In the cold, damp underground cavern, Shimura Danzo staggered as he made his way deeper inside.
His expression was dark as water, fear still spreading through him in lingering waves.
When he had faced Yuzuru just now, he hadn't possessed even the slightest ability to resist.
Surrounded by so many Konoha shinobi, the man had still killed him as easily as slaughtering a chicken.
If not for his hidden trump card…
Danzo reached up and touched his right arm, tightly wrapped in bandages. He could clearly sense that the eye inside had already lost its vitality.
This time, it had been his own carelessness.
Now that his status was exalted, he would never again involve himself in any battle that carried risk.
Thinking of this, Danzo let out a cold snort.
"To think the Uchiha can even accomplish resurrection… they truly are a clan favored by heaven."
"For the sake of Konoha, such dangerous power must be destroyed!"
With thoughts swirling endlessly, Danzo finally reached the deepest level underground.
Before him stood a massive stone gate, its surface carved densely with sealing formulas.
Composing his expression, Danzo pushed the stone gate open and slowly stepped inside.
"Minato."
At the sound of Danzo's voice, the man sitting cross-legged opened his eyes.
Even imprisoned in this lightless dungeon, those sky-blue eyes still shone with sharp brilliance.
"Danzo-sama."
Minato Namikaze rose to his feet and bowed respectfully.
The slight movement caused the iron chains binding his body to clatter loudly.
"Minato, how well do you control the Nine-Tails' power?" Danzo asked.
Minato smiled faintly. "I've already reached full harmony with the Nine-Tails. There shouldn't be any more rampages."
Danzo nodded. "Good. The village needs your strength now."
Minato frowned slightly. "Has something happened to the village?"
"That's right." Danzo clenched his fist. "That bastard Uchiha Yuzuru is slaughtering our comrades inside the village. Only you can stop him."
"Yuzuru…" A trace of reminiscence surfaced in Minato's eyes.
He could hardly remember how many years it had been since they last met.
"Minato, there's something I need to tell you in advance."
"Once this matter is resolved, you'll still have to return here."
"You should understand better than anyone how much disaster your power could bring to the village if it ever runs out of control."
Danzo warned him ahead of time.
Minato's gaze dimmed slightly, but he still nodded. "I understand."
Only after Minato agreed did Danzo form hand seals, releasing the seals and iron chains restraining him.
"Minato, everything is for the village. Don't blame me."
"Rest assured. You are the village's Kage now. I won't disobey your orders."
As soon as Minato finished speaking, his figure flashed and vanished from the spot.
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Danzo's mouth.
This was exactly the kind of shinobi he liked. If the entire Uchiha clan were as obedient as Minato Namikaze, there wouldn't be so much trouble.
So many deaths—yet it was all because of those innately evil Uchiha!
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"Minato, now is the perfect opportunity. As long as we join forces with Uchiha Yuzuru, we can definitely destroy Konoha."
The Nine-Tails' seductive voice echoed within the spiritual world. Minato shook his head. "The village gave me everything I have now. I won't betray it."
"They locked you up like an animal, and you still want to serve them?"
"I am a shinobi, so I can endure all of this," Minato replied firmly. "I believe that one day, the village will change how it sees me and let me stand under the sunlight again."
"And I'm not serving anyone. I simply want to protect the village and protect my comrades."
Hearing this, the Nine-Tails fell silent.
After so many years together, it understood Minato's personality completely.
This man's heart was pure, lacking the scheming malice found in others.
Yet he was also stubborn to the extreme—willing to give up everything for this so-called village…
"Kurama, if I need your power later, I hope you'll help me."
"Understood."
The Nine-Tails did not refuse.
It had trained with Minato for so long precisely so it could protect itself when facing Uchiha Yuzuru.
After all, compared to being treated like a beast and reduced to a puppet of those Mangekyō Sharingan eyes, it would much rather remain inside Minato Namikaze, its jinchuriki.
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"Is this guy even human? He can create this many shadow clones at once!"
"Damn it, Uchiha Yuzuru is treating us like monkeys in a zoo!"
"If this keeps up, we're all going to die here! Why is this bastard so strong?!"
"We've already given everything we have… and still can't win?"
"We… don't have any hope of victory!"
As time dragged on, despair continued to spread among the Konoha shinobi.
Though their numbers were large, the vast majority were genin. Even against Yuzuru's shadow clones, they had no ability to resist.
If this weren't Konoha—if there were any room left to retreat—they would have collapsed long ago.
"So many dead, yet they still haven't broken?"
"These guys... three thousand Ryō a month. Why are you risking your lives?"
Standing atop a building, Yuzuru looked down at the Konoha shinobi still battling his shadow clones and shook his head.
In that case, I'll completely crush your fighting spirit myself.
Chakra surged within Yuzuru as he prepared to move—when a kunai suddenly shot toward him from behind.
"Hmph."
Yuzuru twisted to the side, casually sweeping his hand back through his hair, executing a flawless dodge.
The next instant, a blond-haired man appeared behind him.
Clang!
A specially made kunai collided with the Uchiha Gunbai, releasing a sharp metallic ring.
The corner of Yuzuru's mouth lifted slightly, interest finally sparked.
"Minato. We meet again."
Minato Namikaze glanced at the corpses covering the ground below and the blood-soaked earth. His gaze sharpened.
"Yuzuru, you've gone too far this time."
"They were once your comrades, yet you slaughtered them all."
Yuzuru shrugged. "Those who acknowledge me are comrades. Those who oppose me are enemies."
"If you're just here to lecture me, then let's end the reminiscing right here."
"Wait."
At Minato's words, Yuzuru raised an eyebrow. "You still have something to say?"
Minato took a deep breath before speaking.
"How is Kushina doing now?"