Akihito gave Danzo no chance to act.
"Mangekyō Sharingan: Epitaph."
Seeing the future a step ahead, Akihito drew his blade and pierced straight through Danzo's chest.
Danzo hadn't even finished activating the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing before it was forcibly interrupted.
This time…
It didn't even destroy half a bridge.
The Fall of the Root
"Lord Danzo!"
Root shinobi rushed in just as the battle ended.
Seeing Danzo reduced to a corpse, their eyes split with fury.
"Uchiha Akihito!"
At the command of the two remaining squad captains, Root members surrounded him.
Akihito's voice rang cold and sharp:
"A flickering firefly dares compete with the sun and moon?"
"Danzo is dead. Anyone who doesn't want to die—stand aside."
His overwhelming presence shook them.
Their leader was dead.
Were they really going to throw their lives away now?
Even brainwashed shinobi still retained basic instinct.
Self-preservation was human nature.
"Don't be deceived!"
"Akihito killed Lord Danzo!"
"We must avenge him!"
The two captains stubbornly tried to rally resistance.
Akihito did not hesitate.
His blade flashed—
Two heads fell.
"Anyone else?"
Silence.
One by one, Root members lowered their gazes.
Just as Akihito considered eliminating a few more diehards—
The Third Hokage arrived with his personal ANBU.
"Akihito, show mercy."
"Leave Root to me."
Akihito nodded.
He had no intention of slaughtering them all—only uprooting Danzo's faction.
And publicly defying the Hokage now would gain him nothing.
The Aftermath
Hiruzen glanced at Danzo's body.
He sighed inwardly.
I gave you opportunities.
You were simply outmatched.
Farewell, old friend.
Next life… come back and take the blame for me again.
Turning to Root, Hiruzen spoke firmly:
"As Hokage, I order you to lay down your weapons and submit to ANBU investigation."
One shinobi complied.
Then another.
Within minutes, Root was disarmed and shackled.
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
Root held many elites.
They could reinforce ANBU.
Others could be returned to their clans—earning political goodwill.
With Akihito's rise like the midday sun, Hiruzen urgently needed to consolidate power.
He had no intention of stepping down.
And he did not trust Akihito.
If he ever passed the mantle—
It would be to Jiraiya or Tsunade.
A New Political Landscape
Akihito exited the Root base.
Fugaku and Hiashi visibly relaxed at the sight of him unharmed.
"Akihito, what happened inside?"
"Danzo is dead," Akihito replied calmly. "The Hokage is cleaning up."
Joy spread across the gathered clan heads.
Danzo had been a shadow over Konoha for decades.
Now, sunlight returned.
Even previously neutral leaders began leaning toward Akihito.
Nara Shikaku felt especially relieved.
His early goodwill had been the right move.
The future of the Ino–Shika–Chō alliance looked bright.
The High Council Shifts
At the next council meeting, Akihito did not sit below.
He took Danzo's former seat.
Mito Homura and Koharu Utatane looked stiff.
But Hiruzen said nothing.
Their earlier humiliation had drained their confidence.
Without Danzo—
They dared not provoke Akihito again.
They were never true powerhouses.
Just foxes borrowing a tiger's might.
The meeting adjourned quickly.
Afterward, many approached Akihito to curry favor.
He accepted politely—
But with restraint.
Snow in winter was worth more than flowers in spring.
They had missed their best timing.
Hiruzen's Countermove
Soon after, ANBU delivered reports:
More and more were aligning with Akihito.
Hiruzen was helpless.
He had once risen the same way.
But surrendering power now?
He was unwilling.
After long thought, he issued a quiet order:
"Inform Jiraiya."
"Have him bring Tsunade back."
The Toad Sage Receives the Call
In the Land of Lightning—
Near a hot spring—
Jiraiya was engaged in "research."
"Excellent… excellent…"
"The girls here have exotic charm…"
Suddenly—
A toad burst from a well and spat water into his face.
"Hey!"
"Can't you see I'm working diligently?"
The toad croaked and spat out a scroll.
Jiraiya read it.
His brows furrowed.
Danzo was dead?
Akihito was making bold moves.
The old man wanted Tsunade brought back.
Jiraiya groaned.
Convince Tsunade?
That would likely involve being punched into a crater.
Still—
Root's collapse destabilized Konoha.
He understood Hiruzen's concern.
Senju versus Uchiha.
History repeating.
Perhaps Tsunade could counterbalance Akihito.
"Guess I'm heading to the Land of Hot Water…"
He smirked.
"Such hardship…"
The Legendary Sucker
In Tanzaku Town—
Tsunade lived day to day.
Gambling by morning.
Drinking by night.
Shizune trailed behind, exhausted.
Tsunade, the "Legendary Sucker," entered a casino with confidence.
"Today's the day I win it back."
Shizune sweated.
We're already broke…
The casino manager beamed.
"It's her."
"The Legendary Sucker!"
By evening—
Tsunade had lost everything again.
At the bar, dozens of bottles later—
She was flushed.
"Another round."
Shizune whispered weakly:
"Lady Tsunade… we can't afford more…"
The curtain lifted.
Jiraiya entered.
Their eyes met.
"Jiraiya?"
"Tsunade?"
He sat down.
"I've been looking for you."
She narrowed her eyes.
"What do you want?"
He drank.
"The old man sent me."
"He wants you back in Konoha."
Her expression darkened instantly.
"Back?"
"To watch them scheme again?"
Her resentment ran deep.
Princess of the Land of Fire.
One of the Sannin.
And yet—
Konoha's elders had never truly respected her.
Jiraiya exhaled.
The real battle—
Was about to begin.
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