When Tobirama arrived at the place where Danzō disappeared, he was already too late.
He had returned to the village, and upon discovering Hiruzen's disappearance, he immediately realized that the enemy's target was Danzō.
So, he hurriedly teleported back.
All that remained near the Konoha forces was a jacket belonging to Danzō, a kunai, and a piece of torn skin from his back.
Those three items previously bore Hiraishin seals left by Tobirama.
Clearly, the White Zetsu side had deliberately inspected Danzō's body and removed all items that might carry Hiraishin seals.
"Second Hokage!"
"Second Hokage, we failed to protect Danzō…"
The Uchiha Clan Leader and Uzumaki Ryūji (the Young Uzumaki Clan Leader) were in a panic.
Who could have imagined that, in the blink of an eye, Danzō would vanish right before their eyes, despite being under tight protection!
Failing to protect a grown man made the entire Uchiha and Uzumaki Clans look like trash!
Especially the Uchiha Clan, which already had several traitors and was under suspicion.
If they were accused again of being involved in Danzō's disappearance, it would truly be like yellow mud falling into their pants—not manure, but still looking like it.
Thus, the ninja from both the Uchiha and Uzumaki Clans searched for Danzō like mad.
They nearly turned the surrounding ground upside down.
Unfortunately, at this point, even Tobirama couldn't track Danzō's location, so of course, they wouldn't find him.
"I don't blame you. The enemy is too cunning."
Tobirama didn't vent his anger on others.
In the end, it was his own carelessness. He should have sent Danzō and the others back to the village earlier using a clone, to the side of Kagami and his Sister-in-Law, who were in top condition.
Unfortunately, regret was useless now.
"Second Hokage, then we…?"
"You don't need to search for Danzō. Leave it to me."
"Yes, sir!"
"From now on, immediately inspect every ninja and eliminate all impostors!"
"Yes, sir!"
"After the inspection is complete, return to the village at once and continue verifying others' identities. Don't trust anyone suspicious anymore!"
"Yes, sir!"
Tobirama grew to hate White Zetsu even more. Their perfect disguises were nearly impossible to crack.
Could the Kyūbi inside his Sister-in-Law distinguish White Zetsu's disguises using Malice Sensing?
He would ask for his Sister-in-Law's help later.
For now, the most urgent task was to find Danzō and Hiruzen immediately!
After all, the real Rinnegan was still with Danzō. Clearly, the enemy was targeting Danzō and the Rinnegan.
Tobirama was certain that Danzō, even if it meant death, would never hand over the Rinnegan or willingly betray the village.
But this involved Hiruzen and Chiyo. If the enemy used these two weaknesses to threaten him, who could guarantee Danzō would hold out?
But hadn't Black Zetsu already been killed?
Then who else could command so many White Zetsu to act together?
Could it be…?
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
On the other side, Danzō was being taken away by White Zetsu at high speed toward Konoha.
Relying on the Fuyū no Jutsu (Floating Technique) with its remarkable concealment effects, White Zetsu could easily control Danzō and infiltrate underground, avoiding all detection by Konoha ninja.
Of course, a ninja couldn't stay underground for long after being controlled, as they would suffocate.
So White Zetsu had to occasionally bring Danzō up to breathe.
Fortunately, the distance wasn't too far.
Soon after,
White Zetsu brought Danzō back to Konoha, arriving at the place he knew best and longed for most: the Hokage's Office!
There, a figure was already waiting.
A figure with the ordinary body of a White Zetsu but a pitch-black head.
That figure sat on the Hokage's honored throne, gazing at Danzō with a mocking and arrogant expression.
"Black Zetsu! So it's you, you bastard. Didn't Tobirama-sensei kill you?"
Danzō recognized Black Zetsu.
Though he had never seen him, he could identify this monster through the information provided by Tobirama.
"You're mistaken. Senju Tobirama did kill me."
"But he only killed a part of me. This is the rest of me."
"You've truly made me pay a heavy price!"
"But, do you like this final surprise?"
Black Zetsu boasted with a mix of hatred and arrogance.
As an old manipulator who had lived for thousands of years, ever since he suspected the Rinnegan prize might be a trap,
He had naturally prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Tobirama wanted to lure him out, risking the loss of the Rinnegan.
Meanwhile, he wanted to seize the Rinnegan, risking the exposure of his true body.
In the end, who would come out on top depended on the strength and strategies of both sides.
In terms of strength, Black Zetsu was far inferior to Tobirama with the Tenseigan.
But in terms of strategy, cunning, and information, Black Zetsu claimed he wouldn't lose to any human.
So his entire plan involved layers of calculations.
The rebels from the three villages could be sacrificed, the Uchiha traitors could be sacrificed, the Jinchūriki could be sacrificed, even all the White Zetsu could be sacrificed…
In the end, even he himself could be sacrificed!
The Black Zetsu captured and killed by Tobirama in the underground cave was indeed him.
But it was only the majority of his true body, split apart.
As a creation of Yin-Yang Release, Black Zetsu had possessed this liquid-like splitting ability since birth.
