Danzo

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Shimura Danzō; commonly written Danzo (团藏) 141
Alias(es)	“The Dark Side of the Ninja” 56
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konoha and Root, formerly; dissolved Shimura Clan; later Orochimaru’s forces 245 266 276
Occupation/Role	Former Hokage Advisor, Root leader, and Shimura Clan head; later a White Zetsu Army commander 160 250 266 276
Status	Alive at his last documented appearance; an infamous Super S-Rank Rogue Ninja who has broken with Konoha 276
First Appearance	Chapter 12 — “The Situation and the Jinchuriki” 12

Power Progression

Danzo’s documented enhancements come through transplanted eyes and body modification, rather than Warlock cultivation.

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Sharingan implantation	178	By this point, possesses a Sharingan taken from his former teammate Kagami Uchiha. Experiencing its power, then witnessing Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan, intensifies his desire to acquire Uchiha eyes.
Replacement arm with an additional Sharingan	210 230	Orochimaru supplies an arm cultivated from Wood Release cells, later identified as First Hokage cells. It contains Kagami’s other Sharingan and has eleven positions capable of housing eyes. Only one implanted eye is documented in the arm.
Almost Immortal Body	276	Orochimaru’s body modifications using the Chimera Technique greatly increase his strength. Orochimaru states that Danzo now surpasses the vast majority of shinobi, though he remains inferior to Orochimaru and Madara.

Background / History

Service to Konoha

Danzo is a disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and a longtime teammate of Sarutobi Hiruzen. After Hiruzen’s appointment as Hokage, Danzo, Koharu, and Homura help him overcome opposition from other clans and stabilize the village. Danzo assists Hiruzen from the First Shinobi World War onward and remains active through the Second and Third wars 141 152 216.

As head of the Shimura Clan, he follows Tobirama’s policy and dissolves the clan. Its territory is handed over to Konoha, except for the central residence where he continues to live 266.

Root becomes his principal source of authority. Its classified operations earn him considerable respect, but its growing independence makes it difficult for even Hiruzen to command its members freely 41 56.

Wartime Strategy and Secret Research

During the war against Sunagakure and Iwagakure, Danzo delivers frontline reports and Hanzo’s warning to Hiruzen. He volunteers to confront Hanzo diplomatically and proposes sending Sakumo’s Jōnin squad into the Land of Wind if the Third Kazekage commits to the front 12.

After Shiraha develops Medical Scrolls, Danzo requests him for Root. Hiruzen refuses, citing Tsunade’s support and Shiraha’s importance. Danzo instead secures Yakushi Nonō’s assignment after she learns scroll production 41.

Danzo subsequently arranges a secret partnership with Orochimaru after the Wood Release Experiment is terminated. He offers experimental subjects, access to otherwise unavailable Forbidden Techniques, and political support in exchange for priority access to research results. Root’s prison provides a steady source of death-row prisoners and major criminals 63.

Sakumo’s Disgrace and Root’s Destruction

Danzo admits leaking Sakumo’s failed mission to Sakamoto Kouta, presenting the leak as an attempt to protect Sakumo from political struggles. He pressures Kouta to consider publicly condemning the man who saved him. Shiraha later identifies Danzo’s rumors, the villagers’ hostility, and Hiruzen’s inaction as the combined causes of Sakumo’s suicide 89 137.

Danzo also seeks to recruit the grieving Kakashi into Root, but Hiruzen instead entrusts him to Minato 97.

Kushina later destroys Root Headquarters with a Nine-Tails Chakra-infused Tailed Beast Ball. Four surviving Root ninja dig Danzo out of the earth; the underground base and the mountain above it have been replaced by an enormous crater 102.

When Kushina challenges Konoha’s treatment of her, Danzo argues that Kurama belongs to the village and that her strength therefore derives from Konoha. Shiraha rejects this reasoning by pointing to the Uzumaki Clan’s longstanding contributions 120.

Fourth Hokage Succession and the Reincarnation Disaster

Danzo initially promotes Orochimaru as a successor who could preserve relations with Shiraha and Kushina. Privately, he uses his support as leverage over Orochimaru’s research. He is also a serious Hokage candidate himself, with support roughly equal to Minato’s before Orochimaru’s elimination 63 135 141.

Despite their partnership, Danzo tricks Orochimaru in a manner that costs him the Fourth Hokage position and contributes to his defection. Minato’s appointment leaves Danzo furious; he resolves to wait for a chance to become the Fifth Hokage 145 152.

His proposed path back to influence is an artificial Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, created by resurrecting Kinkaku and Ginkaku and extracting their Chakra. He withholds the complete Impure World Reincarnation procedure from Hiruzen and orders Root to capture two enemy Jōnin 145.

