Chapter 184: The Death of Danzo!

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: The Death of Danzo!

"Shūichi, what are you doing here?" Danzo's face darkened.

Shūichi didn't hide his intentions. He looked calmly at Danzo and said, "I'm here to kill you, of course!"

"To kill me?" Danzo's gaze sharpened. "Are you planning to betray the village?"

Shūichi chuckled. "Killing you means betraying the village?"

"Danzo, you're overestimating your importance!"

"But if we're talking about betrayal, shouldn't that title belong to you?"

"You've been undermining the Third Hokage's strategic plans. How do you explain that, Danzo?"

Danzo scoffed. "Shūichi, do you really agree with compromising with the Iwa-nin?"

"Are you willing to hand over the Four-Tails so easily?"

"You should be on my side!"

Shūichi remained calm. "What I think doesn't matter. What matters is the Third Hokage's decision."

"The Hokage's will is our will."

"Danzo, this isn't the first time you've defied the Third Hokage's orders."

"And killing comrades... that's an unforgivable crime. The Third may have spared you out of respect for the past, but you used this issue of compromise with Iwa-nin to try and push him out of power for your own ambitions."

Danzo roared in anger, "Everything I do is for the village!"

"As leader of the Root, I safeguard the core of Konoha from the shadows. It's my duty to compensate for the Hokage's weaknesses, to do what he cannot!"

Shūichi's voice boomed, "Wrong!"

"For Konoha, there is only one will—the will of the Hokage!"

"The Root's purpose is to carry the village's darkness so that the Hokage can stand in the light."

"It's not to oppose the Hokage in the name of the village's interests!"

"And what about stealing the Sharingan from the Uchiha clan? Was that to protect Konoha too?"

"They were comrades, fighting for the village on the front lines!"

Danzo's tone grew cold. "The Uchiha clan is always on the verge of rebellion, harboring dangerous ambitions. Weakening them was a policy set by the Second Hokage; I'm simply carrying on his will."

"As for you, Shūichi, it seems you've grown too close to the Uchiha, letting this naturally evil clan influence you."

"There's still time for you to turn back. Otherwise, I'll be forced to handle you in the village's name, even if it means losing two valuable assets!"

Shūichi smirked. "Now that's more like it!"

"There's no point in arguing; a hundred reasons won't sway my resolve to kill you."

"From the moment you tried to threaten me through the orphanage, I wanted you dead!"

"I've waited so long for today..."

"So, Danzo, if you have any last words, say them now, and I'll deliver them accurately. This is in recognition of the service you once provided the village."

Danzo's pupils contracted. "You're an evil brat by nature!"

"I should've eliminated you back then!"

Shūichi nodded. "Yes, you should regret that."

"But now, you should thank me."

"I originally planned to wait until Minato-sensei became the Fourth Hokage, so I could expose your crimes to ruin your reputation before killing you."

"Killing you now is letting you off easy."

A cold gleam flashed in Danzo's eyes as he ordered, "Kill him!"

The remaining six Root shinobi lunged forward, but before they could perform any jutsu, each one collapsed suddenly.

Shūichi shook his head. "Too weak!"

Genjutsu!

Danzo retreated instantly, forming hand seals.

Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves!

Crackle!

Electric light surged around Shūichi, forming a Lightning Armor. He became a streak of light, tearing through Danzo's Vacuum Serial Waves and closing the distance instantly.

"So fast!"

Danzo's heart raced, unable to react in time before Shūichi's hand thrust through his chest.

Shūichi withdrew his hand, and Danzo's body collapsed to the ground—only to vanish.

Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere!

Whoosh!

The vacuum projectiles shot towards Shūichi, but he dodged them with ease.

In Lightning Chakra Mode, his speed was unmatched, save for the Flying Thunder God technique.

"Too fast!" Danzo's gaze darkened. He stomped on the ground, causing it to crack, then blew dust and smoke to obscure his surroundings.

"This tactic is useless against me!"

Shūichi pierced Danzo's chest again, now using Fire Release Chakra Mode.

Once again, the corpse disappeared.

Danzo reappeared in the distance, unwrapping the bandages from his head and right arm.

"Is this guy insane?"

...

Several Root ninja had broken free from the genjutsu, staring at Danzo's corpse in shock and confusion.

He was truly dead, and they could feel the curse marks on their bodies had vanished.

