"Shisui's Mangekyō, huh?"
Kaede narrowed his eyes.
Compared to Itachi's eye, the one Danzo held was far less impressive.
Even though it was Kotoamatsukami, in the original story Danzo's version could only control someone like Mifune—and it was easily seen through and broken by Ao's Byakugan.
Besides, with Kyōka Suigetsu, Danzo had no way of locating Kaede's true body.
That eye was practically useless.
Yet Danzo was brimming with confidence.
"Uchiha Kaede, don't think you're the only one with a Mangekyō!"
But that confidence didn't last long.
"No one ever told you? You talk too damn much."
A voice from hell whispered in Danzo's ear once more.
"AAAH!"
Danzo let out another pained scream.
This time, Kaede's slash added a second deep gash to Danzo's back, crossing with the first to form an X!
Danzo's face twisted in horror.
"Impossible! I've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan! How can I still fall into your Genjutsu?!"
Kaede sneered. "Frog in a well."
Kyōka Suigetsu was a power that attacked the soul—there was no way someone from this world could see through it.
If Kaede had fully mastered it instead of just recently acquiring it, he could've one-shot someone as mediocre as Danzo.
Facing Kaede's unfathomable power, Danzo no longer dared to be careless.
He spun and barked to his men, "You! Go notify Hiruzen immediately!"
Things were spiraling beyond his control.
He couldn't take Kaede down. Fugaku had Itachi occupied. And Root's forces stood no chance against the fully mobilized Uchiha.
Only Sarutobi Hiruzen could help now.
But then he saw Kaede slowly pulling out several kunai and tossing them all around the area.
…
Hokage's Office
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe—thup, thup—his brow furrowed.
He couldn't explain why, but an unshakable sense of anxiety lingered in his chest.
He turned to the window. A full moon hung in the sky, soon to be swallowed by drifting clouds.
"Did something go wrong with Danzo?"
Just then—
"Hokage-sama, it's bad!"
A masked ANBU appeared in the office—the one he had secretly sent to monitor the massacre operation.
"As expected!" A flash of sharpness lit up Hiruzen's eyes.
"No wonder the Uchiha have lasted a thousand years… looks like I'll have to step in myself."
He issued orders immediately: "Assemble all ANBU. We're heading to the Uchiha compound!"
"Yes!" The ANBU vanished.
In anticipation of any unforeseen circumstances, Hiruzen had already stationed all available ANBU at the base.
Now was the time to deploy them.
Compared to other ninja, ANBU were far more under his control—this way, they could suppress the ugly truth of this event.
Just as Hiruzen gathered his forces and prepared to depart…
Danzo's subordinates arrived at the Hokage Tower.
"Hokage-sama, it's a disaster!"
"Uchiha Kaede has awakened the Mangekyō and exposed our plan!"
"Clan Head Fugaku is siding with the clan! He's also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and is holding off Itachi!"
"The entire Uchiha fighting force has mobilized. Danzo-sama and we can't hold them back!"
"What?!" Hiruzen's pupils shrank.
He hadn't expected the situation to spiral this far out of control!
After Shisui's death, three more Mangekyō Sharingan had appeared in the Uchiha.
Good thing Shisui—and now Itachi—had chosen their side. Otherwise, Konoha's fate would've changed tonight.
"Move out, now!"
With a wave of his hand, Hiruzen led the charge toward the Uchiha district.
Minutes later, he passed through Root's barrier and entered the compound.
Gazing across the battlefield, he assessed the two fronts.
After a moment of thought, he chose the weaker one.
But as soon as he arrived, the sight before him ignited his fury.
"Uchiha Kaede! How dare you?!"
…
A Few Minutes Earlier
After sending his men to inform Hiruzen, Danzo began moving erratically, wary of Kaede's next attack.
He dodged all the kunai Kaede had thrown.
Though he didn't understand why Kaede was using such pointless attacks, he dared not be careless.
He didn't even dare to touch the kunai.
And even with Kaede standing right before him, he couldn't be sure if it was the real body.
The twin wounds on his back had put him on maximum alert.
"I can't let him drag this out. I need a plan!"
Just then—Kaede struck again!
"You'd better not get distracted when fighting me."
Startled, Danzo turned to defend—but he couldn't match Kaede's speed.
Another deep slash carved into Danzo's arm!
"Damn it!" he roared, swinging in retaliation—
But Kaede once again vanished into mist.
Danzo could only roar to the sky, "Come out and face me, coward!"
Kaede ignored him.
One minute passed.
Like a cat toying with a mouse, Kaede landed slash after slash on Danzo's body.
None were fatal—but they steadily slowed Danzo's movements and drained his stamina.
More than that—it was a blatant humiliation.
Kaede could have taken him out in one blow… but instead, he was tormenting him.
Waiting until Danzo's mind broke—before delivering the final strike.
Now drenched in sweat, Danzo's mind spun furiously.
Until—an idea sparked.
"Yes! That's it!"
He leapt to a rooftop, formed hand seals, and slammed his hand to the ground.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu: Baku!"
POOF!
With a great burst of smoke, a massive, grotesque beast appeared.
Danzo's summoning beast—Baku!
"Baku!"
Danzo shouted from its head, and the creature moved.
Its giant jaws opened—and an immense suction force swept through the battlefield.
Now Kaede had no way to remain hidden.
"Tch… I didn't expect you to have any cleverness left."
Seeing Kaede's real body emerge, Danzo was thrilled.
"Hmph! Finally forced you out!"
Kaede chuckled calmly.
"Now you should feel fear. I was going to toy with you some more… but I'll just send you to hell instead."
He formed the Tiger seal with one hand and brought it to his mouth.
"Katon: Gōka Metsuya! (Fire Release: Grand Fire Annihilation Arrows!)"
Massive flaming arrows, each several meters long, shot toward Baku's gaping maw!
The beast's suction continued to roar.
But wind only fuels fire.
The fire arrows instantly ballooned in size!
Danzo's face twisted in horror—he leapt from Baku's head just in time.
But the beast… couldn't escape.
The flames poured in, burning everything inside from mouth to gut!
Baku let out a final wail—then vanished, banished back to the summoning realm.
Kaede looked coldly at Danzo.
"Now… it's your turn."
(End of Chapter)
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