Danzo

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Shimura Danzō; usually called Danzo (团藏) 97
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konoha; Root. Later cooperates covertly with Kusagakure and Madara Uchiha’s faction 4 234 375
Occupation/Role	Founder and leader of Root; Hokage Advisor/Council Elder; former controller of Konoha’s intelligence network 97 193 194
Status	Fugitive from Konoha; execution ordered by Orochimaru. His death is not explicitly confirmed in the provided account 389 393
First Appearance	Chapter 4 4

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Single transplanted Sharingan	177	Already possesses one transplanted Sharingan before successfully receiving First Hokage Cells. Uses it for Izanagi to survive Kabuto’s lethal attack; the technique consumes the eye.
Successful First Hokage Cells transplant	188 189	Undergoes experimental surgery after Root’s destruction, restoring his peak combat power at a severe physical cost. Later describes himself as stronger than in his prime twenty or thirty years earlier 373.
Mangekyō Sharingan	375	Madara gives him a Mangekyō Sharingan in his right eye as advance payment for a covert deal. Its tomoe merge into a three-bladed, shuriken-like pattern; a second eye is promised after completion.
Second-form Susanoo demonstrated	392 393	Manifests a black, half-bodied Susanoo wielding a giant blade with chakra-burning black flames. Repeated ocular techniques exhaust his single Mangekyō, causing severe pain and bloody tears.

Background / History

Establishment of Root

Danzo helped Hiruzen Sarutobi consolidate Konoha by undertaking its covert and bloody work. Over more than a decade, this included suppressing dozens of clans, among them the Shimura and Mitarashi. Root emerged as the organization corresponding to the Anbu on the village’s darker side 97.

Orochimaru later regards Danzo’s historical role as partly a consequence of Konoha’s instability after the First Shinobi World War. Public compromise and secret coercion helped bind its distinct clans together, although repeatedly performing that work also corrupted Danzo’s nature 393.

Danzo also helped provoke Hanzo into attacking the original Akatsuki. He considered an alliance of smaller nations a future challenge to the great nations regardless of its professed peaceful ideals. After discovering that the surviving organization had become powerful, he regretted not eliminating it completely 240.

Nine-Tails Incident and Bargain with Orochimaru

During the Nine-Tails rampage, Danzo orders Root to watch the Uchiha rather than assist the wounded. News of the Fourth Hokage’s death initially excites his ambition, but he soon recognizes that Konoha’s need for stability will return Hiruzen to office instead 4.

Orochimaru confronts him over concealing Kinoe, the surviving Wood Release subject of the First Hokage Cells experiments. To remove Orochimaru as a potential Hokage candidate, Danzo agrees to surrender the boy, Root’s research data, and one hundred million ryo 4 5.

His attempt to marginalize the Uchiha through relocation of the Military Police is exposed by Orochimaru at a village meeting. During the subsequent Kumogakure war, however, Danzo makes a substantial defensive contribution: Root guards the stronghold facing the Land of Earth and discourages Iwagakure from intervening 17 59.

Attempts to Seize Enhancement Research

Danzo covets Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan and seeks to obtain the eyes from Orochimaru rather than allow their destruction. Orochimaru also suspects him of spreading news of the Impure World Reincarnation incident to damage his public reputation 60 61 67.

When Orochimaru begins enhancing Uchiha through First Hokage Cells surgery, Danzo urges the leadership to confiscate the research instead of destroying it. Root subsequently takes Kabuto and Shinsuke away from the Uchiha compound under claims of Hokage authority, but diverts them into a forest where Danzo personally strikes Kabuto and demands information 72 73 74 75.

Shinsuke’s resistance and testimony expose Danzo’s tactics. Hiruzen bans private enhancement research for everyone, not merely Orochimaru, while the other advisors become more wary of Danzo’s intentions 77.

Root later steals surgical data from Orochimaru’s laboratory and attacks him while he is recuperating. Orochimaru treats this as grounds for retaliation and warns Shisui that Danzo’s use of the stolen procedure would place the Uchiha at further risk 146 170.

Kabuto’s Revenge and Loss of Authority

Kabuto infiltrates Root to avenge Yakushi Nonō. Danzo had manipulated their information until Nonō could no longer recognize Kabuto, then arranged for the two to kill each other. When confronted, Danzo expresses regret only that Orochimaru failed to dispose of Kabuto afterward 75 176 177 192.

