Danzo

Biodata

Power Progression

Danzo’s documented growth centers on transplanted powers rather than numbered levels or successive cultivation realms.

History

Campaigns Against Amegakure

As a member of Konoha High Command, Danzo proposes sending Shinya Senju, a Gekko Clan ninja, and Hokuto Hyuga to capture Hanzo’s granddaughter; Hiruzen agrees to add Kakashi. Danzo and Minato meanwhile confront Hanzo directly. When force fails to settle the confrontation, Danzo presses for an alliance, using references to Hanzo’s granddaughter as an implicit threat 11 21 22.

Commanding Konoha’s frontline base in the Land of Rain, Danzo dispatches Minato to investigate the Underground Exchange’s corpse auction. He later warns that Hanzo might shelter Akatsuki, reveals that Konoha already has spies monitoring both parties, and supports Rasa’s proposal to destroy Amegakure 24 65 70.

Danzo also pursues economic pressure: he proposes having the Fire and Wind daimyo compel the Rain daimyo to cut off Amegakure’s funding and supplies. He nominates Aburame Shikuroo to threaten the daimyo if necessary. After Akito’s rise, he selects Yakushi Nonō for an infiltration mission, believing he can pressure her into accepting 120 127.

Hokage Politics and Proxy Warfare

Danzo supports Orochimaru for Fourth Hokage, intending to control Konoha through him. He also sees the succession as a means of blocking the Uchiha’s political ambitions. Orochimaru’s unpopularity undermines this plan, and Minato ultimately takes office 125 127 138 149.

During the election period, Danzo proposes provoking Rougakure into attacking the Land of Rain, both occupying Amegakure and weakening the two smaller villages. The intervention collapses after Akito attacks the Rou capital, destroys the daimyo’s mansion, and kills his son, forcing Rougakure to withdraw and negotiate compensation 138 148.

After the Nine-Tails Attack, Danzo advocates relocating the Uchiha Clan to Konoha’s outskirts. He had previously accused Fugaku of leaking intelligence out of resentment over the Fourth Hokage election, despite Hiruzen’s warning against unsupported assumptions 160 171.

Shisui’s Eye and the Uchiha Massacre

Learning that Shisui and Itachi have departed for the Land of Demons, Danzo sets out to seize Shisui’s eyes and test Itachi’s loyalty. He operates with Root personnel and Hyuga Hiashi’s assistance. Aburame Ryoma delivers one Mangekyō Sharingan to him, while Hiashi agrees to remain silent 227 230 238.

When the Uchiha choose a coup, Danzo offers Itachi a bargain: massacre the clan, become a rogue ninja, and accept responsibility in exchange for Sasuke’s survival. Itachi accepts. Danzo promises support from Hiruzen, ANBU, and Root against Fugaku, while privately regarding Kotoamatsukami as his decisive weapon 245 261.

Danzo also proposes allowing Fugaku and Akito to weaken or kill one another before Konoha’s leadership eliminates the survivor. He later presents Kirigakure’s agreement to a truce, frustrating Fugaku’s attempt to use renewed warfare to advance his Hokage ambitions 247 260.

Following the massacre, Hiruzen strips Danzo of his position and orders Root dissolved, although he acknowledges that Danzo may still be gathering strength secretly. Danzo nevertheless considers the Uchiha’s destruction more important than retaining office, believing he has fulfilled Tobirama’s wishes 269.

Acting Hokage and the Five Kage Summit

Danzo eventually exploits Tsunade’s coma to seize power as acting Hokage. He publicly presents the arrangement as temporary, but Shikaku and others recognize his intention to become the official Sixth Hokage 457.

At the Five Kage Summit, Sasuke targets him over the massacre. Danzo attempts to redirect Sasuke toward Akito by revealing that Akito killed Fugaku and reporting that Mikoto might still be alive in Akito’s custody. When Sasuke instead chooses to kill Danzo first, Danzo uses Kotoamatsukami to force him to attack Akito 463 464 467.

