Danzo

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Shimura Danzō
Original Name	团藏
Alias(es)	Remnant — the identity he uses after his soul enters Remnant’s body 267 281
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Root 24
Occupation/Role	Former Root leader and Hokage advisor; later a low-ranking Genin under Remnant’s identity 61 65 281
Status	Alive in Remnant’s body; original body deceased. Dependent on an elderly Root ninja for food and shelter 265 267 296
First Appearance	Chapter 9, “A Naive Uchiha Brat” 9

Background / History

Political ambitions

Danzō seeks to make Konoha the strongest power in the Ninja World and become its hero himself. His ambitions include taking the Hokage’s position; when recruiting Uchiha Rei, he privately resents that talented ninja consistently choose Hiruzen Sarutobi over him 38 225 296.

Root gains influence after Hiruzen returns to office following the Fourth Hokage’s death, competing with the Hokage’s Anbu for personnel and resources. Some recruits join because they oppose Hiruzen’s perceived weakness rather than because they personally support Danzō 54.

Coercing the Uchiha

Danzō pressures Itachi to eliminate the Uchiha clan by threatening Sasuke’s life. Itachi agrees and entrusts him with mission earnings intended for Sasuke, but Danzō plans to keep the money for Root 9.

He also attempts to recruit Uchiha Rekka by exploiting Rekka’s alienation from both village and clan. When Rekka refuses, Danzō overwhelms him with Wind Release and has him captured. Rekka nevertheless lands a slap after a protective fire ring interrupts Danzō’s attack 10.

The false Itachi’s attack

A figure resembling Itachi infiltrates Root, challenges Danzō’s interpretation of the Will of Fire, and defeats his guards. Danzō’s own Wind Release attack kills four subordinates caught in genjutsu. He survives black flames through Izanagi, then attempts to control the intruder with Kotoamatsukami 11.

The attacker is actually Uchiha Rei’s genjutsu clone. Its destruction leaves Danzō trapped in an illusion where an image of his former teacher, Senju Tobirama, repeatedly condemns and executes him. Danzō subsequently reports the attack as Itachi’s work and alleges Akatsuki involvement, while the village advisors question his competence and Root’s funding 11 12.

Recruitment schemes and the clan’s downfall

Danzō uses personal survival and family members as recruitment leverage. He offers to spare Rekka’s sister if Rekka cooperates and claims Root possesses the true antidote to Rei’s Salamander Poison. Rei repeatedly refuses to join 19 38.

Root later attempts to seize Sasuke under Danzō’s authority, intending to use him as bait for Itachi. Rei defeats the initial squad and secretly delivers Sasuke to Uchiha Yue, leaving Root and Uchiha guards fighting over illusionary substitutes 24 25 26.

Obito, operating as “Uchiha Madara,” negotiates with Danzō for Root to blockade the Uchiha district during the planned extermination. Danzō later orders Root to participate directly rather than merely assist. However, Root attacks Obito in retaliation for the supposed Akatsuki assault on its headquarters, suffering severe casualties and inadvertently obstructing the attack on the Uchiha 29 38 44.

With Root depleted and Hiruzen watching for an unauthorized deployment, Danzō holds back during the later rebellion preparations. He still demands the clan’s elimination afterward, explicitly arguing that its destruction should compensate Root for its losses 58 60.

Political setbacks and financial collapse

Hiruzen exposes Root’s appropriation of Itachi’s money and proposes removing Danzō as advisor and dissolving Root. The resulting compromise preserves Danzō’s position but formally disbands Root and transfers its management to Anbu. Later chapters nevertheless show Danzō continuing to recruit and direct Root personnel 61 65 94.

Danzō’s third recruitment attempt offers Rei a Root advisor position and eventual second-in-command status. He values Rei’s medical abilities both for treating casualties and for the political influence an outstanding medical ninja could bring. Rei again declines 38 55 65.

Meanwhile, Danzō’s transplanted Senju Cells become unstable. Orochimaru suppresses their activity through surgery but warns that Danzō’s body is dying because the Sharingan’s spiritual power and his physical energy are severely unbalanced 93.

On returning to Root, Danzō discovers its secret treasury completely empty. Unable to pay Orochimaru’s surgical fee, he recruits the envoy Remnant and repeatedly assigns him missions to delay payment. Danzō then imposes a contribution system requiring Root members to spend their own savings to keep the organization operating 94 104 174.

Hyuga Hiashi refuses further political funding and encourages other clans to do the same. Kabuto and Yakushi Nonō become the only members recorded as genuinely willing to contribute; Danzō particularly values Kabuto because his money sustains Root’s expenses 104 167 173.

