The moment Uchiha Kaede's magma-formed arm lunged forward, time seemed to freeze.
Danzo Shimura's eye widened as the blazing crimson heat surged toward him, distorting the very air. The tip of Kaede's molten limb was like a judgment spear—unrelenting, absolute.
But Danzo wasn't called Konoha's Darkness for nothing.
A sudden gust of chakra burst from his feet as he pushed off the ground, twisting his torso back just in time. The magma spear narrowly missed, slicing through the air and melting the stone wall behind Danzo with a hissing roar. Chunks of lava-splashed debris tumbled to the ground.
Danzo landed in a crouch, a bead of sweat sizzling on his temple. His bandaged arm trembled slightly.
"Retreat!" he barked to the two Root guards—both already staggering back, one clutching a half-melted sword hilt, the other with minor burns spreading along his wrist. Their weapons had failed against Kaede's molten skin.
But Kaede did not pursue.
He stood tall, his silhouette a glowing statue of law and judgment. The Sharingan spun slowly in his crimson eyes, three tomoe dancing in a death spiral. His Lava Release pulsed like a volcano contained in flesh. Every breath he exhaled shimmered the air.
"You draw blades," Kaede said coldly, "and yet you speak of loyalty to Konoha?"
Danzo gritted his teeth. "You threaten the village—"
"No," Kaede interrupted. His tone cut like tempered steel. "I cleanse it."
A hush had fallen over the crowd. Even the ANBU stood motionless, his hand still on his katana, unsure whether to step in or stay out. Civilians had long since scattered, hiding behind shop walls and market stalls, peeking out with trembling fingers and terrified whispers.
Danzo's voice lowered to a growl. "You dare attack a Konoha elder in public view?"
"You," Kaede said, raising his left hand and pointing straight at Danzo, "are no elder. You are a criminal. A traitor who hides behind shadows and poisons the roots of this village."
Above Danzo's head, the red box flickered again—more vivid than ever. His crimes scrolled endlessly in Kaede's vision.
Conspiracy. Murder. Human experimentation. Unauthorized control of Root. Attempted coup d'état. And most damning: "Sabotage of the Nine-Tails Seal."
Kaede's voice deepened.
"Danzo Shimura, your red-name status is at maximum classification. You have crossed every line of the Shinobi Code. By the authority granted to the Uchiha Police Force and the doctrine of the Justice God, I sentence you."
Danzo stepped back. "You're insane—!"
"I am justice."
Without hesitation, Kaede vanished.
A burst of molten chakra exploded where he had stood, and in the next blink, he was above Danzo—mid-air, blade drawn, lava coating its edge like a celestial executioner's flame.
Danzo's instinct flared. He twisted his bandaged arm forward, chakra erupting from it—
—but Kaede had predicted this.
His eyes narrowed.
"Too slow."
He reversed the arc mid-swing, ducked past Danzo's kunai slash, and delivered a savage kick to the elder's ribs. A muffled crack echoed as Danzo was sent flying through the side of a building.
The impact cratered the stone, smoke and dust pouring from the collapse.
Kaede landed without a sound.
Naruto sat frozen on the ground nearby, eyes wide. He could hardly breathe. Not from fear of Kaede, but from awe—like he had just seen a god of war descend in judgment.
Izumi appeared beside Kaede, her voice hushed.
"Kaede… Danzo…"
"Still alive," Kaede said. "But no longer untouchable."
From the dust, Danzo staggered out, blood staining his robes, one arm hanging limp. His Sharingan eye beneath the bandage gleamed briefly before fading.