"Hah! So, it was Konoha the Land of Sugi hired. And they sent you, Danzō!" the Fourth Raikage boomed, his voice echoing through the jungle. "I didn't expect you to come in person. Are you also after their secret ninjutsu?"

"And who is the child riding on your back?" he continued, his eyes narrowing. "You dote on him. Is he your grandson? To think a man like you, who lives in the shadows, still cares for family!"

The Raikage fired off a barrage of questions, but Danzō offered no response. He simply gritted his teeth, his single exposed eye glaring at the Cloud shinobi with a cold, silent fury.

Shiro, however, was not so reserved. "Who do you think you're talking to?" he snapped, his young voice sharp with indignation. "Watch your mouth! You're the one who looks like his grandson!"

"You little brat! How dare you disrespect Lord Raikage!" Karui surged forward, his hand already forming a seal, ready to teach the boy a lesson.

But the Raikage held out a hand, stopping him. "Save your chakra," he commanded, his expression deadly serious. "Focus on Danzō. He is the true opponent here."

"Lord Raikage," Nikai asked, his voice laced with curiosity, "is this one-eyed old man, Danzō, truly so powerful? I have heard of the great shinobi of Konoha, but his name is unfamiliar to me."

"Yes," the Raikage affirmed, his gaze never leaving his opponent. "This man is strong. His power is unfathomable, and he rarely shows himself. I saw him only once, when I was a child, following my father onto the battlefield. He is a contemporary of the Third Hokage, and they were both disciples of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju."

"Tobirama… Senju?" The name sent a chill down the spines of the younger shinobi. "The Second Hokage who fought the legendary Gold and Silver Brothers alone, and dragged them down to the grave with him?"

Nikai and Karui finally understood the gravity of the situation. This Danzō was not just another shinobi. He was a living legend, a Kage-level warrior whose abilities were a complete mystery.

"Hah!" the Raikage roared, the lightning chakra around him intensifying. "I will deal with this old ghost. You two, stay out of the fight! Just provide support from the sidelines!"

"I… I understand!" Karui knew that in a battle of this caliber, he would be nothing but a liability. This was a clash of titans, a level of combat he and Nikai could not hope to participate in.

The Raikage settled into his fighting stance, about to launch his attack, when Nikai suddenly spoke.

"Lord Raikage! Time is of the essence! Our goal is not to fight, but to secure the scroll! You are holding back to protect us, but Danzō has brought a weakness with him!"

Nikai pointed at the boy on Danzō's back. "He is a man who has lived his life in the shadows, yet he allows a child to ride on his back so openly. Even if the boy is not his grandson, he must be incredibly important to him!"

"We can capture the boy first, and then use his life to threaten Danzō!"

"..."

Nikai's words struck the Raikage with the force of a physical blow. He was right. It was the most logical, most effective tactic. Defeating Danzō would take time and effort, and would likely result in heavy casualties. But capturing the child… that would be much easier.

The truth was, the Raikage had already considered this. But the prospect of fighting a legendary figure like Danzō, of finally uncovering the secrets he had hidden from the world for so long, was too tempting to resist.

"Hmph," he grunted. "Fine! I will not be so reckless this time."

"Everyone, your new target is the devil on Danzō's back! Capture him alive!"

"Go!"