In the forest, two figures clashed.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!"
Danzo twisted his hands, swirling pale blue spirals of air. Razor-sharp wind blades tore through the air, flying toward the Sand ninja not far away.
The Sand ninja before him was a puppeteer, manipulating three human puppets with chakra threads from his hands.
Facing the incoming wind blades, the puppeteer sneered coldly. His fingers flicked rapidly as the three puppets' abdomens suddenly burst open, unleashing a torrential downpour of densely packed poison needles.
Danzo's pupils contracted sharply. His Wind Release formed a protective shield that rippled under the assault of the poison needles.
He quickly stepped backward to dodge the attack.
The poison needles fell to the ground, filling the air with a pungent, corrosive stench.
Seizing the chance, the puppeteer controlled his puppets into a triangular formation. Chains sprung from their joints, trapping Danzo in the center. The chains were coated with black poison, dripping onto the ground and releasing white smoke.
"Child's play." Danzo growled lowly. His hands quickly formed seals, and his Wind Release turned into invisible blades that sliced through the chains.
But the puppeteer's attacks came like a tide—relentless.
The lead puppet suddenly opened its chest cavity, revealing an embedded explosive tag.
Seeing this, Danzo hurriedly moved out of the explosion's range.
The prolonged assault wore down the puppeteer's patience.
His position had definitely been exposed here. If he didn't kill this Konoha ninja soon, reinforcements would arrive, and he'd be in serious trouble.
After all, this was Fire Country territory. The battle had to be resolved quickly.
Thinking so, the puppeteer's fingers danced frantically, commanding the remaining two puppets to launch an attack.
Under the puppeteer's ferocious onslaught, Danzo's Wind Release offensive noticeably weakened. Cold sweat trickled down his temple.
Suddenly, a sharp gleam flashed—a poisoned steel needle pierced precisely into his right arm.
Danzo's expression changed. Bad news. He hurriedly pulled out the needle, and thick black blood flowed from the wound.
"Hahaha!" the puppeteer laughed arrogantly, eyes filled with mockery.
"Poisoned by me—you won't survive, no matter who you are!"
Danzo's arm rapidly turned bluish-purple, visible to the naked eye.
He dropped to one knee, pressing his poisoned right arm tightly with his left hand. Veins bulged on his forehead, his eyes burning with unwillingness.
Am I going to die here?
Damn it! I haven't even become Hokage yet!
To die like this… I really can't accept it…
Danzo could clearly feel his body growing colder—that was the sign of poisoning.
If only Koharu were here, maybe there'd still be a chance.
But in his current state, he probably wouldn't last until she arrived.
At this critical moment, a sharp blade sliced through the night sky.
Renya, holding a katana. The blade gleamed with cold light.
He positioned himself in front of Danzo without looking back.
"Danzo, hold on."
With that, Renya's figure blurred as he dashed toward the puppeteer.
The puppeteer's face paled. He hadn't expected Konoha's reinforcements to arrive so quickly.
He immediately commanded his puppets to launch a fiercer assault.
Renya's three crimson tomoe spun rapidly, capturing every subtle movement of the puppeteer clearly.
When the poisonous needles rained down again, Renya moved like a phantom, easily dodging the attack.
"Oh, you like using poison?" Renya chuckled lightly. The kunai in his hand flew past the puppeteer's ear.
The puppeteer turned his head to dodge. At that moment, he was horrified to realize Renya had already closed in.
He hadn't expected this Konoha ninja's Body Flicker Technique to be so fast—too fast to react!
A cold flash appeared as the katana slashed down with lethal intent.
The puppeteer hastily dodged sideways; fabric tore as warm blood flowed from his abdomen.
Shaken, he said, "That was close… you almost killed me!"
Renya sighed helplessly.
The beggar's version really isn't as good as the original.
If it were the original Flying Thunder God Slash, this guy would have been dead long ago.
His Body Flicker Technique was still too slow. Looks like I'll have to practice it more before fully mastering Flying Thunder God.
Just then, the puppeteer suddenly sensed something was wrong.
"What… did you do to me?!"
Only now did he realize that the Konoha ninja also used poison.
And this poison was even stronger than the one he developed.
Instinctively, the puppeteer reached for his ninja pouch and took out an antidote pill.
Swallowing it, he finally relaxed.
His self-made antidote should be able to counter the poison.
But while comforting himself, horror suddenly dawned on him as he started foaming at the mouth!
A rattling sound came from his throat, and just before losing consciousness, he heard a cold voice.
"Your poison and antidote are garbage."
Renya sheathed his sword, closed his Sharingan, and looked toward Danzo, who knelt on the ground with a darkened face.
"Danzo, are you okay?"
Danzo weakly raised his head.
"Renya, I think I'm going to die…"
He was really unwilling.
Not yet having become Hokage, and now about to die in a place like this.
Once he died, the strong contenders for Hokage would be just Renya and Hizashi.
They'd probably be happy to have one less rival.
"After you become Hokage, you must protect the village well…" Danzo looked at Renya with eyes full of plea.
"No matter whether you or Hiruzen becomes Hokage, you must guard the village."
Since he couldn't become Hokage himself, he would at least tell them how to be a worthy Hokage before he died!
Hearing this, Renya was slightly stunned.
The Danzo before him truly loved the village—completely different from the selfish, ruthless Danzo of the future.
"Renya, promise me!" Danzo raised his voice.
"If you two don't protect the village well, I swear—even as a ghost… ugh ugh."
"What nonsense are you talking? Here, take this medicine."
Before Danzo could finish, Renya took an antidote from his ninja pouch and stuffed it into Danzo's mouth.
Since he could make poison, of course he could make antidotes.
This kind of crude poison made by a Sand ninja puppeteer? He could neutralize it easily.
"What did you give me to take?" Danzo's face was full of horror.
He was just giving last instructions, and Renya suddenly shoved a blackish thing into his mouth.
It melted instantly, releasing a bitter taste that spread throughout his mouth.
Could it be that this guy thought Danzo was dying too slowly and actually poisoned him again?
The more Danzo thought about it, the more likely it seemed—this was definitely something Renya would do.
After all, this guy had become more and more wicked over the years…
While Danzo was lost in such wild thoughts, he suddenly realized his body no longer felt painful.
His stiff limbs gradually regained feeling, and the pain eased considerably.
"Hahaha, I'm not going to die." Danzo laughed excitedly, looking up to the sky.
But as he recalled the moment of giving his last words, his smile froze.
He carefully turned his head and saw Renya watching him with a half-smile.
Danzo: "..."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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