Kotoamatsukami? Seizing Danzo's Mangekyo!

"Do you know what will happen to you for acting this way toward a Hokage advisor in this village?"

"Back then, even Madara Uchiha left Konoha alone; without our support, no one is qualified to become Hokage!"

Danzō Shimura stared at Naruto.

He had originally only intended to refute Orochimaru and Tsunade, wanting to use this opportunity to establish himself as the new Hokage.

In Danzō's vision, Naruto Uzumaki would at most shout a few words, not daring to let out another peep.

Danzō Shimura was, after all, a student of Tobirama Senju, a colleague of Hiruzen Sarutobi, and a long-time advisor of Konoha.

His status was lofty!

He also possessed the Anbu-like Root as his own force, carrying out missions even darker than those of the Anbu.

Yamato and Sai were both born from it.

Under his command were several extremely powerful ninjas.

Especially the two guards by his side.

Torune Aburame, who could poison a large crowd with a casual strike.

Fu Yamanaka, who could instantly control an enemy's mind with the Mind Transfer Jutsu.

Danzō himself even had an arm full of Sharingan, plus the Mangekyō he had seized from Shisui Uchiha!

Status, power, guards, and strength—he possessed them all.

An elder at the pinnacle of Konoha.

Danzō Shimura!

"Do you want to be a traitor to Konoha, Naruto Uzumaki?"

"Or is it that, as the Demon Fox, you never belonged to humanity from the very beginning!"

Danzō raised a hand.

It was not just to signal his subordinates to attack.

It was to order all the ninjas in Konoha to strike simultaneously.

"Wait a moment!"

"Naruto! Danzō is a Hokage advisor! He has the authority to handle this matter!"

Shikaku Nara, Shikamaru's father, wanted to act as a mediator.

He was a man who had come from the generation of Minato Namikaze.

If Minato Namikaze had continued to serve as Hokage, Danzō's current position would have long since been his.

"Naruto, be careful!"

Jiraiya stood atop the head of Toad Gamabunta.

"Who I recommend to be Hokage is my business; aren't you going a bit too far, Danzō!"

Tsunade stood beside Katsuyu with her arms crossed.

"So you all support him, is that it?"

"Fine!"

Danzō looked around.

This group of people was becoming increasingly uncontrollable.

Ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi died, Konoha, with its hollowed-out interior, should have collapsed at any moment.

Yet now, they had twisted into a single rope.

They were even challenging him for the sake of a mere Chunin.

"You seem to be quite unpopular."

Orochimaru looked at Danzō with a smile.

"Cease this! Everyone! Everything should be prioritized for the benefit of the village!"

Might Guy flashed into existence between Danzō and the others.

"After all, there are still many wounded who need Lady Tsunade to treat them, and Naruto and Lord Jiraiya need to rest after defeating Orochimaru!"

Might Guy.

He appeared to be the most unremarkable person of all.

For many years, he had never revealed his ultimate, hidden strength.

But no one wanted to see his true power, unless they wanted to die.

As Konoha's greatest peacemaker.

Guy's appearance caused Danzō's expression to improve slightly.

"How much longer are you going to make a scene?"

"It was merely a taunt from Danzo, Naruto Uzumaki; you have already been quite disrespectful to the Konoha advisors!"

Koharu Utatane stood beneath the feet of the colossal summoning beast and spoke.

"Let this end, everything is for the sake of Konoha."

Homura Mitokado had also made a special trip to mediate the conflict.

"Fine!"

Danzo was the first to back down.

He tossed a letter from his hand.

"You are still too young; find me at Konoha Back Mountain after you have rested."

"Someone who does not understand Konoha will never understand why I am more important than you!"

Danzo leaned on his cane and slowly walked away.

It was not that he did not want to fight, but he had not expected so many people to stand on Naruto's side.

Two of the Sannin stood behind Naruto, while the third was merely watching the show.

Everyone else hoped that either Tsunade or Jiraiya would become the Fifth Hokage.

They had treated the recommendation of Tsunade as nothing more than a joke.

They had not expected Danzo to lack the demeanor of a powerful elder, opening his mouth only to spew mockery.

At a time like this, the only thing to do was to stand in the middle and mediate.

And so.

Danzo discovered that the number of people standing on his side was pitifully small.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado had never expected that Danzo would have no one to help him, which was why they chose to speak up and assist.

"I will go."

Naruto gripped the challenge letter without even opening it.

He used a flame to burn it directly into ashes.

Naruto jumped down from the head of the Ten-Tailed Snake.

He dispelled all his summoning beasts.

This caused many people to cast sidelong glances.

To be able to summon the Konoha Sannin and the Third Hokage's summoning beast in one breath.

Just how strong was this Naruto!

In a certain sense, he was indeed a successor to the Hokage.

Those familiar with the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had even witnessed Naruto's performance during the Chunin Exams.

"Truly a genius ninja, it is just a pity he is too young."

Shikaku Nara felt a sense of regret.

How wonderful it would be if another young and promising Hokage could emerge.

"Naruto is too powerful now!"

Konohamaru swallowed hard.

"That looked like Grandpa's summoning beast; how did Brother Naruto learn that!"

After much thought, Konohamaru remained hidden in the alley and never revealed himself.

At the Ichiraku Ramen shop.

Iruka, who had come to keep his appointment, ate ramen with Naruto.