Ao identifies Shisui’s chakra within Danzo and exposes the manipulation. Danzo flees, recognizing that he has lost the other leaders’ trust. The remaining Kage discuss using his involvement in the Uchiha massacre to force him from office 467 468 470.

Defeat and Death

Akito pursues Danzo and repeatedly kills him despite Izanagi. Danzo’s Wind Release, summoned Baku, and Hashirama Cells fail to injure him. Once the final Sharingan on his arm closes, the cells grow uncontrollably, forcing Danzo to tear off the arm 471 472.

A final Kotoamatsukami attempt fails against Akito’s Chakra Armor. Danzo flees toward a bridge, hoping to return to Konoha and rebuild his position, but Sasuke intercepts him with Chidori Sharp Spear. Sasuke reads his memories and confirms Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura’s involvement in the massacre 473.

Cornered by Sasuke and Obito, Danzo activates Reverse Four Symbols Sealing. The technique catches less than a tenth of the bridge and fails to take his pursuers with him. Obito subsequently collects his corpse 474.

Appearance

• Aged physique: By the Five Kage Summit, Danzo has a visibly withered body; after exhausting his enhancements, he is described as a frail old man 464 472.
• Facial bandages: His right eye and cheek are bandaged, concealing the transplanted Sharingan 171 467 472.
• Cane: Carries a cane, which he grips while awaiting the delivery of Shisui’s eye 238.
• Modified right arm: Conceals a bandaged arm beneath a sealed metal restraint. The arm contains at least a dozen Sharingan and Hashirama Cells 471 472.

Personality

Danzo treats coercion, surveillance, and expendable agents as legitimate instruments of village policy. He threatens Hanzo through his granddaughter, seeks to pressure Nonō into espionage, and uses Sasuke’s survival to secure Itachi’s cooperation in the massacre. His stated ideal is that a ninja protects the village from within darkness 22 127 245.

His political ambition accompanies a deep hostility toward the Uchiha. He seeks to exclude them from the Hokage succession, expose their Mangekyō abilities through dangerous assignments, and prevent Fugaku’s achievements from becoming political influence. Nevertheless, he relies heavily on the very Sharingan he covets from them 120 127 247 473.

When overwhelmed by Akito, Danzo rationalizes retreat as necessary because he alone can reform the world. His fear subsides only after escape becomes impossible, when he attempts a final sealing attack against his pursuers 473 474.

Abilities & Skills

Wind Release

Danzo uses Wind Release for ranged attacks and close combat, including during his confrontation with Hanzo and his final battle against Akito 21 472.

• Vacuum Sphere: Fires a concentrated wind attack that pierces rock 472.
• Great Vacuum Sphere: Launches a cannonball-like attack described as comparable to Rasenshuriken 472.
• Vacuum Wave: Uses a cutting attack capable of tearing through Susanoo; Akito’s katana shatters it 472.
• Wind Sword: Coats a kunai in wind chakra to extend its cutting reach. It breaks against Akito’s blade 472.

Kotoamatsukami

Shisui’s transplanted right Mangekyō Sharingan allows Danzo to influence another person’s actions 255 467.

• Provides brief control and interference, unlike the other eye’s long-lasting control and ten-year cooldown 467.
• Successfully commands Sasuke to attack Akito at the summit 467.
• Has its cooldown shortened through nourishment from Wood Style Cells 473.
• Cannot penetrate Akito’s Chakra Armor 473.

Izanagi

Izanagi lets Danzo turn an unfavorable outcome—including death—into an unreal event and reappear alive 472.

• Enables repeated returns after Akito crushes, pierces, and dismembers his body 472.
• Requires preparatory hand seals; killing him before he completes them prevents the revival 473.
• Consumes substantial chakra, while the Sharingan in his arm progressively close during the battle 472.

