Words of Provocation

Facing the Shinra Tensei that swept across the heavens and earth, Danzo's body shuddered violently, and he could barely keep his footing.

Even though he immediately utilized his Sharingan to perceive and defend, the terrifying repulsive force that seemed to tear through space still caused the ground beneath his feet to crack, forcing him to stagger back several steps in a wretched state as his robes whipped wildly in the wind...

Although Danzo's strength had undergone a massive transformation...

The sense of powerlessness he felt when facing Deva Path Pain...

Caused a thick surge of resentment and humiliation to churn in his chest.

The Root ninja did not hesitate in the slightest, rushing forward in unison to shield Danzo and construct a makeshift defensive line.

Yet, faced with the overwhelming, murderous rage of Nagato, their defense was as fragile as paper, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Nagato's expression turned completely frigid, the killing intent within his Rinnegan surging like a tide.

The Six Paths of Pain stepped forward together, their fury no longer concealed, sweeping across the battlefield like a mountain flood.

At the same time, Konan descended slowly before Jiraiya.

Paper fluttered around her, her eyes filled with coldness and disappointment.

"Master Jiraiya..."

Her voice was low: "Do you also wish to protect a man like Danzo?"

Jiraiya fell silent at these words, finally sighing: "Konan... he is a ninja of Konoha."

This sentence was spoken with extreme helplessness, his eyes filled with inner conflict.

He certainly knew what kind of person Danzo was, and he was well aware that his motives for this trip were not pure.

As a member of Konoha, he could not stand by and watch Danzo be killed right in front of him.

He could not sit idly by while the Root ninja sacrificed their lives in vain.

Even if Danzo was detestable, he was still a part of the village, the assistant to the Hokage.

Some things, one must endure.

Seeing the hesitation in his tone, Konan's eyes dimmed...

"The Shinobi World is already perishing..."

"Yet, why must people like Danzo still stand before us, using such a condescending tone to speak of Yahiko... it is too insulting..."

Paper began to gather and rotate around her body, constructing a storm of paper.

"Master Jiraiya..."

The paper, sharp as blades and dense as rain, poured down from the sky.

Jiraiya's expression turned grave; he quickly formed hand seals and spat out a technique combining a high-pressure water jet with flames, burning the paper away.

His movements were swift and precise, yet he clearly held back...

Every counterattack carried a restrained force, never truly intending to inflict serious injury on Konan.

They clashed in the rain, water splashing, techniques intertwining, the sound of rain and explosions overlapping in a battle that was intense yet restrained.

It was obvious that Jiraiya was going easy on her.

He did not want to truly hurt his former student, but he could not simply ignore the situation.

At this moment, Jiraiya glanced at Kakashi...

He hoped that Kakashi would also choose this indirect approach, protecting Konoha while maintaining control of the situation.

After all, the Rinnegan and the entire Akatsuki were indispensable combat forces...

Danzo's tone and demeanor clearly indicated a deep-seated hatred for the Akatsuki...

But to his surprise...

Kakashi did not choose to evade, but instead threw himself directly into the fray.

Just as a Root ninja was pulled into the air by Nagato's Banshō Ten'in, on the verge of being struck down by a powerful blow, Kakashi's figure flashed!

He teleported to the side of the ninja, forming seals with his hands as the surrounding mist surged...

Transforming into a Water Style: Azure Rain, a swirling sphere of water condensed in his palm...

Blocking the incoming lethal strike.

He then landed steadily, shielding the heavily injured Root ninja behind him, and calmly drew his blade to stand guard.

"Kakashi, you..."

Jiraiya was stunned at the sight, his eyes revealing clear astonishment.

Kakashi did not look back: "Lord Jiraiya... they are merely ninja of Konoha, following the orders of their superiors; they have committed no fault."

A double entendre...

Kakashi's words left Jiraiya momentarily speechless.

He stood frozen in place...

It was clear that Kakashi understood his own intentions.

He saw the internal conflict within Jiraiya, saw his disgust toward Danzo, and even more, saw the helplessness of being forced to act.

