How dare you?
Shihouin Naraku didn't wait for Shimura Danzō's next attack. Still perplexed, he leapt atop the earth wall and witnessed a scene that shocked him.
Kurikara is my Zanpakutō!
MY Zanpakutō!
How could I allow you to touch it?
"AAAGGHH!"
Engulfed in fierce flames, Shimura Danzō wailed in agony as he felt his body burning to ashes bit by bit.
When the flames finally subsided, nothing remained.
Eleven!
Shihouin Naraku clenched his right hand. With a swift whistling sound, Kurikara leapt from the burning tree, spinning rapidly through the air before landing perfectly in Naraku's palm.
A familiar sensation traveled through his arm as Shihouin Naraku casually swung the blade. The ground instantly split open, revealing a bottomless chasm.
"No one touches my sword!"
Shihouin Naraku slowly turned around, his gaze fixed on Shimura Danzō who had once again resurrected.
This time, Shimura Danzō was in a truly pitiful state. Standing only a short distance away, his right eye had turned completely gray—utterly blind.
It had taken tremendous effort for Shimura Danzō to steal this Mangekyō Sharingan from Uchiha Shisui—an eye that possessed the most powerful genjutsu in the shinobi world. Now this precious eye was blind and useless.
Shimura Danzō had been reluctant to use this Mangekyō Sharingan to activate Izanagi, but without it, he would have suffered a miserable death.
He had never imagined someone could kill him eleven times in such a short period!
This was like some ridiculous tragedy!
Although he had died for the eleventh time, it was due to his own foolishness—insisting on taking Kurikara, the Zanpakutō that belonged solely to Shihouin Naraku.
Danzō touched his blind right eye and the ten Sharingan on his right arm, all now closed and useless. He knew in his heart that everything was over!
Even if I escape today, I will never regain the power I've worked so hard to accumulate throughout my life.
Danzō had always assumed Sarutobi Hiruzen would die before him, but now it seemed the outcome would be exactly the opposite.
Shihouin Naraku observed Shimura Danzō's sorrowful expression as flames flickered along Kurikara's blade. "It seems Lord Danzō has finally understood. Today is the day you die!"
"Why do you hate me so intensely? There is no hatred between us except the struggle for power."
Shimura Danzō had long forgotten his past actions, so he was genuinely confused about why Shihouin Naraku was so determined to kill him.
"Really?" Kurikara tapped the stone at his feet with its tip. Shihouin Naraku wasn't surprised by Danzō's confusion. "You wanted to force me into the Root Organization from the beginning. It seems someone insignificant like me doesn't register in Danzō's memory."
"What?"
Shimura Danzō was shocked. He had believed the conflict between him and Naraku stemmed solely from their power struggle.
"I wanted you to join Root. That was to promote you, to recognize your talent!"
"The Shihouin clan was too weak back then to properly nurture a genius like you. I was thinking about your future and the village's!"
"You actually hate me for this?"
Shihouin Naraku understood why Danzō thought this way. "Yes, Lord Danzō did all this for our own good. It's a pity that Lord Danzō, from his lofty position, never considered whether others wanted your 'support.'"
"Danzō-sama's favor should be accepted with gratitude by all, isn't that right?"
"After all, the genius that Lord Danzō values is just a member of a minor clan. How could I dare refuse your kindness?"
"Exactly!"
For many in Konoha, Danzō's so-called benevolence was something they wished to reject but dared not.
Take Aburame Shino, now reduced to ashes. Danzō had originally set his sights on Aburame Shino, intending to recruit him into Root. Shino's father was unwilling but didn't dare refuse.
At that crucial moment, Aburame Togen had stepped forward, replacing his friend Shino in joining Root. He was molded by Danzō into an emotionless killing machine.
It wasn't that ninja families didn't want to refuse—it was because Danzō's power left them no choice but to surrender their children to Root!
Ninjas who joined Root essentially lost the trust of their families forever.
With Danzō's personality and methods, he could only brainwash his subordinates, turning them into killing machines loyal only to him.
Shimura Danzō finally understood that everything had started from that moment.
After being rejected by Shihouin Naraku and the Shihouin clan, he had transferred the clan head, Shihouin Harumoto, to the frontlines—a decision motivated by his wounded pride that had further enraged the Shihouin.
"Everything I've done has been for Konoha's development!"
"The Root Organization is the training ground for ANBU, producing countless talented shinobi so that Sarutobi Hiruzen could remain secure in his position as Hokage!"
"Konoha's prosperity is thanks to ME!"
"You attack me now only because you see me weakened and vulnerable!"
"You are the true traitors of Konoha Village!"
A mocking smile spread across Shihouin Naraku's handsome face as his eyes remained fixed on Shimura Danzō's hysterical shouting.
"Training talents for Konoha Village?"
"No, you were only training loyal subordinates for yourself!"
"From beginning to end, you've been inflicting pain on others to achieve your own ambitions!"
"It was all for YOU!"
Before he finished speaking, Shihouin Naraku shot forward like an arrow released from a bow. Kurikara's black blade cut through the air, emitting a chilling aura like an ice blade as it streaked toward Danzō.
"This old man could not be wrong!"
"I am NOT wrong!"
"That's right!!!"
Facing the rapidly approaching Shihouin Naraku, Shimura Danzō grinned madly and tore open his shirt, revealing the seals engraved on his body, preparing to activate the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique.
"Shihouin Naraku! You'll die with me!"
The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique was an extraordinarily dangerous and devastating fūinjutsu.
When activated, massive amounts of blood would pour forth, expanding into a spherical shape that instantly sealed all objects within several hundred meters, dragging them into the afterlife—a prison from which escape was impossible.
This was Shimura Danzō's final trump card!
"Hmph!"
Shihouin Naraku recognized Shimura Danzō's move instantly. Being familiar with what would happen, he already knew about this final technique.
"Whoosh!"
Instead of retreating, Shihouin Naraku increased his speed, accelerating directly toward Shimura Danzō.
Just as Danzō was about to activate the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing with a sinister grin, Shihouin Naraku's eyes suddenly widened. A terrifying and immense pressure instantly descended, crushing Danzō's body and causing his movements to falter.
Conqueror's Haki!
The sudden burst of overwhelming will, carrying the power of wind and thunder, forcibly suppressed Shimura Danzō, trapping him in a momentary daze.
"Swish!"
Kurikara's blade whispered through the air as it smoothly passed across Danzō's neck, as effortless as a blade cutting through flowing water.
"No..."
Shimura Danzō's remaining left eye regained focus, but it was far too late.
He tried to open his eye wide, desperate to say something, but no sound emerged from his lips.
With a dull thud, Shimura Danzō's body separated and fell heavily to the ground.
No movement.
Dead!
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