Danzo was already beginning to ramble incoherently.
"Sarutobi... Sarutobi will come save me..."
"If you kill me, you won't escape either... The Third Hokage will never... let you go..."
It was laughable. At a time like this, Danzo had placed his only hope in Hiruzen Sarutobi, the old friend he had schemed against all his life.
Uchiha Yao did not act immediately.
Uchiha Yao looked toward the distant forest.
"Yeah."
Uchiha Yao spoke softly.
"He's coming."
An aura belonging to the Third Hokage was rapidly drawing near.
At most, one minute remained.
"For your last life, there should at least be a witness important enough to see it."
"Otherwise, wouldn't it be too lonely?"
"Your old friend Hiruzen Sarutobi has come personally to see you off."
"You should feel honored."
Those words completely shattered Danzo's last mental defense.
Danzo finally understood. His opponent did not merely intend to kill him.
He intended to kill him in front of the Third Hokage.
"No—!"
Danzo used the last of his strength to try to get away from Uchiha Yao.
However.
Uchiha Yao's Mangekyo activated once more.
A massive spiritual force instantly enveloped Danzo.
Danzo's body immediately dropped to its knees, his limbs unable to move.
His mouth could not make a sound either.
But Danzo could still think. His eyes remained fixed on the direction from which Hiruzen Sarutobi was rushing over.
Time passed, second by second.
At last, shifting figures appeared.
An aged yet forceful roar rang through the night sky.
"Stop!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi shot out of the forest like a cannonball.
Behind him came the ANBU, numerous Konoha jonin, and the heads of the major clans.
When they saw the scene atop the ruins.
Everyone's hearts skipped a beat.
Nearly a hundred Uchiha with their Sharingan activated.
The ground was