Shūichi exhaled a sigh and then turned to face the Root ninja. "Take Danzo's body back to Konoha and report to the Third Hokage. Explain everything that happened here in full detail."

He chose not to kill them.

First, it wasn't necessary—killing them would only weaken his own influence.

Second, he needed witnesses. He needed someone who could recount the events to Hiruzen Sarutobi from a neutral perspective.

And, the things he said to Danzo would reach Hiruzen without him needing to repeat them himself.

Was it wrong to kill Danzo?

Should Danzo not have died?

If it were anyone else, the grass on his grave would already be waist-high by now!

...

The Root ninja looked at Shūichi, uncertain whether to obey.

Shūichi glared at them coldly. "The Root is also part of the Anbu. Your highest leader is the Hokage, not Danzo!"

"Remember, you are ninja of Konoha, Anbu of Konoha, Root of Konoha—not Danzo's soldiers!"

The Root ninja, awed by Shūichi's presence, quickly nodded. "Yes!"

Shūichi gave a slight nod. "Go!"

The Root ninja exchanged glances, then bowed toward Shūichi before heading back to Konoha with Danzo's body.

Meanwhile, Shūichi activated Sage Mode, quickly expanding his sensing.

"Nagato and Konan's chakra signatures have vanished..."

Shūichi frowned. "Uchiha Madara hasn't pulled the plug yet. Are they meeting with Madara?"

"If so, then this would mean that Madara has entirely abandoned Obito and plans to use Nagato to gather the Tailed Beasts and carry out the Eye of the Monn Plan directly."

"But Madara would clearly see how deeply Nagato is influenced by Yahiko... so he'll likely withhold the full details of the Eye of the Moon Plan, instead crafting a version that aligns with Nagato's goals."

"Gather Tailed Beasts, resurrect Madara, wage war, experience pain, seek mutual understanding, achieve peace."

"Gather Tailed Beasts, resurrect Madara, wage war, Infinite Tsukuyomi, achieve world peace."

"Gather Tailed Beasts, resurrect Madara, wage war, Infinite Tsukuyomi, resurrect his 'mother.'"

Shūichi considered all the possibilities and then smiled. "So, which version will the real Madara go with?"

...

Back in Konoha, Shūichi, busy in his study, paused briefly as he received the memories from his clone, then refocused on the sealing techniques in the scroll.

The moment Danzo had died, he became history.

As for dealing with the aftermath...

There was no need. His clone had already taken care of it.

Hiruzen wouldn't move against him, Koharu and Homura were powerless to do so, and the Shimura clan wouldn't dare.

For Shūichi, his true enemies from now on were Black Zetsu, Uchiha Madara, Kaguya ōtsutsuki, and the ōtsutsuki clan!

Compared to these opponents, Danzo was utterly insignificant—not even worth being called an ant.

However, while Danzo's death didn't concern Shūichi, its impact on Konoha, especially on Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, was profound.

The following day, the Root ninja returned to Konoha, heading straight to the Hokage's office to report.

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi shot to his feet in shock upon hearing the report of Danzo's death. "What?"

The Root ninja who was reporting bowed his head. "Third Hokage, Lord Danzo was intercepted and killed by Shūichi Hoshita on his way back to Konoha."

Cold sweat ran down Hiruzen's back.

He knew Shūichi held deep hostility toward Danzo, but he hadn't expected him to take such a bold action.

Danzo was, after all, the head of Root, an advisor to the Hokage!

If this got out, while most in the village might dismiss it, Koharu, Homura, and the entire Shimura clan would be infuriated.

Hiruzen took a few long puffs of his pipe, his mind racing on how best to resolve this situation. He knew he couldn't let anything happen to Shūichi or force him to leave the village—such a loss would be something Konoha couldn't bear.

But after considering all possibilities, Hiruzen realized that neither Koharu, Homura, nor the Shimura clan could shake Shūichi's current standing.

Unless he, as Hokage, ordered it.

In a flash of insight, Hiruzen calmed down. After sitting down again, he spoke gravely, "Report every detail of the incident."

"Yes, sir!"

The Root ninja began recounting everything in detail, from Shūichi's interception to every word exchanged between him and Danzo.

Listening, Hiruzen could only sigh inwardly.

Any previous inclination to blame Shūichi had been replaced by resignation and a faint smile.

After the report concluded, Hiruzen pondered briefly before saying, "Shinnosuke, go summon Shūichi."

"Understood!"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke responded and immediately set off to find Shūichi.

(End of Chapter)