What Aoki Yoru didn't know was that his earlier feat—easily wounding Sunagakure's elite jōnin Baki—had already placed him firmly on Danzo Shimura's radar.
And not just as a threat—
But as a serious one.
From that moment onward, Danzō had begun treating Aoki Yoru with extreme caution.
So now, the instant he saw Yoru charging toward him—
He didn't hesitate.
His hands moved swiftly, forming seals.
At any moment—
He was ready to activate Izanagi.
And when he sensed something unusual from Fu Yamanaka earlier—
He had already triggered it once.
That decision…
Had just saved his life.
A Dangerous Opponent
Originally, Danzō had planned to deal with Aoki Yoru after the Konoha Crush.
Whether through coercion or manipulation—
He intended to bring this rising talent under his control.
But now—
That plan had changed.
Aoki Yoru was growing too fast.
Too unpredictably.
And worse—
He already had bonds.
People he cared about.
Neighbors.
And that Uzumaki girl.
To Danzō—
Those were weaknesses.
Leverage.
And that meant one thing—
Yoru had to be dealt with.
Soon.
What he hadn't expected—
Was that Yoru would strike first.
The Sharingan Arm Revealed
Danzō slowly stepped out from behind a pillar.
Calm.
Composed.
His left hand reached toward his right arm.
He began unwrapping the bandages.
Layer by layer—
Until the truth was revealed.
Embedded along his arm—
Were eyes.
Nine of them.
Each one—
A three-tomoe Sharingan.
Grotesque.
Unnatural.
Terrifying.
One of them, however—
Was already closed.
Spent.
Consumed by Izanagi.
Danzō's gaze turned cold.
"Let this old man see…"
"What you're capable of."
Aoki Yoru stared at the arm.
His expression darkened.
"Nine Sharingan… plus one in his eye."
He tightened his grip on his blade.
"That means…"
"I need to kill him ten more times."
Lightning vs Survival
The next moment—
Lightning erupted.
Crackling.
Violent.
Aoki Yoru vanished from his position—
Reappearing instantly in front of Danzō.
Clang—!
Steel collided.
His ninja blade struck—
But was blocked by a kunai.
Sparks flew.
For a brief moment—
Yoru froze.
"That should've cut through…"
Then—
Realization hit.
"…He prepared for this."
The only explanation—
Information had leaked.
His previous battle with Baki—
His techniques—
His speed—
Danzō had studied them all.
"…Damn it."
Without hesitation—
Yoru switched tactics.
Plan B.
His movements accelerated.
Faster.
Sharper.
More relentless.
The blade danced in his hand, striking again and again.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Even Danzō—
Could only defend.
Step by step—
He was being pushed back.
Then—
An opening appeared.
Just a fraction of a second.
But for Yoru—
It was enough.
Chidori Blade
A faint smile appeared on Yoru's lips.
"Got you."
Lightning surged.
Wrapped around his blade.
"Lightning Release: Chidori Blade!"
The blade struck again—
This time, not just steel—
But flesh.
The lightning followed.
Coursing through the kunai—
Into Danzō's body.
"Aaagh—!"
Danzō screamed.
His entire body convulsed under the current.
Then—
The lightning extended.
Piercing forward—
Straight through his throat.
Gah—!
Danzō collapsed.
Blood spilling.
Eyes wide.
Filled with shock.
And hatred.
The Illusion of Death
But Aoki Yoru—
Didn't smile.
Didn't relax.
Instead—
He spread out his perception.
Fully.
Izanagi.
A technique that twisted reality itself.
As long as it remained active—
Death meant nothing.
"I can't trust what I see…"
He licked his lips slightly.
"This ability…"
"…I need it."
The fallen body—
Began to fade.
Like an illusion.
Moments later—
Danzō reappeared elsewhere in the hall.
Alive.
Once again.
Mutual Recognition
This time—
Danzō looked at Yoru differently.
Not just as an obstacle—
But as a genuine threat.
"…Impressive."
Even he—
Had underestimated him.
If circumstances were different—
If Yoru wasn't in his way—
Danzō might have recruited him.
But now—
That possibility was gone.
This was a fight to the death.
With Hiruzen Sarutobi on the verge of death—
Konoha's future—
Belonged to him.
And anyone who stood in his way—
Would be eliminated.
Wind Release Assault
Danzō raised his hand.
Forming seals once more.
He opened his mouth—
And inhaled deeply.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet!"
Whoosh—!
Dozens of compressed wind blades shot forward.
Invisible.
Deadly.
Like bullets.
They filled the space—
Blocking every possible escape route.
Yoru's eyes narrowed.
"…Not bad."
In such a confined space—
This attack was almost impossible to dodge.
Especially since Wind Release was nearly invisible.
But—
He was a sensory ninja.
Visibility didn't matter.
His blade moved.
Lightning flickering.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He deflected every incoming attack.
The remaining ones—
Slammed into the wall behind him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Cracks spread.
The stone dented under the force.
Vacuum Wave
Danzō didn't stop.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
A massive slash of wind swept across the entire underground space.
Yoru's pupils shrank.
No time to block.
No time to think.
Lightning burst from his feet—
And he vanished.
Reappearing just beyond the attack's range.
Barely escaping.
A Fatal Strike
Using the momentum—
He counterattacked.
His blade spun—
Cutting through the air like silver lightning.
He lunged forward.
But—
Unexpectedly—
Danzō charged at him too.
No hesitation.
No defense.
Straight into the attack.
"Pfft—!"
The blade pierced his chest.
Blood erupted from Danzō's mouth.
But—
He smiled.
His hands shot forward—
Grabbing Yoru's arm.
Tightly.
Too tightly.
Yoru's expression changed.
Another Sharingan—
Closed.
The body in front of him—
Faded again.
But this time—
There was no satisfaction.
Only unease.
"That smile…"
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
The Trap Revealed
Yoru stepped back.
Watching carefully.
Moments later—
Danzō reappeared once more.
Alive.
Again.
Yoru's chakra surged.
Forming a protective layer around his body.
"Chakra Armor."
Lightning erupted.
He moved.
Faster than before.
Appearing behind Danzō—
His blade descending.
But—
Just before the strike landed—
He froze.
Completely.
"…What?!"
His body—
Wouldn't move.
Dark markings spread beneath his feet.
Crawling upward.
Binding him.
Wrapping around his limbs.
His torso.
His face.
"…A curse mark?!"
Then—
It clicked.
"That moment…"
When Danzō grabbed him.
Even in death—
He had acted.
Planted it.
A body-binding curse.
A final trap.
Danzō's True Strength
Aoki Yoru's expression darkened.
"So that's your plan…"
Danzō stepped forward slowly.
Calm.
Unhurried.
"As expected…"
Yoru let out a bitter laugh.
"Having multiple lives really is useful."
"You can afford to gamble."
To sacrifice.
To set traps—
Even in death.
Danzō said nothing.
But his gaze—
Spoke volumes.
This battle—
Was far from over.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)