Arata's speed was on an entirely different level. Now that he was going all out, even with the Sharingan, Danzō couldn't track him at all.
In the next instant, Arata's slash swept past. Danzō, who had been charging toward where Arata stood moments ago, didn't even manage to turn around before he was cut cleanly in two.
This was a Susanoo strike. Its base speed was already terrifying, and with Arata's lightning enhancement layered on top, it became even faster. In the current shinobi world, the only ones who could likely evade it head-on were the Third Raikage and the reclusive Uchiha Madara. Almost no one else could fully dodge it.
Even in skeletal form, Susanoo's power was formidable. With Danzō's mere early-Kage-level strength, there was no way he could defend against it. One blow was enough to kill him.
But Arata immediately sensed something wrong.
Danzō had bled, and his wounds looked real—so it wasn't a substitute. Yet the corpse on the ground began to gradually fade, as if it were just an illusion.
Seeing this, Arata instantly understood.
There was an eight or nine out of ten chance this was Danzō's trump card—Izanagi, the forbidden genjutsu that could rewrite death itself. One of the very few genjutsu capable of turning illusion into reality.
Not only could it negate the user's death, it also allowed them to choose a rough location for their revival.
The price was permanent blindness in the Sharingan used—but trading an eye for a life was worth it.
Danzō had clearly relied on this. That was why he dared to engage Arata in close combat without hesitation.
His plan was to exploit the moment Arata didn't understand Izanagi. While Arata was stunned, Danzō intended to unleash his other trump card.
He believed that if these two techniques were coordinated well, even so-called peak "super-Kage" fighters could be caught off guard.
Unfortunately for Danzō, his calculations were doomed.
The moment his body turned into a phantom, Arata had already pushed his Observation Haki to the limit.
His perception had long reached the level of limited future sight. Whatever trick Danzō planned was meaningless.
Arata simply wasn't afraid.
Back then, Sarutobi Sasuke had painstakingly prepared the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Formation, yet Arata had avoided that certain-kill move thanks to this very future-sight ability.
With his perception running at full power now, Arata had already foreseen Danzō's intentions.
Seeing that Danzō still chose tactics nearly identical to those in the original story, Arata couldn't help but smile.
It wasn't really Danzō's fault. He wasn't an Uchiha with endless eye techniques, nor a monster clan with near-limitless chakra.
His combat options were limited, and this was simply the most lethal setup he could manage with what he had.
Even if it cost his life, Danzō likely no longer cared.
If he didn't gamble everything, he would almost certainly be killed easily by Arata anyway. Only by risking it all did he have a chance to take Arata down with him.
It was a suicidal strategy—but perhaps the only card he had left.
Yes—Danzō planned to use Izanagi to die once, let Arata think he'd won, then revive beside him and activate his only sealing technique:
Reverse Four Symbols Seal.
Hiruzen lacked the talent to master it, but after seeing the scroll, Danzō realized it was a jutsu capable of killing enemies stronger than oneself.
If mastered, even vastly stronger opponents could be dragged into a one-for-one exchange.
As for why Hiruzen never learned it—Danzō knew the answer well. The old man talked big about sacrificing for Konoha, but unless it was truly life or death, he wouldn't even risk himself for the village, let alone learn a jutsu that guaranteed his own demise.
Perhaps he would've learned it in old age—but the still life-loving Hiruzen back then would never.
Sure enough, in Arata's perception, Danzō reappeared exactly where predicted.
He had indeed used Izanagi.
When he manifested again, he was less than a meter from Arata. At that distance, he was confident the Reverse Four Symbols Seal would bind Arata completely, leaving no chance to use his lightning-fast speed.
Danzō's expression was extremely grave. The seal was activated the instant he reappeared—meaning his death was now certain. He just didn't know whether it would be enough to take down a monster like Arata.
Black ink-like markings burst from his abdomen and spread outward rapidly. The scale far exceeded the version Arata had seen used by Sarutobi elites before.
Clearly, the stronger the user, the wider the seal's range.
But Arata had already foreseen Danzō's reappearance point. His expression didn't change at all.
He had long prepared a counter.
Seeing Arata standing still, Danzō thought his plan had worked—Arata's lightning-speed movement must have failed!
Using his last bit of strength, he laughed:
"In the end, you're just a brat. Your combat experience is still too green! Hahaha!"
Arata only curled his lips slightly and said calmly:
"Do you think you're the first person to try the Reverse Four Symbols Seal on me?"
Danzō's heart skipped a beat.
In the next moment, spatial ripples appeared beside Arata. Right before Danzō's shocked eyes, Arata's body vanished from the shinobi world entirely.
Then—
BOOM!
The sealing blast engulfed a radius of several hundred meters. Danzō's consciousness faded away completely.
Even in his final moments, Arata's calm expression echoed in his mind.
It seemed that even in death… he would never rest in peace.
***************************
Read advanced chapters ahead of everyone else on my P@treon.
P@treon/GodDragcell