Danzo

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Shimura Danzo (团藏) 31
Alias(es)	Shadow of Shinobi; “Grandpa Danzo” to Uzumaki Menma 2
Gender	Male 1
Affiliation	Konohagakure; Root 1
Occupation/Role	Root leader; Hokage Assistant; Konoha advisor; Menma’s adoptive grandfather and mentor 1 34 213
Status	Active in Konoha’s leadership when he arranges Menma’s public designation as a rogue ninja 303
First Appearance	Chapter 1, “Uzumaki Menma” 1

Background / History

Danzo served in Tobirama Senju’s elite guard alongside Kagami Uchiha. His aggressive approach to missions repeatedly placed him in danger, and Kagami risked his own safety to rescue him. Their friendship moderated Danzo’s treatment of the Uchiha while Kagami was alive; after Kagami’s death, Danzo’s suspicion of the clan became increasingly extreme 37.

Following the Nine-Tails uprising, Danzo requested custody of both Naruto and Menma, arguing that Root had already killed infiltrators likely targeting the jinchūriki. Hiruzen refused to surrender both children but entrusted Menma to him on two conditions: Hiruzen’s Telescope Technique must always be able to observe Menma, and Danzo must adopt him as his grandson. Danzo reluctantly accepted despite having neither children nor an interest in raising one 1.

Danzo initially intended to produce a jinchūriki who obeyed only him. Hiruzen’s surveillance and frequent visits obstructed that plan, including an immediate visit after Danzo attempted to block the Telescope Technique. Over the following years, Danzo grew accustomed to Menma and abandoned exclusive obedience as his goal, choosing instead to raise him into a qualified ninja 2.

Appearance

Danzo is an older man whose expression remains gloomy even when otherwise impassive 2 4.

• Bandaged right eye 1.
• Cross-shaped scar on his chin 1.
• Intimidating gaze that makes Naruto tremble during their first confrontation 4.

Personality

Danzo is authoritarian, suspicious, and willing to use intimidation or violence to secure Konoha’s interests. He argues that repeated concessions encourage further aggression and that peace must be defended through strength. His hostility toward the Uchiha initially extends to advocating their extermination, although he recognizes Kagami as an exception 29 35 36.

His attachment to Menma is genuine but does not make his upbringing gentle. Danzo shelters him from village prejudice, feeds his visiting friends, and permits outside play under conditions. At the same time, he orders training severe enough to alarm Fu, treating Menma’s bloodline, heritage, friendships, and future political career as assets to cultivate 4 5 9.

Danzo’s ambition gradually shifts from becoming Hokage himself to seeing Menma attain the position. He still resents Hiruzen’s selection, but later refuses an opportunity to succeed him because becoming Hokage would restrict his clandestine work and leave Root without a ready leader 133 142.

His improved reputation does not erase his temper. While training Itachi and Shisui, he demands answers, orders Itachi to stop speaking when he responds, and tells Shisui not to breathe after mistaking a sigh for criticism 211.

Abilities & Skills

Intelligence and Counterespionage

Danzo directs Root’s intelligence network and develops operations around an opponent’s expectations 1 64 67.

• Deploys Root operatives against infiltrators targeting Konoha’s jinchūriki 1.
• Obtains concrete intelligence about Uchiha coup discussions and uses a list of participants to pressure Fugaku 36 40.
• Designs Kabuto’s infiltration of Orochimaru around an apparent betrayal by Root and Nonou’s staged death 64.
• Adapts when Orochimaru sends Kabuto back to Konoha, arranging surveillance and controlled information to preserve his cover 67.
• Records Orochimaru’s agents without immediately arresting them, avoiding exposure of Kabuto’s role 68.
• Deduces that Menma previously fought an unknown force and advocates preparations rather than leaving the entire threat to him 213.

Political Strategy and Negotiation

Danzo uses military pressure, institutional authority, and calculated exchanges to obtain concessions 21 31 95.

• Exchanges a Bloodline Completion Elixir for Hiruzen’s promise of future access to Uzumaki sealing techniques 21.
• Secures Hyuga recruits in return for supporting Hiashi’s reforms 31.
• Undermines the Hyuga elders’ attempt to dismiss Hiashi by invoking Hokage approval and threatening a Root investigation 34.
• Pressures Rasa with demands for disputed territory or Shukaku after rejecting an offer of money and sand gold 95.
• Recognizes Shikamaru and Choji as potential future aides and political allies for Menma 9.

