Would You Like to Make a Deal?

Danzo's eyes narrowed as Shota Futa's incredulous face gradually vanished before him, replaced by a section of wood.

As a veteran spy, Shota Futa might not have been particularly powerful, but he certainly did not lack caution.

He had known from the moment those two started fighting that Konohagakure had sent people to capture him.

While Kagura had been focused on the battle ahead, he had even secretly used the Substitution Technique right under Kagura's Sharingan.

Danzo forcefully flung aside the wooden section he had struck, his wolf-like gaze swiftly sweeping the surroundings.

A black shadow flashed past. It was Shota Futa, who had been hiding in the darkness.

He charged fiercely toward Kagura and the others, who immediately assumed Combat Stances.

Yet, to Kagura's astonishment, Shota Futa suddenly changed direction just as he was about to meet him.

Kagura froze for a moment, then immediately understood Shota Futa's goal, but it was already too late.

Shota Futa flashed forward, and Jiraiya, who had been lying beside Kagura, was already seized and taken away.

When Shota Futa came to a stop, Jiraiya was tightly restrained in front of him by his Right Hand.

He stood cautiously behind Jiraiya, watching Kagura, Danzo, and the others.

His Left Hand held a Kunai against Jiraiya's neck as he said viciously:

"Don't move!

"Or I'll kill this brat."

Taking a hostage was clearly something he had contemplated for A long time, and the injured, mobility-impaired Jiraiya naturally became the best target.

Jiraiya turned his head toward Shota Futa, shame and fury mingling in his expression, but he truly had no strength left to resist.

Just like that, the scene once again fell into a stalemate.

While this unexpected incident unfolded, the Gray Mist on The Other Side gradually dispersed as well.

As the saying went, where there was smoke, there were no injuries. Hanzo's completely unharmed figure slowly Appeared from the Gray Mist.

Though his expression remained cold, there was clearly a trace more anger in his eyes.

Without saying a word, he accelerated and charged toward Danzo.

Seeing this powerful opponent attack again, anxiety flickered in Danzo's eyes.

As though he had made some decision, he gritted his teeth and charged at Shota Futa once more.

Danzo had not yet arrived, but he had already thrown several Darts at Shota Futa.

Seeing Danzo actually attack while ignoring the hostage in his hands, savagery flashed through Shota Futa's eyes.

Without hesitation, he raised the hostage in his hands to block the attack.

Amid Jiraiya's muffled groan and Tsunade and Orochimaru's cries of alarm, the Darts plunged into Jiraiya's body, bursting several Blood Flowers.

Yet Danzo's expression remained unchanged in the face of this situation, and the Short Sword in his hand flashed coldly.

He continued charging toward Shota Futa at high speed, thrusting the sword in his hand forward.

He intended to pierce straight through Jiraiya's body and strike Shota Futa!

Tsunade and Orochimaru cried out in shock, never expecting Danzo to do such a thing. Orochimaru's arm had already stretched out as he tried to stop him.

But they were still a step too slow. There was no way they could catch up in time.

In their despairing eyes, just as Danzo's Shuriken was about to pierce Jiraiya's body—

A furious shout thundered out:

"Danzo, how dare you!"

A bolt of blue lightning suddenly Appeared on the battlefield, its target being Danzo ahead!

Feeling the rapidly approaching attack from behind, Danzo's eyes narrowed. Within moments, he made his decision.

He abruptly pulled back the Shuriken he had already thrust out, forcibly twisting his body around in an indescribable posture.

Just as that lightning bolt was about to strike him, he finally managed to defend himself, barely blocking the blow with the weapon in his hand.

"Bang!"

With a crisp sound, Danzo was sent flying several meters away.

Yet while flying backward, he swiftly adjusted his posture in midair and landed steadily on the ground.

Looking up, he saw that the one who had attacked him was Kagura, with a blue sphere of lightning flashing in his hand.

Kagura slowly dispersed the Chidori in his hand and raised his head to glare angrily at Danzo.

The moment Danzo saw his eyes, he froze.

Because Before his eyes was a pair of Three Tomoe Sharingan!

"Nine Years Old... Three Tomoe..."

He muttered in disbelief.