However, this splitting came at a steep cost.
It drastically weakened Black Zetsu, even causing him to lose some abilities and lifespan, possibly never recovering unless he could revive his Mother, Kaguya.
But it was all worth it!
The death of Black Zetsu's clone had indeed misled and stalled Tobirama, buying enough time for the final act.
Of course, Black Zetsu wasn't omniscient or omnipotent.
Before, he wasn't actually certain whether the real Rinnegan was with Chiyo or elsewhere.
Only by using his clone's death to eliminate the false answer of the fake Rinnegan in Chiyo's possession
Could he confirm: Danzō was the spy sent by Tobirama, and the real Rinnegan was still with Danzō!
As for why the remaining part of Black Zetsu chose the Hokage's Office?
It was to create a "blind spot" effect.
As long as the issues outside weren't fully resolved, Tobirama was unlikely to return to the Hokage's Office to rest.
After all, this was the area he knew best, where he had left the most Hiraishin seals.
The most dangerous place is often the safest—this wasn't entirely true, but it was applicable for now.
Of course, there was a risk. There was an element of gambling.
But trying to seize the Rinnegan from Tobirama's hands was a huge gamble. Black Zetsu had that mental preparation.
If not, he wouldn't have sacrificed his clone to be killed by Tobirama just to stall his opponent.
In the end, Black Zetsu might also have been driven by mockery and showing off.
He wanted to seize the Rinnegan and claim final victory inside the Hokage's Office.
To humiliate Tobirama in this way.
To prove that he was smarter, more cunning!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Bastard! Where are Hiruzen and Chiyo? What did you do to them?"
Danzō didn't know the details and intricacies of the chess game between Black Zetsu and Tobirama. Nor did he know where Tobirama was now.
He only knew that Chiyo and Hiruzen seemed to have been captured by this bastard Black Zetsu.
He had to come to their rescue!
"You're really impatient, Danzō."
"The drama you and your Sensei played truly fooled everyone!"
"Even I wasn't sure at first whether you had truly defected from Konoha."
Black Zetsu let out a long sigh.
He considered himself ruthless, but compared to those who sent their disciple to infiltrate an enemy village, Black Zetsu felt he was quite kind-hearted.
"Shut up! Where are Hiruzen and Chiyo? I want to see them!"
Danzō roared. He had no interest in listening to Black Zetsu's nonsense.
"Tch, bring them in."
Black Zetsu waved his hand. Four White Zetsu disguised as Konoha ninja brought Hiruzen and Chiyo into the office.
Both were injured.
Especially Chiyo—her clothes were tattered, her body covered in wounds. Just looking at her was heart-wrenching.
Their mouths were gagged, their bodies bound with wooden roots, and their chakra suppressed by Fūinjutsu. They couldn't break free or escape at all.
"Hiruzen! Chiyo!"
Danzō became extremely emotional. He immediately wanted to rush forward, but his body was firmly restrained by White Zetsu. Only his head was free, able to communicate.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen and Chiyo couldn't even speak, only letting out muffled groans.
Chiyo looked at Danzō with deep fear and numbness. Clearly, her pride and dignity had been torn to shreds in the previous battle.
Hiruzen, on the other hand, looked at Danzō with determination, encouragement, and hope, as if signaling him not to give in to any threats and to disregard him entirely.
"Calm down, they won't die for now."
Black Zetsu stood, walking to the side of the bound Hiruzen and Chiyo. He reached out, stroking their heads with a dark, evil smile:
"Alright, I don't have much time to waste with you."
"Danzō, you want to save both of them, right?"
"Hand over the Rinnegan! I'll release both of them and you as well. How about it?"
Hearing this offer, Danzō immediately acted desperately: "What Rinnegan? I don't have the Rinnegan here!"
Black Zetsu sneered coldly: "No need to act."
"Danzō, I know your acting is excellent. After all, you managed to deceive all of Sunagakure and played this Kazekage in the palm of your hand."
"But that's useless against me."
"Your Tobirama-Sensei has already told me everything."
"The Rinnegan you gave to Chiyo was fake too. It was a counterfeit you prepared beforehand. The real Rinnegan is with you!"
"Right?"
Black Zetsu exposed Danzō's act, sending a chill through his heart and causing his entire body to tremble slightly.
Especially Chiyo beside him. Upon learning that the Rinnegan Danzō gave her was also fake and had been swapped, she was shocked and despairing.
She never imagined Danzō had deceived her!
(How could he do this?)
(Was he a Konoha spy all along? Was he always deceiving Sunagakure? Deceiving me?)
Chiyo's sharp gaze, filled with hatred, despair, and disbelief, made Danzō feel deeply uncomfortable, even unable to meet her eyes.
After all, throughout the entire undercover mission, he was loyal to Konoha, but he had betrayed Chiyo alone, betraying her trust in him.
That feeling was truly painful.
"So, Danzō, hurry up and hand over the Rinnegan!"
Black Zetsu pressed again. Danzō's entire body had been searched, but there was no trace of the Rinnegan.
Clearly, he had hidden it in some way.