Command and Training

Danzo controls Root’s personnel, research priorities, and training policies, directing its resources toward Menma’s development 9 21.

• Assigns Yamanaka Fu to physical training and Ryoma Aburame to basic sealing instruction 21.
• Tests Menma’s understanding of international politics and rewards a satisfactory answer with a day off 26.
• Abolishes identity-erasure training while retaining the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal for secrecy 31.
• Trains Itachi and Shisui as possible successors, favoring Itachi’s rationality and adaptability 153.
• Judges that neither successor is ready to lead Root alone, although together they could barely manage it 213.

Combat Cooperation

Danzo participates directly in Konoha’s defense against Orochimaru’s reanimated shinobi 133 135.

• Combines ninjutsu with Hiruzen to produce a large flame tornado against Rasa’s sand-gold defenses 135.
• Fights alongside Hiruzen, Hiashi, and Hizashi in the battle that ends with Rasa being sealed 135.
• Leaves Menma’s duel with Tobirama uninterrupted after recognizing that Menma can cope and benefit from the experience 133.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Grooming Menma for Hokage

Danzo identifies Menma’s status as the Fourth Hokage’s son as a foundation for a future Hokage candidacy. He allows Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji to visit Root without repeated authorization, while ordering researchers to awaken Menma’s Uzumaki abilities and Fu to intensify his training despite concerns about permanent injury 9.

Root develops a Bloodline Completion Elixir using tissue samples already held from Mito and Kushina. Danzo administers it to Menma under Hiruzen’s supervision, then trades a second dose for future Uzumaki sealing instruction. He later obtains Hiruzen’s agreement to let Menma study Flying Thunder God 19 21 69.

When Menma reports a good relationship with Kurama, Danzo realizes that his grandson may be a perfect jinchūriki. At Menma’s request, he begins calling the tailed beast “Kurama” rather than “the Nine-Tails” 92.

Hidden Cloud Confrontation and Hyuga Reform

After the attempted abduction of Hinata, Danzo intervenes against the Hidden Cloud delegation. The envoy leader is consumed by insects during his arrival, and Danzo detains the remaining delegates while threatening war unless Cloud provides an explanation. He persuades Hiruzen that accepting the accusation against Konoha would invite further coercion; Cloud ultimately attributes the incident to rogue ninja 29.

Hiashi subsequently seeks Root’s help to abolish the Hyuga elder system and main-family/branch-family hierarchy. Danzo agrees in exchange for Hyuga shinobi joining Root and permits inspections to verify that identity-erasure training has ended. His appearance at the clan meeting prevents the elders from successfully removing Hiashi, allowing the reforms to proceed 30 31 33 34.

Conditional Uchiha Reintegration

Danzo initially refuses to relax surveillance of the Uchiha, citing the Sharingan’s ability to control the Nine-Tails. Menma’s defense of Sasuke prompts him to ask how Menma would resolve the clan’s situation without ignoring coup supporters 35 36 37.

He eventually agrees that members who did not propose a coup should return to Konoha’s inner circle, while coup advocates must undergo Root training. Danzo explicitly acknowledges that recruiting Hyuga and Uchiha shinobi also builds a foundation for Menma’s future Hokage campaign. A year later, constant Uchiha surveillance has ended, and Root is becoming more public-facing and respected 38 44.

Kabuto’s Undercover Operation

Danzo previously used orphanage funding to compel Nonou’s espionage work and recruit Kabuto. Following Root’s reform, he ends compulsory undercover service and continues supporting the orphanage; both nevertheless choose to continue intelligence work 63.

His later plan to infiltrate Orochimaru requires Nonou to fake her death during a confrontation with Kabuto. Orochimaru instead returns Kabuto to Konoha as his own spy, forcing Danzo to adapt the operation. Nonou survives, receives treatment in Root, and takes the identity Ayumu Tsunematsu to work at the Ninja Academy 64 67.

Kabuto remains loyal to the operation. Over the next two years, he identifies Orochimaru’s agents through Root codes before finally departing to work alongside Orochimaru 68.

Hidden Sand Negotiations

Danzo publicly reprimands Menma for provoking conflict with Hidden Sand but privately approves of his refusal to tolerate incursions into Konoha’s territory. He urges Hiruzen to extract a painful concession regardless of whether Sand chooses war or negotiation 84 85.