Campaigning for war

Danzō treats the Hozuki Castle crisis as an opportunity for Root to acquire resources through war. Believing Rei dead, he publicly praises him as Konoha’s hero and channels demands for revenge into pressure on Hiruzen 173 198 206.

He even claims he would have nominated Rei as the next Hokage, though his actual preferred candidate is himself. Rei’s unexpected return exposes these flattering statements as political excuses and undermines Danzō’s justification for war 225.

Root rebellion and death

Financial exploitation, unequal treatment, and restrictions on leaving Root erode members’ loyalty. Dissidents devise the Rootless Plan, while Orochimaru, Sasori, and Remnant prepare a separate ambush against Danzō 174 256 257.

Danzō convenes an ideological meeting at a secluded cliff, intending to reassert control over newer recruits and eliminate Remnant. He appears to kill Remnant and his squad with Wind Release, but the victims are puppets. Root members openly turn against him, declaring that they oppose Danzō rather than Konoha 262 263 264.

Orochimaru and Sasori spring the Thousand Puppet Formation. Danzō repeatedly uses Izanagi, but Root squad leaders seize his legs and prevent his escape while Sasori’s iron sand drags him into the formation. Once every Sharingan on his arm closes, he is killed 265.

Rei takes the corpse and examines its Senju Cells and right-eye Mangekyō Sharingan. His attempt to summon Danzō through Impure World Reincarnation fails because Danzō’s soul has not passed on 266 267.

Rebirth as Remnant

Danzō had arranged for Orochimaru to prepare a reincarnation technique, selecting Ryoma as his intended vessel and promoting him to ensure continuity of Root’s leadership. Orochimaru disables Ryoma’s cursed seal, causing Danzō’s soul to enter the much weaker Remnant instead 267 281.

Danzō conceals his survival and tries to contact loyal followers, but Anbu arrests him. Imprisoned alongside Root ninja, he is beaten, mocked, and subjected to the same deprivation his former subordinates suffered 268 269 270.

Rei subsequently resurrects Sarutobi Sasuke, Hiruzen’s son, who identifies Danzō as his killer and exposes his collusion with foreign countries. Konoha publicizes Danzō’s crimes, and the imprisoned Root members are released 272 273 274.

Danzō is also released but finds Remnant’s apartment emptied and seized by Anbu. With neither money nor influence, he becomes homeless. Ryoma, now Root’s leader, refuses to return authority to him, forces him to kneel with parasites, and suspends his mission allowance 274 281 282.

An elderly Root ninja becomes Danzō’s “godfather” and keeps him alive through inexpensive meals. Even while relying on this charity, Danzō fantasizes about retaking Root and privately plans to kill his benefactor once he regains power 287 296.

Appearance

• Original body: Elderly, with an aged face, bandages concealing half his face, and clothing including a black robe and gray cloak. He also carries a cane 29 58 65.
• Persistent injury: Rei’s attack leaves his face severely swollen; even Root’s medical ninja cannot promptly remedy it 12 29.
• Implanted eyes: Possesses a Mangekyō Sharingan in his right eye and additional Sharingan embedded in his right arm 11.
• Remnant’s body: Short and slight, with the strength and standing of an ordinary Genin rather than Danzō’s former combat power 174 274 281.

Personality

Danzō treats ninja as tools and equates obedience to himself with loyalty to Konoha. He exploits Itachi’s love for Sasuke, Rekka’s concern for his sister, and Rei’s need for an antidote. When his own attack kills Root operatives, he justifies their deaths as service to the village 9 11 19.

His belief in collective sacrifice does not extend equally to himself. He confiscates money intended for Sasuke, pressures impoverished subordinates to finance Root, and grants Remnant exemptions that provoke resentment. Opposition to his authority is routinely framed as betrayal of Konoha 9 174 263 264.

He can regain his composure under pressure, as when he analyzes the theft of Root’s treasury, but repeatedly overestimates his control over others. He regards Shisui and the masked “Madara” as pieces on his chessboard and assumes most Root members remain loyal even as they prepare to attack him 29 94 264.

Losing power does not remove his pride or vindictiveness. Hunger makes food more important to him than his former ideals, yet renewed strength quickly brings back fantasies of domination and revenge 274 281 296.

Abilities & Skills

Wind Release

Danzō uses cutting wind currents, compressed air projectiles, and powerful gusts to overwhelm opponents 10 11.

Technique	Documented application
Vacuum Wave	Produces blade-like air currents that wound Rekka and attack puppet constructs 10 264.
Great Breakthrough	Creates a hurricane that throws Rekka into a stone wall 10.
Vacuum Great Ball	Fires a forceful compressed-air projectile capable of breaking bones and killing several targets 10 11.
Vacuum Sphere	Launches successive wind projectiles 11.
Vacuum Serial Waves	Strikes the apparent Remnant and his squad during the cliff meeting 263.