That's why Black Zetsu was forcing him to hand over the Rinnegan voluntarily.
Hearing this, Danzō rejected it without a second thought.
"You're dreaming!"
"Pfft!"
"I'd rather die than give it to you!"
Danzō spat directly at Black Zetsu's face with precision.
Though only his head could move, his spitting skill was exceptional.
Black Zetsu wiped the spit elegantly, unbothered.
He enjoyed tormenting steadfast ninja who would rather die than surrender like this.
"Tch, tch, tch, Danzō with a will of steel certainly isn't afraid of death."
"But do you really want to watch your friend and lover die in front of your own eyes?"
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, the friend and rival you've chased your whole life, who has saved your life countless times. Don't you want to save him?"
"Chiyo, your lover who protected you in every way and trusted you while you were undercover in Sunagakure. Can you bear to watch her die?"
Black Zetsu enticed and provoked to the extreme.
Relentlessly breaking down Danzō's defenses and sanity with words.
Every human has weaknesses; every human has seven emotions and six desires.
Senju Hashirama had them, Uchiha Madara had them, Senju Tobirama had them…
And this Danzō had weaknesses too.
What Black Zetsu wanted was to find this weakness and slowly tear it apart.
After all, he was an expert in schemes and manipulating human hearts.
"Wait, let me think, let me think!"
Danzō asked for time, trying to stall in this way.
Just stalling for one more second.
Tobirama-sensei might very well find them!
Once Tobirama-sensei arrived, all problems would be solved!
"No need to dream of stalling. Perhaps you also have a Hiraishin seal from Senju Tobirama on your body, right?"
"For example, that metal plate you swallowed earlier, it's in your stomach now, isn't it?"
"Unfortunately, that's useless."
"The White Zetsu possessing you is a special one. Its body has a barrier seal that can isolate seal detection."
"Don't hope that the fastest ninja in the ninja world will come to your rescue anytime soon."
Black Zetsu was extremely smug. He had known everything.
The same mistake, he wouldn't make twice. He had been wary of hidden Hiraishin seals on Danzō's body from the start.
"Bastard, you're truly a bastard!"
Danzō kept cursing, but unfortunately, he didn't manage to spit on Black Zetsu's face again.
"Such poor insults! Then I'll have to give you a bit more pressure."
"Choose one of them!"
"I'll give you ten seconds. Pick one to be killed."
"If you don't choose, I'll kill both of them!"
Black Zetsu pressed kunai against the necks of Hiruzen and Chiyo on both sides, forcing Danzō to choose.
In doing so, he further broke down Danzō's psychological defenses.
Seeing this, Danzō's anger peaked, tears streaming down his face. The veins at his temples bulged like roots, his eyes red as if about to burst, his teeth clenched tightly. His facial muscles twitched violently. His entire face was distorted by rage, like a Shura.
He wanted to swallow this bastard Black Zetsu alive! Yet, he still gritted his teeth, refusing to yield.
He even roared: "Go ahead and kill them, if you dare kill both of them!"
"But you'll never get the Rinnegan!"
"I'll never betray Tobirama-sensei or betray the village!"
"As long as I'm alive, I'll definitely kill you, no matter how long it takes!"
Danzō stubbornly closed his eyes. His entire body trembled from extreme pain and suffering, but he still wouldn't yield to Black Zetsu's threats.
After all, he wasn't foolish. Even if he handed over the Rinnegan, Black Zetsu might not release them.
But as long as the Rinnegan remained, even if Hiruzen and Chiyo were sacrificed, even if he himself was killed, in the future, Tobirama might be able to revive them. So, he would never give in to such threats!
Seeing this reaction, Black Zetsu was stunned.
He truly didn't expect Danzō to be unfazed even by the threat of his lover's death. His heart was as hard as a reef!
Was his desire to become Hokage that strong?
Was his ambition to rise that great?
Was his love for the village that profound?
But no matter, Black Zetsu still had an ace up his sleeve.
"Tch, tch, tch, so heartless!"
"But does closing your eyes mean you won't see it?"
"Or do you think that in this world, death is the most terrifying thing?"
"Danzō, let me make you feel what true despair is!"
Black Zetsu ordered the White Zetsu possessing Danzō to forcibly open his eyelids and hold his gaze steady.
Then, he personally moved, slowly possessing Hiruzen's body.
Hiruzen, already weakened, naturally couldn't resist Black Zetsu's possession. He was immediately fully controlled by Black Zetsu.
Thus, a painful and maddening scene unfolded for Danzō.
Black Zetsu controlled Hiruzen to extend his sinister claws toward Chiyo beside him. Then, in front of Danzō, he began tearing at Chiyo's clothes.
Sin and evil, beauty and horror, madness and despair slowly merged and distorted, gradually consuming and tainting the last of Danzō's sanity.
"No, what are you going to do?"
"Stop!"
"Bastard! Don't!"
"No, please don't!!!"
Danzō screamed until his voice was hoarse, tears mixed with blood streaming down. His entire heart felt like it was exploding in pain, a pain so intense he couldn't breathe!