Akatsuki's Team Battle, Hanzo's Counterattack / Chapter 54: Shisui: Danzo, I'll Take Your Life

He realized that the things he'd said about the clan sounded like they were meant for a spy to hear.

He knew it perfectly well, too. There were certainly people in the clan secretly supporting Konoha. After all, even a genius like Shisui had once sided with Konoha.

Although he didn't understand the reason for this, he trusted Uchiha Gin.

"Recently, quite a few Amegakure shinobi have been investigating Akatsuki. It seems they've discovered something."

"Shimura Danzo of Konoha seems to have appeared in Amegakure, too!"

At Akatsuki's monthly remote meeting.

Zetsu immediately shared the information he'd uncovered with everyone.

"The organization has built up enough strength by now. It's time to take control of a ninja village."

"Shisui, how much do you know about this Shimura Danzo?"

Deva Path's voice was cold.

It sounded as if he were declaring who would control Amegakure, even as he asked Shisui about Shimura Danzo.

After all, Shisui had been invited to join by Uchiha Madara, so Deva Path didn't fully trust him. There weren't many people present, and there were still too few who were strong enough to become core members.

Deva Path, Konan, Sasori, Kakuzu, Zetsu, Biwa Juzo, and Shisui—those were all the members they had for now.

"He's in charge of Konoha's Root Organization. Officially, it's an organization responsible for training new Anbu recruits, but in secret, he handles all of Konoha's dirty work, including espionage, assassination, and intelligence gathering..."

Shisui had no illusions about Shimura Danzo. He revealed what he knew about him outright.

However, he said nothing about Konoha's classified information.

He also hadn't expected Danzo to be colluding with Amegakure. Eliminating Danzo was one of the things he intended to do while he was a fugitive.

"Do you think Shimura Danzo might have been sent by Konoha?"

Deva Path continued.

Shisui was silent for a while.

"I can't rule it out."

That was the answer Shisui finally gave.

In truth, he more or less understood that the Third Hokage had probably sent Danzo to investigate Akatsuki.

That was why he hesitated for a moment before giving that answer.

"Then we'll attack Amegakure in three days. The meeting point is..."

Deva Path hadn't completely trusted Shisui, either. He'd only asked.

If Shisui betrayed them, Uchiha Madara would deal with him. For now, Deva Path needed to take control of Amegakure.

Shisui hadn't expected his first mission after joining Akatsuki to be so large-scale: annexing Amegakure, whose strength was second only to that of the Five Great Villages.

He was eager to send the intelligence back, but couldn't find an opportunity.

Chapter 53: Akatsuki's Team Battle, Hanzo's Counterattack

Shisui and Biwa Juzo hid in the forest beside the lake outside Amegakure.

The mission was to eliminate Hanzo of the Salamander. Deva Path and Konan would carry it out, with Sasori and Kakuzu providing support. Their main goal wasn't to destroy Amegakure; they wanted to preserve as much of its fighting strength as possible so it could serve Akatsuki.

Deva Path also didn't want to see too many innocent shinobi die.

Shisui and Biwa Juzo's mission was to capture Shimura Danzo. If they had no choice, they were to kill him.

Deva Path needed to confirm Konoha's intentions. Akatsuki wasn't ready to confront the Five Great Villages directly. They hadn't started collecting the Tailed Beasts yet. Once they had enough, they wouldn't need to fear the Five Great Villages.

Only Akatsuki's core members were taking part in this operation. The outer members knew nothing about it, which would also help prevent information from leaking.

"Do you know anything about Shimura Danzo's abilities?"

Biwa Juzo asked Shisui as he polished Kubikiribōchō.

He was curious about the newcomer. Shisui looked far too young, barely a teenager, but he'd become a core member of Akatsuki, so his strength shouldn't be in question.

And since Konoha had classified him as an S-rank missing-nin, he was certainly no weakling.

"He was badly injured in the last Great Ninja War and lost one of his eyes. He hasn't fought in a long time, so all I know is that he specializes in Wind Release."

Shisui thought for a moment, then answered.

Remembering what Uchiha Gin had told him about Danzo, he continued, "He may have taken the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan and started using it. We need to be careful."

This time, Shisui genuinely wanted to kill Danzo!

Akatsuki couldn't be destroyed yet. They needed it to maintain stability between the Uchiha and Konoha, keeping Sarutobi Hiruzen's attention focused on Akatsuki.

If Konoha really moved against Akatsuki, Shisui believed he'd be more valuable than Danzo.

"Isn't it difficult for anyone outside the Uchiha Clan to use the Sharingan?"

Biwa Juzo asked in surprise.

For ordinary people, having a Sharingan could actually make them weaker, since their chakra couldn't keep up with the eye's demands.

Kirigakure had information on the subject. After all, one of their shinobi used the Byakugan. They'd chosen it because, unlike the Sharingan, the Byakugan had practically no restrictions—even though obtaining a Sharingan was easier.

"Maybe the guy has some secret."

"This is our chance to force him to reveal it."

Shisui didn't mention the First Hokage Cells.