Tsunade and Jiraiya were also resting there for the time being.

Shizune took people to lock Kabuto away alone, while Orochimaru had to be kept under the watch of Jiraiya.

"Naruto! To become Hokage, you need the recognition of everyone. If you cannot control yourself because of a taunt from someone else, you will encounter even more doubt."

Iruka watched Naruto eat his noodles, feeling that this child was kind-hearted after all.

Although the people in the village were dissatisfied with Danzo, many things had to be kept hidden deep in one's heart.

Naruto, who had brought back Orochimaru and Tsunade this time, had indeed gained the recognition of many.

"Do I need everyone's recognition to become Hokage?"

Naruto began eating his nineteenth bowl of ramen.

"What if one day everyone is wrong? When I am the only one who is right, do I still need the recognition of the villagers?"

"Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei's father, the Konoha White Fang, also once gained the recognition of many, did he not?"

"When I went to pay my respects to the Third Hokage, I saw that ostracized tombstone."

"This kind of fickle, false recognition is not true recognition at all; it is merely a blade used to kill."

Naruto finished his ramen in one gulp.

He slapped the table happily.

"Everyone, I'm going to find Danzō!"

He had no need for fickle, hollow validation.

Iruka muttered a sentence to himself, his voice soft: "Naruto has truly grown up."

"Should we follow him?"

Tsunade looked at Jiraiya, feeling a bit worried about Naruto.

"I'm responsible for keeping an eye on Orochimaru; if it were anyone else, this guy would run off at any moment! I'll leave it to you!"

Jiraiya believed that Naruto's current strength surpassed Danzō's.

He was only worried that Danzō might actually make a move against Naruto, especially with underhanded tactics!

"I won't be going anywhere, as I followed Naruto back here."

Unable to use his hands, Orochimaru had to eat his ramen with his mouth, looking just like a real snake.

"Hmm."

Tsunade turned her head.

Naruto had already vanished without a trace.

Konoha Back Mountain.

Danzō had been waiting there for a long time.

The guards beside him were members of Root.

They were all on high alert, appearing as if they intended to have a discussion with Naruto.

In reality, they had only one goal.

Now that he had escaped an environment unfavorable to him and shaken off the targeting of the Sannin.

Danzō intended to face Naruto personally and take him down, just as he had attacked Shisui Uchiha.

Furthermore.

Danzō had already decided on the technique he would use first.

Kotoamatsukami!

If he had to control someone, the Naruto currently in Konoha Village was undoubtedly the best choice.

From this day forward, once Danzō ascended to the position of Hokage, he would also possess a powerful enforcer!

And it would be the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, whose mind had been altered by Kotoamatsukami to be absolutely loyal to Danzō!

"A mere brat, what right does he have to act so insolently before me!"

"There were too many people earlier, but now I want Naruto Uzumaki to kneel down, kowtow, and beg me!"

Danzō Shimura said in a gloomy tone.

"Danzō! I have arrived as promised!"

The same afternoon, the same setting sun.

Naruto stood alone opposite Danzō.

He was even younger than Shisui had been.

Young people were ultimately too naive, failing to understand conspiracy and calculation.

"I only wish to speak with you about how one might pass the trials to become a Hokage recognized by everyone."

Danzō used his unbandaged hand to remove the binding covering his eye.

A Mangekyo Sharingan was revealed.

Immediately following it was an ultimate genjutsu.

"Kotoamatsukami!"

"Fool! Obey my commands completely and assist me in becoming Hokage!"

Danzō lost control of his expression.

He had succeeded!

His technique was a perfect success!

He had thought Naruto Uzumaki was a piece of trash with no utility.

He never expected that one day he would truly become his strongest combat asset!

"Naruto Uzumaki! Kneel down for me! From now on, you have only one mission: to obey my orders!"

Danzō burst into loud laughter, utterly carried away by his triumph.

Opposite him, Naruto was still standing, currently in the midst of being thoroughly altered by Kotoamatsukami.

Swish!

A sharp pain pierced his eye.

It felt as though something had clawed at him, but the speed was simply too fast.

"My eye!"

Danzo let out a hysterical, agonizing scream.

Naruto held Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan in one hand.

He walked toward the other Naruto standing before Danzo.

"What have you done, you bastard! You dare attack me! Give me back my eye!"

Danzo roared in fury.

Shisui Uchiha's eye was the ultimate tool that would help him become Hokage.

He could not afford to lose it!

"I combined the even chakra distribution of the Shadow Clone Technique with the reflection of the Water Mirror Technique. That way, your Sharingan wouldn't detect the truth, and it wouldn't affect my true body once the technique was dispelled."

"So you hypnotized a fake version of me in the mirror!"

Bang!

With a pat from Naruto, the version of him standing motionless on the spot instantly burst into a mist of water.

"As for this eye, it belongs to me now!"

Naruto grinned.

"I wonder if my superior constitution and massive chakra reserves will allow me to forcibly use Kotoamatsukami a second time?"

Shing!

Naruto swapped one of his eyes for the new one.

The Sharingan seemed to rotate, its tomoe pitch-black and its pupil blood-red!

"Hee-hahaha!"

This time.

Fate had been altered.

The defeat of Shisui years ago was replaced by the madness of Danzo in this very moment.

"Kotoamatsukami!"