As Itachi spoke, he slowly pressed the small dagger—extending from the tip of his Totsuka Blade—against Danzo's cheek, carving into the skin inch by inch.
The Ten Fist Sword pierced not just Danzo's flesh, but his soul, causing him to let out a blood-curdling scream.
"Ahhh!"
It wasn't just pain—it was humiliation. Deep, soul-crushing humiliation.
He had once stood at the pinnacle of Konoha's power—second only to the Hokage, leader of Root, and feared in the shadows. When had he ever known such disgrace?
He hated himself. Hated his greed—for Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan and the irresistible lure of Kotoamatsukami. He thought he could control Itachi. Bend him. Own him.
But now he was nothing more than a prisoner. His fate lay entirely at the mercy of the very people he once sought to manipulate.
Itachi began using every torture method he had learned in Root—interrogation techniques designed for prisoners, now turned against their creator.
The Totsuka Blade twisted through Danzo's soul, leaving not a sliver intact.
Halfway through, Mikoto and Fugaku shielded little Sasuke's and Boruto's eyes and ears. The torture was too gruesome for children.
By the time thirty minutes had passed, Danzo's soul had faded to near transparency. He lay dying, twitching, no longer able to scream.
Itachi rose, confirming Danzo had no fight left in him, then released him from the Totsuka Blade. Danzo's soul collapsed weakly to the floor.
The ethereal gourd of the Susanoo faded. Itachi dropped into a chair, utterly drained. His entire body screamed in protest.
I overdid it. Dammit, I pushed my eyes too far...
He grabbed a tissue and wiped the blood trailing from his eyes.
"Itachi, are your eyes holding up?" Fugaku asked, his tone both concerned and slightly reprimanding. "How badly has your vision deteriorated? Go see Orochimaru tonight—get the First Hokage's cells transplanted."
Young people, Fugaku thought, never knowing restraint. Wasting their power in bursts of emotion.
Itachi checked his vision, covering one eye at a time before waving his hand dismissively.
"It's not too bad. Around 300 degrees. I'll last a while longer. Once this is all over, I'll go see Orochimaru."
Fugaku accepted that. His son had grown; he had his own convictions now.
Besides... Itachi wouldn't want to miss a chance to fight beside Sasuke again.
Fugaku and Mikoto then moved over to the crippled Danzo, dragging two chairs and sitting directly in front of him.
This time, Fugaku didn't resort to illusions or soul interference. He simply began speaking as if catching up with an old acquaintance.
"Danzo, do you have any idea how exhausting my life has been all these years?"
"It's agonizing, truly. There've been many days I've considered resigning—not just from the Uchiha clan leadership, but the police force too."
Though Danzo could no longer move, the bitterness in Fugaku's tone actually soothed something in him. His soul regained a bit of solidity.
"Hmph… serves you right. I knew Uchiha Hikaru wasn't some saint. You dumped everything on him—that was your biggest mistake!"
"Even if I failed and you all succeeded, you still won't have peace."
But Danzo didn't realize that Uchiha Hikaru was quietly channeling Dragon Sage Chakra, using its nature energy to restore Danzo's soul just enough—so he could keep listening. Just long enough for Fugaku and Mikoto to speak their minds.
Because after what Itachi had done... Danzo might have disintegrated before they got their chance.
Mikoto's expression turned soft and weary as she glanced at her husband, tone tinged with tired resentment.
"Ever since the Third Hokage stepped down, you've spent all your time buried in the police department. Especially after Tsunade took over, you've had to coordinate with every department across Konoha."
"And I'm stuck dealing with all the weddings—do you know how many Uchihas have married into other clans? It's exhausting. I have to officiate, plan, and still cook for you three every day."
"Not to mention the house is always full. Sasuke brings Hikaru over constantly. The kitchen's like a warzone~"
She gave Fugaku a dramatic side-eye.
Fugaku flushed slightly, then cleared his throat.
"Right. Speaking of... isn't Inahime and Inuzuka Hana's wedding coming up? Has the date been finalized?"
Mikoto sighed, nodding.
"Yes, August 8th. Said it's lucky. They even bought a house already."
"I'm not worried about the kids—but one has cats, the other dogs. What if their summons start fighting? Ugh, just imagining it makes my head hurt."
Danzo, listening silently at first, felt the corners of his lips twitch. But that smile quickly vanished.
Their casual complaints—so mundane, so normal—felt like knives.