Time returned to several seconds earlier. Kagura had likewise been caught off guard by Danzo's attack.

He could only watch helplessly as those Darts sank into Jiraiya's body.

At That Moment, time seemed to have been pressed to a halt in Kagura's perception.

Jiraiya's pained eyes and the Blood Flowers splashing from his body were all clearly reflected in Kagura's eyes.

Several images seemed to flash through his mind.

They were scenes from Jiraiya's final moments in the Original Plot.

Disheveled white hair, a faint smile without regret, and a figure slowly sinking to the bottom of a lake.

"Could it be that I truly can't change their fates?"

Since transmigrating here, Kagura felt powerless for the first time.

And alongside that powerlessness came an unprecedented fury!

"No!

"All tragedies will be changed by my hands!"

As that resolute thought rose within him, even Kagura failed to notice that another Tomoe had slowly appeared in his Sharingan.

If Kagura could have opened the system and checked at this moment, he would have discovered that the Eye Technique Progress section had changed.

The progress had instantly reached 100%, and the attribute had become:

Dōjutsu: (Three Tomoe Sharingan), progress 0.1%.

In truth, after Two Months of training, his Eye Technique Progress had already reached 99%.

But at that final 1%, Kagura discovered that no matter how he trained, he was still unable to break through.

In fact, that was because he lacked the emotions required for advancement.

During his previous advancement, he had used the system's help, so he had not noticed this.

After transmigrating, his goal had been to survive.

For that reason, he had always kept a low profile. One could even say that he had merely wanted to lie low until the Protagonist resolved everything.

Yet without even realizing it himself, the three members of Team 7 had gradually become indispensable Companions in his heart.

They carried out missions together, played together, and worried together.

Kagura had grown accustomed to these people being part of his life. He had even begun working hard to change the tragic fates of these Companions.

Yet it was at this very moment that Jiraiya being injured unfolded Before his eyes.

Those vivid Blood Flowers seemed to shatter some mental shackle within him. His intense emotions finally allowed him to break through to the realm of Three Tomoe at this moment.

And at that very instant, he instinctively used Chidori.

He did not notice that the Chidori, which originally required a certain amount of charging, had been unleashed instantly This time.

After forcing Danzo back, Kagura slowly straightened up and glared furiously at Danzo before him.

At this moment, a trace of wariness also flashed through Danzo's eyes.

An Uchiha Genius capable of possessing Three Tomoe at Nine Years Old—even Uchiha Madara That Year had not possessed the talent of the Youth before him.

Hanzo finally arrived at the battlefield as well. Seeing that his Mission Target had not been injured, he did not take the opportunity to attack.

With a single flash, he appeared behind Shota Futa and cautiously watched Kagura and Danzo, who stood confronting each other ahead.

Seeing Hanzo arrive, Danzo knew that his plan to end the battle quickly had failed.

He frowned as he looked at Kagura and asked in a questioning tone:

"Do you know what you're doing?"

By then, Tsunade and Orochimaru had finally reached Kagura's side. They too glared at Danzo with fury in their eyes.

Kagura patted the dust off his feet, his expression returning to calm as he answered:

"Of course I know what I'm doing.

"I also know that Jiraiya is my Companion!"

Facing Kagura's response, Danzo said noncommittally:

"Companion?

"Do you think you're still playing house at the Ninja Academy?

"I told Hiruzen Sarutobi long ago that the village's education has become far too peaceful.

"Your generation has forgotten what lies at the foundation of being a Ninja!

"Completing the mission is a Ninja's foremost priority. In that process, the sacrifice of Companions is not a reason to obstruct the mission.

"What you just did is a disgrace to a Ninja!"

Watching Danzo's face gradually fill with anger as he spoke, Kagura pondered for a moment before suddenly chuckling.

He met Danzo's gaze with bright eyes and said disdainfully:

"Sorry, but I don't accept your philosophy.

"My Life Philosophy can only be defined by me.

"What kind of Ninja I become can only be decided by me!"

After saying that, he no longer paid attention to Danzo. Instead, he turned to Hanzo at the side and said:

"Hey, Hanzo.

"I have a deal. Are you interested in hearing it?"