Danzo

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Shimura Danzo (Shimura Danzō; 团藏)
Alias(es)	Shadow of the Shinobi 141
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shimura clan; formerly Konohagakure and Root 72 141
Occupation/Role	Root leader, Konoha elder, Hokage’s assistant; later acting Fifth Hokage 84 141
Status	Deceased; declared a rogue ninja before being beheaded by Neji 141 142
First Appearance	Chapter 5, “Hand Over the Corpse of the Murderer, Hyuga Hiashi” 5

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Transplanted Three-Tomoe Sharingan	59	Already possesses a Sharingan in his right eye. He believes combining it with Wood Release will allow him to surpass Hiruzen.
Acquisition of Izanagi instructions	60	A mysterious masked Uchiha leaves an Izanagi scroll and another Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Danzo learns that the technique can rewrite unfavorable reality at the cost of an eye’s sight.
Wood Release arm transplant	68	Orochimaru’s Hashirama-cell arm is installed by this chapter. Shackles and two sealing techniques cannot fully suppress its cells; Danzo considers his available two Izanagi uses insufficient.
Demonstrated Izanagi use	78	Reverses a fatal Amaterasu attack from Fugaku. The Sharingan in his right eye becomes blind afterward.
Multiple Sharingan implanted in the Wood Release arm	142	Repeatedly reverses fatal injuries against Nagato. Seven still-red Three-Tomoe Sharingan remain in the arm when Neji severs it; the implantation date is not given.

Background / History

Tobirama’s Student and Hiruzen’s Rival

Danzo studied alongside Hiruzen at the ninja academy and shared Tobirama Senju as a teacher. His defining regret was failing to volunteer for Tobirama’s fatal rear-guard mission—the moment associated with Hiruzen becoming Hokage instead of him 6 70 142.

During the Hyuga–Kumogakure dispute, Danzo advocated war rather than yielding to Kumogakure’s demands. He condemned Hiruzen’s willingness to sacrifice a comrade for peace, arguing that their teacher would never have made that choice 5 6.

As Root’s leader, Danzo gathered intelligence across the ninja world. His stated purpose was eliminating threats to Konoha, but he also sought enough prestige and achievements to overthrow Hiruzen 33.

Operations Against Kumogakure

Danzo activated a spy codenamed Puppet and sent Aburame Ryūma into Kumogakure with three objectives: provoke conflict with Iwagakure, eradicate Kumogakure’s Byakugan bloodline, and kill Yakushi Nonō after her usefulness ended 33.

Neji became a repeated assassination target. During the Chunin Exams, Danzo deployed three Root jonin to hunt him in the Forest of Death. Their failure contributed to Danzo’s growing frustration with Root 66 68.

Uchiha Crisis

After the Nine-Tails’ Rampage, Danzo used residential planning as a pretext to relocate the Uchiha to Konoha’s outskirts and place them under surveillance. He later considered influencing the clan through Fugaku’s talented eldest son, Itachi 33 54.

Neji and Yugito killed Itachi and left a Root corpse at the scene to implicate Konoha. Danzo denied responsibility, correctly identifying the accusation as a frame-up, but Shisui exposed and gouged out his transplanted Sharingan. Fugaku then revealed Danzo’s Wood Release arm 69 70.

Hiruzen pronounced Danzo guilty and announced the revocation of his positions and Root’s disbandment. Nevertheless, Danzo continued participating in discussions about suppressing the Uchiha. He blamed Fugaku and Shisui for the Nine-Tails’ Rampage despite suspecting the mysterious masked Uchiha 70 72.

When the Uchiha attempted to leave Konoha, Danzo declared them traitors and ordered Root to annihilate them, forcing the standoff into open battle. He also arranged for Root operatives disguised as Anbu to divert Kakashi and abduct Naruto, intending to blame the Uchiha; Kumogakure’s simultaneous operation disrupted that plan 76 77.

