Kitagawa Minamoto was still puzzled about what was happening.
Meanwhile, in the forest on the outskirts of Konohagakure, members of Akatsuki and Orochimaru looked at the lifeless body of Danzō Shimura, feeling a sense of satisfaction.
Finally, he was dead!
"What a troublesome guy."
Reflecting on the battle, even though they held absolute advantage and had extensive intelligence, dealing with someone like Danzō Shimura wasn't easy, especially since they had to avoid shattering him completely.
"But in the end, we did gain something."
Nagato and the others were pleased with the outcome, but Obito Uchiha's face was particularly grim.
"Damn bastard, he actually... he actually..."
Danzō Shimura's arm was covered with Sharingan, and to preserve these eyes, Obito chose the most reliable method.
At the right moment, he cut off Danzō's arm!
However, Danzō seemed aware of his fate and pretended to activate the "Reverse Four Symbols Sealing" to trap everyone.
He had intended to do it for real, but Orochimaru saw through his plan and countered it, with his heart being locked by Kakuzu's Earth Grudge Fear.
But this gave him a brief moment, allowing him to do one last thing he desired.
Destroy Uchiha Shisui's eyes—he would never leave them for Obito Uchiha.
Obito was so furious that his hands were trembling, but he could only swallow his anger, hating Danzō to the core!
"Now, it's time to divide the spoils, isn't it?"
Obito gritted his teeth in anger, but Kakuzu and Sasori were quite pleased, having obtained what they wanted.
"But before that, we seem to have another matter to deal with."
Sasori, though excited, turned his gaze to Orochimaru.
"This rotten snake seems to have betrayed us, hasn't he?"
"Tsk tsk, are you sure you want to do this?"
Orochimaru licked his lips and laughed hoarsely, while Nagato spoke up from the side.
"He's temporarily cooperating with us now; I don't think he'll cause any trouble."
"Naturally."
Orochimaru nodded. He had initially planned to find allies, but now it seemed unnecessary.
"Although I don't know exactly what effect you want, our goals align, especially since I can solve your current problem."
"Oh? What problem do you think we have now?"
Kakuzu looked at Orochimaru with amusement, but Orochimaru calmly shook his head.
"You seem to need Danzō's body for something, like perhaps Sasori wants to make a puppet?"
"Are you courting death, rotten snake?"
Sasori raised an eyebrow, but Orochimaru remained unfazed.
"I'm about to do something; don't worry, it's for the benefit of all of us."
As he spoke, he approached a still-breathing Root member and formed seals with his hands.
The next moment, the Root ninja let out a painful wail as his body was enveloped by endless paper!
While Akatsuki was dealing with Danzō, Orochimaru had secretly gathered materials and prepared in advance.
He didn't mind showing the hand seals to these guys; as long as they didn't understand the core, they couldn't replicate the Summoning: Impure World Reincarnation.
Moreover, what he was summoning now was merely a defective product.
"Ah!"
A painful scream rang out, and in front of Akatsuki and Orochimaru, the Root ninja transformed into Danzō Shimura!
"What is this..."
Danzō looked at the Akatsuki members and Orochimaru in confusion.
He remembered dying in battle, so how was he alive again?
Could it be Izanagi?
"Die!"
Unable to comprehend the situation, he let out an angry roar, seemingly ready to attack.
But suddenly, he realized he couldn't move his body at all!
"This is..."
"This is your teacher's technique, the Second Hokage's jutsu."
Orochimaru licked his lips and spoke nonchalantly, causing Danzō's face to change dramatically.
As a disciple of the Second Hokage, how could he not know?
But Orochimaru had already turned to the Akatsuki members, who wore solemn expressions. He smiled.
"Let me introduce, Danzō Shimura, assistant to the Hokage of Konoha. He has an independent organization under the Anbu, called Root."
"Root?"
"That's right. Danzō has done many things using Root, and hidden within are not only abundant resources but also a guarantee of safety."