Kabuto impales Danzo with a sudden senjutsu attack, but Danzo survives through Izanagi and counterattacks with a kunai. Unable to finish Kabuto, he retreats behind Root’s formations. Kabuto ultimately collapses the underground base, killing most of its personnel and destroying the foundation of Danzo’s political power 177 186.

Afterward, Danzo demands an immediate First Hokage Cells transplant and threatens the researchers’ families if it fails. The surgery succeeds, strengthening him despite major bodily changes 178 179 188 189.

His attempt to blame Orochimaru for Kabuto’s actions backfires when Orochimaru exposes Root’s treatment of its spies. Hiruzen formally disbands Root, reclassifies its members as regular ninja, and lets Danzo temporarily retain his Council Elder position. Control of the intelligence network passes to Koharu and Homura, while existing overseas spies are left untouched 190 191 192 193 194.

Covert Dealings and Madara’s Offer

Despite Root’s official dissolution, Danzo retains clandestine personnel and intelligence contacts. He secretly receives Grass ninja representatives and later sends Kusagakure details of Konoha’s deliberations, hoping Akatsuki will eliminate Kabuto and Orochimaru—or that the opposing sides will destroy each other 217 234 242.

During Pain’s attack, Danzo does not join the fighting, being nominally assigned to escort civilians into shelters. Orochimaru’s unexpectedly decisive victory forces him to continue waiting rather than exploit the village’s losses 312.

Hiruzen’s move to transfer leadership to younger ninja threatens even Danzo’s remaining organization. With little fresh recruitment and growing dependence on coercion, he seeks Hiruko’s research and meets Madara’s faction. Madara gives him a Mangekyō Sharingan as a deposit; Danzo understands that exposure of their agreement could destroy his standing in Konoha 374 375.

Exposure and Final Pursuit

Kabuto identifies four Root ninja among the attackers used against Konan, exposing Danzo’s involvement in an attack on Konoha’s new ally. Danzo’s unauthorized departure then prompts Hiruzen to dispatch Uchiha, Hyuga, and Anbu forces after him 389.

Madara abandons Danzo as bait to divert Konoha’s attention. Cornered by Uchiha jonin, Danzo reveals the source of his Mangekyō and attacks with Susanoo, but his uncontrolled expenditure of ocular power eventually forces him to flee toward the Land of Water 391 392 393.

Orochimaru intercepts him and decides that his information no longer warrants keeping him alive. Acting under Hiruzen’s “dead or alive” order, Orochimaru orders his execution 393.

Appearance

• Before enhancement: An elderly man with a withered right hand who walks with a cane; after Root’s destruction, he is described glaring with a single eye 5 72 178.
• After transplantation: His body and appearance undergo significant changes. He is unconcerned with their aesthetic cost but worries that Orochimaru will recognize evidence of unauthorized research 189.
• Mangekyō Sharingan: His right eye becomes crimson, with a three-bladed pattern resembling a shuriken 375.
• Voice: Low, raspy, and sometimes hoarse or grating 59 191.

Personality

Danzo is calculating, ambitious, and intensely attached to becoming Hokage. He recognizes political obstacles rather than blindly ignoring them, but uses opportunities such as chairing village meetings to indulge his desire for leadership. He continues training and pursuing bodily restoration long after other elders have shifted toward administration 4 59 157.

He habitually justifies coercion and sacrifice through the village’s interests. His treatment of Kabuto and Nonō shows how readily he discards individual loyalty once it conflicts with secrecy or control. Even when publicly condemned, he insists that their deaths were justified for Konoha 177 192 193.

Patience is one of his strengths: he is willing to lie low for years while retaining clandestine resources. That restraint is not absolute. Root’s destruction drives him to threaten his own researchers, and his later Mangekyō power produces conspicuous emotional swings and reckless combat decisions 179 312 393.

Abilities & Skills

Sharingan and Mangekyō Sharingan

His transplanted eyes provide both combat perception and access to powerful Uchiha techniques 177 375 392.

• Tracks the trajectories of an encircling Uchiha shuriken attack and disrupts it with precisely thrown kunai 392.
• Receives only one confirmed Mangekyō; Madara’s promised second eye is not shown being delivered 375 393.
• Heavy use causes eye pain and bloody tears despite his First Hokage Cells 393.

Izanagi

Danzo uses Izanagi to negate a lethal impalement and reappear behind Kabuto for a surprise attack 177.

• Allows him to survive an otherwise fatal strike.
• Consumes a Sharingan with each use.
• Fails to secure victory because Kabuto rapidly heals the resulting kunai wound 177.

