Danzo's Execution

Time rewound a few minutes.

Following the spores on the three of them, Minato reached the Eastern Forest in a few flashes.

But he didn't follow them right away. Only after their positions stopped changing did he fire a Laser, blasting open the underground entrance to the Root Base.

Boom!

The deafening explosion echoed through the night sky.

Like a streak of light, Minato raced through the long corridor and arrived beneath a massive atrium.

He glanced around and saw that the place was basically identical to the Root Base from the anime.

"Enemy attack!"

Rustle, rustle, rustle—

A dozen figures silently emerged from the darkness, like prowling cats. They surrounded Minato, eyes alert, and didn't let their guard down just because of his age.

Anyone who could break into the Root Base was no ordinary person.

"Intruder, eliminate!"

The Anbu at the front spoke in a voice as cold as ice.

"Wait."

From the darkness at the end of the corridor, Danzo approached with measured steps.

His gaze fell on Minato, and a complex mix of emotions flickered in his eyes.

Amazement, envy, admiration, jealousy...

After several seconds of silence, Danzo finally spoke. "It seems you planted something on Shangui and the others."

Minato's expression remained calm. "You're the mastermind?"

"Heh..."

Danzo didn't answer. He slowly raised a hand, signaling the surrounding ninjas to step back.

He stared at Minato, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful smile. His voice carried a hint of temptation.

"For someone your age to break into the Root alone is reckless, but I have to say, your courage is truly astonishing."

"Why did you go after Kushina?"

Minato didn't respond to that. He simply asked the question.

"Kushina Uzumaki... You may not believe me, but I truly did it to help you."

Danzo asked softly, "Do you know anything about that girl? Her origins, her mission, the reason she appeared by your side..."

"There are creatures in this world called Tailed Beasts. They possess the power to move mountains and fill the seas. Long ago, the First captured the Nine Tailed Beasts and distributed them among the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Since then, the Tailed Beasts' power has become each village's greatest weapon. Our Tailed Beast, the Nine-Tails, is said to be the strongest of them all."

"But the Tailed Beasts' power is too great and difficult to control. So the First's wife, Mito Uzumaki, became its vessel and sealed the Nine-Tails inside herself. Other nations soon followed suit, and those who contained Tailed Beasts came to be known as Jinchūriki..."

"By now, I think you understand. That's right... Kushina Uzumaki is the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"

As he spoke, Danzo couldn't help sighing. "Wood Release can suppress Tailed Beasts. That's why the Third Hokage arranged for her to be by your side."

"The Third wants to bind Kushina to you, using your power to restrain the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—and using the Nine-Tails to restrain you."

"I doubt anyone wants their life controlled by others. You don't either, do you? You wouldn't want your life tied to a monster everyone fears."

"I've always thought a genius like you shouldn't be buried by the Third. He fears your power and wants to use your feelings to bind you and control your life."

Danzo shook his head regretfully, then looked at Minato earnestly.

"Join the Root. I'll give you a true stage! Here, you can fully display your talent, free from all constraints, and become someone on a level with the First!"

"You can see that you aren't my target. I only want to remove the shackles the Third has placed on you."

"Nonō is one of your people, isn't she?"

Having confirmed his suspicion, Minato said calmly, "Doesn't what you're doing seem much the same as what the Third is doing?"

Danzo shook his head. "That was just an unavoidable measure under the Third's autocratic rule."

"By threatening her?"

"As long as it's for the village, any means are justified. That's what the Root is for. The world isn't simply black and white. Someone has to handle the things that can't be brought into the light."

Danzo didn't deny it. There was no point in telling a lie that could be easily exposed.

Besides, the moment Minato identified Nonō, he had already decided to abandon her.

"I'm being very sincere with you..."

Danzo spoke earnestly. "Of course, you still have a choice. Wood Release is very important to Konoha. Even if you refuse, I'll only seal your memories of tonight."

"What are you talking about?"

Minato laughed in disbelief. He had come here today to pin the blame on Cloud Village.

"As a member of Konoha, how could I consort with someone from Cloud Village? The despicable Cloud Village dared to disguise their people as Konoha Anbu! And they've secretly recruited so many others!"

"Looks like we can't come to an agreement... What a shame. Even with two Kekkei Genkai, you're still only five years old."

Danzo sighed regretfully and waved a hand. "Go. Don't kill him."

At his command, the surrounding ninjas lunged at Minato, moving at incredible speed.

But Minato was faster!

Two Lasers swept across the group in an instant. Explosions roared, and most of the Root ninjas were dead or injured in the blink of an eye!

Kekkei Genkai...

What an enviable power!

Watching this, Danzo's eyes gleamed with fascination.

But before the look had faded, a foot was already in front of him.

Thud!

Minato whipped out a kick. Danzo flew backward like a cannonball and crashed hard into the wall.

"Protect Lord Danzo!" a ninja shouted.

"Protect him?"

Minato chuckled and appeared behind the ninja in an instant. "Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"

Thud!

Another kick snapped the ninja's neck. At the same time, Minato raised a hand and fired another Laser toward Danzo.

"No good, he's too fast!"

Whoosh—

Danzo climbed out of the huge crater in the wall, blood streaming down his face. He dodged the explosion caused by the Laser and glared in Minato's direction.

"No more holding back. Eliminate him!"

He raised his hand to form Hand Seals, but in the next instant Minato's foot was in front of him again.

That terrifying speed was practically like teleportation!

He couldn't even blink before Minato kicked him in the nose once more!

"Why bother with Hand Seals when you can do it without them?"

Minato's figure flashed repeatedly as the shining short sword in his hand reaped the lives of Root ninjas.

Suddenly, he stopped moving. A pineapple-haired ninja formed the Boar Seal and used the shadow stretching from beneath his feet to pin Minato in place.

"I've got him!"

"Well done, Shika!"

Danzo's voice rose. He'd taken two kicks to the face in a row, and it felt like his head was about to burst.

Then fear flooded him!

He'd already tried to account for Minato's strength as best he could, but he never expected the boy to be this terrifyingly fast!

Unless they could predict him in advance, no human could react to that kind of speed!

The kid had been hiding his strength all along!

At his age... how had he managed to hold back?

At least it was all over now...

No matter how fast he was, speed meant nothing if he couldn't move!

"Damn Cloud Village! They even stole the Nara Clan's secret technique!"

Minato gave the ninja a strange look. Then a dazzling light suddenly bloomed beneath his feet...

In the light, the shadow vanished instantly.

Seeing this, Danzo turned and ran without hesitation!

Minato smiled gently and appeared in front of Danzo once more, but didn't attack.

Danzo abruptly stopped and hurriedly raised a hand. "I'm sorry. I was wrong! Can we make peace?"

Minato paused, then answered instinctively, "At a time like this? You must be joking."

At that, Danzo suddenly drew a Kunai and stabbed at Minato.

At the same time, Tsunade and the others finally arrived at the battlefield.

"Stop! Danzo, don't!"

Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened as he shouted. Tsunade's heart clenched, too.

Pfft!

The next instant, Danzo's head flew into the air, a look of disbelief still in his eyes.