After saying this, Hiruzen turned to Hoshiyomi and said:
"Don't cause too much of a scene tonight."
With that, he turned and walked away without so much as a glance at Danzō. His back was slightly hunched, as if he had aged ten years in that single moment.
Watching Hiruzen's departing back, Danzō felt as if a thousand-pound boulder was crushing his chest. Though his chest felt tight and stifled, there was no trace of regret.
Because he knew—even if he were given another chance, he would still make the same choices.
That was the true nature of Shimura Danzō.
On the other side, Hoshiyomi wasn't surprised by Hiruzen's departure. He knew very well that expecting Hiruzen to strike down Danzō himself was impossible. But it didn't matter.
Because with him here, Danzō was destined for a miserable end.
Hoshiyomi stretched his neck, then raised his sword Mikazuki Munechika again toward Danzō:
"Alright, the old man's gone. Now I can finally do some things that aren't suitable for him to see."
In the next instant, Hoshiyomi vanished with shunpo, his figure shooting toward Danzō like a falling star.
Seeing Mikazuki Munechika cleaving down toward him, Danzō didn't dare take it lightly. He drew the kunai from his waist and blew across it, forming a deadly Vacuum Blade.
Steel rang as the Vacuum Blade clashed against Mikazuki Munechika. With high-density Wind Release chakra reinforcing it, the kunai's quality was elevated; though cracks spread across it, it did not shatter immediately.
This bought Danzō precious time. Stamping his foot hard, he widened the distance between himself and Hoshiyomi.
Dropping the kunai, he quickly formed hand seals:
Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!
He opened his mouth and spat out a storm of wind blades.
Hoshiyomi's expression remained calm. As chakra surged into his sword, eerie blue flames ignited along Mikazuki Munechika's blade.
Facing the storm of blades, Hoshiyomi swung his sword with uncanny precision—each slash intercepting and destroying a wind blade one after another. By the time the barrage ended, he stood completely unharmed.
"Now it's my turn."
Hoshiyomi raised his Mikazuki Munechika above his head. The eerie blue flames on the blade flickered, clearly gathering power.
Soul-Devouring Demon Slash!
As Hoshiyomi swung his sword, a ferocious ghost face composed of eerie blue flames clawed and snarled its way towards Danzō.
Seeing this ghost face, Danzō's pupils constricted.
Wood Release: Wooden Locking Wall!
As his seals completed, pairs of arcing wooden plates sprang up, interlocking into a half-conical barrier in front of him.
The impact of the Soul-Devouring Demon Slash blasted a massive crater into the wall, but still failed to pierce it completely.
But that was all Hoshiyomi needed. Just as Danzō thought he was safe and was about to cancel the technique, Hoshiyomi shot forward like a flash of light, his sword held in a reverse grip.
It was Hoshiyomi's Crescent Moon Slash
As Danzō dispelled the Wood Locking Wall, his pupils contracted sharply. Strengthened by Hashirama's cells, he managed to unleash a life-saving technique at the critical moment.
Wood Release: Wood Substitution!
At that instant, the substitution took the blow, allowing him to escape death.
Seizing the chance, Danzō bolted into the distance. He was well aware that crossing blades with Hoshiyomi at close range was nothing but courting death. Only by creating distance did he have any chance of fighting back.
But how could Danzō possibly outrun Hoshiyomi? Hoshiyomi merely let him flee for the moment—not to spare him, but because their battle had already woken many villagers. He could sense civilians stirring, some even stepping outside to watch.
Letting Danzō run was simply Hoshiyomi's way of avoiding unnecessary casualties.
Once Danzō had gotten some distance, Hoshiyomi smiled faintly. With just a few shunpo steps, he shot forward, closing the gap with ease.
When it came to speed, even if Danzō ran himself to death, he could never outrun Hoshiyomi. The two of them raced—one chasing, the other fleeing—until they were nearly at the village gates.
Hoshiyomi nodded inwardly. That's far enough.
His figure suddenly vanished, only to reappear abruptly right in front of Danzō.
It was Hoshiyomi's Dance of the Startled Swan!
The sudden appearance of Hoshiyomi startled Danzō, and in panic he raised his hand:
Wood Release: Cutting Technique!
The sudden appearance startled Danzō. He immediately raised his hand and unleashed Wood Release: Cutting Technique in an attempt to drive Hoshiyomi back.
But Hoshiyomi remained unmoved. He raised his hand and used "Dragon's Nest Flash." After a series of rapid slashes, the branches from Danzō's technique were all cut to pieces.
Watching the fleeing Danzō, Hoshiyomi narrowed his eyes. Stretching out his left hand, he activated the Soul-Devouring Demon Slash.
Run? Where can you possibly run?
Even with Hashirama's cells transplanted into him, Danzō could do nothing against the enormous suction force. Planting a kunai into the ground didn't help—he was still dragged helplessly toward Hoshiyomi.
This time, Hoshiyomi did not finish with two killing slashes. Instead, he pulled Danzō directly toward him, grabbed him by the throat like a helpless chick, and sneered:
"With just this strength, you thought you could assassinate me? That you could become the Fourth Hokage?"
As he spoke, Hoshiyomi slammed Danzō violently onto the ground:
"Your skin is so thick, isn't it? How come you still bleed when smashed on the ground?"
Before Danzō could struggle and try to escape, Hoshiyomi stepped on his back, pinning him firmly in place.
Looking down at the struggling Danzō, Hoshiyomi raised the Mikazuki Munechika high:
"This slash is for myself. A dog-like creature like you dares to scheme against me behind my back."
As he spoke, Hoshiyomi severed Danzō's left arm with a single slash. The pain from having his arm cut off made Danzō scream in agony.
"This slash is for Hashirama."
Another slash severed Danzō's right arm. With both arms cleanly chopped off, Danzō was already covered in cold sweat from the pain. He tried to beg Hoshiyomi for mercy, but Hoshiyomi was utterly unmoved.
"This slash is for Nawaki."
This time, it was Danzō's left leg that was severed.
"This slash is for all the innocent test subjects you captured for your experiments."
This time, it was the right leg. With all four limbs severed, Danzō lay on the ground, unable to even struggle.
Looking at his scattered limbs beside him, Danzō truly felt fear this time.
I'm going to die. If this continues, he'll cut me to pieces alive.
Izanagi!
The Sharingan of Uchiha Kagami in his left eye turned gray and blank.
Under the power of Izanagi, Danzō's body returned to its intact state.
Seizing this chance after revival, he began running towards the village exit without looking back.
Escape. I must escape. I, Danzō, cannot die yet!
Staggering in his flight, he finally managed to run out through Konoha's main gate.
Yes! Hoshiyomi didn't chase me. I made it.
But, why hadn't he given chase? Curious, Danzō turned his head to look back, and saw Hoshiyomi watching him from afar with a pitiful expression.
That idiot, I've already escaped so far, what is there for him to pity?
Hmph, just wait and see. I, Shimura Danzō, am not finished yet. One day, I will make a comeback.
Just as Danzō was thinking this, he suddenly felt an intense itch on his left shoulder. He instinctively reached to scratch it, but his fingers didn't find skin.
That rough texture was... it felt like tree bark!