Snow fell across endless miles, the cold wind cutting like blades, as if the whole world had fallen into a deathly hush.
The snow hadn't stopped falling, and the wind still howled as Danzo and his men marched through the storm toward Heiya Gambling House.
Danzo made no effort to hide. He didn't see any threat in wiping out a few nameless lackeys still loyal to The Third.
Besides, since defecting from Konoha, every Jonin under his command had become extremely valuable—especially Kurama Murakumo, a master of Genjutsu and his most reliable asset.
At the thought, his steps quickened, outpacing his men without a second glance.
As he drew near Heiya Gambling House, Danzo felt Kurama Murakumo's chakra flicker weakly like a dying flame.
Before Danzo could reach him, Kurama's chakra vanished completely.
"Worthless!"
Danzo muttered under his breath, burning with rage.
Facing the wall of Heiya Gambling House, he chose not to go around but instead formed rapid hand seals.
[Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!]
In an instant, the biting wind before him solidified into countless sharp waves of light, slicing straight into the gambling house's wall.
The structure's walls were as thin as paper against Danzo's Wind Release beams, shattering instantly into rubble.
Undiminished in strength, the beams kept tearing inward, forcing Shisui, Tsunade, and others inside to roll and leap desperately for cover.
Through the gusts roaring in from the shattered wall, Danzo strode into Heiya Gambling House.
Heavy snow and fierce winds whipped at Danzo's loose robes, making them snap violently.
Without pause, he strode directly to the center of the gambling house. His lone eye gleamed coldly as he scanned the surroundings sharply, locking immediately on Tsunade, Shisui, Shizune, and the gravely wounded Black Hawk on the second floor.
Spotting Tsunade here, Danzo's gaze sharpened, though his tone remained calm: "I thought after so long without action, people would've forgotten my authority. Yet Hiruzen managed to call you back to the village. Truly, you are Hiruzen's worthy disciple!"
Tsunade handed Black Hawk over to Shizune, then walked to the balcony, standing above them all, her voice icy: "I came here for you! I want to ask you—what happened to your right arm? Why can you use my grandfather's Wood Release?"
Her fury blazed openly in her eyes as she questioned Danzo. Her fists clenched tightly until her knuckles turned white. Anger overwhelmed her control—her surging chakra lifted her cloak like a rising wind.
Danzo's expression remained calm: "Hashirama Senju is already dead. What wrong have I done using his power to protect Konoha? You should be grateful—it is through me that his strength continues protecting Konoha."
Hearing such shameless words, Tsunade snapped angrily: "Pretending to act in Konoha's name while betraying and abandoning it? That's despicable!"
"Hmph!"
Danzo snorted coldly, then said, "What else are those useless fools good for besides wasting the village's food? Better they become nourishment for Root, strengthening it further so I can properly protect Konoha. As for betrayal… Under the Third's leadership, Konoha has already strayed off its correct path. I will restore order eventually and lead the village back to the right direction."
Danzo spoke without a trace of remorse, as if corrupt elements had already taken control of the village and he alone remained as the true patriot upholding Konoha's ideals.
Tsunade and the others were so enraged by Danzo's shameless words that their eyes widened in disbelief and their mouths fell open.
Shisui stepped forward and spat, "How utterly despicable!"
He unsheathed his long sword once again. The cold blade still bore traces of blood from earlier combat, radiating an intense aura of malevolence.
Seeing the Three Tomoe Sharingan burning within Shisui's eyes, Danzo sneered coldly, "So even brats from the Uchiha clan can now enter the Shadow Guard Team? Hiruzen has indeed betrayed our teacher's final instructions. Under his leadership, Konoha will surely head toward destruction."
"What right do you have to speak of my great-uncle's teachings? You've completely forgotten the cultivation your great-uncle gave you! Today, I'll eliminate you myself as his disciple!"
As her voice faded, Tsunade flew downward, lifting her right leg high before bringing it down with immense force.
Her golden hair flowed beautifully, and she was breathtakingly gorgeous.
Someone unfamiliar with her might mistake this movement for a graceful dance at first glance.
They wouldn't realize just how dangerous something so beautiful could be.
Boom!
A tremendous explosion erupted, sending dust swirling everywhere. The entire gambling den shook like during an earthquake, cracks instantly spreading across the ground, forming several deep fissures.
In the next instant, a black shadow flashed through the air, instantly plunging into the cloud of smoke.
In this lifetime, Shisui hadn't yet become one of Danzo's subordinates.
In this lifetime, Shisui had already seen through Danzo's true face.
Facing an enemy who plotted against his own kin and betrayed Konoha, Shisui felt no hesitation—only apocalyptic killing intent surged within him.
Though the smoke could obscure vision, to Shisui's activated Sharingan, Danzo stood out like a blazing torch in the darkest night.
However, Shisui wasn't the only one with a Sharingan. The bandages covering Danzo's right eye slid away, revealing a glaring crimson eye clearly marked with three tomoe.
[Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!]
A concentrated wave of wind chakra pierced through the smoke like a laser beam, firing straight toward Shisui.
Forced to dodge both ways, Shisui couldn't close the distance immediately.
After throwing four kunai to buy some time, he formed a hand seal with one hand and charged toward Danzo again.
Each step forward generated an illusory copy. After four steps, eight illusions surged together at Danzo.
Danzo's wind technique traveled at incredible speed, sharper than blades, capable of splitting mountains and cracking earth.
Yet when these beams struck the eight illusions, they caused absolutely no damage, as though they'd hit nothing more than mirages.
Seizing this opportunity, Shisui's illusions reached right before Danzo.
Faced with the eight advancing copies of Shisui, Danzo showed not the slightest fear.
Unlike Hiruzen, he had never neglected his martial prowess—he was responsible, after all, for secretly eliminating all threats, internal and external, to the village.
Channeling sharp Wind-Natured Chakra into his kunai, Danzo didn't retreat—he charged forward.
Confident in their respective strengths, both warriors clashed fiercely within the smoke-filled battlefield.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! ——
Blades flickered amidst the smoke, producing a rapid succession of metallic clangs echoing intensely.
Soon after the smoke and dust settled, the two combatants leaped back, ending their clash.
Shisui's face grew serious. Danzo's mastery of Wind Release had reached a remarkable level.
By merely imbuing kunai with wind chakra, Danzo produced countless variations—some long, some short, all unpredictable—so much that within moments of their brief engagement, over a dozen wounds of varying severity appeared on Shisui's body.
Meanwhile, Danzo wasn't having an easy time either. The Kage Bunshin created by Shisui were impossible to distinguish, and his sword techniques were exceptionally fast and deadly. During the battle, Shisui carved a deep slash across Danzo's back, causing him to bleed uncontrollably.
Seeing Tsunade standing at the heart of the gambling den, Danzo realized he had been too careless and found himself glancing back the way he came.
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