The Victory of Young Danzo! (Happy New Year!)

"Lord Shirou will be leaving Konoha."

Konoha's higher-ups had already concluded that this was inevitable.

Yet no one could find a reason for him to stay in Konoha.

Before leaving Konoha, Shirou Emiya had devoted himself to treating patients at Konoha Hospital. He had also left behind valuable medical knowledge for the village, making even the assistants assigned to watch him feel somewhat ashamed.

Of course.

Tobirama Senju would never feel that way.

Before Hashirama Senju's lifespan problem was resolved, Tobirama Senju knew that he bore responsibility for Konoha. He would only choose plans that benefited Konoha.

Konoha Village's Training Ground 3.

Two young boys stood within the training ground.

They were young Sarutobi Hiruzen and young Shimura Danzo, the two boys who had stood out during Tobirama Senju's short-term special training. Just as they had at the Ninja School, they had become each other's final opponent.

"Danzo."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at his friend and sincerely tried to persuade him. "Let's stop at the right point in this match. I don't want to hurt you."

"Do you think victory is already yours?"

Young Shimura Danzo gritted his teeth, his face full of humiliated fury. "Hiruzen, don't underestimate me! I won't lose to you this time!"

The outcome of this battle had yet to be decided...

And this bastard was already declaring victory?

In the past, he had indeed lost more often than he won.

But this time was different. For the final result of this special training, young Danzo had put in more sweat than ever before, and he had mastered more techniques!

The moment Tobirama Senju gave the command to begin, young Danzo rushed forward, swiftly drew his ninja blade, and slashed at him!

"Still as impatient as ever..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and shook his head. He pulled two Shuriken from his Ninja Tool Pouch and flicked them out, their trajectories especially tricky!

The two Shuriken flew at Danzo from the left and right!

Yet young Danzo swung his ninja blade and knocked one Shuriken aside, then quickly raised the hilt horizontally to block the other!

Young Danzo had long been accustomed to how exceptional Sarutobi Hiruzen's Shuriken Throwing Technique was. He knew exactly how accomplished Hiruzen was at it; in Hiruzen's hands, even throwing roof tiles or pebbles had been practiced to perfection!

Everyone had to admit it...

Sarutobi Hiruzen was a true top student.

Although everyone considered Sarutobi Hiruzen rather unruly, they also had to acknowledge his outstanding grades and incredibly solid foundation in ninja basics!

Whether it was the most basic Chakra extraction technique, basic taijutsu, basic Shuriken Throwing Technique, basic Three Body Technique, or basic ninjutsu, this boy trained in all of them with relish. He never once looked down on the power of these fundamental combat skills!

Clang!

A crisp ring of metal striking metal!

Sarutobi Hiruzen hooked a kunai out with his fingers and swung it to block young Danzo's incoming ninja blade. His expression suddenly turned serious!

Young Danzo stared intently at Sarutobi Hiruzen's face. His ninja blade slashed three times in rapid succession, but the kunai blocked every strike!

"You've studied swordsmanship too..."

Young Danzo glared resentfully at his companion.

"Just some basic swordsmanship..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not boast. The short kunai moved fluidly through his hand, allowing him to trade blows evenly with the sharp long blade!

Clearly.

That was modesty.

Even the swordsmanship young Danzo took pride in could not defeat Sarutobi Hiruzen. His pride could no longer bear it, and a flash of resentment suddenly rose in his heart!

Young Danzo pressed forward with several rapid strikes from his ninja blade. The instant he forced Sarutobi Hiruzen back, he opened his mouth and spat out a sharp Wind Release Ninjutsu at him!

"Wind Release... Vacuum Wave!"

This Wind Release Ninjutsu was exceptionally underhanded!

Even though Sarutobi Hiruzen had anticipated it and hurriedly tilted his head back to evade it, the thin, scythe-like gust still cut off some of his hair!

"That's too dangerous!"

The bespectacled boy standing beside Tobirama Senju looked frightened as he watched his friends fight uneasily. "We're comrades..."

"Monkey can definitely dodge it."

Tobirama Senju did not care in the slightest, and even thought he was making too much of it. "Battles between shinobi have never been gentle children's games. A single mistake can cost you your life..."

