Kotoamatsukami... Activated!!!

The Root member codenamed "Fu" was named Yamanaka Fu, a branch family member of the Yamanaka Clan, who excelled in the clan's hereditary spiritual secret techniques!

Seizing the moment when Uchiha Yao manipulated the forest to clear out the others, Yamanaka Fu formed specific hand seals:

Mind Body Switch Technique!

This was a powerful secret technique that allowed one to invade an opponent's body with their own spirit, thereby controlling their actions.

On the chaotic battlefield, this strike was extremely covert and sudden, often catching enemies off guard.

And indeed!

Yao's movements abruptly stiffened, his eyes instantly turning vacant, completely losing control of his body.

"Good opportunity!"

A sharp gleam burst from Danzo's eyes; this was the moment he had been waiting for.

Chakra erupted beneath his feet, and in an instant, he closed in on Yao, who stood frozen in place.

"Kid, compared to me, you're still too green!"

Danzo sneered, his right hand's five fingers hooked like claws, carrying pitch-black cursed seal chakra as he pressed them toward Yao's chest.

Self-Exerting Curse Binding Seal!

The pitch-black cursed seal patterns surged from Danzo's palm like living things, rapidly crawling over Yao's entire body.

Completely locking down and suppressing the flow of chakra within Yao!

Yao trembled slightly.

Then he was firmly pinned in place by the powerful sealing force, unable to move, not even able to blink an eye.

"Hmph!"

Looking at Uchiha Yao, now completely subdued, Danzo's face finally revealed a sinister smile of total control.

To confirm whether this Yao was a Wood Clone or the real body, he had not hesitated to expend so many Root ninjas.

It was no exaggeration to say that after this battle, his Root had suffered heavy losses.

But as long as he obtained Uchiha Yao, all the sacrifices were worth it!

One Uchiha Yao was worth hundreds or thousands of elite ninjas.

Danzo unwound the thick bandages that had been wrapped around his right eye.

Revealing a crimson Sharingan with three pitch-black tomoe.

Seeing this, Yao's face instantly showed shock, anger, and disbelief, and then he began to struggle wildly.

As if he was utterly stunned that Danzo possessed a Sharingan.

"Stop struggling, kid... Everything you have will belong to Konoha! Belong to me!"

Danzo's voice was hoarse, filled with greed and fervor, as that crimson three-tomoe Sharingan spun wildly.

The three tomoe connected to each other, ultimately forming a complex pattern shaped like a four-cornered windmill.

Evil! Powerful!

The heart-stopping dojutsu power erupted without reservation!

"Kotoamatsukami!"

Danzo shouted in a low voice.

The price he had paid, using Uchiha Sasuke to trick Yao here, all for the ultimate goal of Kotoamatsukami.

Using this strongest illusion technique to turn Uchiha Yao into his servant, or rather... his tool!

Hmm!

The strongest illusion technique, capable of distorting reality and rewriting willpower!

It transformed into an irresistible torrent, surging toward Yao's soul.

Kotoamatsukami, like a deep tsunami, instantly drowned Yao's consciousness.

The light in Yao's eyes rapidly faded, like washed glass, quickly becoming hollow and numb.

A moment later.

The hollowness and numbness were replaced by reverence, submission, and obedience.

Danzo kept his eyes fixed on Yao's, seeing the expected change.

Even though Danzo's heart was as tough as iron and stone, he could hardly contain his excitement and ecstasy.

"Good... Very good!"

Danzo immediately formed a single hand seal and pressed his palm against Yao's chest.

"Release!"

The cursed seal patterns receded like a tide, shrinking back into Danzo's palm.

Yao was freed.

But he made no move to attack or flee.

Instead, he lowered his head slightly, his posture humble, and spoke with deference:

"Lord Danzo!"

Seeing this, the last shred of doubt in Danzo's heart vanished like smoke.

He couldn't help throwing back his head and letting out a triumphant laugh:

"Hahaha! Good! Good! Good! Heaven favors this old man!"

Danzo looked at Yao as if admiring a perfect tool, a perfect weapon, belonging solely to him.

"From today onward, you are a tool in this old man's hands!"

"With your power, I will surely sweep away every obstacle!"

"Day Slash's era of weakness is over! The seat of Hokage rightfully belongs to this old man now!"

"Once I become Hokage, reorganize Konoha, and even unify the ninja world—why not? Haha..."

Danzo was completely immersed in the ecstasy of wielding power and gazing into the future, his words brimming with smug satisfaction.

It was as if he could already see the scene of himself reigning over the ninja world.

And who could blame him?

In his youth, a moment's hesitation had cost him the Hokage position, letting Hiruzen Sarutobi take the lead.

For forty years after that, he had been suppressed by Hiruzen Sarutobi—forty years! How many forty years does a man have in life?

Today!

At the age of seventy, his dream was finally about to come true.

How could Danzo not be elated?

Shun!

Just as Danzo's emotions surged, a black shadow appeared abruptly, cutting in from a blind spot in his vision.

Before Danzo could react, he felt a piercing, bone-deep pain explode from his right eye socket.

The agony was so fierce, so sudden, that Danzo couldn't immediately grasp what had happened.

"Gyaaah!!!"

Danzo let out a scream of agony as warm liquid trickled down his cheek.

He staggered backward, his right hand instinctively covering his right eye.

All he felt was a bloody, empty socket.

"My eye..."

Danzo was both shocked and enraged, looking ahead—Yao was still kneeling there.

But the problem was.

On a vine just a few steps away, another Yao stood.

This Yao wore a mocking sneer, not a trace of respect or submission on his face.

And on top of that.

In this Yao's hand, he was holding a crimson Sharingan.

It was the eye belonging to Uchiha Shisui—the Kotoamatsukami eye that Danzo had hidden for years, one of his greatest trump cards!

The few remaining Root ninjas were all dumbfounded, barely able to believe what they were seeing.

Another Uchiha Yao?

How was that possible?

So which one was the real body? Or was this a clone of Uchiha Yao?

Danzo's single eye bulged, bloodshot, filled with pain and disbelief.

And then, the fury of being utterly toyed with and humiliated, and... madness:

"You... you weren't controlled?! Impossible! Absolutely impossible! This old man doesn't believe it!"

Yao lightly flicked the blood droplets from his fingertips, then stored that Mangekyo Sharingan into a bottle.

"Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan, with its attached dojutsu 'Kotoamatsukami,' is indeed formidable!"

Yao stood on the vine, lightly tossing the bottle in his hand:

"Silent and unnoticed, rewriting one's will—truly the pinnacle of Illusion Techniques!"

Yao looked at Danzo, a smile spreading across his face, his tone playful: "So, my Lord Danzo..."

"From start to finish, how would I dare use my real body to personally face you... the Darkness of Konoha?"

"What?!"

Danzo's pupils shrank sharply, and he immediately looked at the Uchiha Yao before him.

This Yo rapidly shed the color and texture of flesh and blood, his skin transforming into wood grain, his hair into branches and leaves.

His entire being, like a weathered clay figurine, revealed its original form: a lifelike wooden puppet!

Wood Clone!

It was actually a Wood Clone?

The one who had tangled with him from start to finish, unleashed the Flowering Tree Descent, and finally performed that act of submission before his eyes...

Was merely a Wood Clone?