Orochimaru paused, giving Danzō a meaningful look.
"And Lord Danzō should know more about Konoha's deployments, which can make things easier for us!"
Orochimaru's words caused both Danzō and the Akatsuki members' faces to change.
The Akatsuki members showed hints of excitement, while Danzō was filled with shock and despair!
"Orochimaru, you bastard!"
Danzō finally couldn't hold back and cursed, but Orochimaru quickly silenced him.
"Calm down; now is not the time for you to speak."
"What's his current strength?"
Suddenly, Obito Uchiha spoke up, and Orochimaru tilted his head.
"Not much, since it was a casual summon, so..."
"Then let's make him stronger."
Obito Uchiha coldly stared at Danzō, his fists clenching slightly.
"I'm curious what it would be like for him to fight the real Third Hokage!"
Obito's words not only stunned Orochimaru but also left Danzō bewildered!
Him?
Against Hiruzen Sarutobi?
"This plan is good; it can divert Konoha's attention, allowing us to act more freely."
Nagato suddenly nodded, seemingly approving of the idea.
"I'd like to see that scene too."
Sasori nodded as well, having no fondness for Konoha. He glanced at the numerous Root ninja corpses.
"And we do need a safe place; there are plenty of materials here."
"I don't care."
Kakuzu had already obtained Danzō's heart, so he wasn't concerned about these matters, and Orochimaru finally nodded.
"No problem, at least it's not an issue for me."
Danzō couldn't speak now, but his eyes were filled with despair!
Having witnessed Kakuzu extract his heart, and now seeing Obito Uchiha take his arm, his remaining body was being taken by Sasori.
Even he shivered at the horror of it all.
And they planned to take over his Root, use his soul to fight Hiruzen Sarutobi?
What kind of demons were they?!
"You... you..."
Danzō wanted to curse, but he couldn't utter a sound, only glaring at Orochimaru and the Akatsuki members with endless resentment.
"Your gaze, I don't like it."
Nagato seemed to notice something, shaking his head with cold indifference.
"Compared to everything you've done, what are we?"
"Didn't you force him to die by my hand?"
"Now, let you personally kill your friend, the Hokage, and destroy your village..."
"Isn't that fair?"
"Finally, it begins, finally it begins!"
While the "Danzō Divided into Five" was being crafted, the Chūnin Exams in Konoha had officially commenced.
In the hall of the first exam, the nine rookies were startled by the scene before them.
There were just too many people!
Different forehead protectors, identical fierce gazes.
Even Naruto and Sasuke felt overwhelmed.
Fortunately, they encountered a somewhat "friendly" senior. Though this senior was a bit inept, having failed the Chūnin Exams nine times, he seemed to possess unique intelligence capabilities, which excited the rookies.
"Uh, Senior Kabuto."
After a brief inquiry about the current situation from Kabuto Yakushi, Naruto couldn't help but ask.
"Do you have information on other participants?"
"Oh?"
Kabuto played his role well, hesitating before smiling.
"If it's someone from our village, I might know a bit, but from other villages, I'm afraid..."
"It's from our village."
Sasuke spoke directly, and the other rookies seemed to know something as Ino took over the conversation.
"Senior Kabuto, do you have information on Senior Minamoto, Kitagawa Minamoto?"
"..."
Upon hearing the name Kitagawa Minamoto, Kabuto couldn't help but pause, instinctively adjusting his glasses.
For a moment, he didn't feel like speaking.
He was all too familiar with that name and knew just how ruthless its owner was!
"Huh? Senior Kabuto doesn't know?"
Seeing Kabuto's silence, Sakura couldn't help but ask curiously, prompting Kabuto to snap back to reality.
"Don't you know his achievements? I thought you were quite familiar with him?"
"Tch, he's so secretive, never willing to share anything."
Naruto muttered softly, and Sasuke nodded.
"Senior Minamoto indeed doesn't like talking about himself, so do you know?"
