Hiruzen Sarutobi was barely holding himself together. With a few subtle glances, several Anbu ninja immediately broke off and sped towards where Danzo had been taken. When Hiruzen noticed Kakashi also making a move, he instantly called out to him.
"Kakashi, stay here." That simple command made Kakashi, who was about to leave, halt in his tracks. Hiruzen had cautiously decided against letting Kakashi go after Danzo, especially since Akainu had publicly stated that Sakumo Hatake's death was connected to Danzo. He worried Kakashi might be blinded by hatred. Even knowing Kakashi wasn't usually like that, he couldn't afford to be careless. After all... Hiruzen was practically developing a psychological complex thanks to Uchiha Akainu! Every time he thought he could predict what would happen, something unexpected occurred.
Then, Hiruzen glared deeply at Uchiha Akainu, his voice sinking as he said, "Akainu... I hope you, who wields such a dangerous power, will not use it on your fellow village ninja. I know you want to enact justice, but justice must be based on protecting the village." He knew Akainu wouldn't listen to his words, but he spoke them for others to hear—that way, it wouldn't sound like the Third Hokage was protecting Danzo out of personal feelings, but rather for the sake of the village.
As for whether to heavily punish Uchiha Akainu for defying the Hokage's orders in public? Hiruzen dismissed that dangerous thought. Danzo's miserable state was a stark reminder. If he were to truly break ties with the even stronger Akainu... Hiruzen couldn't guarantee how many lives would be lost tonight to take him down.
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## Hyuga's Concerns and the Uchiha's Newfound Hope
"Looks like the dust has settled for now..." Hiashi Hyuga murmured, no longer hearing any major commotions. His whispered words were only audible to the Hyuga clan ninja behind him: "Hokage-sama has, for now, compromised with Uchiha Akainu. However, he hasn't fully compromised, only half-heartedly, as he still intends to protect Danzo."
"Lord Hiashi," a Hyuga jōnin whispered with concern, "Did Danzo also try to steal our Hyuga clan's Byakugan?"
Hiashi remained silent for half a second, a shadow passing over his expression. This dissatisfaction was directed solely at Danzo. Hiashi stated expressionlessly, "The branch family's Byakugan are all marked with the Caged Bird seal. Danzo couldn't possibly break that jutsu." The Hyuga jōnin also fell silent. He himself was a member of the Hyuga branch family. The Caged Bird... was a shadow that loomed over every member of the Hyuga branch family.
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"Uchiha Akainu... he's awakened the highest level of our Uchiha clan's Sharingan, hasn't he? That's the legendary... Mangekyo Sharingan, the strongest Heavenly Eye said to see through the three worlds, possessing earth-shattering ocular power!!!" Most of the Uchiha Police Force ninja were focused on this. Compared to the Mangekyo Sharingan, Danzo's fate was no longer their primary concern. A living Mangekyo Sharingan user was right before their eyes!
"Clan Head Fugaku, he... he also seems to possess this legendary power! Earlier, from a higher vantage point, I saw his eyes; they were different from a normal Three Tomoe Sharingan!" This revelation almost completely floored the Uchiha clan ninja. In a single night, two Mangekyo Sharingan users! Were they, the Uchiha clan, finally going to turn the tables and truly wield influence in Konoha Village?
"Lord Fugaku... he was stopping us earlier, preventing us from helping Uchiha Akainu," until one person coldly and ruthlessly shattered their illusory fantasy: "He... is siding with the Hokage, not the Uchiha clan." Many radical Uchiha were instantly silenced. The person siding with the opposition was their own Uchiha clan head. Could anything be more tragic than that?
"As for Uchiha Akainu... huff!" a Police Force ninja calmly stated, "Is this the kind of man who would allow himself to be swayed?"
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## Danzo's Desperation and the Heavenly Condemnation Flames
As the fourth Sharingan on Danzo's arm slowly closed, it meant that he had activated the forbidden secret technique, Izanagi, four times in just one night! However... for some unknown reason, the Heavenly Condemnation Flames, clinging to the deepest part of his soul, simply refused to be shaken off! As a result, in less than two minutes, Danzo experienced countless cycles of being burned into a hellish realm by the Heavenly Condemnation Flames, only to rewrite the unfavorable reality with Izanagi's invincibility. This constant repetition tormented Danzo's body and mind.
"Is there any way..."
"What way, what way, what way!!!"
Only five Sharingan remained on his arm, and with the one transplanted in his eye, he had only six minutes left. When a burst of crimson flames once again erupted from his feet, the reflection in Danzo's eyes revealed infinite despair. The burning pain, piercing both flesh and soul, was something he couldn't get used to, nor could he grow numb to it. His entire body instantly burst into flames!
"Arghhhhhhhhh!!!"
As anxious as Danzo were the surrounding Root ninja. They had exhausted every method available, including, but not limited to, medical ninjutsu, sealing ninjutsu, and water ninjutsu. They had practically used their entire life's knowledge and expertise, yet they still couldn't extinguish the bizarre Heavenly Condemnation Flames on Lord Danzo! Even attempts to seal the flames into scrolls were futile.
As Izanagi's power activated once more, Danzo reached up and clutched his twisted, wrinkled old face. His fingertips left deep, bloody gashes. Despair and anxiety churned wildly within him, to the point where a thought of giving up crossed his mind—maybe this is it.
"No! That flame... even if I'm burned into the endless depths of hell, it will follow and torment my soul!" Terror flashed in Danzo's eyes.
"Soul..."
"Body..."
He instantly gritted his teeth, with such force that a tooth cracked. But before he could grasp the fleeting idea, the Heavenly Condemnation Flames, igniting out of thin air, once again enveloped his body and soul, the indescribable agony interrupting his thoughts.
"Arghhhhhhhhh!!!"
When his intact body reappeared, Danzo, his face full of lingering fear, glared at a bewildered Root ninja—the most talented sealing jutsu user in the entire Root organization, besides Danzo Shimura himself. To cultivate this individual, Danzo had even secretly transcribed many forbidden jutsu from the Scroll of Seals without Hiruzen Sarutobi's permission and given them to this Root ninja to study.
"Gen! Use that jutsu!"
The fourth Izanagi of the Sharingan was almost over. While rapidly forming the Izanagi hand signs, Danzo, unwilling to waste another second, frantically screamed, his eyes bloodshot: "Use the Reaper Death Seal!"
"Lord Danzo, I haven't... that jutsu..."
"Shut up!!!"
Danzo wished he could kill this fool who was still wasting time. His face flushed red as he roared, "Just use it! The flames started from my legs! Use it to sever the soul of my legs, you fool... Arghhhhhhhhh!"
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