Danzo Must Die

Naruto could have worn a black robe to conceal his identity, but if he did that... how would he lure out that old schemer Danzo?

He twirled a drifting speck of dust between his fingertips, a trace of icy killing intent flashing through his eyes.

Today was Hiruzen Sarutobi's day of death.

That hypocrite who constantly preached the "Will of Fire," yet watched his parents die miserably, watched the entire Uchiha Clan be exterminated, and watched him grow up amid the scorn of the whole village, would finally pay for his cowardice and scheming.

And Danzo, his most "intimate" comrade-in-arms, that venomous snake who had hidden in the shadows his entire life—how could he miss this funeral?

As his good buddy, how could he not accompany him?

Naruto was not stupid enough to steal a scroll so openly!

Only by causing enough of a commotion, only by touching Konoha's most forbidden core, could he fish that snake hiding five hundred meters underground out of its hole.

He wanted to kill Danzo with his own hands.

Not at the future Five Kage Summit, and not by Sasuke's hand.

Today.

Right here.

At the very moment Danzo was most pleased with himself, convinced that he was about to ascend to the position of Hokage.

Naruto spoke in his heart. "I figure that old bastard Danzo should be here soon, right?"

The moment the words fell.

Squelch!

The Nine-Life Demon Tail Blade sliced through the air and accurately pierced the throat of the last ordinary Root member.

Blood splattered across the snow-white wall, blooming like a bewitching flower.

Naruto casually flicked the blood droplets from his blade. As his gaze swept around, his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

Within the shadows at the end of the corridor.

A hunched figure stood silently, as though he had merged with the darkness itself.

Not even the slightest fluctuation of chakra leaked from him.

"You really are an old schemer. If I hadn't activated Kagura Mind's Eye, I really wouldn't have noticed you!"

Naruto sneered, knowing full well what was going on.

Danzo's plan could not have been simpler.

He would send these cannon-fodder Root members to drain Naruto's chakra and wear down his strength. Then, the moment Naruto was exhausted, he would leap out of the shadows and deliver a fatal blow.

Reap the rewards without lifting a finger.

The same old routine.

Danzo's right eye, hidden beneath his bandages, was fixed firmly on Naruto.

His heart pounded wildly.

Not out of fear, but greed.

The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

The Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

And that unfathomable amount of chakra from earlier.

As long as he captured this brat alive, extracted the Nine-Tails Chakra, and transplanted his Sharingan.

Then he, bearing Hashirama Cells, eleven Sharingan, and the Nine-Tails Power—

Would become the one true god of the Ninja World!

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru, Itachi Uchiha—

They would all kneel at his feet!

Naruto spat disdainfully, frantically calling out to the system in his mind. "Damn system, I want to exchange!"

These Root ninjas were strong, but he was no slouch either.

Other people's strength might be hollow, built up through pills or secret techniques.

But his strength had been added bit by bit by the system.

Every bit of chakra and every ounce of power was as solid as steel forged through countless hammerings.

"System, how much Darkness Value to upgrade the Mangekyo Sharingan?"

"Three thousand per eye!"

"Exchange it for me! Upgrade both eyes!"

[Ding! 6000 Darkness Value deducted!]

[Mangekyo Sharingan upgrade successful!]

In an instant.

An indescribable power erupted from the depths of Naruto's eyes.

Scarlet chakra rose around him as though it had substance, and the temperature in the corridor abruptly dropped.

The air seemed to freeze.

Danzo's pupils suddenly shrank.

He felt that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki before him had undergone some essential transformation.

It was a pressure... so immense that even his soul trembled.

Just like... facing Madara Uchiha back then!

"Impossible..."

Danzo muttered, the knuckles of the hand gripping his cane turning white from exertion.

And at that moment.

Naruto moved.

The Nine-Life Demon Tail Blade became a silver bolt of lightning in his hand.

Fast.

Fast to the absolute extreme.

So fast that those elite Root members did not even have time to react.

Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!

Three dull impacts rang out almost simultaneously.

The three elite Root members who had just charged forward did not even have time to form hand seals before their heads flew into the air.

Blood spurted forth like fountains.

Each of them possessed at least Chunin-level strength.

Yet in Naruto's hands, cutting them down was no different from slicing vegetables.

"What?!"

Danzo's expression changed drastically as he abruptly waved his hand.

Five Root members with the strength of Elite Jonin, hidden deeper within, instantly sprang into action.

They surrounded Naruto in a five-pointed-star formation, their chakra locking onto every inch of his skin like venomous snakes.

Without wasting a word, all five formed hand seals at once.

Five different elemental ninjutsu blasted toward Naruto simultaneously.

Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!

Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!

Lightning Release: Lightning Flash!

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

The five ninjutsu intertwined, forming a destructive torrent.

The entire corridor trembled, and cracks spread inch by inch across the walls.

Naruto stood in place without moving.

His Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly.

Faster and faster, faster and faster.

Bzz—

A soft sound rang out.

The three tomoe suddenly shattered.

In their place appeared a strange six-pointed-star pattern.

Scarlet light illuminated the entire dim corridor.

"What?! The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has the Mangekyo Sharingan!"

Danzo cried out in shock, unable to remain calm any longer.

"A twelve-year-old Mangekyo Sharingan wielder! How is that possible?!"

Even Madara Uchiha had only awakened the Mangekyo after reaching adulthood and experiencing the death of someone close to him!

"What exactly has this brat gone through?!"

Danzo could no longer sit still. He violently tore the bandages from his right arm, exposing the horrifying limb covered in Sharingan.

Eleven scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly opened across his arm.

Like eleven bloodthirsty eyes, they stared fixedly at Naruto.

The seal on his arm began to release.

The power of the Hashirama Cells surged through his body.

"Fū! Move!"

Danzo shouted sharply.

The Root ninja standing at the far left abruptly removed his mask.

He revealed a face somewhat similar to Ino Yamanaka's.

His hands rapidly formed seals as his eyes remained fixed on Naruto.

Mind Transfer Jutsu!

The cold shout fell.

An invisible mental spike shot straight toward Naruto's brow like a venomous snake.

The corner of Danzo's mouth, hidden in the shadows, curled into a cruel arc.

The Mind Transfer Jutsu.

The Yamanaka Clan's greatest secret technique.

It was specially designed to counter Jinchuriki, beings with enormous chakra but comparatively weak mental strength.

As long as it struck, even a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would instantly lose control of his body.

He would be at the mercy of others.

Danzo had calculated that Naruto could not evade it.

After all, no matter how monstrous a twelve-year-old brat was, he could not possibly guard against such a silent mental attack.

However.

At the instant that mental spike was about to touch Naruto.

Bzz—