10:00 AM.
Kitazawa and Tsunade had completely left the vicinity of Konoha Village.
Unlike the Land of Wind, which was mostly desert, the Land of Fire had distinct seasons and diverse terrains.
"Where do you think Danzo will ambush us?" Tsunade asked calmly.
"I don't think he'll ambush us." Kitazawa shook his head and replied, "He'll probably come to see us directly."
"Why?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
Because of Kotoamatsukami. Of course, Kitazawa couldn't answer her so bluntly.
"Because Lady Tsunade is too powerful, of course," Kitazawa said with a smile. "If I were Danzo, I'd approach you under the pretense of Hokage-sama's orders… and then strike."
In the original history, Danzo had used Kotoamatsukami to control Mifune of the Land of Iron. And he did so during the Five Kage Summit—right in front of countless people.
If Ao from the Hidden Mist Village hadn't been there, no one would have realized Mifune was being controlled.
That alone showed just how silent and imperceptible Kotoamatsukami truly was.
"That sounds somewhat reasonable." Tsunade's lips curved upward slightly, clearly pleased by his compliment.
The two continued walking.
"Lady Tsunade, please stop!" A sudden voice rang out from behind them.
"It seems you were right," Tsunade said, glancing at Kitazawa before turning around.
The voice belonged to an Anbu ninja.
Behind him stood three more, forming a small squad. And at their head was none other than Danzo.
"Danzo, what are you doing here?" Tsunade asked sharply.
"Do you think I wanted to come?" Danzo's face darkened. "Hiruzen asked me to deliver an urgent mission to you."
"Oh?" Tsunade's tone was filled with disdain. "With so many Jonin available, why send a retired one?"
"I haven't retired!" Danzo snapped. "I am still the Hokage's advisor!"
"Well, you're not anymore. Retire." Tsunade sneered, her words dripping with dominance.
"Tsunade, you've gone too far!" Danzo's body trembled with anger. "You're not Hokage yet! What right do you have to tell me that?"
"It's only a matter of time," Tsunade said coldly. "If not me, then who? You?"
"To be so arrogant before even becoming Hokage—today I'll teach you a lesson on Hiruzen's behalf!"
The rage in Danzo's heart erupted.
"Are you worthy?" Tsunade's gaze was unwavering. "Show me what you've got!"
"Very well!" Danzo no longer hesitated—he activated Kotoamatsukami.
For a brief instant, Tsunade's eyes went blank—but she quickly returned to normal.
"Tsunade, I ask you, who do you support for Hokage now?" Danzo said smugly.
"Definitely not you." Kitazawa immediately stepped forward and took Tsunade's hand.
While Kotoamatsukami was formidable, undoing it wasn't impossible. Even Ao could dispel it in the original record—let alone Kitazawa.
Danzo's expression shifted subtly.
How? How did Kitazawa realize he had used Kotoamatsukami?
But Danzo reacted quickly. He activated his Mangekyo Sharingan again—this time targeting Kitazawa.
It wasn't Kotoamatsukami this time, but a genjutsu inherent to the Mangekyo Sharingan. Kotoamatsukami couldn't be used twice in quick succession.
[Mangekyō Sharingan resistance activated.]
A line of text flashed before Kitazawa's eyes. He was startled—but not surprised.
[Danzo intends to assassinate the host's teacher. Host, stop him.]
[Current Mission: Kill Danzo.]
[Mission Reward: Four Symbols Seal and Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique.]
[Do you accept?]
Kitazawa's heart surged with excitement. Finally—it appeared!
Given Danzo's status and strength, it was inevitable that a system mission would be triggered. He had been waiting for this moment.
Now, it was here.
Glancing at the mission rewards, Kitazawa couldn't help but smirk. As expected of Danzo, two S-rank sealing techniques as the reward.
The Four Symbols Seal, a powerful sealing technique of the Uzumaki Clan, used the cycle of four symbols to trap its target.
