A Power Stolen in the Dark
Kotoamatsukami hadn't failed.
At least—not in the way Danzō understood failure.
From his perspective, the Yin Release chakra emitted by the Mangekyō Sharingan had clearly enveloped Kamizuki Gen.
And yet—
no matter what he did, he couldn't lock onto him.
He couldn't be targeted.
That alone—
was wrong.
He had never used Kotoamatsukami before, but even so, Danzō knew this was abnormal.
In that instant—
a hand shot in from behind his right eye.
Fast.
Precise.
It clawed straight toward the Mangekyō.
"AAARGH—!!!"
Agonizing pain exploded from his eye socket, drilling into his brain. Before he could react, his vision blurred completely.
At some point—
Kamizuki Gen had appeared behind him.
Silent.
Undetectable.
And in a single motion—
he tore the Mangekyō Sharingan from Danzō's eye.
Their strength was equal.
So in the instant his eye was taken, Danzō endured the pain and counterattacked.
His right hand shot forward like a claw, aiming straight for Gen's eyes.
If you can take mine—
why can't I take yours?
Kotoamatsukami had already been used once. Even if Gen took it, he wouldn't be able to use it again anytime soon.
But—
his fingers tore through the bandages—
and grasped nothing.
Only then did Danzō realize—
Kamizuki Gen had no eyeballs at all.
He was truly blind.
Still untargetable.
Gen didn't waste the opening.
His leg swept out—
fierce and explosive, like a Leaf Great Whirlwind.
Boom—!
Danzō raised his arm to block. The impact didn't shatter his skull, but it forced him back—
ten meters in an instant.
"Danzō-sama… farewell."
Gen landed lightly on the edge of the wooden roof, a faint smile on his lips.
He lifted his right hand—
the one holding the Mangekyō Sharingan—
and gave it a casual shake.
Then he turned—
and vanished into the darkness without a second glance.
"That's mine—my Mangekyō! Damn you! Get back here!!"
Danzō roared, his face twisted in fury.
Blood poured from his empty socket as he staggered forward, attempting to give chase.
The Uchiha had only just been wiped out.
Danzō had yet to undergo Orochimaru's body modifications—he did not possess an arm full of Sharingan.
The spare Sharingan he once had—
had already been consumed when he used Izanagi to seize Shisui's eye.
Before he could even reach the rooftops—
Kamizuki Gen was gone.
"Good… very good, Kamizuki Gen…"
"No matter where you run—I will drag you back and make you pay!"
Consumed by rage, blood streaming down his face, Danzō looked almost unrecognizable.
But he also understood the reality—
Even if he caught up now—
he couldn't do anything.
Better to confront Hiruzen.
And then—
mobilize Root.
Issue a kill order.
…
The night was ink-black.
Stars shifted overhead.
Konoha, tonight, was eerily quiet.
Rooftops across the village lay empty.
Even the once-bustling commercial streets had shut down in the wake of the Uchiha massacre.
In less than a minute—
Gen had already left the Shimura compound.
ANBU operatives, stationed in secret around the perimeter, did not interfere.
Hidden behind cover, they watched him silently—
seeing him off.
Under the dim moonlight—
Gen picked up speed.
Attacking Danzō and Root was, of course, to solidify his status as a rogue ninja.
As for stealing Kotoamatsukami—
that was an extra trump card for infiltrating the Akatsuki.
The technique was now on cooldown.
But perhaps Orochimaru could solve that problem.
For now, the Mangekyō Sharingan had been sealed—
stored safely within a container and placed into a sealing scroll.
With his current chakra reserves—
implanting it directly would be unwise.
As he turned a street corner—
a system panel appeared in his gray-toned vision.
[Random Quest: BGM]
[Description: A protagonist's entrance should always have a personal theme. As a system, I refuse to let my host appear without one.]
[Requirement: Hum any song in front of an antagonist.]
[Completed!]
[Reward: The host may select a personal background theme at will.]
…That explained the humming earlier.
A trivial reward—
but still something.
…
…
Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was just about to dismiss Homura and Koharu—
when an angry voice echoed up the stairs.
"Hiruzen! You'd better give me an explanation today!"
All three turned.
They saw him—
Shimura Danzō.
Covered in blood.
Disheveled.
Rushing in like a man on the brink.
"Danzō—who did this to you?!" Koharu's eyes widened in shock.
Homura, too, was taken aback.
Hiruzen looked at him steadily.
Like a stray dog—
that was the image Danzō presented now.
After a brief pause, Hiruzen's face naturally shifted into surprise and concern.
"Danzō… who did this to you?"
Two identical questions.
Two heavy blows.
Danzō's fury surged.
He flung his tattered sleeve aside and pointed straight at Hiruzen.
"Was Kamizuki Gen sent by you?!"
"Kamizuki Gen?"
Koharu murmured the name, frowning as she glanced at Homura.
It sounded familiar—
but she couldn't place it.
Homura spoke first.
"The civilian prodigy… the one said to rival Uchiha Itachi."
"What?!" Hiruzen's expression darkened. "You're saying—he did this to you?"
"Stop pretending!" Danzō snapped. "There are only four of us here. If you have a problem with me, say it to my face!"
"No, Danzō. You misunderstand." Hiruzen shook his head with a sigh. "I did not instruct Kamizuki Gen to do this."
Danzō suppressed his anger and pressed on.
"Then explain this—why was there such a commotion in my clan compound tonight, and no one came to investigate?!"
Hiruzen replied calmly, "Have you forgotten? Konoha no longer has a Military Police Force."
"And the ANBU? Your direct forces?!"
"Danzō," Hiruzen said evenly, "that is your territory. If you're willing to let me oversee its defenses, ANBU won't mind conducting regular patrols in the future."
"You—!"
Danzō fell silent.
But something clicked in his mind.
If Hiruzen refused to acknowledge involvement—
then he could use the village's authority instead.
"Fine. Very well."
His voice turned cold.
"Since Kamizuki Gen wasn't sent by you—how do you intend to deal with him?"
Hiruzen turned to Koharu.
"Immediately dispatch personnel to investigate Kamizuki Gen. Capture him."
"If he resists—classify him as a rogue ninja."
"If necessary… eliminate him on the spot."
"Understood."
Koharu nodded.
Danzō sneered.
"In that case, lift my confinement order. I'll personally lead Root to capture that arrogant brat."
Both Koharu and Homura looked to Hiruzen, awaiting his decision.
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
"…No."
"After the Uchiha incident, I've been considering temporarily disbanding Root."
"So this matter—leave it to Koharu and the others."
"Danzō, your injuries are severe. I'll have ANBU escort you to the hospital."
"We'll discuss the rest after you recover."
"That's final."
He raised a hand.
Two ANBU appeared silently at Danzō's sides.
"You're… disbanding Root?" Danzō's voice trembled with disbelief, then twisted into anger. "Hiruzen… you'll regret this!"
"Enough."
Hiruzen's gaze hardened.
"I am Hokage."
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read chapters ahead on Patreon → patreon.com/c/CelestialInkstudios