Humiliation

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Several figures appeared abruptly before Shimura Danzō like ghosts, kneeling in perfect unison!

Their gazes swept rapidly across the ruins scorched by Fire Style and the corpse lying on the ground nearby, cold sweat trickling down their stiff cheeks.

The surroundings were deathly silent, yet the chilling, palpable fury radiating from them was intense and undeniable.

One Root ninja, who appeared to be the squad leader, said with a trembling voice, "Lord Danzō, what exactly happened here? Please, give us your orders!"

Hearing this, Shimura Danzō's already gloomy expression darkened further. He lowered his voice and spoke slowly, "An intruder infiltrated just now."

As he spoke, he turned and walked slowly toward the lifeless body of his lieutenant, stopping before it with a heavy tone.

"It is thanks to him shielding me from a strike that I was able to kill the enemy; otherwise, the one lying here would likely be me."

At this point, Danzō suddenly spun around, his cane lashing out like a viper to strike the men before him with brutal force.

"You arrived so slowly—clearly, your usual training is far from enough. In that case, your training volume for next month will be doubled!"

With that, Danzō turned away and sat down leisurely on his high platform, closing his eyes to rest.

At this very moment, the men below were feeling the physical pain of the lashes, yet this sensation could not mask the growing pallor of their faces.

The mere thought that their already lethal daily training would now be doubled filled them with dread for the month ahead, yet they could not resist such an order. After all, in Danzō's eyes, they were likely nothing more than expendable tools to be replaced by the next batch.

At this thought, their faces grew paler and more lifeless, but they eventually replied in unison, "Yes, Lord Danzō."

As soon as the words fell, they quickly gathered the corpse to the side and silently retreated from the area.

However, just as they left, a foot suddenly kicked out from behind Danzō, sending him sprawling to the ground.

Immediately after, Uchiha Chen's voice, filled with disgust and mockery, rang out: "Old dog, you really know how to put on a show! You killed that man yourself, yet you dare to frame me for it? Are you tired of living?"

Following the voice, the once arrogant and untouchable Shimura Danzō's expression shifted drastically.

A fawning, obsequious voice spilled from his lips: "I am sorry, Master! It is all my fault; I actually dared to frame you—my crimes are truly heinous!"

With that, he knelt on both knees and began to strike his own cheeks viciously. He continued for quite some time, only daring to stop when he received the order to cease.

By now, Danzō's face was swollen like a pig's head.

Uchiha Chen watched the wretched sight of Danzō in silence, the anger he had suppressed all day finally finding a small release.

He slowly sat in the seat Danzō had occupied, staring coldly at the man before him, and asked slowly, "So, what exactly was the purpose of your Root?"

Upon hearing his master's inquiry, Shimura Danzō carefully raised his head, but upon seeing the look of disgust on Uchiha Chen's face, he lowered it again in silence.

"Reporting to Master, the primary mission of Root is to conduct infiltration activities in other nations. Beyond that, we handle the hunting of rogue ninjas and... the surveillance and assassination of geniuses within the Uchiha clan."

Having said this, he cautiously raised his eyes to glance at the man above. Seeing that Uchiha Chen showed no emotional fluctuation at these words, he could only lower his head in terror, silently awaiting his final judgment.

Hearing the answer, Uchiha Chen felt the gaze from below and understood that Danzō feared he would be punished for the Uchiha clan affair.

However, he did not take it to heart. After all, as a transmigrator, even the original owner of this body was a loner with a strained relationship with the Uchiha clan. As long as they did not infringe upon his interests, he would not pay them much mind.

"Danzō, from now on, cancel all operations targeting the Uchiha clan. Send all available personnel to various ninja villages to gather intelligence on certain individuals for me."

As Uchiha Chen spoke, he picked up a scroll from the side and brushed his pen across it, writing down a series of names. A closer look would reveal that, without exception, these were all female names.

After finishing, he tossed the scroll to Danzō, watching as he held it up respectfully, waiting for his response.

Danzō received it but did not look at it immediately, choosing instead to pledge his loyalty to Uchiha Chen.

"Master, I will mobilize all available manpower and resources to gather intelligence on the individuals mentioned in the scroll for you as quickly as possible."

Hearing Danzō's reply, Uchiha Chen nodded slowly, emitting a faint "Hm." Just as he was contemplating how to punish him for today's assassination attempt, his eyes drifted down to his ninja boots, worn out from a day of intense combat, and a cruel thought suddenly crossed his mind.

He looked up with a wicked smile, extended his foot, and said to Danzō in a mocking tone:

"I can let bygones be bygones regarding your past actions against the Uchiha clan and waive your punishment. However, you actually sent people to assassinate me today—this matter cannot be overlooked so easily!"

As he spoke, he deliberately raised his foot, bringing the sole of his shoe closer to Danzō's face. "Now, as your punishment, you are to lick the soles of my shoes clean, and remember to swallow every bit of filth you lick off."

Seeing Danzō's indifference—and even a sense of honor—at the prospect of licking his soles, a wave of indescribable disgust surged within Uchiha Chen. Yet, with his keen insight, he still sharply noticed the pallor gradually creeping across Danzō's face.

Uchiha Chen's lips curled slightly, revealing an imperceptible smile.

He knew well that the contingency he had planted was already taking effect. When he had cast Kotoamatsukami, he had deliberately split Danzō's personality into two, copying his memories.

One part became the surface personality, the Danzō before him; the other was sealed away by his ocular power, capable of perceiving everything in the outside world but unable to reclaim control of the body.

In this way, Danzō would clearly feel how his enemy was humiliating and using him, eventually leveraging his support to ascend to the position of Hokage.

Long after, Uchiha Chen stood up, glanced down at the clean soles of his shoes, and then turned his gaze toward Danzō, who was clutching his stomach, struggling to suppress the urge to vomit while his face twisted in agony.

In his eyes, the Sharingan rotated slightly.

Immediately after, he activated Kamui, warping the surrounding space as if to twist everything into nothingness, and began to fade away.

Only a final, mocking remark echoed in the air.