<h4>Chapter 184: Chapter 184: The Death of Danzo!</h4>


    "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 nning to betray the vige?"


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


    "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 ns. How do you exin that, Danzo?"


    Danzo scoffed. "Shūichi, do you really agree withpromising 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 killingrades... that''s an unforgivable crime. The Third may have spared you out of respect for the past, but you used this issue ofpromise 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 vige!"


    "As leader of the Root, I safeguard the core of Konoha from the shadows. It''s my duty topensate 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 vige''s darkness so that the Hokage can stand in the light."


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


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


    "They wererades, fighting for the vige on the front lines!"


    Danzo''s tone grew cold. "The Uchiha n 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 n influence you."


    "There''s still time for you to turn back. Otherwise, I''ll be forced to handle you in the vige''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 anyst words, say them now, and I''ll deliver them urately. This is in recognition of the service you once provided the vige."


    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 nned 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 shed 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 copsed suddenly.


    Shūichi shook his head. "Too weak!"


    Genjutsu!


    Danzo retreated instantly, forming hand seals.


    Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves!


    <i>Crackle!</i>


    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 copsed to the ground—only to vanish.


    Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere!


    <i>Whoosh!</i>


    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.


    His right eye revealed a three-tomoe Sharingan, and his pale right arm was embedded with three additional Sharingan.


    Biting his finger, Danzo formed a seal.


    Summoning Jutsu!


    A giant summoned creature, the Baku, appeared and began to inhale ferociously, drawing Shūichi toward its gaping mouth.


    But Shūichi didn''t even bother using his Rasenshuriken. One burst of fire sent the Baku screaming before it vanished with a <i>poof</i>.


    Meanwhile, Danzo seized the opportunity to create two shadow clones, attacking from three directions simultaneously.


    Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves!


    Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere!


    Yet Shūichi didn''t move, as walls of earth rose up around him.


    But Danzo''s Wind Style was fierce, piercing through each wall in session.


    Shūichi, however, had already vanished, descending from above with a heavy impact, half-burying Danzo in the ground as he coughed up blood.


    "Danzo, none of your tricks work on me."


    "Even Izanagi with the Sharingan is useless!"


    Shūichi stated calmly.


    "Hiruzen will never forgive you!" Danzo roared, only to disappear once more.


    Upon reviving this time, Danzo didn''t attempt to continue fighting. Instead, he turned to flee.


    Even with three Sharingan remaining, Danzo no longer held any confidence in victory.


    <i>Boom!</i>


    Just as he tried to move, Danzo was mmed into the ground by Shūichi, who had appeared in a sh.


    "In front of me, you don''t even have a chance to escape!"


    Danzo died once more.


    And then revived, once again.


    But to Shūichi''s surprise, this time Danzo didn''t flee. Instead, he tore open his clothing, exposing his still-muscr chest.


    "Shūichi Hoshita, one day, you''ll bring harm to the vige. Today, I''ll seal you away with me!"


    A ck curse mark appeared as Danzo activated the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing technique, ck ink-like sealing power expanding outward into a spherical shape.


    Unfortunately for him, the sealing was far too slow for Shūichi.


    With a light step, Shūichi lifted into the air, effortlessly dodging it.


    Reviving once more, Danzo looked at the airborne Shūichi with a sense of unprecedented despair. At this moment, he realized he didn''t even have the power to take this "evil brat" down with him.


    "I''ll have to wait for the right moment to restrain him with the curse mark the instant he attacks, and then seal him..."


    Danzo strategized.


    However, Shūichi in the air had no intention of closing in. Instead, he raised his hand, rapidly forming a Wind-Fire Rasenshuriken and flung it at him.


    Danzo''s face twisted as he was struck, dying once more in the ensuing storm. Reviving, he immediately tried to escape again.


    As Shūichinded, he noticed Danzo''s feet hit the ground, only for his entire body to start sinking.


    Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!


    Following this, Danzo let out a pained scream as blue mes ignited on his body.


    Fire Style: Firing Biscuit Jutsu!


    He died again and revived again.


    One by one, each Sharingan closed, until all were exhausted.


    Once all the Sharingan had shut, Danzo could no longer suppress the cells in his arm cultivated from Hashirama''s DNA. His arm started to mutate, giving rise to arge tree.


    After severing his own arm, Danzo, panting heavily, red up at Shūichi, who gazed down upon him. "Damn brat... I never thought I''d die by the hands of one of my own."


    "But, Shūichi, you won''t be able to keep my death hidden."


    Shūichi chuckled lightly. "Who said I''d keep it hidden?"


    "I''ll report every detail of your death to the Third Hokage."


    "So, anything else you want to say?"


    Danzo froze, as despair, terror, unwillingness, and regret twisted his face into a hideous expression.


    "Seems like there''s nothing..."


    A dragon''s head materialized over Shūichi''s shoulder, and two intense white beams shot out, slicing through Danzo and leaving his body cleaved in two.


    This time, Danzo was truly dead.


    Shūichinded, looking at Danzo''s fallen corpse with an overwhelming sense of relief, feeling a freedom he''d never known.


    From today, he wouldn''t have to worry about being stabbed in the back in Konoha!


    "It seems this was definitely the right decision."


    "Though Danzo''s strength was hardly noteworthy, someone like him was atent threat. Any threat, big or small, must be eliminated."


    "This settles a grudge that''s been simmering for years!"


    One word: <i>Satisfying!</i>


    ...


    "Lord Danzo!"


    "Shūichi actually killed Lord Danzo!"


    "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. Exin 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 red 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 nces, 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 ns to use Nagato to gather the Tailed Beasts and carry out the Eye of the Monn n 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 n, 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 n wouldn''t dare.


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


    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 vige might dismiss it, Koharu, Homura, and the entire Shimura n 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 vige—such a loss would be something Konoha couldn''t bear.


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


    Unless he, as Hokage, ordered it.


    In a sh 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 me Shūichi had been reced 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)