"Alright, let's not ask."
Shikamaru, finding it bothersome, spoke up. Actually, he knew everything but was too lazy to explain.
"Just ask him after the exam; it's no big deal."
"Actually, I do, but it's too exaggerated, so..."
Kabuto finally spoke, his voice becoming somewhat cryptic.
"My ninja cards don't fully record it, but I know some things. Kitagawa Minamoto is only two or three years older than you, yet he's already a Jōnin of Konoha."
"We know that."
"And in his records, there are very few low-level missions. No D-rank, only five C-rank, and eleven S-rank missions!"
"Eleven?!"
Upon hearing this, the nine rookies couldn't help but exclaim.
Even the somewhat naive Naruto understood the significance of S-rank missions!
"And according to reliable intelligence, he has defeated many powerful ninjas."
Kabuto instinctively tried to cover for Orochimaru but didn't forget to lower his voice.
"In his Jōnin assessment, he defeated one of the Sannin, Jiraiya, and before becoming a Jōnin, he defeated the Fourth Raikage, even..."
"Even?"
"Yes, according to some reports, when he defeated the Fourth Raikage, he severed his hand."
Raikage, a figure as formidable and mysterious as the Hokage.
Even Naruto, after being subjected to the school's rigorous education, knew this!
At this moment, the group of young ninjas exchanged glances.
Not just anyone, even Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, who had seen Minamoto in action in the Land of Waves, were bewildered.
"So, he's already this strong?"
Sasuke couldn't help but murmur, his inner desire growing more intense.
"Seems like it's pretty lucky not to have been killed by him."
Naruto muttered softly, and Ino couldn't help but whisper.
"Senior Minamoto severed someone's hand? But he always seems so gentle and kind..."
"???"
Her words left Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura in disbelief.
In the Land of Waves, besides delivering heavy blows to the enemy, he turned around and considered letting the rogue ninja eliminate their deceitful employer's entire family!
Is that gentle and kind?
Could it be that true kindness, as Minamoto said, is being unable to see others suffer, so he sends their whole family away?
"What are you discussing?"
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted the young ninjas' silence.
Turning around, they saw Kitagawa Minamoto entering, followed by a group of Konoha ninjas!
"Why... why are you here?!"
Upon seeing Minamoto, Naruto shuddered and exclaimed incredulously.
"Quiet, where do you think this is?"
Before Minamoto could speak, Morino Ibiki interrupted Naruto, snorting coldly.
"Jōnin Minamoto is here to assist us; focus on what you should be doing."
"Alright, alright, just call me Minamoto, Senior Ibiki."
Minamoto smiled at Morino Ibiki before continuing.
"I'm just here to feel the atmosphere and lend a hand."
Saying this, he looked at Naruto and patted his shoulder.
"Naruto, do your best. I'm here to witness your efforts."
"..."
"Don't worry, I'll be standing behind you, not disturbing you."
"..."
"Just focus on the exam; don't worry about me. I'm looking forward to your performance!"
"..."
For a moment, Naruto really wanted to jump out the window.
But Minamoto's gaze swept over Kabuto, who instinctively shrank back upon seeing him.
Minamoto didn't mind; he was genuinely planning to mark this guy with a mental sphere!
"Just wondering if Orochimaru will show up, but it doesn't matter."
Thinking this, Minamoto suddenly smiled.
[Name: Kitagawa Minamoto]
[Bloodline: Ōtsutsuki Clan (Development: 46%)]
[Dōjutsu: Tenseigan (Crescent Moon Eye)]
[Special Ability: Source of the Divine Tree (Stage 3)]
[Special Skills: Ice Release, Magnet Release, Dust Release, Silver Wheel Reincarnation Explosion, Tenseigan Chakra Mode]
Seeing the addition of Dust Release to his special skills, he couldn't help but feel satisfied.
Most importantly, his gains this time weren't limited to just that.
(End of Chapter)
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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