Chapter 33

He had so many Sharingan implanted in his own body, yet he had just been dragged into the other man's genjutsu in an instant, even his physical movements being controlled.

To Danzo, it was simply unimaginable.

He understood that if this dragged on, he would probably die here.

But the next second, when he saw Uchiha Yi standing in front of him again, a surge of despair rose in Danzo's chest.

No, it had not come to that yet.

His eyes shifted, and an idea suddenly flashed through Danzo's mind.

This Uchiha Yi was incredibly capable!

And he possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan. If Danzo could completely control him, he would undoubtedly become a trump card.

This was a good opportunity!

Danzo's heart burned with excitement, and instead he turned and charged toward Uchiha Yi.

Whoosh!

Danzo ripped off his eyepatch, and Tsunade immediately sensed that something was wrong. "Uchiha Yi, watch out!"

"Too late!"

Danzo burst into laughter. "Kotoamatsukami!"

That was right—he intended to use Kotoamatsukami as his ultimate trump card.

With Kotoamatsukami's power, he would seize Uchiha Yi completely in the palm of his hand.

And judging by the looks of it, he had really succeeded.

Feeling Kotoamatsukami take effect, Danzo threw back his head and laughed. "Hahaha! Excellent, it worked! Uchiha Yi, from now on, you are this old man's most obedient dog!"

"Oh? Are you sure?"

A teasing voice suddenly came from behind him. Danzo froze and was just about to turn around.

Then pain struck his body, and a bolt of lightning pierced straight through his chest.

Cold through the heart, soaring through the soul.

When Danzo appeared again, his eyes were wide open, filled with utter disbelief.

Kotoamatsukami had clearly struck true.

So how could Uchiha Yi still turn around and stab him?

"Surprised? Can't figure it out? Stunned?"

Uchiha Yi curled his lips into a smile. "You think it's strange, don't you? Your Kotoamatsukami clearly hit me, so how could I still attack you?"

"You can resist Kotoamatsukami?"

A thought suddenly flashed through Danzo's mind.

Uchiha Yi's expression stiffened slightly, and a trace of awkwardness flickered in his eyes.

To be honest, even he was not sure whether his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan could withstand Kotoamatsukami.

But knowing that Kotoamatsukami could override even Impure World Reincarnation, Uchiha Yi did not dare take that risk.

So...

"Torune?"

As Danzo watched the Uchiha Yi before him, who should have been controlled by Kotoamatsukami, turn into Torune Aburame, he instantly understood everything.

Genjutsu?

Uchiha Yi must have used genjutsu to control Torune Aburame, then made him take on his appearance to lure Danzo into attacking.

Had the other side known from the very beginning that he possessed Kotoamatsukami?

Danzo's face darkened at once. "Lord Yi, you truly have calculated everything."

Danzo wore an expression that screamed, "I am the righteous one." "Someone like you is the greatest scourge in the ninja world. You cannot be allowed to live!"

Uchiha Yi's mouth twitched.

This old bastard really thought he was something, huh?

Lightning flashed, and Danzo lost another life.

Tch, how many did he have left again?

Whatever. He would kill them all.

But the next second, Danzo, who had just revived, nearly split his eyes open as he let out a mad-dog-like roar. "Uchiha Yi, you sinner! Even if I have to throw away this life, I'll drag you down with me!"

"Reverse Four Symbols Seal!"

Boom!

Ink-black mist erupted from Danzo's body and spread madly in every direction.

This was bad!

Tsunade's expression changed sharply in the distance.

But what stunned her even more was that Uchiha Yi actually charged toward Danzo!

"You brat, do you have a death wish?! That's the Reverse Four Symbols Seal! Once it touches you, you're finished!"

Tsunade shouted at the top of her lungs.

Yet the next second, Uchiha Yi was standing before her. "What are you scared of? I won't die."

Won't die?

Tsunade's brow twitched, and for a moment, she did not even know how to scold him.

Whoosh—

Her body suddenly felt light, and she had already been taken away.

Rumble!

A thunderous explosion sounded in the distance. This time, Danzo was truly dead.

The Third Hokage and the others finally arrived as well.

Without attracting attention, Uchiha Yi tucked that streak of blood-red color into his sleeve, moving so quickly that no one noticed. "The rogue ninja Danzo has been killed!"

Tsunade spoke first, her voice drowning out the entire scene.

Warmth stirred in Uchiha Yi's heart. He understood that Tsunade was taking responsibility for him.

No matter how vile Danzo had been, he was still one of Konoha's elders. If everyone learned that Uchiha Yi had done it, the Third Hokage might not say anything aloud, but he would surely hold a grudge. But it was different if Tsunade stepped forward. Her status spoke for itself. No matter how much the Third Hokage favored Danzo, he could not make an issue of it with her.

Once Danzo fell, Root immediately scattered like monkeys from a fallen tree.

The higher-ups ordered a thorough investigation. The Shimura Clan was turned upside down, even their ancestral graves dug up.

But the more they investigated, the more horrifying it became.

Root had hidden several secret bases beneath Konoha, all of them laboratories. They were packed with records of human experimentation, and the data made one's spine run cold.

Most infuriating of all, Danzo had not only tampered with the First and Second Hokages' remains, but had also dug up the graves of every notable powerhouse in the village.

When the Third Hokage learned that even the grave of his eldest son—Konohamaru's father—had been dug up by Danzo, the rage in his eyes could have burned through the roof.

The Shimura Clan could not absolve itself of Danzo's crimes.

Even if the clan members truly knew nothing, all that gleaming silver had come from the Shimura household.