Minato Namikaze had used it to seal the Nine-Tails within Naruto. Two of them together formed the legendary Eight Trigrams Seal.
The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique came from the same lineage—but inverted in purpose.
The Four Symbols Seal sealed outward, while the Reverse version sealed inward—absorbing the target into the user's own body. Once successful, both the user and target were dragged into the Pure Land.
It was a forbidden technique—because it cost the user their life.
In the original record, Danzo had used it himself. He'd intended to protect Uchiha Shisui's eye and drag Sasuke down with him.
But Obito had intervened, and in the end, Danzo only managed to seal half a bridge.
"Danzo! What did you do to me!?"
Tsunade suddenly regained full awareness, her fury igniting. As soon as the genjutsu lifted, she realized what had happened.
"Impossible!" Danzo stumbled back a step, disbelief on his face. "Kitazawa… how did you not fall under my genjutsu!?"
To him, Tsunade breaking free of Kotoamatsukami was shocking enough—but Kitazawa being completely unaffected was beyond comprehension.
A Mangekyo Sharingan-level genjutsu should have been irresistible.
Why was Kitazawa immune? Nothing made sense.
"Kotoamatsukami is a dōjutsu cast by the Mangekyō Sharingan," Kitazawa explained, his tone calm. "It originates from Uchiha Shisui's eyes."
Tsunade's expression darkened instantly.
It was her first time encountering such a subtle, silent genjutsu. If Kitazawa hadn't been there, she would've been forced to support Danzo as Hokage.
Just the thought of it was enough to make her blood boil, and she knew how serious the consequences would be.
"Mangekyō Sharingan? And Uchiha Shisui's?" Tsunade's eyes widened as her heart jolted.
"Was he killed by Danzo?" she asked sharply.
When Shisui had supposedly committed suicide, Tsunade had been wandering the ninja world. She'd only heard rumors—never the truth.
"I heard from Itachi that Danzo ambushed him and stole one of his Mangekyō Sharingan," Kitazawa said seriously. "Lady Tsunade, leave him to me. Itachi taught me how to deal with Kotoamatsukami."
He increasingly felt that Uchiha Itachi was proving to be a most useful excuse.
The reason Kitazawa fabricated such a "benevolent lie" was simple—Tsunade wasn't aware of Danzo's secrets.
If she confronted him head-on, who knew what kind of danger she might face? Besides, Kitazawa had a system mission to complete.
As for Itachi exposing the lie, he wouldn't. Itachi would never offend Tsunade.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Tsunade asked, concern flickering beneath her composed tone.
"I'm your student, after all," Kitazawa replied with a light smile. "Leave it to me."
"Arrogant brat!" Danzo could no longer endure being ignored. "Do you think I'm like those useless fools from the Hidden Mist Village!?"
Neither Tsunade nor Kitazawa had treated him seriously in their conversation. The casual disregard burned at his pride.
"That's right, I did steal Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan."
Seeing the truth exposed, Danzo tore off the bandage covering his right eye—revealing the whirling tomoe of the Mangekyō.
"Danzo!" Tsunade's tone dropped to ice. "You have harmed a Konoha ninja. According to the laws of the village, I now declare your arrest!"
In the shadows, Itachi's breath hitched. His hands clenched unconsciously.
After all this time, the truth behind Shisui's death had finally come to light. And now, Danzo—the murderer—was being condemned by none other than Tsunade, the next Hokage.
Itachi's heart trembled. Shisui's honor would finally be restored. The world would know—he was no coward who took his own life.
But Itachi forced himself to stay hidden. He wanted nothing more than to kill Danzo with his own hands—but he couldn't disobey Tsunade's orders.
As long as Danzo died, that was enough.
"Have you checked the surroundings?" Itachi whispered.
"We've checked. Besides the four people already in view, there are eight more hidden nearby," one of his men replied.
"Monitor them," Itachi ordered. "If they move, intercept and buy as much time as you can."
