A Fire Shocks the Root

Naka River

Shimura Danzō leaned on his cane, gazing out over Konoha. The sun was setting, casting a warm glow across the village.

"So beautiful." Shimura Danzō couldn't help but sigh. Looking down from this height, it felt as if Konoha were right beneath his feet. He reached out and closed his hand, as if he could grasp it, yet he knew clearly that the time to seize Konoha had not yet come.

"Lord Danzō, Uchiha Shisui has reached the foot of the mountain and is heading up." Yamanaka Fu, a Root ninja, knelt on one knee, reporting with his head bowed.

He had a ponytail of orange-yellow hair and a lean build, yet his talent ranked within the top five of the Yamanaka Clan.

"Understood. Tell the men below to stay hidden and not to act rashly. Wait for my signal; we must keep Uchiha Shisui here at the Naka River." Shimura Danzō murmured with his eyes closed.

"Yes!" Yamanaka Fu's figure vanished, relaying the message to his teammates via telepathy.

Uchiha Izuna and Hyuga Hiashi had used the Transformation Jutsu to disguise themselves as two jagged rocks on the cliffside, looking down at Shimura Danzō from above.

Because Hyuga Hiashi had his Byakugan activated the entire time, he saw green chakra burning near Shimura Danzō's right eye.

It was distinctly different from Shimura Danzō's own pale white chakra, and he couldn't help but be stunned.

He retracted his Byakugan and continued to watch, unable to speak for fear of exposure.

Shimura Danzō suddenly felt as if he were being watched and turned his head. Just as he was about to look upward, Uchiha Shisui's voice drifted over.

"Lord Danzō, Uchiha Shisui has arrived as requested." Uchiha Shisui's voice rang out, drawing all of Shimura Danzō's attention.

Shimura Danzō turned to look at Uchiha Shisui, his heart far from calm. Suppressing his inner excitement, he nodded: "Shisui, you say you can stop the Uchiha Clan's coup?"

"Can I trust you?" Shimura Danzō asked indifferently.

"Lord Danzō, I guarantee that if the Uchiha attempt a coup, I will use these eyes to alter his will, planting the seeds of peaceful coexistence with Konoha deep within his mind." With that, the tomoe in Uchiha Shisui's eyes shifted from three to a four-pointed pattern.

Shimura Danzō's heart tightened: "Oh? Planting seeds? Am I to understand that you can alter another person's will?" Having grasped the key point, he questioned Uchiha Shisui.

Uchiha Shisui nodded, watching Shimura Danzō with vigilance. Shimura Danzō remained silent for a moment: "Is this ability of your Mangekyō Sharingan truly effective?"

Uchiha Shisui smiled: "Of course." He said proudly: "Though the cooldown is quite long, requiring over a decade."

Shimura Danzō nodded: "Very well, Shisui. Remember your words. Use this ability well to protect Konoha." As he spoke, Shimura Danzō reached out to pat Uchiha Shisui's shoulder.

Uchiha Shisui was focused on the muscles in his arm. The very next moment, Shimura Danzō twisted his arm, his fingers clawing toward Uchiha Shisui's eye sockets.

"How do I know you won't use this power to manipulate the Konoha leadership to facilitate your coup! This power is better left to me..." Just as he finished speaking, Uchiha Shisui immediately activated Genjutsu: Kasegui no Jutsu!

Genjutsu: Kasegui no Jutsu, also known as the Binding Illusion, instantly drags the enemy's spirit into an illusory space.

While in the illusion, the victim is completely unaware of the situation in the real world, allowing the caster to strike them down.

However, a victim caught in the Binding Illusion is fully aware they are under a genjutsu and knows what is happening in the real world, but they are physically unable to move—a sensation akin to a nightmare.

Uchiha Shisui looked at Shimura Danzō with a complex expression, never expecting Danzō to attack him. Zhan had been right after all. Not wanting to burn bridges with Konoha entirely, he turned to leave, but the next moment, he sensed a cold surge of chakra.

His mind reacted instantly: it was Izanagi. Shimura Danzō actually possessed a Sharingan from the Uchiha Clan!

Damn it!

"I will be taking your eyes." Shimura Danzō's body jerked violently, his left hand clawing toward Uchiha Shisui's eye socket.

Just then, a voice rang out.

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!" Uchiha Izuna formed the Horse seal, took a deep breath, and leaned back.

Chakra surged in his mouth, transforming into the fire nature. Uchiha Izuna spat out the flames, and they instantly spread, rushing toward Shimura Danzō.

Shimura Danzō's pupils constricted. He faced two choices: seize Uchiha Shisui's Kotoamatsukami now, which was the perfect opportunity, or be incinerated by this fire-style ninjutsu.

The other option was to retreat and dodge. While he would save his life, it would not be so easy to take Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan next time.

Shimura Danzō weighed the options for half a second and chose the latter without hesitation. I, Danzō, cannot die yet. I cannot die here, not in a place like this.

I haven't become Hokage yet. I cannot die here. I must prove to my teacher that the cowardly Hiruzen is not fit to be Hokage; only I, Shimura Danzō, am the most excellent successor!

Immediately following this, Shimura Danzō spat out a Vacuum Great Sphere toward the incoming Majestic Destroyer Flame!

Using the recoil of the Vacuum Great Sphere, his body shot backward at high speed.

Although the Vacuum Great Sphere was a wind-style ninjutsu, under Shimura Danzō's control, it was able to hold off the Majestic Destroyer Flame for a second without dissipating.

And that one second was enough for him to escape the battlefield!

Uchiha Shisui regained his senses, leaped, and jumped into the river below with a splash.

Uchiha Itachi had been waiting there as a backup. Seeing Uchiha Shisui fall into the water, he immediately went down to pull him out.

Soon, Uchiha Itachi helped Uchiha Shisui onto the bank: "I didn't expect Zhan to be right." Uchiha Itachi spoke slowly, looking up at the flames that had engulfed the entire Naka River mountain range.

Uchiha Shisui nodded: "If it weren't for Zhan's timely intervention, I fear both this eye and my life would have been lost."

Screams echoed continuously from the mountains as bodies burned to ash fell like Chiaotzu.

This scene made Hyuga Hiashi gulp, looking at Uchiha Izuna in disbelief.

Could a ten-year-old child's Fire Style really have such damage and range? And these were the elite talents of Root—over 70% were Jonin, and the remaining 30% were top-tier Chunin.

This single fire had burned nearly 60% of the Root ninjas to death, and the remaining 40% all suffered from burns of varying severity.

Upon receiving this news, Shimura Danzō immediately ordered a retreat to Root! Damn it, a single ninjutsu had this effect! He had brought nearly a hundred ninjas!

Staying any longer would only increase casualties and his own risk of death.

As long as the green hills remain, there is no need to worry about firewood!