Susanoo and Chakra-Burning Blade

His black Susanoo is a second-form, half-bodied construct wielding an enormous sword 392 393.

• Its blade bears black flames capable of burning chakra within ninjutsu.
• Breaks through restraining wood and threatens the Four Violet Flames Formation by consuming its users’ chakra.
• The flames’ exact identity is unresolved: Fugaku considers Amaterasu, while Shinsuke suspects the sword itself is the ocular technique.
• Maintaining Susanoo with one Mangekyō while repeatedly using other ocular techniques rapidly exhausts him 393.

Wind Release

Danzo uses Wind Release: Great Wind Break after briefly leaving Susanoo 393.

• Condenses violent air currents into a nearly tangible vortex.
• His attack on Shinsuke is blocked by Fugaku’s barrier 393.

First Hokage Cells Enhancement

Experimental transplantation restores and strengthens his physical capabilities 188 189 373.

• Leaves him at his strongest condition in decades.
• Causes substantial bodily alteration.
• Does not prevent the consequences of overusing a single Mangekyō Sharingan 312 393.

Cursed Seals and Subordinate Control

Danzo places the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on Root personnel. Kabuto identifies the marked tongues of dead operatives as evidence of Danzo’s involvement 389.

• Uses coercive measures to maintain loyalty as Root’s recruitment and influence decline 374.
• Retains operatives after the organization’s formal dissolution 217 234 389.

Intelligence and Command

Danzo builds a far-reaching intelligence organization and directs both covert operations and conventional defenses 59 192.

• Leads Root’s defense against possible Iwagakure intervention during the Kumogakure war 59.
• Is appointed commander of Konoha’s black-market suppression operation, with Jiraiya as deputy 144.
• Restores orderly attack and defense among Root personnel during Kabuto’s assault 177.
• Continues receiving intelligence unavailable to the elders officially controlling the network 217.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Cane — Used while walking and during his negotiations with Orochimaru 5 72.
• Kunai — Used to wound Kabuto after Izanagi and to disrupt Uchiha projectile formations 177 392.
• Hokage-style chair — Keeps a chair matching the Hokage’s design in both his original Root conference room and later office 4 374.

Relationships

• Hiruzen Sarutobi — Longstanding comrade and political rival. Danzo carries out Konoha’s covert suppression, but Hiruzen later disbands Root, removes his intelligence authority, and orders his pursuit 97 193 194 389.
• Orochimaru — Research collaborator turned adversary. Their conflict centers on concealed experimental results, enhancement data, Kabuto, and competition for influence 4 5 170 190 393.
• Yakushi Kabuto — Former Root spy whom Danzo tried to have silenced. Kabuto’s revenge destroys the Root base and helps bring about Danzo’s political downfall 75 177 191 193.
• Yakushi Nonō — Kabuto’s benefactor and a victim of Root’s manipulation. Danzo arranges the circumstances leading Kabuto to kill her 75 192.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura — Fellow advisors and occasional allies against Orochimaru. They become wary of Danzo’s methods and later receive control of the intelligence network 73 77 194.
• Uchiha clan — Targets of his surveillance and suppression; he seeks their Sharingan for his own enhancement. Uchiha jonin ultimately pursue and corner him after his betrayal 4 17 170 392.
• Shinsuke Uchiha — Resists Root’s detention operation and later restrains Danzo’s Susanoo with Wood Release 74 77 392 393.
• Madara Uchiha — Gives him a Mangekyō as payment for a covert deal, then abandons him as bait. Danzo attempts to turn the Uchiha’s anger against Madara once cornered 375 391 392.
• Hiruko — Former associate and intermediary in his dealings with Madara’s faction; receives much of Danzo’s reserves and surgical data in negotiations for another Mangekyō 374 375 384.
• Root personnel — His organizational power base. He demands obedience through authority, threats, and cursed seals, insisting Root cannot fall while he lives 178 179 374 389.

Notable Quotes

“Prioritize watching the Uchiha. … Don’t forget, they cannot escape responsibility for tonight’s events.” 4

“What, do you think Root is finished? As long as I am not dead, Root will never fall.” 178

“Yakushi Kabuto and Nonō deserved to die! I did all of this for the sake of the village!!” 193

Trivia

• Danzo has no wife or children 189.
• His official punishment dissolves Root without immediately removing his Council Elder title 193.
• The emergence of the Masked Man’s space-time abilities particularly alarms him because exposure of Root’s classified activities could turn Konoha against him 161.