Inside the purple barrier, the air seemed to solidify for a moment.
"Danzo?!"
The Third Hokage parried a heavy punch from the First Hokage and retreated two steps hastily.
Seeing that the newcomer was his old friend Shimura Danzo, a look of astonishment flashed across the Third's aged face.
Outside the barrier.
The Anbu ninja and Kakashi, who was keeping an eye on the battle here despite his own fight, were also full of astonishment.
Root leader Shimura Danzo? Why would he appear here? And how could he break through the Four Violet Flames Formation?
Even Orochimaru, who was controlling the Impure World Reincarnation, narrowed his golden vertical pupils, licked his lips, and revealed a look of amusement and deep suspicion in his eyes.
Didn't Danzo conspire with him to launch the Konoha Crush Plan, wanting to kill the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen?
Why appear suddenly now? Did Danzo want to renege? Did he want to stop him from killing the old man Sarutobi?
Orochimaru immediately became vigilant.
"Danzo, why are you here?" The Third shouted in a low voice.
Danzo's single eye was cold, his voice raspy: "Hiruzen! You've sat in the position of Hokage for too long!"
"So long that your weakness and so-called benevolence have caused Konoha to rot and weaken from the roots!"
"Look at now!"
Danzo waved his arm, pointing at the war raging outside the barrier: "This is the result of your leadership!"
"What are you saying?"
The Third's face darkened.
"Don't blame me, Hiruzen! For the future of the village, I, your old friend, have to send you off personally!"
As Danzo spoke in a low voice, his left hand suddenly grabbed the bandages wrapped around his right arm and pulled hard. The bandages fell away.
Revealing a pale arm covered in densely packed Sharingan.
A full ten Sharingan were embedded in the arm, rotating slowly and emitting an ominous aura.
"Th... This is!?"
The Third Hokage's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets: "Danzo... you've gone mad!!"
"I'm not mad! This is a necessary sacrifice for the village!"
Danzo's voice was indifferent as his hands formed seals rapidly: "Hiruzen, now is the time for you to sacrifice yourself for the village!"
"Wood Release: Cutting Sprigs Jutsu!"
Boom!
Danzo's right arm, transplanted with the First Hokage's cells, suddenly swelled and deformed, as if giant pythons were churning under the skin.
The next second.
Several thick, sharp wooden vines shot out violently, tearing through the air and stabbing viciously at the Third Hokage.
"Wood... Release! Danzo! You not only stole the Sharingan but dared to lay your hands on Lord First's power!!"
The Third Hokage was furious, roaring loudly, his heart filled with killing intent: "Danzo... you've gone too far!!!"
The Third immediately swung the Adamantine Staff, smashing it hard against the incoming wooden spears.
Inside and outside the barrier.
Witnessing Danzo's arm full of Sharingan and his use of Wood Release.
Whether it was the Anbu or Kakashi, everyone was greatly shocked.
Danzo, the Darkness of Konoha, had not only transplanted so many Sharingan but had even mastered Wood Release!
And now.
He wanted to assassinate Lord Third Hokage. What exactly was he trying to do? Did he want to make an enemy of the village?
The amusement on Orochimaru's face froze completely, turning into astonishment.
Although he had conspired with Danzo to launch the Konoha Crush Plan to kill the Third so Danzo could ascend to power.
He never expected that Danzo would personally enter the fray?
And do so under the watchful eyes of everyone, exposing the secrets of the Sharingan and Wood Release, tearing off all pretenses to forcefully kill the Third?
What was he trying to do?
Did he not want to be Hokage anymore?
Or was it...
Was there something wrong with this Danzo?
"Orochimaru, what are you waiting for? Let the First and Second attack together and kill the Third immediately!"
Danzo shouted sternly, interrupting Orochimaru's thoughts.
Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils flickered uncertainly, still suspicious.
But the current situation allowed no time for detailed thought. He chuckled gloomily a few times, suppressing his doubts, and formed hand seals:
"Since Lord Danzo says so, then Lord First, Lord Second, please get a bit more serious!"
The First and Second Hokage in their Impure World Reincarnation forms launched even fiercer attacks.
The Third Hokage, already struggling, fell completely into a disadvantage.
Now with the addition of Danzo, he instantly fell into a hopeless situation of being attacked from three sides.
The Adamantine Staff was swung impenetrably, but it was difficult to block attacks from the First, the Second, and Danzo simultaneously.
"Pfft!"
A high-pressure water blade grazed the Third's ribs, drawing blood, and a wooden spike pierced his calf.
The Third instantly fell into a critical situation, a look of resolve and sorrow flashing in his eyes.
"Get away!"
The Third Hokage swept his staff horizontally, momentarily forcing back the First, the Second, and Danzo. He then slammed his hands together, forming seals with incredible speed:
"In that case... don't blame this old man! Dead Demon Consuming Seal!"
Boom!
A chill that made souls tremble instantly filled the barrier.
Behind the Third Hokage, a ghostly figure with a short sword in its mouth emerged.
It was the Shinigami!
Of course, aside from the caster, the Third Hokage, no one else could see it.
Including Orochimaru and Danzo!
Danzo had been wary of the Third using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. Now seeing him actually activate this sealing jutsu, he immediately retreated, disappearing from his spot.
He had intervened in the battle between Orochimaru and the Third purely to smear dirt on Danzo's name, making sure he couldn't rest even in death.
Now that the goal was achieved, there was no need to fight the Third to the death.
The Dead Demon Consuming Seal was still a very dangerous forbidden jutsu.
Once sealed.
He would have to go to the Shinigami's stomach and play mahjong with the Konoha F4.
The Third caught a glimpse of Danzo disappearing and felt a complex emotion.
He had actually wanted to take this old friend with him using this opportunity.
But his remaining chakra was entirely used to cast the Dead Demon Consuming Seal; he had no strength left to chase Danzo.
Since he fled.
Let him flee!
The Third took a deep breath, his gaze refocusing on the reincarnated First and Second Hokage, a look of resolve flashing across his face.
He then manipulated the spectral image of the Shinigami, extending its chakra arms, reaching resolutely toward the two previous Hokage.
The souls of the First and Second were quickly forcibly extracted and successively absorbed into the seal on the Third's abdomen.
Two legends who once shook the ninja world thus returned completely to silence, leaving only broken dust drifting slowly.
Finally, the Third reached out to grab Orochimaru, who was trying to escape.
The moment he was grabbed, Orochimaru finally saw the spectral image of the Shinigami with the short sword in its mouth behind the Third.
"Dead Demon Consuming Seal! So that's it... that bastard Danzo..."
Orochimaru understood why Danzo had run so decisively; the old geezer had used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.
"Let go of me! You old immortal! You old thing!"
Orochimaru panicked, exploding with all his power, struggling madly.
Unfortunately, it was futile!
In the end, after a tug-of-war, the Third only managed to seal Orochimaru's arms before finally perishing.
Although Orochimaru narrowly escaped with his life, his arms were useless; he couldn't even perform ninjutsu for a short time.
While screaming in pain, he shouted at the Sound Four: "Get me out of here, quickly!"
The Sound Four dared not delay. They dispelled the Four Violet Flames Formation, supported Orochimaru, and quickly left Konoha.
The Konoha Crush Plan ended with the fall of the Third Hokage.
Of course, Konoha also lost a highly meritorious "Pot Kage" (Danzo).
However.
Danzo was too low-key in the village; many people didn't know him.
Even if Danzo died, it was likely that no one would know for a short while.