He would remain here to protect Tsunade. Danzo possessed Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan—he couldn't take the risk that Tsunade or Kitazawa might fall.
If it came to it, he would reveal his own Mangekyō and summon Susanoo to end Danzo himself.
"Hmph. You fools have no idea what true power is!" Danzo declared arrogantly. "Today, none of you will leave alive!"
Even if Kotoamatsukami failed, the Mangekyō Sharingan itself was more than enough.
"Kitazawa," Tsunade said, pausing briefly. "Be careful."
Since he had chosen to face Danzo, she would trust him—for now. If the situation turned dire, she'd intervene, with Itachi and the Anbu ready to strike.
"Alright," Kitazawa replied, unsheathing his blade, Zangetsu. A faint smile touched his lips. "Please enlighten me."
The Mangekyō Sharingan was powerful—but Danzo's wasn't even his own. And without Wood Release, he was far from the monster he'd been during his battle with Sasuke.
"Since you seek death, I'll grant it!" Danzo roared.
Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!
He inhaled sharply, then exhaled—a torrent of compressed wind chakra shot forth like a volley of blades.
Uchiha Style: Gale Sword!
Kitazawa vanished from sight, reappearing behind Danzo in an instant. He swung his blade—flames burst forth, forming a blazing arc through the air.
A scorching wave of heat rippled outward.
"Uchiha Shisui's swordsmanship?" Danzo sneered. "Against this eye, it's useless."
He used the Body Flicker Technique, evading the fiery slash with ease. The Mangekyō Sharingan's perception rivaled even the Byakugan.
"You despise the Uchiha so much," Kitazawa said with a mocking smile, "but tell me—what's the difference between you and them now?"
"Shut up!" Danzo snapped furiously. "What can those cursed Uchiha compare to me!?"
Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet (Sphere)!
Enraged, Danzo formed hand signs, spewing countless wind bullets that filled the air like a deadly storm.
Rasengan!
Kitazawa raised his left hand—chakra spiraled violently, shattering the incoming projectiles.
In his right hand, he gripped Zangetsu, infusing it with lightning.
Lightning Release: Supervibrato Lightning Blades!
Sparks burst forth as Kitazawa lunged—his lightning-charged sword thrust straight for Danzo's heart.
Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!
Danzo exhaled, his kunai transforming into a short blade wreathed in wind. Their weapons clashed—the vibrating Zangetsu sent shockwaves up his arm, numbing it instantly.
Danzo gritted his teeth, barely holding onto his kunai. At that moment, his Mangekyō flared once more.
He unleashed another wave of genjutsu power.
Suddenly, the pressure on his blade eased.
"Die!" Danzo laughed triumphantly. Kitazawa's blank eyes reflected in his own.
So—it had been a fluke before. The boy couldn't resist his Mangekyō twice.
"Kitazawa!" Tsunade shouted, heart seizing. She took a step forward—then froze.
The sound of a thousand birds filled the air.
In the instant of Danzo's triumph, Kitazawa's left hand pierced his chest—lightning bursting from his palm.
Brilliant arcs of blue light illuminated the battlefield.
Danzo's smile abruptly froze.
He looked down at the blood spurting from his chest and asked in shock, "You… why aren't you affected by genjutsu?"
Kitazawa did not answer his question. He stepped back quickly and shouted, "Lady Tsunade, don't come over yet!"
"His heart has been destroyed by your Lightning Release: Chidori. He's as good as dead," Tsunade said with certainty.
As the greatest Medical Ninja in the world, she could immediately assess Danzo's current condition.
"Has your Izanagi's duration not ended yet?" Kitazawa asked coldly.
"You… how do you know?" Danzo's pupils constricted in disbelief.
"Izanagi?" Tsunade's eyes suddenly sharpened. Information about that forbidden technique instantly surfaced in her mind.
After activating Izanagi, any injuries sustained within a certain time — even death — would be nullified once the duration ended.
