The night was unbearably long, leaving Danzo tossing and turning in the underground base of the Root.
"Danzo-sama!"
A Root Ninja knocked on his office door, causing Danzo to spring to his feet in an instant.
'Finally, it's here, my SSR!'
The thought of acquiring a talented individual made Danzo so excited he could barely resist rubbing his hands together.
'With Haruno Sakura under my control, a few years of training would essentially secure the next generation for me.'
'At that time, once I dealt with the remaining threats from the previous generation, I would assume the role of Hokage and lead Konoha onto the path of true strength!'
'Sensei, I will prove to you that I am the most suitable candidate for the position of Hokage!'
Loosening the bandage on his forehead slightly, Danzo leaned on his cane and walked toward the central hall of the Root's base.
The famous landmark of wooden rope bridges connecting concrete pillars remained unchanged. Standing at the center, Sakura glanced around, taking in the surroundings.
"Haruno Sakura!"
Danzo emerged from the shadows, stopping three or four meters away from her.
"Isn't this our Hokage's Advisor? Instead of busy digging underground, what brings you here under the false pretense of the Hokage's orders?"
Sakora didn't hold back either, given the despicable things he had done that were truly irritating. She started with a sarcastic tone.
"Hmph, everything I do is for Konoha. Hiruzen will understand me!"
Danzo struck the ground heavily with his cane, then raised his hand toward Sakura.
"Haruno Sakura, join the Root. I will dedicate all my resources to training you."
"If I succeed in becoming Hokage, you will be the next leader of the Root!"
"Years from now, when I step down, the position of the Sixth Hokage will be within your grasp!"
Listening to the grand future Danzo Shimura described for her, Sakura's mouth slightly fell open.
'Did this old bastard really think his Root was some kind of coveted prize?'
'Given the Root's reputation in Konoha, forget the villagers… he wouldn't even pass the scrutiny of the Jonin Team. And yet, he still dreamed of becoming Hokage?'
'With such dull political instincts, it was no wonder he was manipulated by the old man and couldn't even claim the Hokage's seat after his death.'
"It seems the Hokage's Advisor has been practicing Genjutsu a bit too hard and started hallucinating. I'll take my leave now."
Sakura curled her lip and turned to leave.
However, a Root's member suddenly stepped in front of her. As Sakura's shoulder bumped into them, a cherry blossom-shaped mark silently imprinted itself on the inside of their armor.
"What do you mean by this, Hokage's Advisor?"
"Hmph, you'll find out soon enough!"
Danzo waved his hand, and a large number of Root Ninjas emerged from the darkness on all sides.
Meanwhile, at Yamanaka Flower Shop.
Having escaped the alley, Ino rushed through the door and collided with her father, Inoichi, who had just finished work.
"Hm, Ino, what's wrong?"
Inoichi caught his reckless daughter to prevent her from falling.
"Father... Sakura, Sakura was taken away by a group of eerie Anbu!"
Ino's tear-streaked face was heartbroken as she sobbed and relayed the news to her father.
Inoichi's face darkened upon hearing this. As a Jonin of the village, he had dealt with the Root many times and knew what it meant when they captured children in the village.
The promise he made to Kizashi was still fresh in his mind, and now Sakura, who was supposed to be under his care, had encountered such a situation...
"Stay home and don't go anywhere!"
Standing up, Inoichi, now cold and stern, instructed Ino before hurriedly leaving the house.
On the way, he stopped by Shikaku and Choza's homes. The previous generation of Ino-Shika-Cho gathered and rushed toward the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen, who had been puffing on his pipe in his office, was startled by the news brought by the three. He summoned a large number of Anbu and hurried toward the outskirts of the village.
Outside Konoha Village, Root's base.
"Capture her!"
Danzo's order ignited the entire Root.
Root Ninjas surged like an out-of-control flood toward Sakura.
A variety of Ninjutsu flashed like fleeting bursts of light, erupting and roaring with thunderous noise.
"Shimura Danzo, what kind of Hokage... do you want to be?"
The glow of Ninjutsu illuminated the pink-haired figure, and her question pierced through the flames.
"Is there even a need to ask? Of course, it is to make Konoha great again!!!"
In the confined space, roots that should have been buried and rotting in the darkness began to yearn for the light.
But He longed to step into the sunlight, to have his achievements remembered by the world.
He was unwilling, he was furious...
Most importantly, this man named Danzo Shimura had been trapped in the Year 37 of Konoha Calendar, on the day Tobirama Senju ordered the rearguard action, and had never moved beyond it.
"Domination, order, iron discipline… this is what a Ninja should be, a perfect machine!"
"You are no exception, Haruno Sakura. Become the blade in my hand!"
"A weapon as powerful as you was born for Konoha!"
Facing the roaring Ninjutsu, Sakura brought her hands together, unleashing a domineering hum that shook the world.
"I see, so you seek domination? Then..."
'-We are enemies!'
Amid the darkness of the Root's base, capable of swallowing everything, an irresistible, immense aura surged forth.
Conqueror's Haki erupted, staking all pride and dignity, refusing to let anyone trample on this resolve for freedom!
Thump! Thump!
The sound of her heartbeat was so clear, the will of a conqueror shaking the world.
Fierce and wild dark lightning twisted, nearly materializing into waves of energy that engulfed the entire Root.
Under this terrifying impact, akin to divine wrath, the Root Ninjas, whose wills had long been crushed, trembled in fear, swaying helplessly.
Boom!
The Ninjutsu slammed into Sakura, erupting into flames that filled the surroundings.
But within the smoke, a massive outline began to reveal its solemn shadow.
A giant sword of ice tore through the smoke, its immense blade light slicing through the thick layers of earth, shooting straight into the sky.
Amid the tremors of the earth, the strike shattered the base's structure, causing the underground facility to begin collapsing.
Under the moonlight, a girl with a bold smile stood atop the rubble, her proud emerald-green eyes 'looking down upon the Ninjas surrounding her.
"If you wish to be my enemy, don't embarrass yourselves by sending these worthless lackeys without any spirit!"
Sakura swung the giant sword, resting it on her shoulder.
The spreading Haki stirred up a storm, gently caressing every inch of the world's veins, cheering and soaring eternally.
To the outsider, it unabashedly displayed its authority.
"Hurry, Shimura Danzo, unleash your Ninjutsu and burn your will!!!"
"Let us... become enemies once more!"
Sakura raised a hand, covering half her face, her visible emerald-green pupil gleaming with a morbid desire!
Amid the thick smoke and ruins, her figure shot forward like a straight line, a sword light capable of tearing through the sea vibrating from the giant sword.
Clang!
A blinding light shot straight toward Danzo. If not for a Root Ninja pushing him aside in time, he would have been cut in half like the row of giant trees behind him.
"M-monster!"
Danzo's remaining eye widened, his pupil trembling violently.
"Wahahahaha!"
The girl with red light flashing in her eyes laughed maniacally as she shattered the smoke, the giant ice sword in her hand radiating an undeniable might!
[Spear of Elbaf: Ikoku Sovereignty!]
The sword swung, will erupting, the sound of roaring waves from distant seas echoing in everyone's ears.
Energy waves churned and flowed wildly, finally transforming into a brilliant light soaring into the sky, a giant spear connecting heaven and earth.
Boom-!!!