Intermarriage with other clans?
Acceptance from the village?
A commercial association that spans the entire ninja world?
Uchiha Hikaru the president?!
Even the Sarutobi and Shimura clans idolize him now?
Danzo's soul began cracking again. In his mind, Konoha had betrayed him. It had cast him aside—and flourished without him.
He felt like a scorned lover, watching the village he once ruled now living a joyous life with another man—Hikaru.
But worst of all, Konoha was happy.
Everything Mikoto and Fugaku were complaining about… were the dreams Danzo had once held.
The pain in his soul couldn't make him submit.
Danzo had done terrible things, but he'd always believed it was for the good of Konoha. Now... that belief shattered.
He collapsed again, dull-eyed, motionless.
"This old man... was I really wrong?"
"I gave my life to Konoha. I never married, never had children. I distrusted everyone because I saw how dark people truly were..."
"How could the world you describe even exist…?"
Cracks widened across his spirit.
Fugaku and Mikoto stood silently and left their chairs, saying no more.
"Hikaru," Fugaku said coldly, "we're finished here. You decide what to do with him."
Danzo, trembling, stared at their retreating backs.
"No! No, don't walk away from me!" he cried out, soul barely holding together. He forced himself up and stumbled forward until he stood before Uchiha Hikaru.
He locked eyes with the young man.
"Hikaru—tell me the truth! What's really happening in Konoha?! Where's Hiruzen?! I won't believe this! You're lying!"
"You're lying...!"
Pity filled the room. Everyone looked at Danzo the same way—they no longer saw a villain, just a broken relic of the past.
"Impossible…" Danzo muttered again and again, staggering back.
"Impossible… impossible…"
Uchiha Hikaru frowned.
His eyes changed—one glowing with the Eternal Mangekyō, the other with the Rinnegan.
He placed a hand on Danzo's shoulder.
"Human Path: Soul Absorption."
"If you won't believe it, I'll show you with your own eyes."
He stabilized Danzo's disintegrating soul, then transported him to the Hokage Rock. Everyone followed silently.
"Hearing is one thing. Seeing is believing."
At that, Hikaru let go of Danzo and summoned a small black cat, whispering to it to fetch Orochimaru.
Danzo stared down at Konoha from the Hokage Rock—and froze.
The village had transformed.
The Hokage Building was still prominent, but it now shared the skyline with a striking red structure—the headquarters of the Muyou Commerce Department.
The commercial district had expanded massively. Multi-story buildings lined the streets. Accommodations for foreign guests had been built. The gates were triple their old width. Two more entryways flanked the original, easing the flow of tourists.
The streets teemed with life.
Danzo's soul began to fall apart again.
Ten minutes passed. He said nothing.
Then, finally:
"So... I'm the greatest obstacle Konoha ever had...?"
"…I'm sorry I didn't realize it until now."
And then—from deep within his soul—another voice.
A familiar one.
"Danzo."
He turned.
Senju Tobirama stood behind him, silent and regal.
Danzo dropped to his knees. The pride in his posture vanished. His head bowed low.
"Teacher…"
Tobirama had already learned everything from Root's scrolls. At first, Danzo's deeds had merit—but ambition had corrupted him.
He loved them all: Hiruzen, Danzo, Homura, Koharu, and Kagami. But of all of them, only Kagami had stayed true.
Tobirama's voice was sorrowful.
"Do you have nothing to say to me?"
Danzo pressed his forehead to the ground. Tears soaked the dirt.
"I'm sorry, teacher… I failed you…"
Tobirama shook his head.
"Not me, Danzo. Yourself."
"You betrayed Hiruzen's trust. You betrayed the Root shinobi who followed you. And most of all… you betrayed the people of Konoha."
Danzo thought of Aburame Ryoma. Yamanaka Kaede. The countless Root operatives who had pledged their lives to his ideals.
We are the roots of Konoha. We dig deep into the dark and give everything—even our lives—for the village.
His eyes cleared. For the first time in decades... he found peace.
Now, his disappearance would be his final contribution to Konoha.
"Teacher… thank you for everything."
He turned to Hikaru, Itachi, and the rest. Then back at the village.
"Hikaru, thank you… for letting me see Konoha one last time."
"I'm sorry—for everything I did to you. To all of you."
He smiled. It was the purest smile of his life.
"Thank you… for granting a sinner's final wish."
And then Danzo's soul shattered—peacefully—vanishing into the wind.
…
…
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