The thick smoke from the explosion slowly dispersed, revealing Shimura Danzo standing unscathed.
His face was ashen, and an unwilling sneer tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Just a little more... just a little more!
"Why didn't Distinguished Heavenly Gods work?! Damn it!"
Instead of controlling Senju Hashirama as he had planned, he had backed himself into a desperate situation.
The sheer force of Tobirama's Tandem Paper Bombs had cost him five Sharingan just to negate the damage. In the blink of an eye, his precious reserves had been halved!
Even though he still had a few remaining, Danzo was no longer confident about defeating Senju Tobirama.
"Huh? Him?"
At that moment, Danzo's gaze fell upon Shinomiya Uzumaki, who had appeared beside Tobirama. His mind churned, and suddenly, a plan formed.
His expression shifted in an instant, twisting into one of urgency and fear.
"Nidaime! Please, be careful of the man beside you!"
His voice carried desperation as he pointed accusingly at Shinomiya Uzumaki.
"He's a foreign spy! He's the one who forced me into this! And since he can use Wood Style, it's clear that he transplanted the First Hokage's cells—an unforgivable crime!"
His words poured out like a raging torrent.
"Not only that, but he has been getting close to the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki! For the safety of Konoha, I only wanted to investigate him, but he mercilessly slaughtered twelve of my subordinates!"
Danzo clenched his fists as if barely holding back grief.
"They were Konoha's elite! Losing them is an immeasurable loss!"
He turned to Tobirama, his voice filled with righteous anger.
"Nidaime, for the sake of Konoha, you must take him down!"
His acting was impeccable. The perfect portrayal of a victim. The seamless weaving of lies and truth.
If someone unfamiliar with the situation were listening, they might actually believe him.
Unfortunately for Danzo…
He had picked the wrong audience.
"My sins are that severe?"
Shinomiya Uzumaki blinked, pointing at himself.
For a brief moment, confusion flickered across his face.
And then, as realization struck, he burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha…."
Tears formed in the corners of his eyes as he clutched his stomach.
This guy… did he really think he could pin this on me?
Even the Senju brothers couldn't hold back their amusement.
Danzo's heart sank.
His gaze darted between them, and a terrible realization struck him.
"Wait… why are they so familiar with him?!"
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
He had assumed that Hashirama and Tobirama had no connection to Shinomiya Uzumaki since they were from different eras.
His plan had been to turn them against him, label Shinomiya as Konoha's enemy, and then use his master-disciple relationship with Tobirama to smooth things over.
But reality had slapped him across the face.
His face darkened.
"Damn it… this isn't going to work."
Tobirama's expression had turned cold, his eyes sharp with killing intent.
Danzo knew he had to act fast, or he wouldn't live long enough to regret his mistake.
Taking a deep breath, he quickly changed tactics.
"Shodai, Nidaime, this is all a misunderstanding!"
Shinomiya Uzumaki raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? A misunderstanding? Then go on, explain."
Danzo's expression twisted with anger as he barked, "Where did you come from, brat?! This is between me and the Second Hokage! Stay out of it!"
Silence fell.
Tobirama's voice was deathly cold.
"Danzo. Watch your tone."
Danzo's breath hitched.
Tobirama's icy warning drained the color from his face.
Shinomiya Uzumaki smirked.
"Well, well, well. Looks like I'm not the one interrupting."
Danzo clenched his fists, barely restraining his fury.
Forcing himself to remain composed, he exhaled sharply and spoke in a solemn tone.
"I never intended to use my Eye Technique on the First Hokage."
His voice was calm, regretful.
"It was a mistake. The rejection reaction from my Sharingan was too strong, and I lost control. I was merely too excited to see my teacher again."
He bowed slightly.
"I nearly made a terrible mistake. Please, sensei, forgive me."
His words were laced with sincerity.
But Tobirama remained unmoved.
Instead, Shinomiya Uzumaki turned to the Senju brothers, smirking.
"See what I mean? This guy's amazing at making up stories."
He shook his head in mock admiration.
"Not a single brain cell was used in that excuse. It's almost impressive how dumb he thinks we are."
Hashirama chuckled.
"That's true."
Tobirama, on the other hand, didn't laugh.
His face had turned expressionless, his murderous aura rising.
In his hands, several kunai glinted ominously.
Danzo gritted his teeth.
"Shinomiya Uzumaki… you damned brat…!"
His chest burned with rage.
He swore—if he survived this, he would eliminate Shinomiya Uzumaki at all costs!
But before he could finish that thought—
A sharp whistling sound tore through the air.
Kunai shot toward him like bolts of lightning.
Danzo's instincts screamed, and he dodged frantically.
Several kunai embedded themselves in the ground around him.
At first, he exhaled in relief.
Then he noticed the markings.
His pupils shrank in terror.
"Flying Thunder God Mark!"
His mind screamed in alarm, but before he could react—
A blade sliced clean across his throat.
A chilling voice spoke from behind him.
"You talk too much."
His breath hitched.
Senju Tobirama stood there, blade in hand.
Danzo trembled, hands clutching his bleeding throat.
Blood gushed from the wound, pouring down his chest.
Before he could collapse—
BAM!
Tobirama delivered a brutal kick, sending him crashing into a stone wall.
His body slumped, lifeless.
For a brief moment, silence reigned.
Then—
Danzo's body disappeared.
And reappeared, unharmed, in the same spot.
Tobirama's eyes narrowed.
"Izanagi."
Shinomiya Uzumaki smirked.
"Well, well. Looks like he has four left."
Danzo's breath was ragged.
He had never been this close to death before.
Fear crept into his heart.
Tobirama didn't attack.
He simply watched, waiting.
Danzo's blood ran cold.
"He's waiting for my Izanagi to run out…"
A dreadful realization struck him.
"I can't win. I can't even run!"
Desperation clawed at his chest.
His mind scrambled for an escape—any escape.
And then—
His trembling lips formed a final plea.
"Teacher… I was wrong… Please…"
But Tobirama's gaze remained indifferent.
He wasn't going to answer.
He wasn't going to forgive.
Danzo's fate was sealed.
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