Inside the Hokage Office, Hiruzen's fingertips trembled, and ash silently fell into the ashtray.
"Shun decapitated Danzo right before my eyes. That kid didn't hesitate at all when he did it."
Homura pushed up his crooked glasses and said, "The Root base has been breached, and its secrets have been exposed. Now the people of Konoha have lost trust in us."
The office fell into a dead silence, and the ticking of the wall clock's second hand suddenly became unsettling.
Koharu broke the silence, asking, "Hiruzen, what are your thoughts?"
Hiruzen suddenly pulled open a drawer and took out a scroll engraved with a flame emblem.
"The Uchiha must have other plans. We must consider our escape route. The Twelve Guardian Ninja plan proposed by the Daimyo three months ago is now the perfect time to launch."
Koharu frowned. "Hiruzen, didn't you look down on the Daimyo before, saying that the Daimyo wanted to develop ninja power to counterbalance Konoha so you never agreed? Now you want to seek refuge with the Daimyo. It's been delayed for over three months, will the Daimyo still agree?"
Hiruzen interrupted, his fingers caressing the scroll. "Times have changed. The Konoha of the future will not be ours to command. I've decided to have Asuma join the Twelve Guardian Ninjas and at the same time, have him take a portion of the Sarutobi clansmen to seek refuge with the Daimyo as an apology."
Koharu and Homura's eyes briefly met in the air, and they nodded in tacit agreement.
Homura pushed up his glasses. "We also agree. In fact, I also want to send some of my clansmen to seek refuge with the Daimyo."
Hiruzen made the final decision, his voice revealing a rare urgency. "Then let's do it. Leave tonight, lest there be further complications."
Homura lowered his voice. "What about the specific route?"
Hiruzen tapped the table with his pipe. "Gather at 3 AM and use the Sarutobi clan's secret passage."
...
Inside the study of the Sarutobi clan's residence, 13-year-old Asuma kicked over the low table. Teaware crashed to pieces, and hot tea snaked across the floor.
"I'm not going! Why should I be some Twelve Guardian Ninja?"
He stubbornly held his head high, his messy hair as unruly as his temper.
Hiruzen's brows knitted into a knot. "Asuma, this isn't asking for your opinion, it's an order."
Asuma sneered, "That old bastard Danzo deserved to die. I didn't offend the Uchiha."
Hiruzen slapped the wall, making the entire door shake. "Silence! Do you think this is a ninja game? Shun can execute an advisor in the street today, and tomorrow he can massacre the Sarutobi clan."
Asuma was momentarily stunned by his father's rage, but the rebelliousness of youth quickly took over again.
"Then let big brother go. Doesn't he always boast about how amazing he is?"
"Shinnosuke... he has other missions. You are the most suitable candidate." Hiruzen's eyes flickered, and his voice suddenly became low.
Asuma keenly caught his father's momentary hesitation.
"I don't want to leave Kurenai. I promised to stay with her, to eat dango with her tomorrow."
Hiruzen crouched down, looking his son in the eyes. "Asuma, listen to me. The clan is in danger of being wiped out at any moment. If you go to the Daimyo, at least you can leave a spark for the clan."
Asuma pursed his lips, stubborn tears glistening in his eyes. "What about Kurenai then?"
Hiruzen forced a smile and reached out to ruffle his son's messy hair. "We'll be fine. Once the situation stabilizes, you can come back anytime. Maybe, by then you might even be the leader of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, and that girl Kurenai will definitely look at you with new eyes."
Seeing Asuma turn his face away, but no longer argue, Hiruzen knew he had compromised.
"Go pack your things. Only take the most essential items. At 3 AM, gather at the clan shrine. Remember, don't tell anyone, including Kurenai."
Asuma nodded silently and left the room.
...
At 3 AM, Asuma carried a small bundle, accompanied by over twenty Sarutobi clansmen.
Koharu and Homura each brought twenty-one of their own clansmen.
Hiruzen slipped a secret letter into Asuma's inner pocket.
"Do you remember the route? After exiting the secret passage, head straight for the small river to the east. There will be people waiting to meet you there. You must reach the Daimyo's Mansion within one day and personally hand this letter to the Daimyo."
Asuma nodded, his throat tight.
Only now did he truly realize that he bore the future of the clan on his shoulders.
"Father..."
Hiruzen patted his son's back, suppressing the sting in his nose. "Go, and let the name of Sarutobi flourish in the Daimyo's mansion."
With a muffled thud as the mechanism activated, the shrine's floor slowly moved aside, revealing a pitch-black opening.
Asuma took one last look at his father and the familiar shrine, then turned and walked into the secret passage. Over sixty people followed closely, quickly disappearing into the darkness.
When the floor closed, the crowd gradually dispersed.
A figure emerged from the shadows, Shinnosuke, a cold sneer on his lips.
"Father truly dotes on my younger brother, letting him escape while leaving the first son to die? I always thought you were just strict with me, but now I understand you never saw me as an heir."
Seeing his first son act so unpromising, Hiruzen angrily cursed, "Foolish! Have you ever considered how the clan members would view you if you, as the clan heir, left during a time of danger for the clan. Would you still be fit to inherit the clan then?"
Shinnosuke's voice became increasingly sharp. "That's just your excuse. You must be lying to me."
Watching him act so foolishly, Hiruzen felt a bit weary.
He sighed and said, "Now the village only has 10,208 ninjas. Our Sarutobi Cmclan, plus the Utatane, Mitokado, and Shimura Cmclans, total 3,695 ninjas. If all of our clans were killed, then Konoha would only have over 6,000 ninjas left. Would it still be able to defend the Land of Fire then? So, I sent Asuma over there because I wanted to tell the Daimyo that our situation is very dangerous and we need the Daimyo's support."
Shinnosuke was only 24 years old right now, how could he understand all the intricacies?
He lowered his head and said with a wronged expression, "Father, I was wrong."
Hiruzen had intended to slap Shinnosuke, but hearing him admit his mistake, his hand, which had just been raised, ultimately fell weakly.
He felt a surge of emotion internally and said, "Shinnosuke, my foolish son. Your talent isn't as good as Asuma's, and your mind isn't sharp. How could I entrust the Sarutobi clan into your hands? Don't blame me. This is all fate."
***
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