The cost was the blindness of one Sharingan, and the duration depended on the user's ability. In the original record, Danzo's single Sharingan could last for about one minute.
Tsunade's face showed disgust.
The fact that Danzo could use Izanagi meant he possessed multiple Sharingan — either scavenged from corpses or taken by killing Uchiha Clan members. Both were unforgivable crimes in Konoha.
"Old man, you've been far too lenient with him!" she thought bitterly. At this moment, she had only one thought — to bring Danzo's corpse back.
If he returned alive, Hiruzen and the others might protect him again, and that would only cause more trouble.
Kitazawa stood silently, waiting. This was the advantage of information.
Danzo didn't know that Kitazawa could ignore Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu and form hand signs with one hand. That was why his heart had been shattered by Kitazawa's Chidori.
But Kitazawa knew about Izanagi — so he didn't lower his guard for even a second.
Suddenly, Danzo's corpse vanished.
"Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere!"
Danzo appeared behind Kitazawa, exhaling a compressed wind bullet. The moment it struck, the ground erupted, dust filling the air.
"Earth Style: Underground Move Jutsu!"
Kitazawa had already prepared. The instant the sound of wind rang out, he sank into the ground.
Seeing this, Danzo bit his thumb and slammed his palm onto the earth.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive orange-red creature appeared — a bizarre chimera with an elephant's trunk, rhinoceros eyes, an ox's tail, and tiger claws.
"The Baku," Danzo muttered.
The Baku opened its maw, creating a tremendous suction that tore a massive crater into the ground.
"Wind Release: Rotating Shuriken!"
Catching sight of Kitazawa's movement, Danzo quickly hurled a shuriken infused with Wind Chakra. Its speed and power multiplied instantly.
With a violent bang, the shuriken struck — but the body it hit turned into mud.
A substitution! Danzo frowned just as a deafening roar came from behind him.
He turned to see a massive water dragon surging toward him.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!"
Danzo reacted instantly, exhaling multiple streams of slicing air. The blades tore through the dragon, shredding it apart midair.
"Your Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu is far inferior to my teacher's," Danzo said disdainfully, scanning his surroundings.
He knew Kitazawa's Water Release originated from Senju Tobirama — his own mentor.
"Is that so?" Kitazawa's voice came from above.
Danzo instinctively looked up — and his face drained of color.
Everything before him was water. A vast ocean poured from the sky, descending like a tsunami.
"Baku!" Danzo shouted.
The Baku opened its mouth and tried to absorb the water, but there was too much.
"Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere!"
Danzo unleashed another blast, dispersing the water in all directions.
Then — the sound of a thousand birds. Lightning flashed across his vision.
Danzo gritted his teeth, lunging forward instead of dodging. He seized Kitazawa's wrists with both hands.
Blood sprayed.
Lightning Release: Chidori once again pierced through his heart.
"Self-Cursing Seal!"
Black curse marks crawled up Kitazawa's arm. Danzo intended to sacrifice another Sharingan to activate Izanagi and kill him.
But Kitazawa drew Zangetsu in an instant, slashing cleanly, cutting off Danzo's arms.
"Hahaha! Too late!"
Danzo laughed wildly before vanishing.
Kitazawa didn't dispel the curse seal immediately; instead, he stood motionless, pretending to be trapped.
After all, he had already obtained the Self-Cursing Seal through his system — and understood it even better than Danzo. Removing it would take only a thought.
But Danzo didn't know that.
A moment later, Danzo reappeared. He was very cautious after using Izanagi. He rushed forward, kunai in hand, stabbing toward Kitazawa's heart.
Kitazawa turned sharply — and Zangetsu pierced through Danzo's chest instead.
Blood gushed forth.
"You… how could you…" Danzo's eyes widened, his expression frozen in disbelief.
This battle had completely shattered his understanding.
Not only could Kitazawa ignore the Mangekyō's genjutsu, but he could also dissolve his own Self-Cursing Seal in an instant.
