"Kinjutsu [Izanagi]."
"Punk! Your damn life really is as smelly and tough as a dung beetle!"
Shimoku glared at Danzo, cursing through clenched teeth with fiery eyes.
"Cough... cough..."
"A dung beetle? What's that?"
Danzo coughed and spat blood, asking in confusion. His brows were furrowed in anger.
He just couldn't understand.
This kid Shimoku clearly had been on his last legs.
How could he recover so quickly and suddenly unleash such power!
If he'd known the boy could even activate [Susano'o], he definitely wouldn't have recklessly revealed himself!
Unfortunately, it was too late to think about that now.
This cunning brat truly outsmarted him, costing Danzo both of his legs as a heavy price!
But not all hope was lost!
He still had some hidden cards.
The Sharingan eye seized from Shisui.
And the forbidden technique [Izanagi] secretly obtained from the Uchiha Clan!
That's what saved his life.
Otherwise, he probably would've ended up like that deep dark trench beside him—split into minced meat by a single slash!
So terrifying!
...
Barely surviving, Danzo didn't dare hesitate.
He struggled and bit through the bandages covering his right arm.
Revealing the entire limb—a right arm transplanted with Wood Release cells created by Orochimaru—as well as two glowing, living Sharingan eyes!
Even glancing at those eyeballs embedded in his arm looked grotesque and sent chills down one's spine!
No wonder no one could imagine how Danzo managed to sleep peacefully at night.
"Sharingan! Wood Release cells!"
"You monster!"
Shimoku deliberately roared in rage, pretending to be completely unaware.
Yet Danzo paid no heed to Shimoku's insults.
Disgusting or sinful—it made no difference.
As long as it brought power.
As long as it made him stronger, allowing him to ascend further onto the Hokage position and lead Konoha toward prosperity.
What did any of it matter?
Besides, without the Sharingan implant, without knowing [Izanagi], he likely would've died already.
"Punk! Didn't see that coming, did you…"
"Cough..."
"You've lost!"
Danzo sneered weakly while raising his 'Sharingan arm.'
Already preparing to activate [Izanagi] again at any moment, to prevent the opponent from attacking during the forbidden jutsu's cooldown.
Clearly,
Being leader of Root, along with enduring the brutal Third Great Ninja War and countless high-risk missions with astronomical casualty rates.
For someone like him, secretly procuring a few bodies from the Uchiha Clan to harvest their Sharingan eyes wasn't difficult at all.
Presumably because of having initially implanted these Sharingan eyes,
After witnessing the true power of such a [Kekkei Genkai],
He then became willing enough to strike against Shisui!
Willing enough to relentlessly push for the annihilation of the entire Uchiha Clan behind the scenes!
With two Sharingan eyes, plus Shisui's right eye,
That old bastard Danzo now had three Sharingan eyes in total.
In other words, he could activate [Izanagi] three times—maintaining its effects for three minutes!
Could he possibly survive those three minutes?
Of course!
Without the [Izanagi],
Shimoku could easily tear Danzo apart in less than three seconds!
But with the [Izanagi] granting three minutes of "invincibility," things become troublesome.
After all, right now, even a single extra minute could bring countless Konoha ninja swarming in from all directions.
At that point, he'd truly be a fish trapped in a vat.
...
Still, this ambush wasn't entirely fruitless.
At the very least, it had severely wounded Danzo, crippled both his legs, and forced him to activate the [Izanagi], wasting Shisui's precious [Mangekyo Sharingan].
That alone was equivalent to eliminating a major threat.
The power of Shisui's [Mangekyo Sharingan]—the [Kotoamatsukami]—was truly terrifying!
If he wasn't careful, even he might fall under its control.
And if that happened, it would all be for nothing.
All things considered, it was still worth it.
Besides, a live Danzo could actually harm and weaken Konoha far more than a dead one ever could...
"Lost? You actually dare to judge others when you yourself are a failure?"
"So your entire life was just about becoming Hokage, huh?"
"Your body was already damaged before, and now your legs are gone too. How exactly do you plan to become Hokage?"
"If you're so afraid of death, why even bother competing for the position of Hokage?"
Shimoku's mockery instantly filled Danzo with rage.
Over twenty years ago, because of one fleeting thought, he had missed out on the Hokage position—it had always been the deepest wound in his heart!
And now, to be mocked by a brat barely ten years old from the Uchiha clan, ridiculing his lifelong dream and pursuit!
It was truly infuriating, something he couldn't bear.
"You!"
"You little punk, keep acting tough while you still can."
"Wait just a moment—you'll beg for death before I'm done with you!"
Danzo glared coldly, spewing curses laced with hatred.
Years spent pulling strings from the shadows had honed his restraint.
Despite the blazing anger burning inside him at this moment,
he hadn't completely lost control—he continued using the forbidden technique [Izanagi], ensuring his own immortality!
After all, it was only necessary to wait a short while longer.
Soon, numerous ninja from Konoha would gather here and surround this brat.
In the end, the one who emerged victorious would still be him!
...
