Actually, I'm on the Fifth Level

Actually, I'm on the Fifth Level

The only time Danzo had ever poured genuine emotion into someone was with Tenzō.

Yet it was precisely that time that allowed Tenzō to awaken the Will of Fire at a critical moment. Not only did he disobey Danzo's orders, but he was also absorbed into Hiruzen Sarutobi's personal Anbu.

That made Danzo once again firmly believe that the Root he led only needed to remain buried underground.

No names, no emotions.

No past, no need for a future.

Nothing in their hearts but missions and loyalty to him.

Only such a Root was a good Root!

As for joining forces and cooperation, they were ultimately lies, filled with betrayal.

He would make Xu Fan devote himself wholeheartedly to him. He would erase his emotions, his past, his future, and the so-called Will of Fire that Hiruzen Sarutobi had instilled in him over the past five years!

With that thought, Danzo's conviction grew even firmer. He grabbed the bandages wrapped around his right eye and violently tore them away, revealing the eye he had kept hidden in darkness all this time.

Three tomoe were etched into the blood-red pupil.

The Sharingan!

Xu Fan frowned slightly. He had not expected Danzo to use his trump card right away.

The Mangekyo he had stolen from Shisui—Kotoamatsukami!

With a single glance, it could invade someone's mind and alter their will.

Even the official description called it, "Anyone seen by the caster becomes their puppet!"

It was the strongest genjutsu in Naruto!

Some people had even joked that the reason Itachi Uchiha had remained so loyal to Konoha, slaughtering his entire clan without hesitation, was because he had fallen under Shisui's Kotoamatsukami.

Unfortunately, Danzo was already too late. Xu Fan now possessed the ability to resist genjutsu.

Tsukuyomi or Kotoamatsukami.

He had no reason to fear either!

"Kotoamatsukami!"

Following Danzo's roar, his right eye instantly changed, evolving from the Three Tomoe state into a Mangekyo.

The strongest genjutsu was activated!

Danzo was even more pleased with himself. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi did not know that he possessed this Mangekyo.

Naturally, he could not have warned Xu Fan to be careful.

In other words, once he revealed this eye, any resistance would be futile.

It was no exaggeration to say that even Danzo himself feared such terrifying power.

And yet Shisui Uchiha had wanted to use such precious power to stop a mere coup?

That was simply idiotic!

After confirming that he had activated Kotoamatsukami, Danzo raised his hand and pointed at Xu Fan before him. In a lofty, commanding tone, he said, "From this day onward, you will inherit the codename Kano and serve me. Kill the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

"On the day I become the Fifth Hokage, you will serve as Root's vanguard and clear away every obstacle for me!"

"I will be Konoha beneath the sunlight, while you will be the Root buried deep underground!"

Danzo's voice was incomparably domineering as he devised a new assassination method.

The previous assassination attempt had ended in failure only because Kakashi had switched sides.

But whether it was Xu Fan's trustworthiness or the power he possessed, both far surpassed Tenzō's!

Especially the terrifying amount of Chakra within him, which was more than a hundred times Kakashi's.

Even if Kakashi tried to stop them again, he would only die beneath Xu Fan's Wood Release.

"Bring me Kakashi's Sharingan."

Danzo issued another command.

This time, no one could stop him anymore.

Shisui, did you see that?

This was the proper use of Kotoamatsukami!

Yet just as Danzo brimmed with confidence, believing that no enemy remained before him, Xu Fan could only fold his arms and stare at him with black lines across his face.

Kotoamatsukami doesn't work on me. What should I do? Waiting online, urgent.

Forget it.

Xu Fan shook his head helplessly, a wry smile rising at the corner of his lips.

Since Danzo had come to him carrying Kotoamatsukami, Xu Fan could not be blamed.

After all, neither the Third Hokage nor the Konoha leadership knew that Danzo had stolen Shisui's Kotoamatsukami.

Even if Xu Fan took Kotoamatsukami from him here, Danzo could only swallow his bitterness in silence.

Most importantly, Danzo had started it.

It was him. He had started it first. It had all been him from the beginning... Whether it was assassination or casting genjutsu, Danzo had made the first move.

Xu Fan was merely defending himself. Acting in self-defense.

Besides, everyone knew that Danzo's strength was on par with the Third Hokage's, and Root would be assisting him as well.

Even a hero of the ninja world would stand no chance against Lord Danzo.

Let alone someone like Xu Fan, who was not even a genin.

Back then... he had really been terrified!

Besides, Danzo had only collected those Sharingan after the Uchiha massacre.

In other words, at this time, he still did not know the forbidden technique Izanagi.

"Danzo, when did you begin to think you had used Kotoamatsukami?" Xu Fan's lips curled up once more, this time into a disdainful smile.

"Y-you... What did you say?"

In an instant, Danzo's eyes widened as he stood frozen in place.

He had not activated the Uchiha's strongest genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami?

No...

Impossible.

Although Shisui had said that he could only activate it once every dozen or so years, Danzo had greatly shortened Kotoamatsukami's cooldown through Hashirama's Cells.

He was capable of using the strongest genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami!

But...

Why?

Why?!

Why had it not activated?

Xu Fan should have been caught in Kotoamatsukami, the strongest genjutsu. His will should have been altered, and he should have become Danzo's slave.

A sense of dread immediately welled up within him.

Could it be that his genjutsu had not worked?

"Kotoamatsukami!"

Danzo shouted again, activating the power in his right eye.

Yet Xu Fan still stood there, mocking him with utter disdain.

"Kotoamatsukami!"

"Kotoamatsukami!"

Danzo began to panic and repeatedly unleashed Kotoamatsukami at Xu Fan, but every result was exactly the same.

Not only that, but a sharp pain surged from his right eye instead.

This was the side effect of forcibly activating Kotoamatsukami.

"Damn it, how is this possible? I clearly activated Kotoamatsukami! You should clearly be under my control, becoming the puppet that fulfills my plans!"

"Want to know why, Danzo?"

Xu Fan took a step forward, his entire presence imposing.

It was not that Kotoamatsukami had failed to activate. Rather, the reward from his Sign-in Assistant was simply too powerful, granting him immunity to genjutsu.

Tsukuyomi or Kotoamatsukami.

Neither would have the slightest effect on him.

Of course, Xu Fan would never tell Danzo the truth.

He slowly opened his mouth, his voice low, as though he were a master strategist who held everything in the palm of his hand.

"You only saw the second level, and you thought I was only on the first. In reality, I'm on the fifth level!"

As Xu Fan's words fell, immense Chakra erupted from his body.

The ceiling, walls, and floor shattered layer by layer!