Danzo's pace kept shifting — sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
At times, he would suddenly stop in place, staring blankly into the air as if lost in thought.
Then, out of nowhere, he would sprint like a madman, leaving Yoru and the Aburame kunoichi far behind.
Just thinking about it made Yoru feel bad for him.
He had spent all that time planning how to deal with Dan Kato, even preparing a full combat strategy — only for an almost-dead Madara Uchiha to appear out of nowhere and beat him half to death.
His newly transplanted trump card — Kagami's Mangekyō Sharingan — had been completely destroyed by Madara.
And who was Madara Uchiha? The founding ancestor of the Sharingan itself.
Even if Kagami were alive today, he'd stand no chance against him.
Yoru felt both relieved and terrified at once.
Would Danzo actually kill someone out of rage?
If he has to kill someone, can't he kill the Aburame instead?
He's the bodyguard, right? Danzo lost an eye — doesn't that make the guard responsible?
It's like when the Second Hokage went out with six elite escorts — and he died while they came back alive.
Shouldn't the escorts be held accountable?
Danzo walked ahead, his face dark and swollen, blood steadily seeping from his right eye socket.
That right eye — now a dead, lifeless gray.
He thought back to the overwhelming sight of the Wood Release he had just faced.
At the Valley of the End, Madara's Mangekyō Sharingan had lost to Hashirama Senju's Wood Release.
Now, somehow, Madara had gained Wood Release — and even Danzo's Mangekyō couldn't overcome it.
That meant it wasn't his weakness… it was the Mangekyō's weakness.
Wood Release simply outclassed it.
Madara had been alive all this time but never attacked the Leaf again.
Could it be because he knew Konoha was researching Hashirama's cells?
Did Madara fear Hashirama's cells?
Wood Release was Konoha's greatest power — capable of suppressing the Nine Tails and overwhelming even the Mangekyō Sharingan.
The prolonged use of the eye had pushed his body beyond its limit — his Sharingan hadn't fully adapted yet.
I'll have Orochimaru work on perfecting the transplantation method, Danzo decided.
After witnessing true power firsthand, he was more determined than ever to keep evolving.
Danzo stopped suddenly.
The Aburame kunoichi and Yoru halted immediately, watching him closely.
Danzo turned his single eye toward them and said,
"Look at the two of you — so timid and cautious. It was only a minor defeat.
For Konoha's sake, what are a few setbacks?
Even the First Hokage stumbled at times.
And we've gained critical intelligence this time — the Uchiha clan's treachery lives on. Madara Uchiha is still alive.
He's lived even longer than Mito Uzumaki. There's no doubt he's plotting something.
Once we return to the village, surveillance of the Uchiha must be intensified.
Root out all dangerous elements within the clan.
We cannot allow Madara's schemes to succeed."
Yoru exhaled quietly.
Danzo was lecturing again — that meant he wasn't about to kill them.
Then Danzo said, "Fox, you did well. You uncovered a vital piece of intelligence."
Being called out made Yoru tense. He quickly bowed.
"Lord Danzo, it was my failure in reconnaissance that allowed us to be caught off guard."
Danzo shook his head.
"An enemy like Madara Uchiha isn't someone an ordinary ANBU could investigate thoroughly. This isn't your fault.
Find me a dry shelter. I need to tend to my right eye."
The Aburame kunoichi found a hollow tree large enough to hide from the rain.
Danzo entered alone.
The Aburame stood guard at the entrance, Yoru further away.
The heavy rain pounded down endlessly, filling Yoru's chest with unease.
He wondered whether Danzo's original eye still existed — or if he had replaced it again.
The Aburame kunoichi didn't move an inch, standing perfectly still under the downpour, as if the storm didn't exist.
Half an hour passed before Danzo emerged again.
Yoru's eyes widened. Danzo's right eye was once again covered with fresh bandages!
But his presence had changed — his aura was back to its cold, commanding confidence.
Even the rain around him seemed to lighten.
Did he implant another Mangekyō Sharingan?
Could it be Kagami's other eye?
After Orochimaru's human experiments, Danzo had become the greatest beneficiary — once again regaining terrifying power.
The three continued north.
After about ten minutes, Danzo suddenly said, "Hold it."
Yoru and the Aburame stopped at once.
"Something's wrong," Danzo murmured. "Fox, repeat everything that happened during your mission."
Yoru carefully retold the sequence — the three Leaf ninja under mind control, the losses his squad had suffered.
Danzo nodded.
"Madara's appearance clouded my judgment. Those three Leaf ninja — yes, they were under his control.
But the infighting among your squad — that wasn't Madara's doing.
If it had been him, he would have attacked you head-on. Madara may be ruthless, but he's never subtle.
No… the killer must be someone else.
Someone who can kill like that."
Danzo's single eye narrowed.
"There's only one man capable of that — Dan Kato.
He's nearby. We can't let him escape."
Danzo thought to himself — The Senju Clan's Sealing Scroll is still in their possession. If I can get my hands on it, I can unlock more of the spirit-transfer techniques.
The Aburame kunoichi pulled out a waterproof map.
"Fox, mark where your team was ambushed."
Yoru marked the spot.
The Aburame drew a smooth arc connecting the known attack points, roughly indicating a center of activity.
Yoru's heart skipped a beat — that was the same direction White Ram had pointed out before dying.
White Ram's last words had been whispered in Yoru's ear — information no one else knew.
Yet the Aburame had come this close to the truth just by deduction.
Danzo said,
"We're far enough from Madara's territory. No need to worry about him anymore.
Head toward this location. Dan Kato is a serious threat — he cannot be allowed to live.
'Beta,' 'Fox,' the two of you will establish a private code system to ensure neither of you falls under Kato's control."
The Aburame kunoichi — codename Beta — held a high rank within Root.
After fixing their course, Beta released her kikaichū swarm.
A few of the insects periodically flew back to her, carrying traces of information.
After searching several kilometers, Beta suddenly said, "I've found a suspicious cave!"
Yoru created a Shadow Clone and sent it in to scout first — but the cave was empty.
Beta entered next, scattering her insects along the ground.
The bugs moved slowly, forming a humanoid outline on the dirt.
"Someone was lying here a few hours ago," she said. "It's highly likely to be Dan Kato.
There's also a strong scent of medicinal herbs — he was treating his wounds here.
My insects have captured his chakra scent. Dan Kato won't get far."
The three left the cave, their pace quickening as they followed the insects' trail deeper into the rain-soaked wilderness.