the rotten "Darkness of Konoha."
"We are very grateful! Sunagakure will not forget this."
"And as long as we can save Gaara, we will do anything!"
Kankurō and Temari responded immediately. At this moment, nothing was more important than Gaara.
Seeing this, Sakura also switched to treating Gaara.
Danzō smiled in satisfaction.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"What's going on outside? What about Sasuke? What about Kakashi?" Yamato asked Naruto's clone anxiously.
"Sasuke left. My original is still chasing him, Kakashi-sensei too..."
Naruto scratched his head.
Danzō frowned. "Uchiha Sasuke could escape from the Raikage?"
"I don't understand either. The point is, Sasuke was wrapped in a strange white creature, then became very strong. And it seems someone was helping him from afar, that's what drove away the Tsuchikage and Raikage..."
Danzō was relieved. He had briefly thought Sasuke could really defeat three Kage at once.
'So he was still being helped by other Akatsuki members? Even though Nagato is dead, there are still many strong members in Akatsuki?'
'Did the masked one who claims to be Uchiha Madara also come?'
Many questions arose in Danzō's mind.
He realized he might still be underestimating this organization!
If Sasuke was allowed to live and continue to grow in this organization, he could become a great threat like Uchiha Madara!
Especially since he knew the truth behind the Uchiha clan massacre and hated him.
This child must not be allowed to live!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The sound of battle echoed again outside the fortress. It seemed a fierce fight was happening again?
Hadn't Sasuke already left?
Why was there still fighting?
Were there other enemies?
"You guys stay here, I'll go take a look."
Danzō ordered Sai and the others, preparing to assess the situation.
After all, the Raikage, Tsuchikage, and Mizukage were still outside. Maybe it was safer outside than here.
If there really were strong enemies, this was the best opportunity to show his strength, save the other Kage, and increase his influence!
Of course, the life-loving Danzō also prepared a trap.
He secretly opened the seals on his Sharingan arm, hiding it behind his cloak, then went outside through a hole.
Once outside, Danzō saw an even more chaotic scene.
Currently, after Sasuke and Naruto had left, pulled away by Edo Itachi.
Raikage A, who had been hit by a Susano'o arrow, was still dizzy.
Ōnoki and Kurotsuchi, confused, had just emerged from their earth trench, looking disheveled.
Ao cut off Chōjūrō's arm, which was burning with Amaterasu, and asked the Kumogakure ninja to treat Chōjūrō and Mei.
However, Raikage A quickly recovered and prepared to chase Sasuke, but before he could move, an enemy suddenly appeared, blocking his path.
Edo Sasori appeared.
His mission was to hold the Kage here, so he immediately used his secret technique: Akahigi: Hyakki no Sōen.
He released hundreds of red cloak puppets, attacking the Raikage and everyone in the area...
These puppets were certainly no match for the Raikage and Tsuchikage, but for the guards and the injured Mei, the threat was significant.
The Raikage and Tsuchikage were forced to defend while attacking, protecting the others.
That was what held them back for a moment...
Of course, Raikage A managed to approach Edo Sasori and decapitate him with an elbow strike!
But Sasori immediately recovered thanks to his Edo body, unable to be killed.
The Edo body was a pure taijutsu destroyer!
Even Might Guy might lose against an Edo body...
"Don't deal with him! He's been revived with Edo Tensei, you can't kill him. I'll hold him off, Raikage, you can pass him and chase Uchiha Sasuke!"
Ōnoki was more rational, immediately realizing the difficulty of fighting an Edo body.
Seeing this, Sasori wasn't panicked at all, instead laughing:
"Pass me? Then everyone here will die!"
"Hmph! Don't bluff, these puppets are no match for me..."
"Yes! Your Dust Release can indeed destroy most of my puppets. But, who said your opponent is only me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Time's almost up. Deidara, not ready yet?"
Sasori suddenly stopped attacking, shouting at the sky.
"Ready! Finally, I can show off my greatest art again..."
"Sasori-senpai, I love you!"
A giant white clay pigeon soared across the sky. Then, Deidara, whose body was transparent, with his heart concentrated into a black ball, was ready to explode—
Falling from the sky, directly into the middle of the battlefield.
And before touching the ground, his ultimate, life-sacrificing explosion art detonated!
'Art is an explosion!'