"You fell for an opening I deliberately left for you. Compared to Itachi, you're still far inferior."
Danzō shifted his footing slightly. His right hand flashed out like lightning, clamping down on Sasuke's wrist as it stabbed toward him, while his left hand shot straight for one of Sasuke's eyes.
Yet at the instant his fingers touched Sasuke's eye socket, Sasuke's entire body dissolved into a wisp of smoke-like afterimage. At the same time, that piercing, shrill screech rang out behind him once more.
"Izanagi!"
Danzō's pupils contracted violently. His tightly shut left eye snapped open. Though shock surged through him, his movements did not slow in the slightest.
He raised two fingers on his right hand. With a tearing sound, his robe ripped open at the shoulder, and tree-root–like tendrils burst forth, rapidly growing behind him and forming a massive tree that several people could barely wrap their arms around.
Crack—crack—crack!
Sasuke's right arm pierced straight into the tree trunk. At the same time, his right eye turned a lifeless gray-white.
Just as he was about to pull free, Danzō appeared at his side. A clearly visible blade of wind slashed downward, severing the arm embedded in the tree.
Blood sprayed.
Sasuke's body retreated instantly, landing in a crouch some distance away. His chest heaved violently. Everything below his right elbow was gone.
As Sasuke's remaining left hand reached toward his ninja pouch, Danzō Shunshined in front of him again. His left hand locked around Sasuke's throat, lifting him off the ground, while his pallid right hand twisted Sasuke's left arm brutally.
"Orochimaru thought Izanagi was enough to probe my trump cards?" Danzō roared, staring at Sasuke's blinded right eye with fury. "You trash who's been used by others—not only did you waste Itachi's sacrifice and the Uchiha clan's extinction, you also wasted a perfectly good component I had my eye on!"
From the start, Danzō had planned to use Shisui's eye to control Sasuke. That way, he would gain Orochimaru's intelligence—and two fresh Sharingan.
However, Kotoamatsukami required direct visual contact. Sasuke's true body had been hidden underground from the beginning. The moment Sasuke revealed himself, Danzō decided to capture him first, then use the technique.
What he never anticipated was that Sasuke could use Izanagi.
Cursing Orochimaru viciously in his heart, Danzō reached for Sasuke's left eye—
And froze.
His body would not move.
Sasuke's face blurred and transformed into someone else entirely, black curse markings spreading densely across his features.
"Curse Binding Seal!"
Danzō roared, "Guards!!"
The ANBU stationed away from the Hokage Rock froze for a split second—then surged forward.
But just as they leapt into the air, a figure appeared out of thin air behind the Hokage.
"That is—"
"It's the Second Hokage!"
"No—Edo Tensei!"
Their voices died in their throats.
Not just them—everyone secretly watching Hokage Rock froze in shock.
Their Fifth Hokage was gone.
At the same time, twenty thousand meters above Konoha, in the stratosphere, a ferocious-looking warship hovered silently above the sea of clouds.
Inside the main hall, Naruto, Minato Namikaze, and Sasuke stood side by side before a crystal sphere, watching the moment Danzō vanished from Hokage Rock.
Cold killing intent surged from Sasuke. He strode to a nearby console and typed rapidly.
Danzō's image immediately appeared on the screen.
He was imprisoned inside a circular, airtight metal cage, his body still frozen in the same posture as before. The Sasuke he had been holding was now revealed to be a White Zetsu clone with an active Sharingan.
Sasuke typed again.
Metal pipes extended from the cage's walls, spewing thick yellow-green gas. Both Danzō and the White Zetsu were swallowed instantly.
"Orochimaru!!!"
Danzō's furious roar echoed—but after a few curses, there was silence.
Sasuke grinned savagely. He glanced at Naruto and Minato, nodded once, and walked out of the hall.
"His chakra has changed," Minato said gravely after Sasuke disappeared. "And his way of doing things… it's completely unlike other Uchiha."
Naruto smiled faintly.
"Father, are you surprised that he chose to rely on me instead of risking himself to capture Danzō?"
Minato nodded.
"Yes. The Uchiha I knew were extremely proud. They trusted only their own power—only the power of the Uchiha. Companions existed to be protected, not to be relied upon."
"But what he did was correct," Minato continued. "Danzō's Kotoamatsukami can turn anyone within fifteen meters of his gaze into a puppet. Without using a White Zetsu clone as bait, Sasuke would have been in real danger."
"He can't afford to lose," Naruto said calmly. "Especially tonight—when he plans to execute Danzō in front of his revived parents and clan. No matter how confident he is, he wouldn't gamble his life."
Naruto's lips curved into a smile.
"And speaking of friends… Father, do you think I'm his friend?"
Minato stiffened, then sighed softly.
"Kushina saw his memories. To Sasuke, you truly are his friend."
"And his only friend. Though he fears you, he is genuinely grateful to you."
"Everything he has now was given to him by me," Naruto said indifferently. "Gratitude is only natural."
He stared at the images in the crystal sphere.
"In the past, Sasuke lived inside the lies woven by Konoha and Itachi. Hatred drove his revenge, and he couldn't accept what he had lost. When he learned the truth, guilt consumed him."
"After tonight, he'll reclaim what the Uchiha treasured most—love. But according to Tobirama Senju's research, that very love is also what drives them into madness."
Minato frowned.
"Naruto… what are you planning?"
"You saw the Great Toad Sage's memories," Naruto replied with a smile. "You remember the scene where Sasuke awakened Susanoo."
"Which means he will awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. But so far, no Uchiha has ever escaped Tobirama's theory. Madara. Itachi. Shisui. Their eyes evolved only after losing what they loved most."
"I hope Sasuke surprises us."
"If even successful revenge and a family reunion fail to awaken his Mangekyō… then in the end, it will be me who helped him."
"The Great Toad Sage's prophecy will not be wrong. Father, you should believe that more than anyone."
A chill ran through Minato's heart.
He was about to speak when Naruto's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Father—we've been waiting for him."
Minato turned toward the crystal sphere and instinctively reached for his Flying Thunder God mark—
And froze.
In Konoha's cemetery, Obito—draped in a black cloak—knelt before Rin's gravestone. He tore out the withered flowers from the bamboo tube and replaced them with a fresh, vibrant bouquet.
"Useless."
He muttered the curse and methodically wiped the stone clean.
Moments later, half of a White Zetsu's face emerged behind him.
"Konoha has restored order. Jiraiya has been elected interim Hokage by the clan leaders. We've also confirmed the whereabouts of the Nine-Tails jinchūriki and Kakashi."
Obito didn't rise.
"Where are they?"
"The Nine-Tails jinchūriki is at Mount Myōboku. The one in Konoha is only a shadow clone. As for Kakashi—"
"Inform Pain immediately," Obito interrupted coldly. Then he added, "What about the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails?"
"We're still waiting for Black Zetsu's report. He should be—"
"Uwah!!"
BOOM!
The ground shattered.
Before White Zetsu could finish speaking, Obito was slammed face-first into the earth by two figures.
When White Zetsu recognized one of them, his pupils shrank violently. He tried to react—
A kunai was already flying straight at his face.'
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