The Daimyo Was No Longer Needed

"Konoha's new Hokage!"

"The Land of Fire's new Twelve Guardian Ninja!"

Outside Konoha's walls, Shimura Danzō and Jiangtu admired the devastation before them.

They were already imagining themselves as victors.

Konoha might have been destroyed, but Danzo believed he could rebuild it under his leadership. With Jiangtu and a host of tireless, undying ninja to help, Konoha would surely emerge renewed.

"Am I too late?"

A figure appeared abruptly beside Shimura Danzō.

"Lord Danzo, beside you!"

"Uchiha Yoru, is it?" Shimura Danzō remained perfectly calm. He was the victor now; Uchiha Yoru was nothing but a beaten stray.

"Danzo, you're even less human than I imagined!"

"Kamui!"

The Mangekyō appeared in Uchiha Yoru's single eye. He tore open the barrier and stepped inside.

"Will he be all right in there?" Jiangtu asked, puzzled.

"All he'll find is a heap of charred corpses! What can he possibly do?" Shimura Danzō said dismissively.

"Itachi, stop pushing yourself!"

Uchiha Fugaku spoke up.

"I'm fine. I can keep going!"

Anyone could see that Uchiha Itachi was at his limit, but he stubbornly held on, determined to last until the storm clouds cleared.

His Chakra and ocular power were spent. Uchiha Itachi could barely feel his own body, and a voice in his head kept telling him, Give up. Give up. Put yourself out of your misery.

But sheer force of will kept him going.

"Wood Release: Hōbi Technique!"

A wooden shield shaped like a fanged demon face appeared in the sky and blocked the Lightning.

"Little Yoru, you're here!"

Uchiha Yoru rushed forward and caught Uchiha Itachi.

"I'll leave the rest to you!"

With that, Uchiha Itachi finally relaxed and fell asleep.

"Danzo, you old bastard! This time, even Izanagi won't save you!"

Uchiha Yoru discovered that most of his businesses in Konoha had