Back in the outside world.
The instant Yagyu froze, Shimura Danzo charged at him with a cold sneer.
Pitch-black patterns emerged on Shimura Danzo's hand—the formula for the Cursed Seal binding technique.
"The Yamanaka clan's Anbu must have succeeded. Yagyu has a physical body right now; he can be branded with the Cursed Seal."
Shimura Danzo looked at Yagyu with fervent fanaticism. Such a talent should be used by him.
Once he trained Yagyu into a machine loyal only to him and thoroughly researched Yagyu's abilities, the entire ninja world would bow before him.
"What are you doing?"
Just as Shimura Danzo was indulging in his fantasies, ready to slam his palm down and brand Yagyu with the Cursed Seal, Yagyu suddenly opened his eyes.
Yagyu stared coldly at Shimura Danzo, who was right in front of him, his raised palm covered in Cursed Seal patterns.
"Trying to control me with a Cursed Seal? Truly a scary thought!"
Yagyu performed a face-changing act right then and there, showing Shimura Danzo what true "facial artistry" was. His mocking expression made Shimura Danzo furious.
"Just be a good boy and let me control you!"
Shimura Danzo roared and slapped his palm towards Yagyu without holding back.
However, light flashed on Yagyu's body, and Shimura Danzo's palm passed right through him.
"It's useless, you know!"
Yagyu looked at Shimura Danzo with a teasing expression and unceremoniously slapped the old man right across the face.
Boom!
Shimura Danzo's body flew backward like a cannonball, transforming into smoke in mid-air.
"The old geezer really is cautious. He didn't even dare to use his real body to plant the Cursed Seal."
Yagyu spoke nonchalantly, extending a finger toward the ruins of the Hokage building not far away.
Blinding golden light bloomed at his fingertip, firing a laser beam that instantly triggered a secondary explosion in the ruins.
Boom!
Whoosh!
Amidst the firelight of the explosion, a figure darted out—it was Shimura Danzo's real body, which had been hiding there.
"And you too!"
Yagyu turned his head to look nearby; the Yamanaka clan Anbu ninja who had attacked him earlier was hiding there.
Yagyu raised his leg and delivered a Light Speed Kick, sending a cross of blinding light crashing toward him aggressively.
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
A powerful shout rang out as the Third Hokage formed hand seals, summoning a rock wall to block Yagyu's Light Speed Kick.
Yagyu's kick smashed into the rock wall, shattering the Third Hokage's Mud Wall instantly.
However, the Light Speed Kick exhausted its power upon breaking the wall, allowing the Third Hokage to save the Yamanaka clan Anbu.
"Because of your strange body, our attacks cannot affect you."
"But your attacks are not undefendable!"
"We can block your attacks, and we have means to attack you as well."
"Yagyu of the Hidden Mist, you are not invincible."
The Third Hokage stood before Yagyu, speaking with righteous conviction.
Yagyu tilted his head, sizing up the Third Hokage for a moment before crying out with exaggerated fear, "So scary!"
"Is Konoha Village uniting to work together and eliminate me? Truly scary!"
"Every ninja in Konoha is strong like a monster. It really is terrifying when you all join hands!"
Yagyu spoke with a dramatic cadence. His slick tone held not a shred of fear, but was instead filled with mockery and teasing.
"Don't be so arrogant, Yagyu of the Hidden Mist!"
The Third Hokage shouted sternly, staring at Yagyu with anger.
Yagyu scratched his head and pulled out a small cigarette. A laser beam grazed it, lighting it instantly.
"Young... no, old... no, menopausal Third Hokage!"
"I have a question. Why are you all so angry?"
"Clearly, you were the ones who tore up the agreement and attacked me without permission!"
"So strange!"
" shouldn't I be the angry one? I was attacked by Konoha, my ally!"
Yagyu's nonchalant words caused a hint of embarrassment to appear on the Third Hokage's face.
"Hmph! Your ability is too dangerous. It threatens the safety of Konoha and the entire ninja world."
"We are taking action against you here today for the peace of Konoha and the ninja world!"
Shimura Danzo stood beside Sarutobi Hiruzen, declaring self-righteously.
"A tree without bark will surely die; a man without shame is invincible!" (Note: This is a localized translation of the idiom implying shamelessness has no limits/rivals).
"The shameless Shimura Danzo... truly scary!"
Yagyu said mockingly, his expression infuriating Shimura Danzo.
Shimura Danzo was indeed shameless, but he wouldn't allow others to say it.
Speaking the truth comes with a price!
Spirit Transformation Technique!
At that moment, a soul charged into Yagyu's body.
Inside the spiritual space, Yagyu saw a young man with pale blue hair charging toward his soul, wielding a sharp blade.
"Yagyu, prepare to die!"
The young man shouted, radiating killing intent.
This young man was Dan Kato, the only ninja in Konoha who had mastered the Spirit Transformation Technique.
The Spirit Transformation Technique was different from the Yamanaka clan's Mind Body Switch Technique!
The Mind Body Switch Technique could only seize control of another's body, while the Spirit Transformation Technique possessed the ability to hunt and kill souls.
Seeing the murderous Dan Kato, Yagyu snorted in disdain. Spiritual energy condensed in front of him, forming a massive hammer that smashed down.
"Such killing intent? Truly scary!"
Yagyu looked amused as the giant hammer fell from the sky, flattening Dan Kato's soul instantly.
Pfft!
Dan Kato's soul suffered heavy damage and was sent flying back in a wretched state, ejected from Yagyu's spiritual space.
Outside.
The moment Yagyu engaged Dan Kato, Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo advanced simultaneously. A palm covered in Cursed Seals and a venomous snake baring its fangs approached Yagyu at the same time.
"Yata Mirror!"
Yagyu opened his eyes, and his body instantly transformed into countless points of light, flying toward a civilian house within Konoha Village.
At this moment, there were no ordinary villagers left in Konoha.
Earlier, after Yagyu met with Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage didn't act immediately. Instead, he waited for over half an hour before having Orochimaru serve the poisoned tea.
This time was used not only to lull Yagyu into a false sense of security but also to evacuate Konoha's ordinary citizens.
As Konoha's high command, they naturally weren't naive enough to believe victory was guaranteed.
Calculate defeat before calculating victory.
Therefore, they had the villagers evacuate in advance.
They would have preferred if these preparations had been unnecessary, but unfortunately, they came in handy.