Joined by Death!

Uchiha Nan smiled cruelly and charged at Hiruzen Sarutobi, Ninja Blade in hand.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had used up his strength and hadn't yet recovered. As he watched Uchiha Nan steadily close in, panic surged through him.

He desperately wished he could move faster, but in the blink of an eye, Uchiha Nan had slipped behind him.

"Tear!"

Blood sprayed!

A gash opened across Hiruzen Sarutobi's back, but it wasn't fatal. Uchiha Nan had deliberately held back. It would've been a shame to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi in a single strike.

"Ah!!!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi screamed and crashed to the ground, but even then, he wasn't ready to give up.

I haven't become Hokage yet. I haven't fulfilled my teacher's final wish. How can I fall here?!

Hiruzen Sarutobi steeled himself and struggled to get back up, but Uchiha Nan gave him no chance. He slashed him again!

"Ahhhhh!!!!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi cried out in pain once more.

Hearing the screams, Uchiha Nan felt a rush of satisfaction. Mercy toward your enemies was cruelty toward yourself.

Standing among the crowd, Shimura Danzō had tears streaming down his face. His good friend was being tortured by Uchiha Nan, and was about to die right before his eyes.

Shimura Danzō wanted desperately to charge in and beat Uchiha Nan to a pulp, but he couldn't.

The Shimura Clan Head clung tightly to Shimura Danzō's arm, fixing him with a stern gaze as he said in a low voice:

"You're the clan's prodigy and the hope of the Shimura Clan. It's not worth throwing your life away for Hiruzen Sarutobi."

For a small clan, a Jonin was practically its lifeblood. Every one of them was precious.

Shimura Danzō faced a life-changing choice for the second time: stand bravely and act, or stay silent like he had the last time!

Shimura Danzō felt his body trembling. He was afraid, just as he had been on the battlefield.

"Ahhhhh!!!!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's screams kept echoing in Shimura Danzō's ears, urging him to decide.

Hiruzen!

I won't lose to you this time!

Shimura Danzō wrenched himself free of the Clan Head's grip and charged into the arena.

His body stopped trembling!

Shimura Danzō's gaze was resolute. This time, he wouldn't lose!

"Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere!"

Shimura Danzō rapidly formed Hand Seals, then spat transparent air bullets at Uchiha Nan's head.

Clang!

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Uchiha Nan spun around and blocked with his Ninja Blade. Sparks flew on impact.

Uchiha Nan turned to Shimura Danzō and gave him a meaningful smile, as though he'd known all along that Shimura Danzō would step in and launch a surprise attack.

Finally, I've lured you out.

Uchiha Nan was delighted. What was the fun in killing Hiruzen Sarutobi alone? He might as well give Hiruzen Sarutobi some company on the road to the underworld!

Shimura Danzō was the perfect choice!

Two brothers, one lifetime—off to the underworld together, happy as can be!

"How dare you!!!"

Hyuga Takuma bellowed. Someone had launched a sneak attack from behind—whose clan was this person from?

Did he have a death wish?!

Everyone's eyes turned to Shimura Danzō. Inabi Uchiha could hardly wait to strike him down on the spot!

It's over!

The Shimura Clan is finished!!

The Shimura Clan Head's face drained of color. He could start making arrangements for the clan's future: get the young members out of Konoha as quickly as possible!

At least the Shimura Clan could preserve a seed of its future and avoid dying out completely.

"Hmph. Mito-sama, I was in the middle of a fight to the death with Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Shimura Danzō suddenly charged out and attacked me from behind. I nearly lost my life."

"What do you think should be done about this?"

Uchiha Nan deliberately patted his chest, as if he'd been frightened, and asked Mito Uzumaki what she thought.

Mito Uzumaki looked at Shimura Danzō, her gaze icy, and answered without hesitation:

"Kill him!"

"Expel the Shimura Clan from Konoha!"

That's more like it. Uchiha Nan was pleased with her answer. Mito Uzumaki truly lived up to her reputation as someone who had survived since the Warring States Period. When the time came to act decisively, she didn't hesitate.

"Then I'll do it myself!"

Uchiha Nan kicked Hiruzen Sarutobi's obstructing hand aside and turned toward Shimura Danzō.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Shimura Danzō through his bloodied face, unable to understand why he had stepped in just to get himself killed.

Shimura Danzō gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a smile, then charged at Uchiha Nan, Kunai in hand, ready to fight him up close.

Was he trying to get himself killed?

Uchiha Nan couldn't help laughing. Shimura Danzō's actions were no different from a moth flying into a flame. He seemed determined to die, and no matter what, he wasn't leaving Konoha alive today.

Clang, clang, clang!!!

The Ninja Blade and Kunai clashed again and again, scraping against each other as sparks flew. At first, Shimura Danzō could still fend off Uchiha Nan's attacks, but soon he was flailing, unable to keep up with Uchiha Nan's speed.

"Tear!"

The blade whooshed through the air and struck Shimura Danzō. Uchiha Nan followed up with a kick that sent him flying.

Shimura Danzō hit the ground and rolled repeatedly until he came to a stop beside Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"This game can end now."

Uchiha Nan lowered his blade. A Lava Release Rasengan Shuriken appeared in his hand, and he prepared to send Shimura Danzō and Hiruzen Sarutobi off to meet the Sage of Six Paths with this attack.

Shimura Danzō would become a madman in the future. He'd even carve the Reverse Four Symbols Seal into his own body, just so he could take his enemies down with him when he was at death's door.

Uchiha Nan didn't know if Shimura Danzō was already that crazy.

To be safe, he'd better kill them with the Lava Release Rasengan Shuriken.

There wasn't even a bridge here!

"Sayonara!"

Uchiha Nan gave Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō a gentle smile, hoping they'd have a better time in their next lives.

Uchiha Nan considered himself a gentle person, after all!

Uchiha Nan hurled the Lava Release Rasengan Shuriken at them.

Boom!

An explosion rang out, unleashing a dazzling white light. Everyone present was stunned by the power of the Lava Release Rasengan Shuriken.

An S-rank forbidden technique!

It had to be an S-rank forbidden technique!!

Sending Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō off with that move was a fitting farewell.

At last, the blinding light faded, leaving a massive crater behind. Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō had vanished from the world completely, blown away without a trace.

Phew, that feels better!

Uchiha Nan let out a relaxed breath. He'd finally gotten rid of Konoha's scourges.

According to the original timeline, after Hiruzen Sarutobi died, Konoha could barely even choose a new Hokage. Its strength had fallen to an unbelievable low.

If Naruto Uzumaki hadn't risen to prominence, Konoha would surely have been doomed.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō had certainly done their part to bring about that outcome!

But none of that would happen now!

Not giving me a monthly ticket?

Then I'll have to get on my knees and beg!

I want monthly tickets! Give me your monthly tickets!!