[Battle number nine is the battle at the bridge between Sasuke and Danzo.]
[Without a doubt, this battle was also very spectacular.]
The light of the Sky Screen swirled, and the scene froze on a large bridge.
The bridge spanned a rushing river, with broken stones and shattered railings scattered across its surface.
Two figures stood in confrontation at the center of the bridge; one was Sasuke with crimson eyes, and the other was the bandaged, one-eyed, sinister Danzo.
In the various Shinobi World timelines, countless people held their breath, waiting for the detailed process of this battle.
[Although Danzo was already sixty to seventy years old, his setup was truly not low: Izanagi + ten Sharingan + Shisui's Kotoamatsukami + Hashirama cells + some of the best Wind Release Jutsus in the Shinobi World. One could say he held the Shinobi World's most top-tier resources. To be honest, if you put these things on a pig, the pig would at least be Kage-level.]
[And at this time, Sasuke had no other setup. The Curse Mark had its power erased by Itachi due to safety concerns, so he had only a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan.]
[Although there were reasons like Danzo guarding against Obito, the "Madara," and Karin's healing, the fact that Sasuke ultimately won was still impressive.]
[After all, after being revived by Edo Tensei, when Itachi heard that Sasuke had fought Danzo, he didn't even think Sasuke had won. He merely felt that Sasuke surviving was already impressive.]
---
[Konoha, Year 60. Shimura clan grounds, Danzo's home]
Danzo sat on the wooden porch in the courtyard, one hand resting on a cane, his single eye fixed on the screen, complex emotions surging in his gaze. His gray-white long hair was messily draped over his shoulders, and the scar on his chin was especially striking in the shadows.
Around him, an ANBU squad was keeping him under strict surveillance. Four people stood guard in four directions, their eyes beneath their masks watching his every move without a moment's pause.
Ever since Tsunade took office, Danzo had been under house arrest in this residence. He couldn't go out, couldn't receive outsiders, and even had someone following him to the toilet. The man who had once controlled the Root and commanded great influence in Konoha had now become a Caged Bird.
Danzo ignored the surveilling ANBUs, all his attention on the screen.
Ten Sharingan, Kotoamatsukami, Hashirama cells, Izanagi—these were his hidden trump cards, capital painstakingly accumulated over decades.
He believed that with these, he was capable of fighting anyone; even against Nagato, the leader of the Akatsuki, he had the confidence to hold his own.
Yet he had lost!
According to earlier intelligence by the Sky Screen, his body had been taken away by Obito, while Sasuke had lived into the new generation. This undoubtedly told Danzo that he had ultimately died in this battle.
Danzo frowned deeply. He really wanted to know how his future self had lost to Sasuke, this remnant of the Uchiha!
Was it the Mangekyo Sharingan?
But he had Kotoamatsukami, his Wind Release was among the best in the Shinobi World, and he had Hashirama cells providing an endless supply of chakra and recovery ability.
No matter how you looked at it, he shouldn't have lost to a brat who had just had his power stripped from his Cursed Mark and hadn't even mastered his eyes yet.
Danzo continued to stare at the screen, the unwillingness in his eyes growing stronger and stronger.
He had waited for so many years, plotted for so many years, all for the position of Hokage. If he just died at Sasuke's hands like this, then what meaning was there in any of it?
---
[Location of Team 7]
Sasuke stared intently at the screen, his face full of excitement.
He also really wanted to see his future fighting style, especially his use of the Mangekyo Sharingan. After all, sooner or later he would have those eyes.
Of course, obtaining intelligence on Danzo was equally crucial. As Danzo was also one of the enemies he was determined to kill.
Wind Release, Izanagi, Kotoamatsukami, Hashirama cells—these were all things he would have to face in the future! Knowing about them in advance meant he could prepare in advance.
---
[Akatsuki's new base]
Itachi still sat in the corner, back against the wall, both hands crossed on his knees, eyes closed as if dozing.
But when the screen mentioned the battle between Sasuke and Danzo, his eyes opened. The light of the screen was reflected in his black pupils, and his eyes were full of concern.
He had already sent the training method for Izanami back to Konoha. As long as the Third Hokage taught Izanami to Sasuke in an appropriate way, then no matter how many Sharingan Danzo had to use Izanagi, it wouldn't matter.
Of course, because Hiruzen hadn't died, Itachi still maintained contact with him. Compared to Tsunade, Itachi still trusted Hiruzen more. Although that old man had many flaws, he was trustworthy.
So, many secret techniques and intelligence had also been transmitted to Hiruzen.
As for Izanami requiring the consumption of a three-tomoe Sharingan, that was not a big deal. It was better than losing one's life, and besides, his own eyes were destined to be given to Sasuke.
Of course, he still didn't know that Danzo's Mangekyo Sharingan and the ten Sharingan on his arm had all been confiscated by Hiruzen. The current Danzo was just a pitiful man under house arrest.
---
[Meanwhile, at an underground base somewhere in the Shinobi World]
The moment Orochimaru saw Danzo on the screen, he instantly lost interest.
That guy Danzo… was truly too useless, and had too many ideas.
If not for Danzo, his earlier experiments wouldn't have been exposed so early, and perhaps he might even have had a chance at the Hokage position.
Although he no longer had any interest in those things, thinking back to the events of those years, he still felt that Danzo was a foolish guy; no wonder he would lose to Sasuke.
[During the Five Kage Summit, Danzo indeed had strong Kage-level strength. And it was built on the foundation of having ten Izanagi, having the Wood Release, having Hashirama cells for energy supply, having sealing techniques, and having Kotoamatsukami as a final trump card.]
[But what is truly incomprehensible is this: when Danzo was young, without Izanagi, without Hashirama cells, without Wood Release, without Kotoamatsukami, knowing only Wind Release and summoning Jutsu, how was he qualified to compete with Hiruzen for the Hokage position?]
As soon as he heard those words, Danzo flew into a rage. He suddenly stood up from the wooden porch, his cane striking the ground heavily with a dull thud.
His single eye widened, and the veins on his forehead bulged like earthworms.
How was he not qualified to compete?!
His Wind Release was top-tier in the Shinobi World. His Baku could devour everything. His tactical mind, his decisiveness, and even his determination to sacrifice everything for Konoha—in what way was he inferior to Hiruzen?
When they were young, he and Hiruzen performed missions together; he killed no fewer people than Hiruzen, performed no fewer meritorious deeds than Hiruzen, and shed no less blood for Konoha than Hiruzen!
So why could Hiruzen become Hokage while he could only be the Hokage's advisor?
Danzo's cane smashed a dent into the wooden porch, his body trembling with anger. The four ANBU beside him simultaneously took a step back, hands on their kunai, staring at him warily.
---
[Konoha, Year 20. Hokage Office]
Tobirama sat in his chair and gently shook his head.
"Danzo…" he murmured, a trace of disappointment flashing deep in his eyes.
The future Danzo really had regressed more and more as he lived. Although Hiruzen also had many shortcomings, comparatively speaking, he was still much more suited to be Hokage than Danzo.
After all, what a Hokage needed was not only strength and decisiveness, but also a heart capable of tolerance and sacrificing everything for the village.
Danzo was just too extreme, so extreme that he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. That kind of personality was not suited to being Hokage.
Now it seemed his choice had been correct.
*****
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