Before proceeding, Danzo interferes with Hanzo’s cooperation with Akatsuki. Root members impersonate Iwagakure ninja, kill civilians, and burn villages to sabotage the Iwagakure–Amegakure alliance. The operation costs him more than ten elite Root members, but he considers disrupting Hanzo’s alliance a success 148 152.

Kinkaku and Ginkaku subsequently escape his control and attack Konoha. Danzo helps Hiruzen, Minato, and Nawaki maintain the Four Red Yang Formation, but objects when Minato and Nawaki release it to aid the Uchiha. Ginkaku’s self-destruction gravely wounds Minato 154 155 156.

Danzo loses his Hokage Advisor position but retains Root, making the punishment largely symbolic. He continues pushing for the Nine-Tails Chakra transfer, even proposing the infant Naruto and Karin as hosts 160 164.

Nonō and Kabuto

Danzo threatens the orphanage’s funding to force Nonō into another Root mission. Kabuto volunteers to join Root to protect her and the children 136 137.

He later assigns Nonō and Kabuto to kill one another, replacing photographs of Kabuto’s growth so Nonō cannot recognize him. Shin is positioned to eliminate Kabuto afterward, while Orochimaru is asked to kill either survivor. Orochimaru instead rescues Kabuto and recruits him 167 168.

Uchiha Conflict and Imprisonment

Danzo makes suppressing the Uchiha a central means of maintaining his authority. He monitors their contacts with the Hyuga, seeks to recruit Issei into Root to obtain the Purifying Rope, and proposes using Itachi to feed the clan false intelligence 164 178 204.

Chiho’s emergence as clan head undermines his confidence. When Root attempts to arrest Issei within the Uchiha territory, Hiruzen publicly rebukes Danzo and threatens to remove his control of Root 208.

After Shisui reveals Kotoamatsukami, Danzo launches a prepared ambush to seize his Mangekyō Sharingan. Issei intervenes, withstands Root’s attacks with Susanoo, and nearly kills Danzo. The ensuing confrontation exposes Danzo’s attack on fellow villagers and his possession of Kagami’s eyes 209 210 211 212.

Danzo correctly recognizes that Shisui’s disclosure was bait intended to expose him and facilitate the Uchiha’s departure. That recognition does not excuse his actions: he is imprisoned in the Anbu Death Cell, and much of the clan relocates to the Land of Whirlpools 214 215 216.

His sentence becomes life imprisonment, and Root returns to Hiruzen’s control. Even in prison, Danzo urges Hiruzen to secure the stored Nine-Tails Chakra as a countermeasure against Shiraha. Kabuto maintains his contact with Orochimaru and later informs him of the planned attack during the Chunin Exam 215 245 250.

Escape and Final Rebellion

After Hiruzen’s death, Danzo attempts to kill Kakashi and use the achievement to restore his standing, but Obito rescues Kakashi. Under Minato’s reorganized administration, Danzo is confined to his residence by Anbu guards and a barrier; former Root members cannot freely deliver intelligence to him 266 267.

Obito, posing as Madara, offers escape in exchange for help contacting Orochimaru. Danzo distrusts promises of a future Hokage position and demands immediate benefits. Obito supplies a White Zetsu duplicate with Danzo’s appearance and Chakra aura 267.

During the final conflict, Danzo returns to Konoha hoping to exploit the coming war. Orochimaru’s destructive use of Impure World Reincarnation cuts off that plan. After participating in killings and devastation within his own village, Danzo becomes a Super S-Rank Rogue Ninja with no credible route back to the Hokage position 276.

Orochimaru exposes Danzo’s private scheming with Hiruko and threatens him into submission. Danzo and Hiruko are then assigned to command the White Zetsu Army against the Six Great Ninja Villages in the Land of Wind’s desert 276.

Appearance

• Elderly, gloomy-faced man: His appearance and chilling aura frighten the orphanage children 136.
• Bandaged right eye: Conceals a transplanted Sharingan 136 178 210.
• Bandaged right arm: Hides a sickly pale replacement arm and its implanted Sharingan 210.
• Wartime injuries: Lost an eye and an arm during earlier Ninja World Wars 208.
• Clothing: Wears robes during official meetings and a tight combat uniform during operations near Amegakure 12 152.

Personality

Danzo is calculating, secretive, and intensely ambitious. Hiruzen considers him a capable assistant but unsuitable for the Hokage position: his ambition exceeds his ability, and his leadership would push Konoha toward extremism 135.

He repeatedly presents personal schemes as necessities for the village. After the attempt to seize Shisui’s eyes is exposed, he invokes Madara’s betrayal and the danger of Kotoamatsukami to justify attacking a fellow Konoha ninja 212.

His treatment of subordinates is expendable rather than protective. He engineers Nonō and Kabuto’s mutual assassination assignments and uses Root Jōnin as human shields against Susanoo, killing three of them through this tactic 168 210.

