The silver moon hung in the sky like a cold, sharp hook.
The forest below was dim and lifeless, and the moonlight filtered through the trees in broken patches, casting mottled shadows across the ground that made the entire area feel unsettlingly unreal.
Then, without warning, a violent explosion erupted nearby, snapping Danzo back to full awareness.
Where is this?
His mind swam for a moment as fragmented memories surged upward. Slowly, clarity returned.
The border of the Land of Lightning.
It was this place again. Exactly like before.
At that instant, triggered by the movement of the Konoha ninja, a chain of explosive tags hidden in the surroundings detonated all at once.
A wave of fire tore through the forest floor beneath Danzo and the others.
The shockwave forced Danzo's instincts into action. His eyes sharpened immediately, and chakra erupted from his feet as he lunged forward without hesitation.
At the same time, Kagami had just begun to raise his hands.
But Danzo was already faster.
He wrapped an arm around Utatane Koharu and pulled her out of the blast radius in a single motion.
The explosion roared behind them.
When the flames finally subsided, Kagami was the one who suffered the consequences of that brief delay. His arm had been injured in the blast.
It should have been Danzo injured instead.
But now, the result had shifted.
Kagami took the damage.
The Second Hokage's figure landed nearby, his expression tightening as he observed the aftermath.
"Kagami, why were you so careless? You couldn't even avoid an explosion like that. It doesn't match your ability."
"I'm sorry, Sensei," Kagami replied immediately, lowering his head without explanation.
The Second Hokage then shifted his gaze toward Danzo.
"Good. Your reaction was quick."
Praise from him was rare, but Danzo simply nodded, neither arrogant nor overly humble.
To the Second Hokage, that composure was even more pleasing.
Danzo… you have improved significantly.
Out of more than a dozen people at the start, only seven remained after the explosive trap.
"We should move. These bodies…" Homura Mitokado began, but stopped himself midway. The meaning was clear. They could not afford to linger.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to respond when Danzo spoke first in a steady voice.
"These are Konoha ninja. No matter what, they must be returned to the village."
Without hesitation, he took out a sealing scroll and began storing the bodies.
The Second Hokage gave a slight nod, approval flickering in his eyes.
The task was completed quickly, and the group set off again.
Along the way, Utatane Koharu deliberately slowed her pace and offered Danzo a quiet, grateful smile.
If Danzo had not acted, she would not have survived unscathed.
From a distance, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Danzo silently, a faint unease forming in his mind.
Something about Danzo tonight felt different.
No, not just different. It was as if a strange, unreadable aura surrounded him.
The group continued their retreat toward the Land of Fire.
The journey was far from smooth, yet Danzo seemed to anticipate every trap ahead. His movements were precise, his decisions decisive, and his presence carried an unfamiliar sense of maturity.
His performance shocked not only those who had trained beside him for years, but even the Second Hokage.
The Danzo they knew had always been rigid and somewhat extreme, lacking refinement in judgment.
But now, those flaws seemed to have disappeared entirely.
He had become the most reliable among the group of disciples.
As expected, war forces growth.
A thought surfaced in the Second Hokage's mind.
A fully matured Danzo might truly be able to…
The scene shifted again.
At a temporary rest point, the seven gathered around a map.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzo with visible excitement.
"Danzo, did you take something tonight? Your performance is almost unreal. I can barely keep up with you."
Danzo met his gaze calmly.
"No. I just grew a little after going through that attack."
"I used to be too immature and caused trouble for all of you."
Hiruzen immediately shook his head.
"No, you really surprised me. I hardly recognize you anymore."
He even placed an arm around Danzo's shoulder.
Danzo's body stiffened slightly, but he did not resist.
The Second Hokage observed the interaction with satisfaction.
The two disciples in front of him had grown well.
Danzo glanced at the Second Hokage with a complicated expression, silently waiting for the moment he had prepared for.
Soon after, the Second Hokage spoke in a serious tone.
"We are surrounded. Someone must stay behind to cover the retreat."
Silence fell instantly.
Everyone understood what that meant.
Staying behind was a death sentence.
This time, Danzo did not react immediately.
He did not rush to volunteer like before.
Instead, after a deliberate pause, he slowly stood up.
"I will stay behind and cover the retreat."
Hiruzen's eyes widened.
"I'll do it instead."
Danzo turned toward him, a faint smile appearing.
"Hiruzen, I may not necessarily die. Besides, death and sacrifice are part of a ninja's duty."
"The village cannot lose the Second Hokage-sama, and it cannot lose all of you either. I am prepared."
His gaze then shifted firmly to the Second Hokage.
Everything was perfect.
From the moment he saved Koharu, to the way he saw through the traps, to this final act of sacrifice.
There were no flaws in his performance.
He had surpassed Hiruzen, outperformed Koharu, and even exceeded Kagami.
This was the true Will of Fire.
The Second Hokage would understand.
Danzo waited calmly, confident in the outcome.
The Second Hokage looked at him with deep approval.
"A fully grown Danzo might truly be able to…"
After a brief pause, he nodded.
"Then Danzo, you will stay behind."
Danzo froze.
"…?"
The Second Hokage placed a hand on his shoulder.
"With your current growth, you are indeed the best choice to hold them off. Whatever happens, I will ensure the Shimura clan is taken care of."
Kagami also stepped forward and patted his shoulder.
"Good luck, brother."
Utatane Koharu nodded silently, supporting Kagami as they moved off.
Hiruzen stepped in last and pulled Danzo into a tight embrace.
"Don't die. I'll wait for you. No matter how long it takes."
Danzo stood completely still.
His hands were cold.
His feet felt numb.
For a moment, everything in his world went silent.
Meanwhile, inside the Root headquarters…
Hayashi's Rasengan was already inches from Danzo's chest.
He had combined genjutsu with a direct strike, his usual combat method.
A brief mental disruption, then a finishing blow.
But at the last instant, Danzo's figure vanished completely.
Hayashi tilted his head slightly.
"So that's Izanagi?"
He narrowed his eyes.
The genjutsu he had used was an A-rank illusion, similar in structure to the Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique, but far more refined and amplified by his ocular power.
Even if it was difficult to break, it should not have resulted in complete disappearance.
Unless…
He had rewritten reality itself.
Hayashi exhaled lightly, expression turning mildly indifferent.
"So that's it. His mental resilience is weaker than expected."
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