"Your Konoha shinobi are powerful. You can't underestimate old hands like him. Remember to go all out when the time comes."

Biwa Juzo gave Shisui a reminder.

He could still vividly remember how Might Duy had kicked the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist down to the Lucky Trio.

If the person he saw now had been Might Guy, he would've turned and run without a second thought.

Even now, seeing a bowl cut gave him PTSD.

"Yeah, I understand."

Shisui nodded.

At the same time, he wondered if missing-nin really were as vicious as he'd imagined.

Meanwhile, Deva Path took Konan and the Animal Path straight to Amegakure.

They visited in Akatsuki's name and presented a letter of submission, saying they wanted to join Amegakure as a subordinate force.

To reduce casualties, Nagato believed the best option was to meet Hanzo of the Salamander and kill him outright. A letter of submission was the easiest way to secure a meeting.

Before meeting Hanzo of the Salamander, Deva Path, Konan, and the Animal Path were all searched several times. The Amegakure shinobi removed all their weapons, Explosive Tags, and other dangerous items.

In a dim room lit by candles, only Deva Path was allowed to approach. Konan and the Animal Path waited outside, watched by Amegakure shinobi.

Deva Path knelt on the tatami. A shinobi beside him picked up Akatsuki's letter of submission and carefully opened it. Only after confirming that it contained no traps or poison did he go behind the curtain and hand it to Hanzo of the Salamander.

"Amegakure once launched a campaign to wipe you out. Don't you hate me for that?"

Hanzo's voice came from behind the curtain.

He'd long since forgotten about that organization, but after Danzo reminded him of it, how could he not remember its name?

"Back then, Akatsuki was too naive to understand the situation."

"As shinobi of the Land of Rain, we should have put the country's interests first. We didn't know enough about many things, and ended up harming Amegakure's interests. That was Akatsuki's fault."

Deva Path's voice was cold, but his answer was humble.

The room was narrow enough to make an attack possible, but Deva Path wanted to play it safe. He would strike only after confirming that the person he saw was Hanzo himself.

"I heard Uchiha Madara is also a member of Akatsuki. Is that true?"

Hanzo's sudden question made Deva Path's pupils contract.

Far away, Nagato, controlling him through chakra, looked equally shocked.

"What's wrong, Nagato?" Konan asked in alarm. She hadn't seen him look like this in a long time. The one who'd accompanied Nagato was only a Paper Clone; Konan's real body had stayed with him.

"Our cover's blown. Attack now."

After saying this, Nagato focused on controlling Deva Path.

Inside the room, Deva Path sprang into action at once. He burst through the curtain and charged at the figure seated behind it.

When he saw that it really was Hanzo of the Salamander, Deva Path raised his hand to attack. At the same time, Hanzo looked shocked. He recognized the man before him as Yahiko, who was supposed to be dead—not the other person he'd imagined, the one with the special ocular technique.

"Banshō Ten'in!"

He raised his hand and pulled.

Hanzo was dragged straight off the ground and into Deva Path's right hand. At the same time, a shinobi guarding Hanzo immediately swung his sword at Deva Path's right hand.

The ground shifted as a large number of Explosive Tags were controlled and sent converging on Deva Path.

"Shinra Tensei!"

Without hesitation, Deva Path unleashed Shinra Tensei in every direction, repelling everything around him. He intended to kill Hanzo with the same attack.

Boom!

A powerful repulsive force burst outward, destroying the entire building. The shockwave from the Explosive Tags was also deflected, surging into the surrounding area and damaging many buildings.

"Water Clone!"

Deva Path frowned through the smoke.

Hanzo hadn't been blasted into a bloody mist by the repulsive force. He'd turned into a splash of water instead.

"Had he been prepared all along?"

"Was this because of Konoha's Danzo?"

Deva Path guessed.

But he didn't panic. He'd only wanted to reduce casualties. If anyone truly stood in their way, then their deaths would be a necessary price for peace.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Figures appeared all around them.

Hanzo had brought hundreds of Amegakure shinobi to surround the area.

"Hmph. I never thought you'd survived back then!"

"And you even stole your companion's eyes. You were lucky to escape last time, but this time I'll kill you for good!"

Hanzo's eyes blazed with fury.

If he hadn't known what was coming, he really might have been killed by the surprise attack.

"I am Pain now. I am a god!"

Deva Path looked down at Hanzo, his expression cold.

This man had to die!

"Summoning Technique!"

The Animal Path, who had come with them, summoned the Other Four Paths.

Far away, Nagato signaled for Konan to tell the others they could move in.

Chapter 54: Shisui: Danzo, I'll Take Your Life

"Looks like the original plan failed."

Biwa Juzo looked toward Amegakure. The huge explosion that had just sounded made it clear that their initial plan hadn't worked.

They'd expected to avoid unnecessary fighting by taking control of the leaders and stabilizing the situation. Now that was impossible.

Shisui adjusted his weapons, ready to take Danzo's life. He had no intention of letting Danzo live. Danzo could reveal too many of Konoha's secrets, so Shisui wanted to leave no trace of him. He'd have to go all out.