Return to Konoha

Shimura Danzō's face turned ashen. Though he could use the Sharingan to track Yusuke's movements, his own body was too weak to keep up.

A trace of panic finally crossed his face. He hadn't expected Yusuke's trump card to be so terrifying.

"How many more times can you come back to life?"

Yusuke growled and gave Danzō no chance to catch his breath, charging at him again.

The Red-Backed Shrike let out a piercing shriek as it thrust straight for Danzō's chest.

Danzō desperately tried to dodge, but the difference in speed was too great.

"Pfft!"

The spear pierced him again, and Danzō fell dead.

The scene warped. Time rewound.

Danzō revived, but the tomoe in the Sharingan in his right eye had grown even dimmer, nearly going out!

"Twice!"

Only then did the elite jonin beside Shimura Danzō react. He leaped forward, preparing to stop Yusuke.

But Yusuke didn't engage him. He continued his fierce assault on Danzō.

Yusuke's attacks were relentless. Danzō had barely regained consciousness when the Red-Backed Shrike was already upon him!

"No—!"

With a wet squelch, Danzō died for the third time!

Time rewound! The three tomoe in Danzō's right eye grew even dimmer.

The last ordinary jonin tried to come to his aid, but Yusuke swept him away with a backhanded thrust of his spear. He slammed into a rock, bones breaking. There was no chance he'd survive.

Only two elite Root jonin remained on the battlefield. One stood where Danzō had died the second time.

The other had been flung by Yusuke into a tree and had only just managed to struggle back to his feet.

Danzō revived for the fourth time, his face pale as paper. All three tomoe in the Sharingan in his right eye had turned gray.

His breathing was weak. Rewinding time had consumed far too much of his chakra.

"It's over, Danzō."

Yusuke's voice was cold. The Red-Backed Shrike became a deadly streak of light and pierced Danzō's heart again.

This time, the elite jonin finally reacted. He focused chakra into his short sword and charged straight at Yusuke's oncoming spear.

The elite shinobi caught the spear with his blade. The spearhead, which had been aimed at Shimura Danzō's heart, veered straight toward the Sharingan in Danzō's right eye.

Shimura Danzō's eyes widened. At the last moment, he jerked his head back.

The spearhead tore out his Sharingan and sent it flying.

"AAAAAAH!"

Clutching his wounded right eye, Shimura Danzō screamed in agony. His left eye glared at Yusuke with hatred.

The elite jonin blocking his path roared, "Get Lord Danzō out of here!"

He tore open the clothing over his chest, revealing a sealing array on his body.

"That's... the Reverse Four-Symbols Sealing." Yusuke recognized the Sealing Jutsu and quickly retreated.

The elite shinobi Yusuke had flung into the tree forced himself to gather his strength.

He used the Body Flicker Technique to reach Shimura Danzō, hoisted him up, and turned to flee.

The elite shinobi activating the Reverse Four-Symbols Sealing spewed a torrent of ink-black liquid from his chest.

"Vmm—"

After Yusuke had retreated two hundred paces, everything within a hundred paces of the elite shinobi was sealed away into another space.

All that remained was an empty sphere.

"A sealing technique that costs the user his life. Shimura Danzō's subordinates really are loyal."

Yusuke frowned and expanded his senses to their full reach, but Shimura Danzō's presence had vanished completely. He'd clearly used an exceptionally advanced concealment technique.

"I can't catch up." Yusuke sighed. He was already close to the two-and-a-half-minute limit for maintaining Incursio's first-stage armor form.

He felt the strain on his body growing heavier. If he kept it up, his body would give out first.

And he had no idea whether things were going smoothly for Hyuga Aya and Inuzuka Go.

Danzō might still have another trick up his sleeve. Yusuke had to make sure the others were safe as soon as possible.

Yusuke released Incursio. The armor and spear dissolved into points of light.

A wave of weakness and pain from his injuries hit him at once, leaving him barely able to stand.

He quickly took out the healing potion Tsunade had prepared for him and swallowed it.

Then he pulled out a Sealing Scroll and placed the lifeless Sharingan nearby at its center. Yusuke formed Hand Seals.

"Seal!"

The formula on the scroll glimmered, sealing away the eyeball completely. Yusuke carefully put the scroll away.

"Even though this eye is useless now, it's still ironclad proof that Shimura Danzō transplanted a Sharingan and coveted the Uchiha's power."

"I just need to find a suitable opportunity to 'accidentally' let the Uchiha see it."

"Danzō, even if you got lucky and survived this time, your days in Konoha won't be pleasant from now on."

He gave a cold smile and didn't linger.

He focused his senses on the Flying Thunder God Formula mark he had previously left on Hyuga Aya.

"Flying Thunder God Technique!"

With a soft hum, Yusuke vanished from the devastated battlefield.

The instant he appeared, Hyuga Aya felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

Her gaze sharpened. She spun around, ready to unleash a flurry of Gentle Fist strikes on the shinobi behind her.

"It's me," Yusuke called.

Only after she recognized him did the wariness in her eyes slowly fade. Her pale eyes swept over him from head to toe.

They lingered briefly on his several obvious wounds and the heavy smell of blood.

"Captain!"

"Are you all right? You reek of blood. Were the enemies strong? How many were there?"

Inuzuka Go rushed over, his worry and anxiety plain on his face.

Yusuke was a little pale, his chakra almost depleted.

His wounds were still untreated and throbbed faintly.

He waved a hand. His voice was tired, but uncommonly calm. "I'm fine. A minor nuisance. It's taken care of."

His gaze passed over Inuzuka Go and settled on Hyuga Aya, then on the red-haired little girl behind her, who was watching him timidly—Kushina Uzumaki.

Seeing Yusuke covered in blood, the little girl's face paled. Perhaps she was reminded of the horrific fate of her fellow countrymen in the Land of Whirlpools. She instinctively shrank behind Hyuga Aya.

Hyuga Aya silently met Yusuke's gaze. She had seen his wounds and smelled the strong stench of blood.

The people Shimura had sent to kill him had definitely been more than just a "minor nuisance."

"Looks like it's been quiet on your end," Yusuke said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Mm. We haven't spotted anyone following or lying in ambush." Hyuga Aya replied briefly, then used her Byakugan to scan the surroundings again and confirm they were safe.

Yusuke didn't respond. He walked over and sat down, taking out Military Ration Pills and water to quickly replenish his strength. Thanks to Tsunade's potion, his wounds were healing slowly.

His gaze drifted across Hyuga Aya.

By now, Hyuga Aya had returned to her usual aloof expression. She quietly stood guard beside Kushina, making no unusual movements.

No testing him, no questions, and no sign of greed.

She didn't try to kill me and take my spoils this time.

Looks like the earlier warning, the strength I showed, and the danger we faced together this time have led this genius of the Hyuga Branch Family to choose cooperation over conflict, at least for now.

That's a good sign. Yusuke thought to himself.

The rest of the journey passed in unusual quiet.

They weren't attacked by Shimura Danzō. Most likely, he was holed up in some ravine, recovering from his injuries.