Chapter 19
Naruto stood still, holding the hot, blood-slick Sharingan in his hand. The optic nerve dangled from its base like a torn thread of fate.
Orochimaru casually tossed over a small bottle filled with a glowing, translucent culture fluid.
"Catch."
"3Q~" Naruto grinned, catching it one-handed. He uncorked the bottle and gently slid Shisui's eye inside, the optic nerve curling inside the liquid like a snake settling into water. He sealed it up and tucked it away safely.
He thought to himself: In the original battle between Danzo and Sasuke, this eye got sealed away. I could've unsealed it eventually… but that would've been a massive pain. Getting it intact like this? Way better outcome.
"Ugh…!!"
Danzo let out a strangled groan. His right shoulder was erupting violently—trees burst from his flesh, clawing toward the sky like wild beasts breaking free.
"No... If this keeps going… the First Hokage's cells are going to devour me…!"
With a bone-crunching snap, Danzo gritted his teeth and broke off his own right arm, severing the out-of-control growth. He collapsed backward, panting in the snow, one-armed, bloodied, and utterly powerless.
Danzo had been declawed.
No longer a monster in the shadows—just an old man surrounded by ruin.
Whirr—
Paper butterflies drifted through the air and gathered above, folding themselves together mid-flight.
Xiaonan appeared in the sky like a cold wind taking shape.
"Yo~" Naruto waved lazily.
Xiaonan descended slowly, her voice cool and detached. "Looks like everything went according to plan."
Naruto exhaled. "More or less. Used up almost all of my chakra in the process though…"
He asked, "How's Sasuke?"
"As you instructed, I kept him busy," Xiaonan said. "But that boy's incredibly stubborn. He chased me with everything he had. I calculated the time, and when it was about right, I disengaged and let him go."
Naruto smiled faintly. "That sounds like Sasuke, alright."
Suddenly, Naruto's expression shifted. His eyes sharpened—Sage Mode had picked up something.
He turned toward the distant forest and sighed. "Looks like they're here…"
Xiaonan nodded. "Among Sasuke's group is a girl with extremely refined sensory skills."
Orochimaru stepped forward, voice casual but amused. "Ah… that must be Karin. She used to serve me, Naruto-kun. Just like you, she's a descendant of the Uzumaki clan. Her sensory abilities are among the best I've ever seen."
Naruto nodded slowly. "Yeah, I remember her now…"
Moments later, the Taka Squad arrived, stopping a fair distance from the aftermath of the battle.
Sasuke's eyes scanned the shattered landscape. His left eye still showed remnants of dried blood. The destruction, the shattered trees, the lingering chakra in the air—it all painted a clear picture.
But when his gaze landed on Danzo, bleeding and broken, something in him snapped into cold focus.
Then his eyes fixed on Naruto's back—cloaked, still, quiet.
"What's the meaning of this, Naruto?" Sasuke's voice cut through the snow.
Naruto didn't turn. "Sasuke… I took care of Danzo for you. As you can see, he's lost his strength. He's not a threat anymore."
But inside, Naruto's heart was heavy. So many thoughts, tangled up in each other, stopped him from facing Sasuke right away.
"You had no right to interfere!" Sasuke shouted, fists clenched.
Naruto exhaled, speaking evenly. "I know what you planned—to crash the Five Kage Summit. But doing that, especially in your current position… you'd be digging your own grave. You'd become the enemy of every single village. I know you don't really want that."
After a pause, Naruto slowly raised his hand… and took off his mask.
He turned.
Snowflakes seemed to pause midair.
Sasuke's eyes widened. "What… What happened to your left eye?"
Naruto's voice was quiet. "Nagato gave it to me before he died. He… left it behind after our battle."
He didn't say it aloud, but he thought: You'll have it too one day, Sasuke. I know you will.
Behind Sasuke, Suigetsu blinked. "Wait a minute… I remember now! He's the guy who attacked me near the river back then!"
"Hmph…"
Sasuke closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, cold and resolved. "Looks like you've been busy behind my back, Naruto. But I don't have time to deal with you right now."
Swish.
Sasuke's cloak billowed as he stepped forward, walking straight toward Danzo.
Naruto's expression turned solemn.
This is it, Sasuke. No matter how far I've gone to spare you from the blood… this is something I can't stop.
He knew Sasuke was drowning in hatred, fed by Obito's whispers. There was no stopping him now—not with words. Better to let him unleash it here than carry it until it festers.
He stepped aside, silently letting Sasuke pass.
Crackle!
Electricity crackled as Sasuke conjured a blade of lightning in his hand. He approached Danzo slowly, eyes locked on the man who had stolen everything from him.
"Danzo..." Sasuke's voice was sharp as steel. "Answer me—did you give the order for Itachi to massacre the Uchiha Clan?"
Danzo was slumped, breathing hard. He looked down at the ruin of his right arm—only three Sharingan remained, and they were barely functional.
Still… it was enough for one more Izanagi.
Sasuke snarled. "I asked you a question!"
Danzo chuckled bitterly. "So... Itachi told you the truth, huh? That boy never could keep his mouth shut."
Sasuke's expression darkened. "So it's true."
Danzo's voice dropped. "Yes. It's true."
With those words, Sasuke's fury ignited.
But Danzo moved fast.
With trembling fingers, he snatched a Sharingan from his ruined arm and jammed it into his empty eye socket. The intercellular tissue pulsed, connecting it instantly.
A single-hand seal.
A pale smirk twisted Danzo's lips.
— Izanagi… Activate!
He turned and bolted.
"Hmph!" Sasuke scoffed, chasing after him. "You think you can run?!"
His left eye glowed.
— Amaterasu!
Black flames surged toward Danzo's back.
"AGHHH—!!" Danzo screamed as the fire devoured him.
But then—whoosh!—his burning body vanished.
His real self reappeared far away, still running, still clinging to life.
Sasuke frowned. "What…!?"
Naruto called out, "It's Izanagi! He made his injuries an illusion! But he's only got about a minute left. Just keep pressing him—don't let him breathe!"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
Danzo staggered through the trees, blood dripping, chakra nearly gone. "Is this it...? Am I… really going to die here?"
But then—skid—Sasuke stopped chasing.
Everyone froze.
"Sasuke…?" Suigetsu called.
Sasuke turned slowly, his voice icy. "Let him crawl away. Let him remember this."
"A borrowed blade can't cleanse the Uchiha name. Revenge must be delivered by my own hand."
He looked straight at Naruto.
"And you—of all people—you're the one I won't let take that from me."
In the falling snow, Danzo's broken figure disappeared into the distance.
Naruto and Sasuke stared at each other.
Time stood still.
Whoosh—!!
Space distorted, and a vortex spun open.
A swirling mask appeared—Obito had arrived.
Farther ahead, near the gates of the Land of Iron, Konoha's group raced across the snowy plains.
Hinata and Sakura ran at the front of the pack.
"Naruto-kun…"
"Sasuke-kun…"
Unspoken emotions clashed like silent thunder.
The storm hadn't ended.
It had only just begun.
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