• Strong natural winds enhance his techniques; he deliberately chooses the cliff to exploit this advantage 264 265.
• Uses wind-nature chakra to cut through a metal puppet and briefly fly above the battlefield 264 265.

Sharingan and Izanagi

Danzō possesses Yin Release, allowing him to use transplanted Sharingan, although incompatibility limits their full potential 67.

• Izanagi rewrites fatal outcomes, allowing him to survive black flames, a coordinated stabbing, and repeated attacks during the puppet ambush 11 264 265.
• Each documented activation closes a Sharingan on his arm. His final defeat follows the exhaustion of those eyes 11 265.

Kotoamatsukami

His right-eye Mangekyō Sharingan can impose mental control through Kotoamatsukami 11.

• Attempts to control the false Itachi during the Root infiltration 11.
• Rei avoids permanent control because the target is a genjutsu clone rather than his real body 12.

Senju Cell Augmentation

Danzō uses transplanted Senju Cells to support the physical energy required by his Sharingan 93.

• The cells become unstable and require Orochimaru’s intervention 91 93.
• Suppressing them does not solve the underlying imbalance; Orochimaru warns that his body is gradually dying 93.
• Root’s archives preserve cell-cultivation methods, transplantation procedures, and records of the living test subject Yamato 283.

Dream Eater Summoning

Danzō summons a gigantic Dream Eater during the Root rebellion 264.

• Generates suction strong enough to draw in ninja, puppets, and incoming ninjutsu 264.
• Uses expelled air to neutralize Orochimaru’s earth dragon and attacks from Root members 265.

Intelligence and Political Manipulation

Danzō maintains surveillance and recruitment networks through Root 65 77 97.

• Rapidly learns of Rei’s appointment by the Third Hokage 65.
• Approaches Hyuga Hiashi while seeking additional leverage to recruit Rei 77.
• Manipulates public mourning and village loyalty to promote war and weaken Hiruzen’s position 198 206 225.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Wind Release chakra blade — cuts apart the metal puppet restraining him during the rebellion 264.
• Implanted Sharingan — right-eye Mangekyō and arm-mounted eyes support Kotoamatsukami and Izanagi in his original body 11.
• Cane — used during political meetings and preparations for action against the Uchiha 58 224 225.
• Salamander Poison antidote — stored by Root and used as a recruitment bargaining chip; Orochimaru later seeks it for his own poisoning 19 255.
• Secret treasury — contains Root funds, including money obtained through illegitimate channels. Danzō avoids installing surveillance inside to prevent evidence of those dealings 94.

Relationships

• Hiruzen Sarutobi — Former comrade and classmate turned political rival. Hiruzen initially preserves some faith in Danzō’s loyalty, but the revelation of his son’s murder breaks that trust 60 206 272 273.
• Senju Tobirama — Former teacher. Rei uses Tobirama’s image as the condemning authority in Danzō’s psychological punishment 11.
• Uchiha Itachi — Intended instrument of the Uchiha massacre; Danzō calls him his “sharpest blade” and controls him through threats against Sasuke 9 11.
• Uchiha Rei — Coveted recruit and hidden adversary. Danzō repeatedly offers him power without initially recognizing that Rei was responsible for the false Itachi’s attack 12 38 65.
• Orochimaru — Secretly funded research partner and surgeon. Their dispute over unpaid fees culminates in Danzō’s death and the sabotage of his intended reincarnation 91 93 265 281.
• Remnant — Orochimaru’s envoy, whom Danzō recruits to delay payment. Later becomes the host of Danzō’s soul 94 174 267. Claims that Remnant is his illegitimate son circulate as rumors among resentful Root members 174.
• Ryoma — Personally selected successor and intended reincarnation vessel. Takes control of Root and refuses to surrender it to the reborn Danzō 281.
• Kabuto Yakushi — Valued for financing Root, although Kabuto chooses loyalty to Rei over Danzō 77 104 167 173.
• Hyuga Hiashi — Refuses Root funding and organizes resistance among other clans. Danzō later blames him for the treasury theft without establishing that accusation as fact 104 281.
• Unnamed elderly Root ninja — Danzō’s “godfather” and benefactor after his downfall; supplies the meals that keep him alive 287 296.

Notable Quotes

“Itachi is my sharpest blade.” 11

“Konoha doesn't need a future; it only needs obedience.” 19

“Only when people are full do they start talking about ideals.” 296