Hiruzen Sarutobi's decisive move to cut ties with Danzo left everyone stunned!
Though Danzo's actions were undeniably heinous, no one expected the Hokage to make such a bold call…
Of course, everyone understood why. If he didn't, Danzo's crimes would taint the entire Leaf Village leadership, a stain they could never wash away…
Shikaku Nara and others were momentarily speechless.
"…Fine. Since the Hokage has spoken, the Nara clan will go all out to track down that bastard Danzo and bring justice for Senior Choza!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Good."
"I'll also notify the entire ninja world, including the other four great ninja villages, to jointly hunt down and eliminate Danzo Shimura!"
With such a firm stance, no one could direct their anger at him any longer.
However…
Kakashi Hatake suddenly spoke up. "In that case, I'll lead my Anbu squad to join the hunt for Danzo Shimura…"
"Hokage, you won't object, will you?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi clenched his fists, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Of course not."
"It's the Anbu's duty to handle such matters."
"Kakashi, this task is yours."
Kakashi didn't respond, not even acknowledging the order.
Hiruzen was furious inside but helpless to act.
His greatest hope now…
Was for Danzo Shimura and Yoru Uchiha to clash immediately, and then…
For both to destroy each other in a mutual downfall!
The news of Danzo Shimura defecting from the Leaf and being branded an S-rank rogue ninja shocked the entire village—and the ninja world.
To "hunt" Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed classified information only a Hokage would know about Danzo and Root, including their secret bases.
But when Kakashi and others arrived, those bases were, of course, already abandoned.
He had no choice but to meet with Yoru and share what he knew.
By now, Kakashi Hatake had become a loyal follower of Yoru.
"Danzo's gone. He's likely no longer in the village."
"Finding him won't be easy."
Yoru shook his head.
"No."
"He'll make sure I find him."
Kakashi, sharp as ever, caught on instantly, his eyes lighting up.
"You mean, Yoru-sama…"
"He'll deliberately lure you out for a fight to settle the score?"
"That does seem very likely…"
Aoki and Yamakaze sneered mockingly.
"The Captain made Danzo a complete outcast, a rogue ninja everyone wants dead, like a stray dog. He must hate the Captain to the core and won't let this go easily."
"Exactly. No need for the Captain to hunt him down—Danzo will probably leak intel himself to bait the Captain into a fight."
Kakashi was silent for a moment.
"Yoru-sama, if that's true, you need to be fully prepared."
"Danzo Shimura has always lurked in the shadows. He wouldn't lure you out unless he was certain of victory. If he shows himself, he's likely got traps and schemes ready."
"And…"
"We don't know how many powerful ninja he's summoned with Impure World Reincarnation. No matter how strong you are, Yoru-sama, it's hard to fight a crowd alone…"
"So, please let me go with you."
Yoru understood his intent. It wasn't just concern for him—more than that…
Kakashi wanted to personally avenge his father!
Kakashi's father, the White Fang of the Leaf, Sakumo Hatake, had been turned into one of Danzo's puppets. Such a humiliating disgrace and deep-seated grudge were more than Kakashi could bear.
Aoki and Yamakaze exchanged a glance, both understanding his feelings.
The White Fang of the Leaf…
A legendary figure renowned across the ninja world…
But that fame was exactly why Danzo targeted him.
Aoki said with concern, "Kakashi's right, Captain. Danzo's been researching who-knows-how-many forbidden jutsu, and with all the powerful ninja he's brought back using Impure World Reincarnation, not to mention the Root members still loyal to him, that's a massive force. Even you can't take them on alone…"
Yamakaze chimed in, "Yeah! Take us with you, Captain!"
Facing their intense gazes, Yoru firmly shook his head.
"No."
"Why not, Captain?!"
Yoru replied calmly, "Right now, Clan Leader Fugaku is leading many of our clan members in battle against the Cloud Village. The Police Force needs to stay and protect the clan. Following me to fight Danzo would be reckless."
Aoki and Yamakaze fell silent.
They knew Yoru was right.
With Fugaku absent, if the Police Force left too, the Uchiha clan would be vulnerable.
"As for you, Kakashi…"
"Do you really think Hiruzen Sarutobi will let you go after Danzo?"
Kakashi understood his meaning.
"I can act on my own behalf. As for the Anbu, I know they're ultimately loyal to the Hokage…"
"But I do have some loyal subordinates…"
"And most importantly…"
He gave a slight smile. "Yoru-sama, I'm not your subordinate. You can't order me not to go."
Yoru didn't argue.
Kakashi continued, "Then it's settled. I'll…"
"Settle this score with Danzo myself!"
At that moment, in a hidden corner of the Land of Fire, inside a secret underground base…
Danzo Shimura's face was darker than ever.
The oppressive atmosphere was like hell itself.
The dozen or so remaining Root members around him held their breath, too scared to make a sound.
Cold sweat dripped down their faces.
Everything happened so fast. While Yoru was destroying three of Root's bases, Danzo had been at another, studying forbidden jutsu obtained from Orochimaru.
Before he could react, he went from being a powerful figure in the Leaf to a fugitive, a pariah everyone wanted dead!
The stark fall from grace drove Danzo to the brink of rage!
"Yoru Uchiha, I swear I'll kill you or die trying!"
"And…"
"Hiruzen Sarutobi!"
"For years, I've done your dirty work in the shadows, and now, to save your own face, you cast me out like a dog!"
"Both of you…"
"Deserve to die!"
His trusted aide, Terai, cautiously spoke up.
"Lord Danzo, they do deserve death, but our current strength…"
"Root lost many members to Yoru Uchiha. Some couldn't escape and were either captured by the Police Force or controlled by… I mean, by Hiruzen Sarutobi…"
"And with Lord Ryoma Aburame captured by Yoru, and Captain Ko already killed by him…"
Danzo snapped coldly, "What's there to fear?!"
"Don't forget, I'm not the man I used to be…"
In the eerie darkness, under dim yellow light, Danzo looked at his arm.
His right arm.
It was pale, almost alien compared to the rest of his body, yet it pulsed with unimaginable vitality and an ominous, powerful aura.
Embedded in that arm, several Sharingan eyes swiveled, gazing into the surrounding darkness…
Terai glanced at it, feeling a wave of nausea but not daring to show it.
"That's what Lord Danzo got from Orochimaru…"
Danzo snorted coldly.
"Exactly!"
"The cells of the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, the power of Wood Release, and…"
"The strength of five Sharingan eyes!"
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