What kind of monster was this?
"Do you still have enough Izanagi reserves?" Kitazawa asked with a faint smile.
"You—!" Danzo spat a mouthful of blood, roaring, "I will definitely kill you!"
As he died once more, Izanagi triggered — and his body vanished completely.
Kitazawa calmly flicked Zangetsu, scattering droplets of blood onto the ground. The blade gleamed clean and sharp once again.
Tsunade looked at the composed Kitazawa, her expression filled with the same disbelief Danzo had shown moments before.
In just a few minutes, Danzo — an Elite Jōnin — had died three times. It was simply absurd.
Tsunade felt that if it were her, even killing Danzo once would have been difficult — let alone three times.
After all, she couldn't ignore the Mangekyō Sharingan's genjutsu or Kotoamatsukami's influence. But Kitazawa hadn't won simply because of that advantage.
As she recalled his battle, she realized that from start to finish, Kitazawa had calculated Danzo's every move with precision.
Why did he know Danzo so well?
Despite her confusion, Tsunade felt grateful that she had brought Kitazawa along. If it had been anyone else — even Sarutobi Hiruzen — dealing with Danzo would have been nearly impossible.
The biggest problem lay in the fact that Danzo possessed Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, which gave him an overwhelming advantage.
Hidden in the shadows, Itachi felt a subtle pang in his chest.
He realized that his presence was unnecessary. Even without him, Kitazawa and Tsunade could have handled both Danzo and the twelve Root under his command.
Kitazawa dealt with Danzo, and with Tsunade's strength, the remaining Root Ninjas wouldn't have lasted long.
Still, Itachi was grateful that Kitazawa had called him. Witnessing Danzo's death with his own eyes was, in itself, a form of closure — a tribute to Shisui's memory.
Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere!
As soon as Danzo reappeared, he immediately formed hand signs without hesitation.
But Kitazawa was faster. Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!
He hurled a single shuriken, which trembled violently in the air and multiplied into countless blades.
"Damn it! Did Hiruzen even teach you this Ninjutsu?"
Seeing this, Danzo had no choice but to halt his jutsu and dodge with lightning speed as a storm of shuriken filled the sky.
In a spot out of Danzo's line of sight, Kitazawa had already created a Shadow Clone — while his true body sank into the ground and vanished.
The shuriken rained down, embedding themselves densely into the earth.
Then, Danzo suddenly threw a smoke bomb.
Bang! The explosion filled the battlefield with dense smoke. His silhouette disappeared within it.
Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere!
Kitazawa didn't panic. Tilting his head back, he exhaled a burst of Wind Release Chakra.
Invisible gales swept forward, tearing through the smoke in an instant.
"You even learned my Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere?" Danzo asked, his face darkening.
"I've learned many Ninjutsu," Kitazawa said calmly. "And this time, I'll finish our battle using the Ninjutsu of Second Hokage-sama. Consider this a lesson — from teacher to unworthy disciple."
"What did you say?!" Danzo's killing intent exploded.
"It seems you still care about Second Hokage-sama," Kitazawa continued, his words like blades. "If he could see you now, he definitely wouldn't regret choosing Hiruzen as Hokage."
"Shut up!" Danzo's composure was shattered. "Die!"
He appeared in front of Kitazawa in an instant. "Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique!"
Blood burst from every pore of his body, forming black sealing marks that spread across the ground. The air trembled — all matter around him was being drawn into the vortex of chakra.
Tsunade's pupils contracted sharply.
She recognized it immediately — the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique, a forbidden jutsu of the Uzumaki Clan, capable of sealing everything within several hundred meters.
She silently thanked herself for letting Kitazawa face Danzo earlier.
"You actually prepared the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique?"
Kitazawa felt the pull closing in on him — then bang! His body dispersed into smoke.
"A Shadow Clone…?" Danzo froze.
