Winners and Losers

The reason Shimura Danzō had become so arrogant, even attempting an assassination to usurp the throne, was precisely because he had recently succeeded in transplanting the power of Senju Hashirama.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not care in the slightest.

"There is a massive difference between building a house and piloting a Gundam!"

If Shimura Danzō could truly unleash even one-tenth of the power of the original Wood Release, Sarutobi Hiruzen would have turned around and left without a second word.

"Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!"

"Enma!"

A tall, white-haired ape appeared amidst the smoke.

"Hiruzen..."

"This opponent looks quite familiar."

Enma also recognized Shimura Danzō, but as the summoning beast of Sarutobi Hiruzen, he naturally would not concern himself with who the opponent was.

"Adamantine Enma Staff!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen reached out, and a massive staff was instantly gripped in his hand.

Although the Enma Staff weighed over a thousand catties, with Sarutobi Hiruzen's current peak physical condition, he handled it as if it were weightless.

Carrying a gale comparable to the nature transformation of Wind Style, the staff struck heavily against the large tree formed by Wood Release.

"Crack!"

Wood chips splattered instantly, and the entire rooftop shook violently.

Sarutobi Hiruzen remained expressionless, swinging the staff with full force several times until the tree, dozens of meters tall, collapsed with a thunderous crash.

"Damn it!"

"Do you really intend to kill me all the way to the end?!"

"Monkey!"

Shimura Danzō's expression shifted, and he even began using Sarutobi Hiruzen's nickname, attempting to play the emotional card once again.

While his words sounded intimate, his footwork never faltered as he retreated straight back, knowing full well the weight of the Enma Staff; taking a single hit would essentially mean losing his ability to fight.

But although the rooftop surrounded by the Four Violet Flames Formation was wide, comparable to several basketball courts, it was ultimately limited.

Furthermore, Shimura Danzō's aged taijutsu was no match for Sarutobi Hiruzen's rejuvenated physical prowess.

In an instant, Sarutobi Hiruzen's figure closed in on Shimura Danzō.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Great Sphere!"

Shimura Danzō's hand seals moved incessantly, and he spat out a massive sphere of wind, blocking his path.

"Bang!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't even look; the Enma Staff in his hand turned into a blur, spinning at high speed and shredding the biting Wind Style to pieces.

Has this old bastard taken some kind of drug?!

Shimura Danzō looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was wielding the massive staff with murderous intent and an unstoppable momentum, and nearly bit his teeth to pieces.

He could not fathom what kind of tonic Sarutobi Hiruzen had consumed to possess strength that was in no way inferior to his prime.

His ninjutsu, taijutsu, and combat reflexes were all at the highest standard.

This made it nearly impossible for the regressing Shimura Danzō to parry.

Of course, even in his prime, Shimura Danzō would have struggled; the Third Hokage's position was not merely chosen by the Second, but was earned by Sarutobi Hiruzen through every staff strike and every ninjutsu he unleashed across the Ninja World!

Dragging his aged body, Shimura Danzō barely dodged a few moves, but was still struck in the abdomen by Sarutobi Hiruzen's masterful staff technique!

Spitting out a mouthful of old blood, Shimura Danzō felt as if his internal organs had been smashed to pieces by that single blow.

As his body slid through the air, Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his foot lightly and thrust the Enma Staff out once more, shattering Shimura Danzō's head like a broken silver vase!

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the headless corpse before him with an expressionless face, his heart devoid of the slightest ripple.

Having read the original work, he naturally knew that if this old dog Shimura Danzō had nothing else, his skills in the art of survival were maxed out.

Half a minute later, Shimura Danzō's figure suddenly appeared to the side, and the original headless corpse vanished.

It was as if time had flowed backward, and everything that had just happened had never occurred.

"Izanagi!"

A perfect dōjutsu offered as a sacrifice using a Sharingan, capable of reversing life and death, turning the impossible into the possible, and transforming illusion into reality.

Just now, Shimura Danzō had set the illusion of Izanagi in advance, which allowed him to avoid his own death.

Looking at the calm and composed Sarutobi Hiruzen before him, and the indestructible Four Violet Flames Formation overhead, the resurrected Shimura Danzō felt no joy, but instead, a chill that reached the depths of his soul.

That old bastard... he actually knows I've been hiding Izanagi!

Danzo's expression was as gloomy as stagnant water.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, standing there expressionless while wielding his Enma Staff, was clearly waiting for his resurrection.

Danzo felt that he truly had no way to escape this time.

Unlike the period after the Uchiha Clan massacre, when Danzo collected over a dozen Three-Tomoe Sharingan, the total number of Sharingan on his body right now—including the one covered by the bandage on his left eye—was no more than three.

Moreover, the Sarutobi Hiruzen standing before him clearly knew his intelligence inside and out.

Even though Danzo had sewn the Sharingan into the armpit of his right arm, making it impossible for Sarutobi Hiruzen to see exactly how many there were, knowing that Izanagi only lasted for one minute was enough to wear him down to death.

"Monkey."

Danzo seemed to realize that he couldn't beat Sarutobi Hiruzen in a contest of strength, and he couldn't escape either, so he could only try to appeal to their past bond.

Unfortunately, the current Sarutobi Hiruzen had no feelings left for Danzo whatsoever.

If one had to describe them, it would only be disgust and disdain!

Before Danzo could even finish speaking, the Enma Staff blocked his vision, and once again, Danzo's skull was cracked open.

When Danzo resurrected again, he no longer had the heart to speak or resist.

"Ah!!!"

He clutched his grayish-green right arm as countless branches sprouted from it, continuously eroding the rest of his body's cells.

"The ocular power of the Sharingan isn't enough..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was slightly stunned, then realized what was happening.

"So, you can no longer suppress the Yang Release power of the Hashirama Cells, huh?"

"You really brought this upon yourself."

Following that, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched as Danzo's entire body was slowly eroded by the Wood Release cells, transforming into a humanoid tree.

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at the number in his system, and seeing it rise by two thousand, he finally felt completely at ease.

He then made a hand gesture, and the Four Violet Flames Formation surrounding them vanished.

"Lord Third!"

Anbu figures appeared instantly at his side.

The Anbu glanced at the tree that was once Danzo, their eyes filled with disgust.

Perhaps they had once held some respect for this Hokage Assistant, but after researching the First Hokage's cells in private and transplanting the eyes of the Uchiha Clan, this Darkness of the Ninja World had truly committed every evil deed imaginable.

"Hang Danzo's corpse at the gates of Konoha for public display."

"Inform the high-ranking officials and the villagers."

"Konoha Elder Danzo, for researching the First Hokage's cells in private and stealing the Uchiha's Sharingan,"

"and for attempting to assassinate the Third Hokage to seize power..."

"was killed by me on the spot."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was indifferent.

If Danzo had surrendered on the spot, he might have given him some face, but now—

"Strip all members of the Shimura Clan currently holding high-ranking positions in the village of their titles."

"Demote all ninja ranks above Chunin!"

"Jonin shall be demoted to Special Jonin, and Chunin shall be demoted to Genin."

"Confiscate eighty percent of their assets!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen said coldly.

The sins of the father shouldn't visit the son?

The Shimura Clan had enjoyed the benefits and protection of Danzo; how could they be innocent?