Danzo fought Fugaku with Wind Release, Baku, and Izanagi, then temporarily allied with Obito. Danzo occupied Fugaku from the front while Obito delivered the fatal Wood Release attack from behind 78 79 81.

Loss of Authority and Acting Hokage Tenure

Following the crisis, Ryūma attempted to assassinate Hiruzen and claimed to be acting for Danzo. Danzo maintained that he had believed Ryūma dead in Kumogakure and denounced the attempt as another frame-up. Hiruzen subsequently stripped all his authority and again ordered Root disbanded 82 83 84.

Root remained operational despite the formal disbandment. During Orochimaru’s invasion, Danzo ignored Hiruzen’s order to deploy its elites and kept them on standby. He had received advance warning through a piece of snake skin and hoped Orochimaru would kill Hiruzen, clearing his path to the Hokage position 119.

After Hiruzen’s death, Jiraiya sought Tsunade as his successor but agreed to let Danzo serve as acting Fifth Hokage until her return. Danzo later held that acting office 122 141.

Exposure and Death

An anonymous letter publicized accusations involving Danzo’s role in the White Fang’s death, forbidden Wood Release experiments, and the Uchiha’s departure. Jiraiya and several major clans assaulted Root’s base; even Homura and Koharu abandoned Danzo. Konoha branded him a traitor and rogue ninja 141.

Nagato sent a forged invitation in Hanzo’s name offering refuge in Amegakure. Danzo accepted, hoping to manipulate Hanzo, control Amegakure, and eventually seize Konoha. Jiraiya deliberately eased the pursuit so Danzo and his remaining guards, Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune, could reach the trap 141 142.

At the Land of Rain’s border, Neji, Nagato, and Konan intercepted them. Nagato repeatedly inflicted fatal injuries, which Danzo reversed with Izanagi, while Konan struck down his guards. Neji severed the Sharingan-bearing arm, removing Danzo’s ability to continue using Izanagi and most of his remaining strength 142.

Neji then trapped him in a genjutsu recreating Tobirama’s rear-guard decision. Even after Danzo believed he had overcome his cowardice, Hiruzen still became Hokage within the illusion. Neji beheaded the emotionally broken Danzo, and Nagato declared Yahiko avenged 142.

Appearance

• Advanced age: Explicitly cited by Hiruzen when considering leniency 70.
• Cane: Carries and frequently taps or strikes the floor with it 5 64 84.
• Right eye: Conceals a transplanted Three-Tomoe Sharingan beneath bandages; Shisui removes it during their confrontation 69.
• Right arm: Replaced with a pale Wood Release arm cultivated from Hashirama’s cells, restrained with shackles and two seals 55 68.
• Later implants: Multiple Sharingan are embedded in the replacement arm 142.

Personality

Danzo presents himself as a defender of Konoha who accepts necessary sacrifices. Early in the story, his objection to sacrificing a comrade appears sincere. Over time, however, his pursuit of the Hokage position takes precedence over the village’s safety, most clearly when he withholds Root during Orochimaru’s invasion 6 119.

He treats operatives as tools, including highly ranked subordinates such as Ryūma. He orders Nonō’s elimination after her mission and relies on brainwashing and cursed seals to maintain Root’s obedience 33 39.

His hostility toward the Uchiha coexists with an obsession with their power. Even after Fugaku kills his longtime summon, Danzo quickly turns from grief to coveting Fugaku’s Mangekyo Sharingan 72 79.

Fear and regret remain beneath his outward aggression. The masked Uchiha’s unexplained infiltration makes him furious at his own timidity. In his final battle, he recognizes that escape is impossible and fights anyway, while Neji’s last genjutsu exposes the enduring wound left by Tobirama’s succession decision 60 142.

Abilities & Skills

Wind Release

Danzo’s signature combat specialty is described as world-renowned 142.

• Launches explosive wind orbs against Fugaku’s Susanoo 78.
• Uses Vacuum Great Ball, which Nagato counters by absorbing it 142.
• Combines his techniques with Baku to produce attacks approaching S-rank power, capable of threatening Fugaku’s incomplete Susanoo 78.

