"Tsunade-nee, Shizune-senpai…"
Inside the inn.
After packing his things, Ren checked his ninja tools.
Then he reminded the two of them seriously:
"Danzō likely took Uchiha Shisui's eyes, so you both need to be careful."
"I've heard of Shisui of the Body Flicker during my travels in the Land of Fire," Tsunade nodded.
"They say his genjutsu was extremely powerful, and he was exceptionally skilled in the Body Flicker Technique."
Shizune added curiously,
"I wonder what kind of ability his Mangekyō Sharingan has."
"Kotoamatsukami."
Ren shrugged and answered directly.
"It's considered the strongest genjutsu among Mangekyō Sharingan abilities."
"It can permanently and completely rewrite a person's will."
"For example," he said calmly,
"I suspect Danzō has taken interest in my talent and plans to use Kotoamatsukami on me—forcing me to serve him."
Tsunade: "..."
Shizune: "..."
For a moment,
the two women looked at each other in stunned silence.
Their eyelids twitched violently.
Just moments ago they were eager to beat up Root.
Now a chill ran down their spines.
This… was supposed to be genjutsu?
The Mangekyō abilities of the Uchiha were each more outrageous than the last.
It was completely unreasonable.
Completely overbearing.
No wonder the clan had been feared so much.
"What should we do then?" Tsunade's expression turned serious.
"If Danzō gets involved, things could become extremely dangerous…"
After witnessing Ren's almost invincible Mangekyō ability Ōnamuchi,
and now hearing about Shisui's terrifying Kotoamatsukami—
even Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, had to be cautious.
"No need to worry."
Ren smiled.
"I possess the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Besides Ōnamuchi, I also have another ocular ability."
"Ukamitama."
"It's an ability that completely ignores all genjutsu."
"It happens to perfectly counter Kotoamatsukami."
"But Tsunade-nee and Shizune-senpai must still be careful."
"Mm."
Tsunade nodded.
Her expression grew serious, and killing intent flashed in her eyes.
"I know Danzō well. If he realizes he can't capture you directly, he'll resort to any dirty trick."
"There's one more thing," Ren added thoughtfully.
"He probably doesn't know that your hemophobia has already been cured, Tsunade-nee."
"He'll almost certainly try to exploit that weakness."
"When that happens, you can play along."
Ren clenched his fist with excitement.
"Leave Danzō and the Root operatives to me."
He was eager to see—
just how strong he truly was now.
Since Danzō had delivered himself to their doorstep,
it was the perfect opportunity.
Meanwhile—
Outside the capital of the Land of Fire.
Danzō Shimura stood leaning on his cane.
Several masked figures carrying ninja swords knelt before him.
"Tsunade and that boy Chiye Ren… are they still in the capital?"
An eight-year-old who could already use genjutsu so skillfully.
It was unbelievable.
Not to mention his excellent medical ninjutsu and the powerful chakra of the Senju bloodline.
The talent and potential Ren displayed
had truly caught Danzō's attention.
Originally,
after receiving reports from his subordinates days earlier,
he had planned to attack along the road.
But unexpectedly,
Tsunade's group had traveled so quickly that they reached the capital the very same day.
He had no choice but to send more agents to investigate.
He even ordered them to continue surveillance even if discovered.
After asking Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado to intercede for him,
he finally convinced the Third Hokage to lift his house arrest.
The ANBU stopped monitoring him.
And he rushed here immediately.
"Yes, Lord Danzō."
A Root elite jōnin knelt on one knee and reported:
"Over the past few days, Lady Tsunade—the legendary medical ninja—has received invitations from many nobles."
"Every morning she visits their estates to treat illnesses while teaching her disciple, Chiye Ren."
"But today all appointments have ended."
"I believe they will leave the capital soon."
Clearly,
Root hadn't been idly following them.
They had already investigated
which nobles had requested Tsunade's services.
Danzō's eyes flickered coldly.
"Then prepare the ambush."
"We'll act once they leave the city."
"Lord Danzō," another Root jōnin said hesitantly,
"Tsunade is one of the Legendary Sannin. Her strength is formidable."
"If we cannot reveal our identities, separating her from her disciple may be difficult…"
"Don't worry."
Danzō waved dismissively.
"Tsunade suffers from hemophobia."
"As long as she sees blood, she becomes practically incapable of fighting."
"As for her female disciple—she should be weak."
"Send two or three men to stall her."
"Remember—do not kill Tsunade."
"That woman still has value."
After a pause,
he stroked his chin and spoke with a sinister smile.
"I believe that once that boy realizes he is our true target, he'll try to protect his teacher."
"He'll probably act as bait and attempt to lure us away."
"At that moment…"
"I'll personally test just how strong that brat really is."
"Yes, sir!"
All the Root operatives responded in unison.
Danzō's gaze turned cold and calculating.
"Chiye Ren…"
"How much of a surprise will you bring me?"
For Ren,
he was even prepared to use Kotoamatsukami, despite its extremely long cooldown.
That meant his right eye might not recover for years.
But if he could obtain a genius even greater than Orochimaru—
that boy would surely become his right-hand man.
And then—
the title of Hokage would inevitably fall into his grasp.
No—
Hokage would only be the beginning.
He would prove to the world—
and to his teacher, the Second Hokage—
that Shimura Danzō was the on
e truly worthy of becoming Hokage.
The endless wars of the ninja world—
would end under his rule.
"Don't disappoint me…"
…
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