Of course.

Tobirama Senju had confidence in this.

If the two boys in the arena truly went too far, or if their fight put either of their lives in danger, he was fully confident that he could stop the battle from continuing.

After all...

He was known as the fastest shinobi in the Shinobi World.

However...

Tobirama Senju also realized something.

Young Danzo's fighting style was indeed rather extreme. He had actually used the underhanded combat methods meant for enemies in a spar with a comrade.

If Tobirama Senju had not been here, and if Danzo's opponent had not been the outstanding Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo's underhanded Wind Release Ninjutsu might very well have seriously injured someone...

Wind Release Ninjutsu.

It truly was young Danzo's greatest specialty.

"Wind Release: Shuriken!"

A diamond-shaped Shuriken appeared between young Danzo's fingers. He breathed Wind Release Chakra onto it, then fired the Shuriken wreathed in a whirling, razor-sharp gale!

"Earth Release... Earth-Style Wall!"

A sturdy stone wall blocked the Shuriken!

"Tch!"

A trace of disdain appeared on young Danzo's face. Grabbing his ninja blade, he charged forward at high speed, leapt over the stone wall, and slashed down at Sarutobi Hiruzen hiding behind it!

Crack!

A log was cleaved in two!

"Substitution Technique..."

Young Danzo immediately recognized the log as the prop used in the most basic Substitution Technique. His eyes quickly scanned the surroundings for his opponent.

"When did he..."

Bang!

His wrist was kicked!

Caught off guard, the ninja blade flew from his hand!

Yet young Danzo rapidly retreated until his back pressed against the wall. He had already spotted his opponent, raised his hand to seize his ankle, blocked a series of kicks, and flung his opponent away with a powerful swing!

"That was unexpected, Danzo..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen flipped through the air and landed on the ground. He did not lose heart, instead smiling as he praised his friend. "Your reactions are much faster than before..."

"I haven't wasted the results of my special training..."

Young Danzo replied coldly, pulling a kunai from his pocket. His Chakra was not particularly abundant, so he had to take this opportunity to force close-quarters combat—and to use the move that would decide the outcome once and for all!

"Wind Release: Vacuum Sword!"

Young Danzo breathed out a mass of Wind Release energy that gathered around the kunai, forming an illusory wind sword. Raising it, he charged in once more!

"Hey, hey, hey, isn't that cheating?"

Young Sarutobi Hiruzen looked in surprise at the long sword formed by the Wind Release technique. He could only draw a kunai of his own and leap forward to meet him!

The two boys began another round of clashes!

This exchange was more intense than any of their previous battles, because their strength had both increased tremendously during the special training Tobirama Senju had prepared for them!

Yet the final outcome of this battle seemed no different from their past ninja sparring matches. Sarutobi Hiruzen, publicly recognized by Konoha's higher-ups as the most outstanding ninja of the next generation, shattered Danzo's last lingering hopes with his superb taijutsu and swordsmanship!

When the battle ended, young Sarutobi Hiruzen still had plenty of Chakra left. His fist stopped in front of young Danzo's eyes!

"It's over... Danzo."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had still shown considerable restraint toward his comrade. He had only used ninjutsu to defend against Danzo's attacks, and to prevent the fight from spiraling out of control and hurting his friend, he had insisted on deciding the battle through taijutsu.

"Hiruzen..."

Young Danzo raised a finger and looked at his opponent, a contemptuous smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Do you really think you've won?"

The next moment!

A sudden change occurred!

Black markings appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's arm. The markings simultaneously emerged across his body, binding his ability to move!

"Self-Inflicted Cursed Seal of Binding."

"A cursed seal planted on an enemy's body when one makes contact with them during gaps in battle..."

"When the cursed seal is fully completed, the caster can trigger it at any time, immediately restricting all of the enemy's movements."

Tobirama Senju's voice sounded beside them. After expressionlessly introducing the curse mark technique young Danzo had used, he personally announced the winners and losers of the match.

"Monkey, you lost."

"You underestimated your opponent in this battle."

"You two, come with me. I'll explain your next mission. This mission may very well change the future of all Konoha—and even the Shinobi World..."