And Kakashi, not only saw through all of this, but made a choice far more direct and decisive than his own.

He chose to protect.

Not just to protect Konoha, but to protect those ninjas who continued to carry out orders even in the deepest darkness.

They might have followed the wrong person, but they had not betrayed Konoha.

A complex emotion welled up in Jiraiya's heart.

He could not help but ponder silently: When had Kakashi grown to this extent?

When did he stop being merely that cold genius, and instead become an inheritor of the Will of Fire, capable of lighting hope for others in the darkness?

"Hokage... perhaps, Kakashi is the most suitable candidate."

The rain continued to fall, the battle remained in a stalemate, and Kakashi's back, amidst the pouring rain, appeared exceptionally upright and distinct.

As for Danzo, he cast a glance at Kakashi...

In the tense and treacherous atmosphere, the Asura Path of Pain suddenly launched a rapid assault!

His mechanical, puppet-like body was like a sharp shadow, swift and lethal.

Danzo quickly crouched to dodge the fatal strike, his movements showing a nimbleness that did not lose out to any young ninja.

At the same moment, Kakashi also perceived the attack trajectory of the Asura Path.

The short blade in his hand flashed out instantly, and the Chidori gathered upon the steel with thunderous momentum, erupting in dazzling electric arcs.

The blade sliced through the curtain of rain, slashing toward the Asura Path in an instant!

The Asura Path was forced back several steps in his haste.

The movements of the two were swift and precise, their coordination so tacit it was hard to believe.

In the span of a single breath, before the other members of the Six Paths of Pain could react, they were forced back from their relentless offensive by this sudden tactical strike.

After a brief pause, Danzo straightened his body slightly, rainwater sliding continuously down his cloak.

He did not pay much attention to the Asura Path, instead turning his head to look at Kakashi.

"I heard... you have already made contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

Kakashi remained silent upon hearing this.

He did not want to answer this question, especially at such a sensitive moment.

But silence itself was perhaps an answer.

Danzo did not press for an answer either; his gaze shifted slowly, landing on Jiraiya in the distance.

"If one wishes to become the light in the heart of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, one must become the only light..."

The only light?

This sentence struck Kakashi's mind like a bolt of lightning, causing his spirit to tremble.

He slowly raised his head, looking once more at Jiraiya, who was fighting hard in the wind and rain.

The implication behind Danzo's words was clear enough.

Jiraiya's existence, in a sense, was the greatest obstacle to Kakashi becoming the sole support and light in Naruto's heart.

If Naruto were to have Jiraiya's company and guidance in the future, then how could Kakashi become the sole guiding beacon in Naruto's heart?

He understood Danzo's meaning, as well as the ambition and cold calculation behind those words.

However...

"Light... do I need it..."

Kakashi whispered, his tone calm.

He slowly raised his eyes, the patterns within his Sharingan rotating slightly, blooming with radiance.

In an instant, his ocular power was rising continuously, as if some dormant strength were awakening.

"Lord Danzo, using genjutsu to joke with me is really not funny at all."

Kakashi's expression was indifferent, yet his tone carried a hint of mockery and chill.

Danzo was slightly stunned, a flash of confusion crossing his face.

The genjutsu he had just cast was clearly flawless, yet it had been dissolved by Kakashi with such nonchalance.

That Sharingan...

Had it not always been a burden, consuming Kakashi's chakra?

Yet the current Kakashi possessed a full aura, clear eyes, and ocular power even sharper than usual.

Something was wrong... he had changed.

Danzo felt an inexplicable pressure, unaware that Kakashi's left eye had already undergone a quiet transformation.

At this moment, Kakashi also failed to notice that the man before him, the controller of Root, was likewise no longer the original Danzo.

The two stared at each other, calm on the surface, yet with turbulent undercurrents surging beneath.

The exchange of words and emotions between the two sides lasted but the blink of an eye...

Just then, the Six Paths of Pain walked slowly out.

The Deva Path Pain, controlled by Nagato at the lead, locked onto the two men with the formidable pressure of his Rinnegan...