During negotiations, he dismisses Rasa’s offer of 300 million ryō plus 200 million ryō in sand gold and demands either disputed land or Shukaku. Hiruzen then presents Puppet Techniques data as an alternative. Danzo also allows Menma, Naruto, and Sasuke to remain as observers so they can gain experience in diplomacy 95 96.

Konoha Crush and Succession

During Orochimaru’s attack, Danzo fights Rasa while allowing Menma to duel Tobirama. After breaking free from Impure World Reincarnation, Tobirama praises Danzo—a recognition that pleases him more than anything else 133 135 136.

When Hiruzen decides to resign, Danzo declines the Hokage position. His priority remains Root’s shadow operations, which he believes protect the village by handling matters the Hokage cannot openly undertake 141 142 153.

With Tsunade’s approval, he recruits Itachi and Shisui as prospective Root successors. His preference for Itachi marks a substantial change from his earlier blanket distrust of the Uchiha 35 153.

Preparing for the Unknown Threat

Menma’s demonstration of Sage Mode, Adamantine Sealing Chains, and advanced Rasengan techniques greatly exceeds Danzo’s expectations. Danzo is delighted by the destruction of Root’s training ground and astonished by Menma’s report that his stronger technique could devastate an area comparable to Konoha 180.

After deducing the significance of Menma’s unknown enemy, Danzo insists that Root expand recruitment and training. He offers to resign if Tsunade distrusts the expansion, but she authorizes it and asks him to remain leader 213.

Menma’s Public Defection

Danzo assigns Menma the mission of obtaining the God Tree Fruit and warns that the Ten-Tails’ revival will endanger his position. Menma asks to be declared a rogue ninja so Konoha will not bear responsibility for his apparent contribution to the revival. Danzo reluctantly agrees 302.

After Menma leaves, Danzo tells Tsunade that his grandson has betrayed Konoha and secretly cooperated with the Akatsuki. He requests a wanted order and directs Root to pursue him, establishing the official narrative agreed upon to sever Menma’s connection to the village 302 303.

Relationships

• Uzumaki Menma — Adoptive grandson and intended future Hokage. Danzo’s attachment reshapes Root’s policies, although his care remains intertwined with harsh training and political expectations 1 9 31.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi — Long-standing friend, rival, and governing partner. They argue over methods but cooperate in diplomacy and defense; Hiruzen’s early oversight restrains Danzo’s plans for Menma 2 29 135.
• Tobirama Senju — Former teacher. Danzo invokes his teachings on defending peace through strength and deeply values his approval 29 136.
• Kagami Uchiha — Former comrade and friend who repeatedly saved him. Kagami is a personal exception to Danzo’s distrust of the Uchiha 35 37.
• Hyuga Hiashi — Political ally through the clan-reform agreement. Hiashi accepts Root cooperation partly because of Danzo’s investment in Menma 30 31 32.
• Itachi Uchiha — Favored prospective Root successor, selected for intelligence, rationality, and flexible thinking 153.
• Shisui Uchiha — Prospective Root successor. Danzo respects his ability but considers his upright, emotional temperament a disadvantage for leading Root 153.
• Yakushi Kabuto — Intelligence operative whose cover Danzo manages during the long-term infiltration of Orochimaru 64 67 68.
• Yakushi Nonou — Root spy and orphanage director, initially coerced through funding pressure; later serves voluntarily after Root’s reforms 63.
• Orochimaru — Former subordinate, adversary, and later source of information about Menma. Orochimaru knows Danzo’s past misconduct but eventually honors a promise to report what he learns about his grandson 64 66 303.
• Tsunade — Fifth Hokage and collaborator on Root staffing and expansion. She remains willing to authorize his proposals despite finding his manner overbearing 153 213.
• Sasuke Uchiha — Young admirer impressed by Danzo’s pressure tactics against Rasa; Danzo is pleased by his admiration 95 96.

Notable Quotes

“Although I'm unscrupulous in my methods, everything is for Konoha.” 1

“He is the grandson of Shimura Danzō. Isn't that reason enough?” 31

“Where there is light, there must be shadow. If the shadow becomes light, then who will inherit the shadow?” 142

“Now that we've discovered the problem, we can't put all the pressure on Menma. We need to prepare as well.” 213