Years of imprisonment make him calmer and more reflective, but do not extinguish his desire for power. Once Minato confines him at home, he openly refuses to fade into obscurity. When facing overwhelmingly stronger partners, however, he prioritizes immediate gains and survival over defiant posturing 250 266 267 276.

Abilities & Skills

Kage-Level Combat Ability

• Recognized as one of the four Kage-level shinobi maintaining the Four Red Yang Formation 156.
• His earlier loss of an eye and arm leaves his actual combat strength near the bottom of the Kage tier 208.
• Orochimaru’s later modifications substantially strengthen him without placing him on Orochimaru’s or Madara’s level 276.

Sharingan and Izanagi

• Possesses Kagami Uchiha’s Sharingan in his right eye and replacement arm 178 210.
• Uses a prearranged Izanagi during his ambush on Shisui 209.
• Prepares a second use through the arm’s eye, but stops activating it when Hiruzen arrives 210.
• His available Chakra would sustain that second Izanagi for less than a minute 210.
• Plans to fill all eleven eye positions in his arm with Three-Tomoe Sharingan; this remains an ambition, not a documented completed enhancement 210.

Impure World Reincarnation

• Uses the technique as both a military asset and political leverage, initially withholding its complete details from Hiruzen 145.
• Attempts to control Kinkaku and Ginkaku through internal Cursed Seals, but cannot prevent their rampage 154.
• Claims to have mastered the complete procedure by the confrontation following Shisui’s ambush 211.
• Initially avoids summoning Hashirama and Tobirama because he fears losing control or encountering a contingency left by the technique’s creator 152.

Summoning Technique: Baku

• Summons a massive orange-red, elephant-like beast 210.
• Baku produces vortex-like suction that threatens Issei’s Susanoo 210.
• Issei destroys it with Susanoo’s Fourth Form 210.

Barrier Ninjutsu

• Maintains the Four Red Yang Formation alongside Hiruzen, Minato, and Nawaki 155.
• The barrier contains the resurrected brothers, but its four maintainers cannot simultaneously attack them 156.

Intelligence and Covert Operations

• Controls Root’s high-risk, highly classified missions and maintains an intelligence network across the Five Great Nations 56 148.
• Uses disguised operatives, false intelligence, manipulated public opinion, and financial coercion 89 137 148 204.
• Root’s brainwashing and loyalty training secure obedience even when members expect an assignment to be fatal 56 152.

Relationships

• Sarutobi Hiruzen — Longtime teammate, political partner, and eventual jailer. Hiruzen repeatedly protects or tolerates him, then acknowledges his own responsibility for allowing the Uchiha crisis to develop 41 215 216.
• Tobirama Senju — Teacher and creator of Impure World Reincarnation. Danzo knows some of his own actions would be unforgivable to Tobirama and fears resurrecting him without reliable control 152.
• Orochimaru — Research partner and political ally whose cooperation becomes mutual manipulation. Danzo helps undermine his Hokage prospects; Orochimaru later modifies his body and forces him into the final war 63 152 276.
• Hatake Sakumo — Initially valued as Konoha’s strongest Jōnin and a strategic raiding force; later targeted through the mission-failure leak that contributes to his suicide 12 89 137.
• Yakushi Nonō — Medical ninja and spy coerced through orphanage funding, then marked for elimination 41 137 168.
• Yakushi Kabuto — Recruited after volunteering to protect the orphanage. Despite Danzo’s attempt to have him killed, Kabuto later serves as his informant and intermediary with Orochimaru 136 168 250.
• Yagami Shiraha / Uchiha Issei — Desired recruit turned adversary. Shiraha deliberately exploits Danzo’s hostility toward the Uchiha to expose him and strengthen the Land of Whirlpools 41 137 211 215.
• Uzumaki Kushina — Jinchuriki whose power Danzo treats as Konoha property; she destroys Root Headquarters 102 120.
• Minato Namikaze — Successful rival for the Fourth Hokage position. Their political clashes culminate in Danzo’s confinement under Minato’s administration 145 160 266.
• Uchiha Shisui — Targeted for his Kotoamatsukami. Danzo’s ambush destroys Shisui’s trust in Hiruzen and triggers Danzo’s imprisonment 209 211 212.
• Uchiha Chiho — Forceful opponent who challenges his accusations and helps lead the clan away from Konoha 169 208 216.
• Obito Uchiha — Approaches Danzo under Madara’s identity and exploits his resentment to gain access to Orochimaru 267.
• Hiruko — Partner in private schemes against Orochimaru; later assigned to share command of the White Zetsu Army 276.

Notable Quotes

“The Rinnegan... Wood Release... the Hokage position... the Shinobi World... Sooner or later, all of it will be mine.” 152

“Fourth Hokage! Don’t think I’ll simply fade into obscurity like this!” 266

“I can help you, but what can I gain right now?” 267