A mouthful of blood surged up his throat. The shock and fury combined — and he literally died of rage.
Of course, the main reason was the jutsu itself — a suicidal forbidden technique. But realizing that he had sealed nothing more than a clone made his anger unbearable, hastening his end.
As Danzo's life faded, the sealing formation collapsed, leaving behind pools of blood and black talismans.
Kitazawa, the real one, appeared not far away.
Suddenly — bang! — A massive gust of wind burst behind him.
"Konoha-Style Body Flicker Technique!" Kitazawa's figure blurred, transforming into swirling leaves that rose into the air.
From above, he locked onto Danzo's position in an instant.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" He formed hand seals, summoning a roaring dragon of water that surged forward.
"You are not worthy of using my teacher's Water Release!" Danzo screamed in madness.
Infusing his shuriken with Wind Release Chakra, he hurled it into the dragon's chest. The moment it struck, the water burst apart into a thousand droplets.
Danzo's instincts screamed danger. Something was wrong with that water spray.
In a flash, he realized what it was, a Water Release technique devised by Senju Tobirama himself.
Water Release: Heavenly Weeping!
Hidden within the spray, four water needles shot toward him. Danzo's Mangekyō spun furiously as he dodged with inhuman speed.
"In front of the Mangekyō Sharingan, your attacks are useless!" he shouted coldly.
"Is that so?" Kitazawa's tone was calm, almost mocking. His hands came together.
"Genjutsu: Infinite Darkness Jutsu." Invisible chakra rippled outward. Darkness fell like night.
"Infinite Darkness Jutsu…?" Danzo froze.
Even with his Mangekyō Sharingan, he couldn't see a thing. Panic crept into his heart — genuine fear.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. Seeing the Infinite Darkness Jutsu, her tension eased slightly.
The Infinite Darkness Jutsu, a genjutsu that neutralized visual prowess, was a natural counter to the Uchiha Clan.
If nothing went wrong, this battle would end in Kitazawa's victory.
"It's time to end this, Danzo," Kitazawa said calmly as he brought his hands together — entering Senju Chakra Mode.
"He's there!" Danzo heard his voice and quickly spat out a massive sphere of wind.
With a deafening boom, the Wind Release struck the ground—but the expected scream never came. Instead, a thunderous roar of water erupted as a great water dragon descended from the sky, engulfing him completely.
Danzo was hurled backward, crashing violently into the ground. Though gravely injured, he wasn't dead.
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself up—but before he could even stand, a torrent like a raging waterfall came crashing down on him.
Caught off guard, Danzo swallowed a mouthful of water, his lungs burning.
Could it be… I'm going to die by Water Release? And it's my teacher's Water Release?
"No… not like this!" He leaped toward the surface, gasping for breath, but the surrounding darkness swallowed his vision whole.
Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!
Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!
Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet!
Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere!
In his panic, Danzo unleashed Wind Release techniques in every direction, firing wildly as if driven mad.
Then, two hands emerged silently from the water beneath his feet.
Kitazawa's grip was iron. He seized Danzo by the ankles and yanked him down into the depths. Drawing Zangetsu, he plunged the blade straight into Danzo's body.
Danzo's mouth opened in shock, bubbles and blood spilling into the water. Within seconds, his vision darkened, and everything turned still.
Kitazawa stood motionless in the pitch-black void. The Infinite Darkness Jutsu was still active.
When Danzo's form reappeared, Kitazawa Body Flickered behind him in an instant. This time, it wasn't Danzo who had found him first—it was the other way around.
Lightning Release: Supervibrato Lightning Blades!
Uchiha-Style: Blazing Sword Meteor!
Zangetsu pierced through Danzo's chest from behind, while lightning surged from Kitazawa's front strike, their combined force tearing through his body.
Danzo froze mid-seal. His trembling hands fell as his strength drained away.
"Do you still have Izanagi this time?" Kitazawa asked, his voice calm and cold.