Izanagi

A forbidden ocular technique that turns unfavorable reality into illusion, allowing Danzo to reverse fatal injuries 60 78 142.

• Survives Fugaku’s Amaterasu and repeated lethal attacks from Nagato 78 142.
• Each use permanently blinds a Sharingan 60 142.
• His final supply depends on the eyes in his replacement arm; severing it ends his ability to continue using the technique 142.

Wood Release Arm

Orochimaru cultivates Danzo’s replacement arm from Hashirama’s cells 55.

• Provides substantial power and later houses multiple Sharingan 68 142.
• Causes severe pain and remains difficult to suppress despite restraints and sealing techniques 68.
• Its loss renders numerous secret techniques unusable and removes approximately nine-tenths of his strength 142.

Summoning: Baku

Danzo summons Yume, an enormous orange, rhinoceros-like Baku skilled in Wind Release 78 79.

• Its compatibility with Danzo makes their combined attacks stronger than either could achieve alone 79.
• Serves him for decades before Fugaku cuts it in half 79.

Espionage and Root Command

Root supplies Danzo with domestic surveillance, foreign intelligence, infiltrators, and assassination teams 33 54 66.

• Uses child training and indoctrination to produce operatives who prioritize missions over their lives 39 64 66.
• Places the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on Root members to maintain control and obstruct exposure 39 84.
• Believes Root can be rapidly reassembled after disbandment because its members remain bound to him 84.

Supporting Combat Skills

• Uses the Body Flicker Technique to create distance after reversing injuries with Izanagi 142.
• Fights with a kunai, but taijutsu is not a major strength 79 142.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Cane — Regularly carried during meetings and confrontations 5 84.
• Kunai — Used in close-range attacks and his final defensive stand 79 142.
• Izanagi scroll — Supplied by the masked Uchiha 60.
• Sharingan stockpile — Began collecting Three-Tomoe Sharingan during the Third Shinobi World War 60.

Relationships

• Hiruzen Sarutobi — Childhood companion, political protector, and lifelong rival for the Hokage position. Danzo ultimately refuses to aid him during Orochimaru’s attack 70 119.
• Tobirama Senju — Teacher whose final rear-guard mission and succession decision define Danzo’s deepest regret 6 142.
• Orochimaru — Research partner funded by Danzo after defecting from Konoha; supplies the Wood Release arm 55 112.
• Aburame Ryūma — Root subordinate second only to Danzo. His later assassination attempt becomes evidence against Danzo, who insists he was framed 33 82 83.
• Yakushi Nonō — Intelligence operative sent to support the Kumogakure mission; Danzo orders her death afterward 33.
• Uchiha Shisui — Surveillance and potential assassination target who exposes and removes Danzo’s transplanted eye 69.
• Uchiha Fugaku — Enemy whose Mangekyo Danzo covets; Danzo assists Obito in killing him 79 81.
• Obito Uchiha — Mysterious supplier of Izanagi and temporary battlefield ally. Danzo fears his abilities and intends to eliminate him after dealing with Fugaku 60 79 81.
• Naruto Uzumaki — Jinchuriki Danzo repeatedly seeks to control as an “ultimate weapon” 64 72 77.
• Hanzo of the Salamander — Former collaborator against the original Akatsuki. Danzo later accepts a forged invitation bearing his name 33 141.
• Nagato and Konan — Survivors of the operation that killed Yahiko; participate in Danzo’s final defeat 141 142.
• Hyuga Neji — Assassination target who ultimately severs Danzo’s arm, psychologically breaks him, and executes him 33 66 142.
• Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune — Final loyal guards, willing to sacrifice themselves for his escape 142.

Notable Quotes

“Hiruzen, what are you hesitating for? If Kumogakure wants war, then fine, we’ll see it through to the end!” 5

“This evil forbidden jutsu can only be used for the right path when in my hands.” 78

“Orochimaru, I’ll watch your performance. Don’t disappoint me.” 119