Shimura Danzō's Methods (1)

Sakura Haruno's soft laughter echoed several times in the empty cave before finally stopping.

That was truly jarring.

Danzo at the Root ninjas lying on the ground, most of them already lifeless. Clearly, Sakura Haruno hadn't held back at all; her Body Flicker Technique combined with her Monstrous Strength Technique was incredibly powerful. Each of her blinks represented a Root ninja falling completely—severely injured and unconscious, or dead.

Sai, who can't even stand up, is already considered to have suffered the least severe injuries.

The sneer that reached his ears was filled with undisguised contempt. To be looked down upon by someone of his own generation, and to have his elite Shimura Danzō couldn't help but feel a surge of hatred rising in his heart.

However, outwardly, this septuagenarian, who was adept at concealing his true feelings, remained calm and composed.

In the dimly lit cave, Shimura Danzō's expression remained as stubborn as a rock, with only his one exposed eye lowering its eyelid slightly, burying all his thoughts behind it.

The worst thing to do in battle is to be impulsive and agitated. So even though Danzo's heart was filled with turmoil and anger, he quickly suppressed all thoughts that were detrimental to the battle thanks to his extraordinary willpower.

"Slaughtering your comrades in the village, rebelling against the village leadership..." He said calmly, expressionless, "Sakura Haruno, as Konoha Ninja, you actually harbor malicious intentions and intend to betray the village!"

"Hand over Sasuke, then bind yourself, kneel down, and await your fate. Otherwise, you are challenging the village's authority, and you will bear the consequences!"

Danzo's ability to distort the truth far surpasses his fighting prowess. He and his Root clearly harbored ulterior motives towards Sakura Haruno and Sasuke, but in his words, Sakura Haruno was plotting something sinister and was tantamount to betraying the village!

If Sakura Haruno were just a commoner ninja with little fame or power, then this accusation of betraying the village would carry considerable weight.

After all, her conflict with Root was real, and she even killed several Root ninjas.

However, even disregarding Sakura Haruno's status as Hokage's disciple, based solely on her strength, Danzo had reported this matter, would the Fifth Hokage have followed Danzo's wishes and condemned Sakura Haruno as a traitor?

Shimura Danzō was like a de facto ruler; the Hokage lineage had to obey his wishes, and why would they expel a powerful wielder from the village instead of recruiting him?

Absolutely impossible.

The deaths of a few Root ninjas weren't innocent ordinary ninjas; Tsunade might even secretly applaud it.

It's not like Sakura Haruno has a guilty conscience or is naive; why would she be afraid of Danzo's slander? Anyone with a modicum of common sense knows that if Danzo's plan worked—he could forcibly recruit any ninja with a modicum of skill into Root — Konoha would have been Root's territory long ago. Why would they need to hide in the shadows and live a life of cowardice?

This tactic is only good for scaring children or those ninjas who are genuinely considering defection.

--Unfortunately, Sakura Haruno has lived two lives, and her mental age is much older than her outward appearance of fourteen or fifteen years old. She is not stupid enough to be that stupid; and unlike many of her peers, she does not defect at the drop of a hat, so she has no reason to feel guilty.

When Danzo first Danzo her, Sakura was a little intimidated by him. After all, she was still too weak at that time, having just become Tsunade's disciple and having virtually no reputation. If Danzo had really forced himself on her and kidnapped her, or used some underhanded tricks to frame her, Sakura Haruno would have been really unable to withstand it. But now, Sakura Haruno is no pushover who can be Danzo at will!

Moreover, Sakura Haruno is no longer some unknown ordinary ninja! The Ice Release Girl, the Fifth Hokage's personal disciple, and one of Konoha's top ninjas—these titles are no joke; each carries immense weight.

Perhaps because he had done too many bad things, Danzo had become accustomed to using high-sounding words to spout rhetoric before taking action, to flaunt his "righteousness" and attack his opponent's psychology—perhaps he thought that young girls with insufficient life experience would be intimidated and become timid, but he was wrong.

"Traitor to the village?" The Ice Release ninja's lips curled into an even more contemptuous smile as he sneered, "Then, should I kill you... to solidify my charge of treason?"

Sakura Haruno held her ice blade firmly, pointing it at Danzo without wavering in the slightest despite the latter's words, and easily uttered what Danzo considered to be utterly treasonous.

Danzo's eyes suddenly narrowed.

"How about I kill you?" Sakura said, enunciating each word clearly. Her smile vanished, replaced by a chilling killing intent that seeped from her lips and spread throughout the narrow cave.

For various reasons, Sakura Haruno wouldn't actually kill Danzo, but that didn't stop her from having a genuine desire to kill him—the more she knew, the more she wanted to kill that Danzo.

Danzo a deep breath and finally became certain that the girl in front of him was not a ninja who could be easily influenced by words.

In other words, it requires combat.

"It seems I've been observed..." The old man remained calm, lowering his eyelids and slowly raising his hands as he spoke.

"Fine."

Sakura Haruno is indeed very strong, but she still has a few trump cards up her sleeve... Danzo has great confidence in them!

Yes, even after witnessing Sakura Haruno's Body Flicker Technique, Danzo was still confident that his backup plan would work on the girl.

It's a bit of a pity; those moves were meant for more important matters, but they had to be used here. Even Danzo would feel the pain of paying such a price. However, it was unavoidable. If Danzo had been absolutely confident that he could defeat Sakura Haruno using only ordinary methods before the battle, then two seconds after he shouted "Attack!" and all of Root's subordinates fell, Danzo was forced to use those moves. If he had held back any longer, he probably wouldn't have been able to walk out of this cave standing up today.

However, gaining such a highly capable and promising subordinate is well worth the price...

Chakra rapidly condensed within the old man, and a surging aura suddenly rose up.

"Let this insolent scoundrel experience my methods!" Shimura Danzō's slightly closed left eye suddenly glared, as if a sharp light had burst forth from it.

For the first time in a long time, Danzo felt a surge of joy.

After this battle, he will be able to acquire Sakura Haruno, and with proper training, she can be cultivated into the sharpest blade in Root! If she joins, Root's strength will increase several levels... Even if he loses twice as many subordinates and faces reprimands from the Hokage, it will still be well worth it!

Unfortunately, Danzo's strong possessiveness and collecting obsession—his desire to own anything Danzo saw—triggered itself again...

"Don't worry, I won't kill you..."

Danzo's flat and emotionless words contained his strong self-confidence!