There was nothing more to say. Their estate was confiscated.

Tsunade led the operation.

In truth, this had been discussed by the Third Hokage and the higher-ups—Tsunade would become the next Hokage, and giving her more chances to distinguish herself now was meant to pave the way.

With the enormous merit of taking down Danzo, coupled with Tsunade's bloodline, the Hokage position was hers without question.

The village had already begun preparing the inauguration ceremony for the Fifth Hokage.

Ninja who had been away were gradually returning as well.

Tsunade becoming the Fifth Hokage was already a certainty.

Jiraiya returned.

His original purpose in leaving had not been to find Tsunade, but to investigate Akatsuki. Yet after all his wandering, he still ended up bringing Naruto along.

Naruto had formally taken him as his master.

Not long afterward, the Hokage inauguration ceremony officially began. Tsunade took that position and became the Fifth Hokage.

The Third Hokage stepped down. His body truly could not hold on any longer.

Uchiha Yi could sense that the old man's life force was rapidly draining away, as if something had squeezed out his final breath.

Danzo's affairs had dealt the Third Hokage a heavy blow.

In his eyes, no matter how extreme Danzo had become, he had still been acting for Konoha's sake. Over the years, the Third Hokage had endured again and again, tolerating many of Danzo's excesses.

But reality had slapped him hard across the face—sometimes, tolerance did not make someone turn back. It only made them push their luck further.

Jiraiya had wandered around outside and failed to find Tsunade, but he did uncover some clues about Akatsuki. He brought Naruto back, and the boy formally took him as his master.

Not long after, the Hokage succession ceremony was held. Tsunade took the seat of the Fifth Hokage, while the old Third Hokage retired completely. His body truly could not endure any longer. Uchiha Yi could feel the Third Hokage's life force pouring away like sand from a broken hourglass. Danzo's actions had dealt the Third Hokage a devastating blow. In the Third Hokage's eyes, no matter how stubborn Danzo had been, he had ultimately acted for Konoha. He had endured again and again, only to let a great disaster grow. The lesson had been profound.

So the moment Tsunade took office, she began consolidating power without hesitation. Konoha's old advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, were directly sidelined. The two elders were naturally unwilling, but the Third Hokage had fallen silent, Root's main force had already been wiped out by Danzo's mess, and Tsunade's status weighed heavily over them. No matter how much they struggled, they could not stir up any waves and could only swallow their resentment.

At that point, Uchiha Yi's status in the village became completely different.

He had not revealed the Uchiha Clan's trump card to Tsunade at first, but after his identity was exposed, Tsunade did not make an issue of it. Put simply, he was her biggest creditor—she could not afford to offend him. Besides, Tsunade could tell that Uchiha Yi bore no ill will toward Konoha.

To be honest, Uchiha Yi had never considered turning against Konoha. Turning against it? Was he insane? The entire ninja world was chaotic as a pot of porridge. Staying in Konoha at least let him sleep peacefully. No matter how strong he was, he could not spend every day sleeping rough. Settling down in Konoha was more reassuring than anywhere else. Besides, after living here all these years, he had long grown accustomed to it.

Now that he had killed Danzo, no one in the village came looking to cause him trouble anymore. Life was truly comfortable.

Of course, the most, most, most important thing was Hinata. This cabbage he had carefully raised was almost ready to harvest. If he fell out with Konoha now, what would happen to Hinata? How miserable would that be? "Brother Yi, with the relationship between us, I'll definitely stand by your side." Hinata Hyuga's voice was soft, but her eyes were firm.

The corner of Uchiha Yi's mouth lifted slightly.

He had put in no small amount of effort over the years. Even if he truly turned against Konoha, Hinata would definitely go with him.

But the problem was, he could not bear to put her in that position.

Tsunade had seized upon this weakness of his, which was why she was not worried at all.

So after becoming Hokage, the second thing she did was go to the Hyuga Clan to persuade them.

Yes, you read that right. She really went to propose marriage for Uchiha Yi.

Even the man involved knew nothing about it.

It was only later, from Hinata's reactions, that Uchiha Yi began to sense something.

Naturally, it did not go smoothly at first.

But after some time, who knew what Tsunade had said with that mouth of hers, the voices of opposition within the Hyuga Clan gradually grew quieter.

It was not until today that Uchiha Yi finally understood the twists and turns behind it all.

At this moment, in the Hyuga Clan's council hall.

Uchiha Yi, Tsunade, Hiashi Hyuga, and three elderly white-haired elders were present.

Oh, and the Third Hokage was there too, tucked away in a corner with a smile on his face, pretending to be invisible.

The Hyuga Clan had always kept a low profile in Konoha, but that did not mean they were weak.

Any one of the three elders before him was close to Kage level.

Konoha's foremost noble clan had not earned that reputation for nothing. "Boy from the Uchiha Clan, I hear you've set your sights on our Hinata?"

The Third Elder spoke without any unnecessary words, getting straight to the point. "Uh... yes."

Uchiha Yi looked a little embarrassed, but he still nodded. "Hmph, you sure dare to dream!"

The Second Elder slammed his hand on the table, his old face darkening. "The Hyuga Clan has never gotten along with your Uchiha Clan, yet you dare set your sights on the next head of the main family? Keep dreaming!"

Uchiha Yi shot Tsunade a sidelong glance.

This was the marriage proposal she had mentioned?

Tsunade looked completely unconcerned. Her expression clearly said: I've already done plenty for you. If you'd come by yourself, they would've thrown you out long ago.