Shimura Danzō forced himself to calm down.
The Senju Haruto standing before him was only a Wood Release clone — nowhere near the power or chakra reserves of the real body.
He had only two uses of Izanagi left. But if he could seize Uchiha Itachi's Sharingan in that time, he could use Itachi's Mangekyō techniques himself… and take down Haruto's Wood Release clone in the process.
If that plan failed, the outcome was obvious.
A fight with no way back, then…
Danzō's gaze sharpened. For now, he set Haruto aside as a target and turned his eyes to Uchiha Itachi.
"It's time to clean up Konoha's traitors."
His voice was low and heavy as his legs launched him forward like the wind, closing the distance with long, powerful strides.
Thanks to the forbidden technique of Izanagi, Danzō could completely ignore the Aburame Torane's Jar of Venom technique.
But Itachi had to rely on Susanoo to keep himself safe, ensuring no trace of the poison seeped into his body.
In other words — if Danzō could open even a small gap in Susanoo's armor, the airborne toxins would rush in and kill Itachi instantly. Stealing his eyes would be the work of a heartbeat.
Suddenly, Danzō kicked off the ground, his body vaulting high. Two kunai appeared in his hands. Channeling Wind Release chakra into both, he hurled the first straight at Susanoo's chest.
At the same time, he released a Vacuum Serial Waves attack to follow up.
Boom!
The wind-charged kunai slammed into Susanoo's front — only to rebound harmlessly against its immense defense.
The Vacuum Serial Waves attack was completely nullified by the crimson energy shroud.
"Even Wind Release won't work…?"
Danzō frowned. Among the five basic chakra natures, Wind Release had the greatest raw destructive power — yet here it accomplished nothing.
Itachi seized the opening. Susanoo's fist swung in a brutal arc, driving straight for Danzō's chest.
Crash!
The blow landed with a thunderous crack, shattering all of Danzō's ribs and blasting him through the air. His head struck the ground, body tumbling several times before skidding to a halt.
The final Sharingan on his arm dimmed, its light extinguished.
Looking down at the battered figure, Itachi said coolly,
"In a battle between skilled shinobi, intelligence is critical. Without knowledge of Susanoo, you chose the worst possible method of attack."
Yes, Wind Release was devastating — but breaking through Susanoo was another matter entirely.
"Classic Danzō," Haruto muttered with a hint of dry amusement. He remembered well — back when Danzō fought Sasuke to the death, he'd tried the same approach. And now against Itachi, nothing had changed. Did Danzō truly think Susanoo's defense was that poor?
Only, unlike Sasuke back then — still new to the technique — this Itachi had mastered Susanoo. If Haruto's guess was right, Itachi now far outstripped Sasuke during the Five Kage Summit.
Back then, Danzō had only breached Sasuke's Susanoo with the help of the Baku.
Now, his summoned beast had been smashed into the dirt by Haruto's Wood Golem several times over.
As for trump cards, Danzō had only one left — the Reverse Four Symbols Seal.
Once his final Sharingan went dark, that would be the moment of his death.
"Can't break it, can you?"
Using Izanagi once more, the battered Danzō stood again, his wounds vanishing — but this time, his breathing was ragged.
One reality Izanagi could not alter was the heavy chakra cost of activation.
Even keeping his last use active for a full minute might be impossible now.
And with the Jar of Venom technique blanketing the field, none of his Root subordinates could break through. Even if they charged in, willing to die, they'd only throw away their lives within seconds.
Aburame Torane could see it clearly — and his heart clenched at Danzō's condition.
"Danzō-sama, we have to retreat!" Torane shouted, breath tight with urgency.
Other Root shinobi clawed free of Haruto's Wood Release restraints and gathered at the poison's edge, ready to cover their leader's withdrawal.
"Damn it…"
Danzō grit his teeth. He'd planned to breach Susanoo, close the distance, and tear Itachi's eyes from his skull.
But even his Wind Release couldn't punch through. And after chaining Izanagi activations, his chakra reserves were running dry.
At most, he could unleash three more Vacuum Serial Waves. But he doubted they'd be enough to shatter Susanoo.
Glancing once at his loyal Root shinobi, he finally abandoned the plan.
Swish—
Danzō pushed his battered body to its limit, racing to escape the Jar of Venom before Izanagi's last seconds ran out. Otherwise, even without Haruto or Itachi lifting a finger, the poison would claim him.
But Haruto had no intention of letting him leave.
Seeing Danzō break into a desperate sprint, Haruto's hands flashed through seals before slamming his palms into the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
The wall surged up without mercy, Haruto's immense chakra reserves stacking layer after layer until it was several meters thick — forcing the Root shinobi back in retreat.
Danzō skidded to a halt, sweat beading and streaming down his temples, his back drenched.
"Haruto…" His voice was low, tight. Time was running out.
"I swear to you — and to Sarutobi Hiruzen — I will never move against you again. I will no longer interfere in Konoha's leadership decisions. Root will be disbanded. The Sharingan, Hashirama's cells — I will never touch them again…"
For the first time, Danzō's composure cracked into real panic.
The truth was, after failing to seize Itachi's Mangekyō, the calm he had fought so hard to maintain was gone. His thoughts were a tangle.
He couldn't even tell if his death was Haruto's personal decision or part of Hiruzen's design.
If he had only stopped to think, he would have known — Hiruzen's ideals would never have led to his execution.
But in this moment, he couldn't think at all.
"Itachi."
Haruto ignored Danzō entirely, calling Itachi's name.
While holding off Aburame Torane's jutsu, Haruto had noted the sheer scale of the poison insects unleashed. Ever since the toxic cloud's detonation, the poison had lingered in the air.
Even with chakra shielding, he had unknowingly inhaled some of it. The Earth Release just now had worsened that effect.
Still — as he was only a Wood Release clone, and Izanagi's final moments were almost up, it was time to leave the stage.
"Byakugan!"
Haruto focused his Byakugan fully on Danzō, determined to make sure the man stayed dead this time.
"…Understood."
Itachi's reply was calm. Susanoo's colossal form shifted, launching its final strike toward Danzō.
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