"You… you…" Danzo's words faltered. His chakra wavered. He could no longer weave seals—without them, Izanagi was useless.
Before, he had always revived with time to prepare. But this time, trapped within the Infinite Darkness, he had lost that chance.
His eyes grew distant. In his final moments, he seemed to see his teacher, Senju Tobirama.
Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique.
Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu.
Water Release: Heavenly Weeping.
Genjutsu: Infinite Darkness Jutsu…
So this was his end—killed by the very techniques of his own master.
Teacher… is this your rejection of me? Danzo closed his eyes. His body went limp, sinking lifelessly to the ground.
[Current Mission: Kill Danzo.]
[Mission Reward: Four Symbols Seal and Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique.]
[Host has completed the mission. Rewards issued.]
Kitazawa gazed at the glowing text before him and exhaled deeply.
The mission's completion meant only one thing—Danzo would never rise again.
Tsunade stared at Danzo's corpse in disbelief. Only when she confirmed the body hadn't vanished did she allow herself to relax.
After a moment of stunned silence, a wave of relief and satisfaction washed over her.
"That stubborn old fool… he finally got what he deserved."
A weight she hadn't realized she'd been carrying lifted from her shoulders. For years, Danzo had been a thorn in Konoha's heart—and in hers.
Now, at last, that darkness was gone.
"Is Danzo… really dead?"
Uchiha Itachi's voice was quiet, his expression unreadable. His emotions twisted between vengeance fulfilled, hope for Konoha's future, and the lingering grief of losing Shisui.
If only Shisui had lived two more years… until Tsunade returned to the village… maybe things would have been different.
"Kitazawa, are you alright?" Tsunade asked, snapping back to reality as she hurried toward him.
"I—" Kitazawa began, but before he could finish, the sharp whistle of wind echoed from every direction.
Eight Anbu(previous root ninja), hidden in the shadows, along with four from Danzo's squad, suddenly surrounded them.
"Danzo is dead! Are you still intent on making mistakes?" Tsunade shouted angrily.
Itachi stepped forward, his Anbu forming a defensive line around her and Kitazawa.
The twelve masked shinobi hesitated, their loyalty wavering. Years of Root indoctrination clashed against the truth before them.
"If you lay down your arms now, I'll spare your lives," Tsunade warned coldly. "But if you wish to follow Danzo to the Pure Land, I don't mind sending you there myself."
Silence fell. Then, one by one, the Anbu lowered their weapons.
Root had been dissolved long ago; the Tongue Eradication Seal was gone.
Logically, they shouldn't have to obey Danzo's orders anymore. But the moment they saw him, their bodies obeyed his commands as if by muscle memory.
However, they had, after all, lived a normal life in the Anbu for a while.
Now, with his death confirmed, even that reflex finally faded.
"Very good." Tsunade nodded slightly.
Seeing that there would be no further conflict, Kitazawa took out a summoning scroll and sealed Danzo's corpse inside.
Danzo still had several Sharingan on him—most notably, Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.
How should he put it? The Mangekyō Sharingan was indeed powerful, but those eyes belonged to Shisui.
Kitazawa had no intention of using someone else's eyes. Besides, with his system, it was only a matter of time before he awakened his own pair of Mangekyō Sharingan.
Since he would eventually possess his own, there was no need to replace them with another's.
As for how to handle Danzo's body, Kitazawa decided to leave that matter for later. For now, he would keep it sealed and see what Tsunade thought when the time came.
"Hokage-sama, shall we continue to the Capital of the Land of Fire—or return to Konoha first?" Kitazawa asked after putting the scroll away.
Although Danzo was no longer Root's leader, he still held the title of a high-ranking Konoha official. His death would undoubtedly cause an uproar within the village.
Still, considering his reputation, few would mourn him. Aside from Hiruzen and the two village advisors, most would probably celebrate.
"Itachi, take your team to the Capital of the Land of Fire and invite the Daimyō to Konoha," Tsunade instructed after a brief pause.
