After taking care of various matters, Uchiha Itachi noticed that Uchiha Izumi still hadn't returned. He decided to send a physical clone to
After taking care of various matters, Uchiha Itachi noticed that Uchiha Izumi still hadn't returned. He decided to send a physical clone to the Land of Fire using the Flying Thunder God Technique. Hidden in the shadows, the clone silently guarded Izumi, waiting for her to finish her shift.
That clone personally witnessed Asuma being persecuted and interrogated, as well as the incident where the Lightning Release Four Ninja were toyed with by the Daimyō's wife.
It wasn't until Izumi awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan that the clone finally stepped out from the shadows.
"Oh? You really crippled Hiruzen Sarutobi—cut off both his arms and legs?" The Daimyō's pupils shrank slightly. He sounded doubtful, feeling that Danzo was probably bluffing.
If Danzo was really that powerful, wouldn't he have made his move long ago? Why wait until now?
"That's right. That damned dog Hiruzen Sarutobi—I took his limbs myself." Danzo let out a relieved breath when he saw the Daimyō's reaction.
Clearly, the spies from the Land of Fire hadn't relayed this intel back to Konoha.
That meant the Daimyō still knew nothing about Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan, his ability to summon Susanoo, or the fact that the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage—as well as Kushina—had all been resurrected using Edo Tensei.
Well then, from here on out, don't blame him for being ruthless.
Danzo smiled faintly. "My lord Daimyō, if I may offer a bold suggestion."
"Oh? Let's hear it," the Daimyō said, intrigued by Danzo's tone.
"You've seen how Asuma was reduced to this state by those so-called 'participants' in this whole mess. Do you really think someone as vengeful as Hiruzen Sarutobi would just let the Daimyō's estate off the hook?" Danzo said, appealing to both emotion and reason.
"I suggest that while Konoha is still weakened, we mobilize. Order the high monks of the Fire Temple, the samurai of the Land of Fire, and let Kazuma lead our elite troops alongside Fūka, Fūdō, and Fūen to storm the Hidden Leaf.
We must capture Sarutobi Hiruzen alive, eliminate Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado—the two senior advisors—and seize control of Konoha.
We must place the village's military affairs and all clan power firmly in our hands.
If we hesitate and give Hiruzen time to recover, he'll summon Jiraiya and Tsunade to return and assume the mantle of Hokage. When that happens, it'll be the end of us.
Konoha will become strong again.
And with just the Daimyō's Twelve Guardian Ninja left to protect us, we'll be sitting ducks.
So, Daimyō-sama—it's your call," Danzo declared.
"Hah. Storm Konoha? How?" the Daimyō replied with a wry smile. He thought Danzo was being hopelessly naive. "You think Hiruzen doesn't have spies embedded in the Land of Fire who'll warn him the moment we make a move?"
"You think Konoha's defense barrier is just for show?"
"Or do you think that mutilated wreck of a man—Hiruzen Sarutobi—will crawl here on his stumps to beg me for mercy?" the Daimyō scoffed.
"No need to worry about the barrier. As the Hokage's advisor, I know precisely where its weaknesses lie," Danzo replied coolly.
"As for moving in broad daylight? That won't happen either. I've mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique. With one instant of movement, I can transport your forces straight from the Land of Fire into Konoha.
How's that?" Danzo said confidently.
"This..." The Daimyō hesitated. He was clearly tempted.
He'd initially planned to wait until all Twelve Guardian Ninja were assembled before taking action—but it seemed Konoha wasn't going to give him that chance.
Both the Land of Fire and Konoha were racing against time.
Hesitate for even a moment, and they'd lose control of the entire situation.
But once they took action—there would be no turning back.
The Daimyō faltered, caught between ambition and fear.
"Daimyō-sama, as the saying goes—opportunity knocks but once.
If you don't seize this moment of chaos within Konoha to right the course...
Once they regroup, the Land of Fire will never get another chance.
So please, Daimyō-sama—strike now! Unify the Land of Fire! Conquer the shinobi world—tonight!" Danzo shouted passionately.
"That's right, Daimyō-sama! If we don't act now, we'll lose our only window. Once Jiraiya and Tsunade return to the village, Konoha will stand united again."
"And at that point, the Daimyō's estate will be in grave danger!" Kazuma added fervently. "Please, make your decision now!"
"But… the Land of Fire has already suffered heavy casualties. Of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, only you remain. Chiriku and Kitane are unstable elements. If we act rashly, I fear…" The Daimyō still hesitated. "What if the major clans of Konoha join forces?"
"That would spell the end of the Land of Fire!"
"You're overthinking it," Danzo said confidently. "With Uchiha Izumi in our hands, Itachi won't dare make a move."
Fake Uchiha Izumi: "..."
"And besides, we have Sora. Konoha's elite shinobi won't be a problem," Danzo added.
"Sora?" the Daimyō asked, puzzled.
"Sora is my son," Kazuma explained.
"Back during the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, I managed to extract a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra by chance. With Danzo's help, we sealed that chakra into Sora using the Five Elements Seal.
We raised him to become a pseudo-jinchūriki.
Right now, he's residing in the Fire Temple.
Once I release the seal, Sora will enter his tailed beast state and attack Konoha. When that happens, the entire village will fall into our hands," Kazuma said with cruel excitement.
"A fake jinchūriki isn't so easy to control. Even Minato died in the original incident," the Daimyō said, shaking his head. "If anything goes wrong, the Land of Fire might be destroyed along with Konoha."
"What if I help?" Danzo said, peeling back the bandages from his right eye and stripping the cloth from his right arm, revealing a ghastly pale limb.
"That's... the Sharingan?!" The Daimyō's pupils contracted. Fear flickered across his face.
"That's right. I was the one who orchestrated the Nine-Tails incident back then," Danzo said coldly.
"What?! It was really you?!" The Daimyō's face changed, utterly shaken.
He had read the reports, seen the evidence—but hearing it directly from Danzo's mouth was still shocking.
To think Danzo had gone so far in his lust for the Hokage title, even killing the Fourth...
He was ruthless.
No wonder Hiruzen had been mutilated so thoroughly.
With power like that, the Daimyō could now believe it.
"With the Sharingan and Hashirama's right arm, I can control the Nine-Tails completely. Let alone a mere imitation like Sora.
Now do you believe me?" Danzo asked.
"I believe it. I believe everything," the Daimyō said, swallowing hard.
As the saying goes—fortune favors the bold. Hesitation leads only to loss.
The Daimyō clenched his jaw.
Even though he knew Danzo was a snake, the dream of uniting the shinobi world was too tempting to resist.
"Kazuma, mobilize our forces. Gather the high monks from the Fire Temple—and bring your son."
"You depart immediately!"
"Destroy Konoha. Capture Sarutobi Hiruzen, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado. Make an example of them!" the Daimyō ordered grimly.
"Yes, my lord!" Kazuma shouted, blood boiling, dragging Chiriku with him as he rushed toward the Fire Temple.
He would gather the temple's high monks, purge evil, and eliminate the Hiruzen-led council, restoring power to the Daimyō.
And when that day came—Konoha and the Land of Fire would stand united.
Then he, Kazuma, would lead the march to unify the entire shinobi world.
And bring true peace to the world!