A-Chou

Inside the underground laboratory.

Kimura Takuya watched A-Chou walk in.

Her eyes were devoid of ripples, as if the person who had just torn open her own scars moments ago was not her.

"I don't feel well. It hurts here, in my heart."

"Sigh, come here. Let me take a look."

A-Chou nodded and walked to Kimura Takuya's side.

She saw that his eyes were slightly moist, and, feeling puzzled, her tone remained flat.

"Why are you sighing, and why are you crying? You said it yourself: that is a sign of the weak."

"Right, it is a sign of the weak. I feel like I am still too weak. Back then, I only wanted to be stronger, so that the plan would have a better chance of success.

I thought Root only arranged for bonded partners to kill each other when they reached adulthood. I watched the anime—that was clearly something that only happened when they were adults!

This shitty Ninja World!"

The more Kimura Takuya spoke, the more agitated he became. He clenched his fists tightly, no longer hiding a shred of his chakra.

The aura that erupted from him had already surpassed the Kage level.

"This is not your fault. You said it yourself: being weak is never a mistake. The mistake lies with those strong ones who bully the weak."

A-Chou placed her hand on Kimura Takuya's head, just as he had done for her years ago.

Kimura Takuya moved her hand away, pouting in a fit of embarrassed anger.

"Tch, I can't believe you threw my own words back at me."

"My heart doesn't seem to hurt anymore."

A-Chou smiled slightly, and it did not seem fake.

She then turned and left.

Kimura Takuya watched A-Chou's small, thin back. He had not yet told her about the Impure World Reincarnation.

It was not a perfect technique; telling her now would only add to her worries.

This was not the best outcome, either.

Kimura Takuya felt that there were better choices.

Just not at this moment.

Several days later.

Public sentiment in Konoha was surging.

There were many voices calling for Danzo to be brought to justice.

Even the other two advisors were being implicated.

Inside the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage, along with advisors Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, were discussing matters regarding Danzo with the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade.

The moment the incident occurred, Tsunade had wanted to apprehend Danzo first before conducting an investigation.

However, she was stopped by Sarutobi Hiruzen. Hiruzen knew a little about Root's affairs, but only in general terms; after all, the Telescope Technique only allowed him to watch Danzo, not monitor every member of Root.

This gave Danzo room to maneuver.

If the incidents were true, then the hidden power of Root might truly be capable of rivaling the Anbu.

Acting rashly, should it trigger a rebellion, would inevitably cause incalculable losses to Konoha.

For now, Danzo had only been temporarily suspended from his duties.

But over the past few days, other incidents had been continuously exposed.

"It seems the heinous acts of Root go far beyond this. Teacher Sarutobi, even if you wanted to protect Danzo now, you couldn't. You trusted him wrongly!"

Tsunade sat in the main seat. She had wanted to do something these past few days, but she could only sit here and angrily accuse her teacher.

The latter, though sitting to the side, was not in the least diminished in his presence. He took a puff from his pipe and made his final decision.

"I did not expect that he would commit so many evil deeds. We shall do as you say: arrest Danzo and hold a public trial."

"Agreed." ×2

The two advisors, who had remained silent until now, voiced their concurrence after Sarutobi Hiruzen made his decision.

Seeing this, Tsunade gritted her teeth even harder.

She was secretly furious.

These old geezers and hags, they dragged me into being the Hokage, yet they refuse to let go of the power in their hands.

Having served as Hokage for over half a month, Tsunade's temper had been worn down quite a bit.

She took a deep breath, steadying her emotions.

"Then let's start by making the arrest. Ziyue, Black Panther, take your men and bring Danzo here."

Ziyue and Black Panther were none other than Uzuki Yugao and Oda Lang, both of whom had been recruited by Tsunade into her own Anbu.

Upon hearing the order, the two immediately led their men and departed.

But would Danzo really surrender so easily?

Inside Root.

"Have you found out? Who exactly did this?"

"It has been cleared up."

"Who is it?"

"It is I!"

"What?"

In an instant, Danzo and his personal guards were all subdued.

As for the others who attempted to protect Danzo, they were suppressed in a heartbeat.

"You dare to betray me? Cursed Seal of the Tongue!"

The restrained Danzo immediately activated the Cursed Seal of the Tongue indiscriminately.

However, apart from those who had stepped forward to protect him, who collapsed on the spot in agony, not a single person among those who had betrayed him was affected.

Danzo's eyes widened in an instant.

Kimura Takuya was wearing a Root mask and felt somewhat unaccustomed to it; there were only two small holes for the eyes—how did they usually see people through these?

If someone were to sneak attack from the side, they wouldn't be able to see it at all, right?

He would definitely have to change this in the future.

He arrived in front of Danzo, only to hear the latter calmly ask.

"Who exactly are you people?"

Kimura Takuya was a bit surprised. Why was this old man so calm when things had reached this point? Who gave him the courage?

A thought crossed his mind, and he realized the answer.

Heh, it must be because of Shisui's eye.

So, he was speaking to determine who the leader was, so he could cast Kotoamatsukami directly on them?

Whoosh!

"Ah!"

Kimura Takuya activated the Silent Body Flicker Technique, appearing before Danzo in the blink of an eye, his fingers reaching out to pluck the eye hidden beneath the bandages.

Kotoamatsukami was now in his hands!

Danzo was shocked; the opponent actually knew his trump card, so they must have come prepared.

Panic surged in his heart; he absolutely could not let Kotoamatsukami fall into the hands of others.

He immediately made up his mind, intending to use the Reverse Four-Symbols Sealing.

Unfortunately, how could Kimura Takuya possibly give him that chance?

After stowing away Shisui's Sharingan, Kimura Takuya struck out with both hands simultaneously.

Chakra Absorption Technique!

In an instant, he drained Danzo's chakra dry.

The execution of any ninjutsu was inseparable from chakra; without it, let's see how he could release a sealing technique.

After absorbing the chakra, Kimura Takuya raised his hand and manifested a High-Temperature Chakra Blade, severing Danzo's right arm with a single strike.

"Ah!"

"Does it hurt? Don't be anxious. I obtained your flesh and blood cells half a month ago. Do you know what I used them for?"

As he spoke, Kimura Takuya took out a sealing scroll with the word "Danzo" written on it.

He performed a technique to release the contents inside.

And upon seeing what was within, Danzo's expression shifted from pain to terror!

"You—you people, are you trying to replace my identity?"

"Haha, you're overthinking it. This is a body I spent over half a month cultivating."

"It isn't meant to replace you.

It is meant to die in your stead; I will ensure you survive, you know.

Aren't you happy?"

Kimura Takuya wore a mask, hiding his expression, but his tone was so frigid that no one hearing those words would truly believe they could survive.

"Do you wish to torture me? You will not succeed! As soon as I recover a sliver of chakra, I will commit suicide immediately!"

"Heh, death is not the end, you know. I said I would let you live, but I never said you wouldn't die. A-Chou, you go first; kill him for the first time."

A-Chou, who had been waiting for a long time at the side, drew the blade her brother had used to take his own life and, without a moment's hesitation, pierced straight through Danzo's heart.