Hiss—swish—swish—
In a short time, wave after wave of Anbu ninja arrived on scene.
Quickly taking positions guarding Danzo and surrounding Shimoku.
However, under the intimidation of the massive Susanoo Demigod, none dared to launch a direct attack.
Meanwhile, not far away, Third Hokage Sarutobi quickly arrived alongside several clan leaders.
"Danzo!"
"Lord Danzo!"
"How could this happen!"
Seeing the utter devastation around them, and Danzo critically wounded near death,
the reinforcements were shocked beyond words.
No one could believe it. How had this twisted old weasel—who had long played the game of shadows—been utterly crushed by a dying ten-year-old boy?
...
At the same time, seeing the arrival of Konoha reinforcements,
Shimoku knew there was no chance left to kill Danzo.
He could only withdraw his [Susanoo] and prepare to leave.
Though strong, he couldn't fight them all alone forever.
But for now, he still didn't possess the strength to match Konoha in combat.
And then there was Sarutobi—the ever-lasting old man.
The very reason he hadn't chosen to confront Konoha head-on was none other than Sarutobi himself!
Don't let the man's aged body and declining strength fool you.
That title of "Professor of Ninjutsu" wasn't just for show—his overall strength was at least upper-mid Kage-level.
Most importantly, he also possessed an overwhelmingly powerful sealing technique known as [Dead Demon Consuming Seal].
That was essentially a technique for a final one-for-one exchange.
Didn't Orochimaru himself fall victim to it?
Shimoku had no intention of fighting and then suddenly being snatched away by the Shinigami summoned by that old man Sarutobi, dying without anyone knowing how or why.
That was exactly why Shimoku chose to defect from Konoha along with his entire clan.
Otherwise, with just himself and Fugaku each wielding a Susano'o,
...
At this moment, Sarutobi looked at the battered Danzo, feelings of reluctant pity and anger rising in his heart.
Although Danzo had many shortcomings and overly ambitious desires,
In the end, he was still his old comrade-in-arms and longtime acquaintance.
Moreover, over all these years, he'd contributed much to Konoha's development and borne countless sins on its behalf.
That's why Sarutobi had repeatedly tolerated him.
Covered up for him…
"Call the Medical Team immediately to save him!"
Sarutobi quickly ordered.
Several ninjas swiftly took Danzo and withdrew.
Then, Sarutobi turned his gaze toward the distant Shimoku, his eyes carrying a trace of cold fury.
"You're… Uchiha Shimoku, right? What exactly are you after?"
"Leave Konoha! Of course, in your eyes, that would be desertion…" Shimoku admitted openly and cheerfully.
"Why?"
"Third Hokage, do you really dare to ask me why? Didn't you silently approve of the decision to wipe out the Uchiha Clan? Do you expect me to stay in the village waiting to die?"
Shimoku sneered contemptuously, sharply questioning him.
"You!…"
Sarutobi roared furiously but could find no defense to offer.
After all, as Hokage, he already vaguely knew about Danzo secretly pressuring Itachi with an extermination order...
And besides, just Itachi and Obito alone wouldn't have been able to massacre hundreds of Uchiha members in such a short time.
The true main force came from the hidden Anbu and Root operatives, ready to strike at any time!
Itachi was merely the primary scapegoat.
"Sigh… Shimoku, surrender quietly!"
"If you're willing to surrender, the village may show some mercy."
After a pause, Sarutobi could only attempt persuasion.
Unlike Danzo, he fully understood—
If this monstrous young Uchiha resisted to his last breath, it would surely bring great casualties to Konoha!
Perhaps costing dozens more precious Anbu lives…
"The village will show mercy to me? How ridiculous!"
"Third Hokage, exactly what is 'the village'? Is it wherever the Hokage stands?"
Sarutobi hurriedly shook his head. "Of course not! The village consists of its people—the true Hidden Leaf Village is made up of all the villagers who carry forth the Will of Fire!"
"Then does that mean the Uchiha aren't considered part of this village?"
"You definitely are, but..."
Sarutobi once again found himself speechless.
It was still the same reasoning. The 'Uchiha Extermination Plan' decided by Konoha's higher-ups wasn't exactly something honorable.
"Taking lives in the name of justice!"
"This is what you call the Will of Fire? Is this truly the legacy passed down from The First and The Second Hokage?"
"The current Konoha has truly rotted to the core..."
Shimoku Uchiha angrily rebuked.
With a soft sigh, he said,
"Alright, no more useless talk."
"Starting today, I, Shimoku Uchiha, will lead half of our clan in officially defecting from Konoha!"
"If you've got what it takes, come and slay me!"
"I'll be waiting!"
Shimoku let out a long roar, his sharp gaze sweeping across all the Konoha ninjas present.
The Anbu were momentarily stunned, a chill running down their spines as they instinctively stepped back half a pace.
Then—
[Reverse Summoning Jutsu] — Activate!
With a "Puff!"
In an instant, a cloud of white smoke exploded into existence.
Shimoku vanished from the spot.
And immediately reappeared at the predetermined gathering location over a hundred miles away...
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