She had originally gone to the Capital herself to set a trap for Danzo. Now that the man was dead, there was no longer any need for her personal involvement.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade," Itachi replied respectfully.
In truth, he wished to return to Konoha immediately—to inform the Uchiha of Danzo's death. But on second thought, it was unnecessary.
Once Tsunade and Kitazawa returned, the entire village would know. He could safely carry out his mission and bring the Daimyō back.
"You all will return with me," Tsunade said, turning toward the twelve Anbu who had followed Danzo. "Explain everything clearly when we arrive. The village will reassign you according to the rules."
She knew they could no longer remain in the Anbu after this.
"Let's go." Tsunade glanced at Kitazawa and began the journey back to Konoha along their original path.
By the time they arrived, the sun was high overhead.
Tsunade went straight to the Hokage's Office.
"Tsunade?" Hiruzen looked up in surprise. "Why are you back so soon? Where's the Daimyō?"
"We were ambushed by Danzo on the way," Tsunade replied bluntly. "We killed him."
"What?" Hiruzen froze. "Danzo… is dead?"
For a moment, he couldn't form an expression. Danzo had been his comrade for decades—a fellow warrior who had fought beside him since youth. Hearing of his death struck him like a hammer blow.
"Killing a fellow Konoha ninja is a grave crime," Tsunade said firmly, her tone heavy.
"This… was his own doing," Hiruzen murmured, finally regaining composure. He sighed deeply.
Danzo was gone. There was no point in assigning blame now. Besides, if he punished Tsunade, she might leave the village again—and then who would lead?
And given that Danzo had struck first, his death was, indeed, deserved.
Still, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel weary—spiritually and physically.
"I've already sent Itachi and the others to invite the Daimyō," Tsunade continued. "How do you plan to handle Danzo's matter?"
"You handle it," Hiruzen said after a brief silence. "From today, you are the Acting Hokage."
"Wait." Tsunade frowned. "I refuse."
"Tsunade, don't be stubborn. Whether you become Hokage a week earlier or later makes no difference now," Hiruzen replied gently.
"..." Tsunade wanted to argue, but fell silent.
Looking at Hiruzen's face, she suddenly realized how much older he seemed. The deep lines, the heaviness in his eyes—it was clear that Danzo's death had shaken him deeply.
Though their relationship had been complicated, there had always been a strong bond between them.
"…Alright," Tsunade finally said softly. Her heart was too kind to refuse.
"Haru," Hiruzen called.
"Hokage-sama." Anbu stepped inside immediately.
"From this moment on, Tsunade will serve as Acting Hokage," Hiruzen said in a deep voice. "She will oversee all village affairs."
Haru's heart trembled. There was only one week left before Tsunade was to be officially appointed, yet Hiruzen was already relinquishing his authority.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!" He answered at once.
Hiruzen rose slowly, took his pipe, and looked around the room. After a long silence, he walked out of the Hokage's Office—alone.
Tsunade exhaled, rubbing her temples. "How did things come to this…"
"Lady—Hokage-sama," Haru said softly, bowing. "Do you have any orders?"
"Send out a notice," Tsunade said after thinking for a moment. "State that Danzo attempted to assassinate me and was killed by Kitazawa in self-defense."
Haru's eyes widened slightly. Now he understood Hiruzen's earlier expression—it had been grief for Danzo.
"Be sure to include the details," Tsunade added firmly.
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Haru replied, taking a deep breath.
From that moment on, with Danzo's death and Tsunade's appointment as Acting Hokage, Konoha had entered a new era.
The news spread like wildfire. Within hours, the entire village erupted.
Especially the various Ninja clans, who were practically cheering. After all, Danzo and his Root had indeed done terrible things.
But who was happiest, of course, it was the Uchiha Clan.
It was said that laughter could be heard for half an hour straight, as long as one was near the Uchiha Clan's compound and the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters.