Uchiha Nan revealed a cruel smile, lifting the ninja blade in his hand as he charged straight at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Hiruzen's old strength was spent, new strength yet to rise. Watching Nan close in step by step, panic surged in his chest.
He desperately wanted to speed up—
but in the blink of an eye, Nan had already slipped behind him.
Shrrrk!
Blood sprayed into the air.
A gash tore open across Hiruzen's back—deep, but not fatal. Nan had deliberately held back.
Killing him in one stroke would be far too merciful.
"AAAAAH!!!"
Hiruzen screamed as he collapsed onto the ground. Even so, he still refused to accept defeat.
I haven't become Hokage yet.
I haven't fulfilled Sensei's final wish.
I can't fall here!
Gritting his teeth, Hiruzen struggled to crawl up—
But Nan didn't give him the chance.
Another slash.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
The scream pierced the air again.
Nan listened to the cries with evident pleasure.
Mercy toward an enemy was cruelty toward oneself.
In the crowd, Shimura Danzō was already drenched in tears. His best friend was being tortured before his eyes—on the brink of death.
He wanted to rush out.
Wanted to beat Nan to the ground.
But he couldn't.
The Shimura clan head gripped Danzō's arm tightly, staring at him with stern eyes.
"You're the clan's genius—the Shimura clan's hope," he said in a low voice. "It's not worth throwing your life away for Sarutobi Hiruzen."
For small clans, a jōnin was their lifeline. Every single one was priceless.
Once again, Danzō stood at a crossroads.
Step forward bravely—
Or stay silent, just like last time.
His body trembled.
The same fear as on the battlefield returned.
"AAAAAH!!!"
Hiruzen's screams echoed endlessly in his ears, pushing him toward a choice.
Hiruzen!
This time… I won't lose to you again!
Danzō suddenly tore free from his clan head's grip and charged into the dueling ground.
The trembling stopped.
His gaze hardened.
This time—he would not lose.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!"
His hands flew through seals as transparent air bullets shot from his mouth, aimed straight at Nan's head.
Clang!
Nan spun around as if he had eyes on his back, blocking with his blade. Sparks flew on impact.
Nan turned, giving Danzō a knowing, meaningful smile—
As if he'd been waiting for this all along.
Finally took the bait.
Nan felt a surge of delight.
Killing only Hiruzen would've been boring.
At the very least, Hiruzen deserved company on the road to the afterlife.
And Shimura Danzō was the perfect choice.
One lifetime.
Two brothers.
Hand in hand—straight to the Yellow Springs.
"Impudent!!"
Hyūga Takuma roared.
An ambush from behind?!
Whose clan member was this—did he have a death wish?!
All eyes snapped toward Danzō.
Uchiha Inabi looked ready to kill him on the spot.
It's over…
The Shimura clan head's face went deathly pale.
The Shimura clan was finished.
He was already thinking about arranging their aftermath—sending the young seeds of the clan out of Konoha immediately. At least then, the Shimura bloodline wouldn't go extinct.
"Hmph. Lady Mito," Nan said calmly, patting his own chest as if he'd been frightened, "I was in a life-and-death duel with Sarutobi Hiruzen."
"Shimura Danzō suddenly rushed in to ambush me. I almost died."
"How do you think this should be handled?"
He deliberately tossed the question to Uzumaki Mito.
Mito looked at Danzō, her gaze icy.
"Kill him," she said flatly.
"Expel the Shimura clan from Konoha."
Excellent.
Nan was thoroughly satisfied.
As expected of someone who survived the Warring States Era—decisive, ruthless, no hesitation when it mattered.
"Then I'll do it myself."
Nan kicked aside Hiruzen's obstructing hand and turned to Danzō.
Hiruzen, his face soaked in blood, stared at Danzō—unable to understand why his friend had chosen to throw himself into death.
Danzō smiled at him.
Then he charged Nan, kunai in hand, intending to fight at close range.
Was he suicidal?
Nan laughed softly.
Danzō's actions were nothing short of moth to flame—purely seeking death. No matter what, he wasn't leaving Konoha alive today.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Blade and kunai collided again and again, sparks bursting with each impact.
At first, Danzō managed to hold on.
But soon, he grew frantic—utterly unable to keep up with Nan's speed.
Shrrrk!
The blade tore through the air with a violent hiss, slashing into Danzō. A kick followed, sending him flying.
Danzō tumbled across the ground, rolling again and again—until he stopped beside Hiruzen.
"This little game… can end now."
Nan lowered his blade.
A Magma Release: Rasenshuriken formed in his hand out of nothingness.
He planned to send both men off to meet the Sage of Six Paths in one blow.
Danzō would one day become a madman—engraving the Reverse Four Symbols Seal on his own body just to drag enemies to death with him.
Nan didn't know if Danzō had reached that point yet.
Better safe than sorry.
There was no bridge here, after all.
"Time to go—bye-bye."
Nan smiled gently at Hiruzen and Danzō, sincerely wishing them happiness in their next lives.
He considered himself a pretty gentle person.
With that, he hurled the magma Rasenshuriken.
BOOM—!!!
A deafening explosion erupted, followed by blinding white light. The onlookers stared in shock at the sheer power of the technique.
An S-rank forbidden jutsu.
Absolutely S-rank.
Sending Hiruzen and Danzō off with this—no insult to them at all.
As the light faded, a massive crater remained.
Hiruzen and Danzō were gone.
Completely erased.
Not even ashes left behind.
"Phew."
Nan let out a relaxed breath.
Finally—Konoha's greatest future disasters had been wiped out.
In the original timeline, after Hiruzen's death, Konoha had nearly failed to choose a Hokage at all. Its strength plummeted to an absurd degree.
If not for Naruto Uzumaki's rise, Konoha would likely have been doomed.
And the ones most responsible for that future?
Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Shimura Danzō.
Outstanding contributors, the both of them.
But none of that would ever happen now.
No monthly tickets?
Then I'll kneel and beg if I have to!
I want monthly tickets—give me the tickets!!
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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