After hearing the fox's report, Danzo immediately pressed for the key details.
"You're saying someone's genjutsu was strong enough to control one Konoha jōnin and two special jōnin?
He could remotely manipulate your subordinates and make them kill each other—and you couldn't even get close?"
Yoru replied,
"Yes, Lord Danzo. His power is overwhelming—almost impossible to deal with.
Captain White Ram of my squad is from the Hyuga clan, but after losing our sensory ability, we couldn't fight such a bizarre opponent.
We had no choice but to retreat and seek reinforcements.
My team's captain, Purple Cat, was also hit by that strange attack and badly injured."
A Root ninja beside Danzo leapt down from the tree to examine Purple Cat.
What luck—the Root ninja was from the Yamanaka clan.
Danzo had always favored the Yamanaka for their mind-control abilities—manipulation, deceit, subjugation—perfectly suited to his personality.
After a brief check and simple treatment, the Root ninja returned to the branch and whispered something in Danzo's ear.
Danzo nodded several times, confirming the culprit's identity.
"So it was him. I should have known.
To turn his blade against the ANBU… a man who kills comrades of Konoha must be executed."
Since there were many subordinates nearby, Danzo didn't name the suspect aloud—but he'd already guessed it was Dan Kato.
After thinking for a moment, Danzo said,
"Fox, your intelligence is valuable. Lead the way back to the scene and find the approximate location you mentioned.
If it really is him, a large group would only be a disadvantage.
Have your squad proceed to the front camp in the Land of Grass—only you will come with me."
"Understood, Lord Danzo."
Yoru ordered the rest of his squad to take the unconscious Purple Cat away while he led Danzo himself.
What do I do now? I'm just a lowly ANBU captain—I don't even know who the real enemy is!
He didn't know where Dan Kato was, but "accidentally" leading Danzo to Madara Uchiha's hideout?
That didn't seem too wrong to him.
If Madara dies—end of the ninja world.
If Danzo dies—end of Konoha.
Yoru's pace quickened.
When someone is up to no good, their lips can't help but curl into a grin.
Good thing he was wearing a mask—no one could see the smile he was desperately holding back.
He led Danzo straight toward the cavern where Uchiha Madara was hiding.
He wondered if Madara had already finished transplanting the Rinnegan into Nagato.
Perfect… chaos is good.
Danzo believed the ANBU assassin was Dan Kato, so he thought Yoru was guiding him to kill Kato.
In reality, Yoru was taking him to meet Uchiha Madara, the man who had used genjutsu to control three Konoha shinobi.
He couldn't help but feel a little excited.
Yoru led in front, two Root ninjas flanking him, Danzo taking up the rear.
Soon, they arrived at the hillside where Madara was hiding.
The same pile of rocks remained—apparently, after the three Konoha ninjas entered, they had restored the stone camouflage at the entrance.
Danzo stood boldly at the foot of the slope, brimming with confidence. With his Mangekyō Sharingan, he felt untouchable—every inch the self-assured mastermind.
In the modern world, money gives courage; in this one, power does.
Danzo looked toward Yoru.
"Fox, go in first. Scout the area. Find out what kind of defenses he has."
Yoru inwardly winced. He'd already used up his resurrection quota this month—one more death would be permanent.
But to make the tiger devour the wolf, he had no choice.
He created a shadow clone.
The two switched positions in a practiced dance, weaving past each other before splitting up to flank the boulder from both sides.
Approaching the stone, he met no resistance.
Thank goodness, he thought. Maybe Madara's too busy with the Rinnegan transplant to bother with me. I'm insanely lucky.
He placed explosive tags at the base of the boulder—still, no reaction.
With a deafening BOOM, the stone shattered, revealing a pitch-black cave.
Yoru darted away from the explosion, keeping a cautious distance—close enough to look brave, far enough to escape if things went bad.
Then—a shadow burst out from the darkness!
Suppressing his fear, Yoru saw it was a Konoha jōnin, clearly under genjutsu control.
Behind him came two special jōnin, their eyes dull and lifeless.
Danzo observed them closely—three Konoha ninjas under control. Fox's report was accurate.
Still… this didn't look like Spirit Transformation Technique. Could Dan Kato's powers have evolved?
Yoru quickly picked the weakest-looking special jōnin to intercept, making a show of stopping him from getting close to Danzo.
The two Root ninjas charged the slope, each taking on one opponent.
"Wake up! You're under genjutsu—fight it!"
The Yamanaka Root tried to flood the jōnin's chakra network with his own, disrupting the flow to break the illusion—but it failed.
Such strong genjutsu…
Yoru feigned weakness and retreated, eyes fixed on the cave entrance.
From within came the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps—louder than the rain itself.
An old man emerged from the darkness, scythe in hand—Uchiha Madara.
A flash of lightning tore through the storm, illuminating his deeply lined face.
Madara's eyes were not the Rinnegan, but a single three-tomoe Sharingan.
He had already transplanted the Rinnegan into Nagato. Now he was shaping Nagato's destiny—guiding him toward extremity.
Madara stood at the mouth of the cave, gazing down at Danzo.
"Shimura Danzo… you've grown. To think you could find my hidden lair."
Yoru thought, That's only because I stumbled on it following Nagato in my past life—not thanks to Danzo's genius.
Danzo didn't recognize him at first. But after a closer look, his eyes widened in horror.
"Uchiha… Madara! You're still alive?!"
Perfect, Yoru thought. They've recognized each other.
In the original story, Danzo never found the living Madara. But here, fate had brought them face-to-face.
Danzo had expected to confront Dan Kato—never the legendary clan leader, one of Konoha's founders, Hashirama's equal: Uchiha Madara.
Danzo raised his bandaged eye, revealing his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Madara scoffed.
"A filthy thief… you've stolen a Mangekyō, haven't you?
That pattern—it belonged to Uchiha Kagami, didn't it?
Foolish Kagami… he trusted Konoha, died for it, and now his eyes are trophies of your village.
Every Uchiha who trusted Konoha met the same miserable end.
I told Hashirama long ago—you, Shimura Danzo, are a corrupt fool who should've been killed.
Be grateful your status as a Konoha shinobi let you live past my departure… and Hashirama's death."
Madara's trash talk was unmatched—truly elite-tier.
Danzo's face turned green with rage.
The special jōnin in front of Yoru collapsed as Madara released his control. Taking that as his cue, Yoru quietly retreated further downhill.
When giants clash, best not to stand in the crossfire.
Danzo slowly drew a kunai, exhaling a gust of Wind Release chakra onto it, forming a razor-sharp Vacuum Blade.
"Uchiha Madara… you've grown old. I wonder how much of your prime strength you still possess."
Madara smirked.
"My prime? You think you've seen my prime?"
Danzo lunged upward, blade gleaming.
Madara's smile widened.
"When I was in my prime, I wielded the Mangekyō—and even then, I wasn't Hashirama's match.
Now, let me show you what I once faced in battle…
I'll show you Hashirama's full power."
"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"