Hashirama Cells

Danzo incorporates Hashirama Cells into his modified arm alongside the Sharingan 471 472.

• Releases rapid tree growth to block and deflect attacks 472.
• Combines Senju and Uchiha powers in what Obito identifies as an attempt to permanently control the Nine-Tails; no successful control is shown 472.
• Risks being consumed by uncontrolled growth when the arm’s Sharingan can no longer suppress the cells 472.

Summoning: Baku

Danzo summons Baku to produce powerful suction against his opponent 472.

• The suction fails to move Akito while he holds his 120-ton katana 472.
• Akito strikes Baku with a Dark Chakra slash, sending it away 472.

Reverse Four Symbols Sealing

Danzo’s final technique is an S-rank sealing jutsu intended to engulf and seal surrounding matter 474.

• Is presented as a possible threat even to space-time ninjutsu users, prompting Obito to evade rather than test Kamui against it 474.
• In practice, seals only a small portion of the bridge and kills neither Sasuke nor Obito 474.

Espionage and Political Command

Danzo directs intelligence networks, Root operations, and pressure campaigns against foreign and domestic opponents 70 120 261.

• Maintains spies monitoring Hanzo and Akatsuki 70.
• Uses infiltrators and surveillance to track the Uchiha’s plans 261.
• Possesses the Impure World Reincarnation scroll through Tobirama’s forbidden-technique inheritance and trades it to Orosuke Hime 286.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Cane — Carried during the operation to obtain Shisui’s eye 238.
• Kunai — Serves as the base for his Wind Sword 472.
• Sealed metal arm restraint — Covers and restrains his modified right arm until combat 467 471.
• Transplanted Sharingan — Includes an earlier eye from Kagami Uchiha, Shisui’s right Mangekyō, and numerous eyes embedded in his arm 247 471.
• Impure World Reincarnation scroll — Exchanged for Orosuke Hime’s Sharingan-bearing arm 286.

Relationships

• Hiruzen Sarutobi — Old friend, classmate, and fellow member of Konoha High Command. They cooperate in anti-Uchiha policy, although Hiruzen later removes Danzo from office and dissolves Root 11 245 269.
• Tobirama Senju — Teacher and ideological model. Danzo regards destroying the Uchiha as fulfilling Tobirama’s wishes and inherits forbidden techniques associated with him 246 269 286.
• Orochimaru / Orosuke Hime — Political and research collaborator. Danzo backs Orochimaru for Hokage and exchanges resources for research into Hashirama Cells and Sharingan-based enhancements 125 247 286.
• Itachi Uchiha — Coerced operative. Danzo offers Sasuke’s survival in exchange for the massacre and Itachi’s acceptance of the blame 245 261.
• Shisui Uchiha — Target of Danzo’s eye-seizure operation; his right Mangekyō becomes Danzo’s source of Kotoamatsukami 227 238 247.
• Aburame Ryoma — Subordinate who delivers Shisui’s stolen eye 238.
• Hyuga Hiashi — Assists Danzo in the Land of Demons and agrees not to reveal the seizure of Shisui’s eye 230 238.
• Amakawa Akito — Long-standing enemy who defeats Danzo’s transplanted powers and leaves him unable to continue fighting 120 127 472 473.
• Sasuke Uchiha — First used as leverage over Itachi, later briefly controlled through Kotoamatsukami. Sasuke ultimately fatally wounds Danzo in revenge for the massacre 245 467 473.

Notable Quotes

“A ninja is one who protects the village from within the darkness...” 245

“No matter what method I use, I have to survive, because I am the only reformer capable of changing this world...” 473

Legacy

• Konoha’s hidden enforcer: Akito condemns Hiruzen for allowing Danzo to absorb responsibility for the leadership’s wrongdoing rather than stopping it 202.
• Sasuke as the new Root: Long after Danzo’s death, Hiruzen tells Tsunade that Sasuke will take on the role of Konoha’s new “Root” 704.