Deceiving Shimura Danzō

As Shimura Danzō activated Kotoamatsukami, Chinatsu had nowhere to dodge and was struck instantly.

Through this jutsu, Shimura Danzō could alter his target's mental state. It was a genjutsu unlike any other.

[Be loyal to me. I am your one and only master.]

Shimura Danzō cared more about his subordinates' loyalty than their strength. If someone was too powerful without being loyal enough, he risked being stabbed in the back.

Chinatsu stood frozen in place, like a puppet. The command to remain loyal to Shimura Danzō kept echoing through her mind.

"Yes..."

When Chinatsu parted her lips and answered, "Yes," Shimura Danzō knew he had succeeded. A triumphant smile spread across his face, and he was already imagining the future.

Once she and that brat were married, the Uchiha Clan could take root and flourish again. Meanwhile, he would secretly control that elite clan, with an endless supply of Sharingan at his disposal and a powerful fighting force. All it had cost him was one use of Kotoamatsukami. What a bargain.

"Go back. Behave yourself for now, and don't cause any trouble. Once you're a little older, I'll arrange your marriage."

"All right..."

Chinatsu nodded slightly, then walked woodenly toward Konoha, step by step, leaving Shimura Danzō behind to revel in his excitement.

After she had walked for about ten minutes and left the range of Shimura Danzō's surveillance, a figure suddenly flashed into view beside her.

Before Chinatsu could react, an iron fist slammed into her face and sent her flying.

"Snap out of it... Now!!!"

As the figure landed, it became clear that the person who had punched Chinatsu was none other than Chinatsu herself.

When Chinatsu had used Shadow Clones during her fight with Shimura Danzō, she had switched places with a clone amid the white smoke. And that clone was no ordinary Shadow Clone. It was... Wood Release: Wood Clone!

A Wood Clone was sturdier than an ordinary Shadow Clone and would not be easily dispersed. Like a Shadow Clone, it also could not be distinguished from the original-not by the Sharingan, the Byakugan, or even the Rinnegan!

As the real Chinatsu's chakra-coated fist struck her Wood Clone's face, a trace of clarity gradually returned to the clone's vacant eyes.

When a clone was dispelled, its experiences were passed back to the original, while ordinary genjutsu could not affect clones.

But Kotoamatsukami was an exception. Chinatsu did not know whether dispelling a clone affected by Kotoamatsukami would pass the brainwashing on to her as well.

It was best to free the clone from the brainwashing first, then dispel it.

Chinatsu took a deep breath and exhaled heavily. For the moment, she could think of only two ways to break Kotoamatsukami.

First, no matter how powerful Kotoamatsukami was, it was still a genjutsu. One genjutsu could overwrite another, so she could simply overwrite Kotoamatsukami with something stronger. The theory worked, but she lacked the skills to put it into practice.

Second, genjutsu was ultimately just a form of chakra interference. All she had to do was disrupt that interference.

So Chinatsu decided to use the most brutal solution. She took a deep breath, clenched both hands into fists, and stared at the clone's face, identical to her own, with a look of grim resolve.

"Don't you dare dispel yourself before I beat you back to your senses!"

With that, Chinatsu unleashed a machine-gun barrage of punches on her Wood Clone, every single one aimed at... its face!

Chinatsu: "Ora ora ora ora ora!!!"

And just like that, half an hour passed.

Outside Konoha, a somewhat bedraggled Chinatsu walked toward the village, one step at a time. No one knew just how many punches she had ora-ora'd into her clone. Fortunately, she had never given up, and when she had only a tiny sliver of chakra left, she finally succeeded.

It had been anything but easy. If the one hit by Kotoamatsukami had not been a clone, Chinatsu could never have beaten them so freely and without restraint. Ultimately, Kotoamatsukami really was terrifying...

Feeling dizzy, her head throbbing, Chinatsu raised a hand to hold it. Whether it was a lingering side effect or simply her imagination, she still felt as though she could hear Shimura Danzō's voice inside her head.

Thankfully, it inspired no affection-only disgust.

When Konoha's guards saw someone returning, they immediately leaned out to take a look. Once they recognized Chinatsu, they relaxed. After all, she was quite well known within the village.

"Miss Chinatsu, back from a mission?"

"Yes, though it wasn't a particularly difficult one. After all, I'm only an ordinary Chunin," Chinatsu answered with a demure smile.

Although Chinatsu had no desire whatsoever to act ladylike, she had to admit that the sweet, innocent young lady image was useful. Besides, Shimura Danzō probably wanted her to keep up that image too.

Chinatsu breathed a huge sigh of relief after returning to Konoha. Though the village was not completely safe, it was far safer than Kumogakure. Most importantly, she had temporarily dealt with the threat posed by Shimura Danzō.

Chinatsu raised a hand to her chest, catching her breath. Her heart had really raced when she first encountered Shimura Danzō. It was still too early to fight him for real.

Shimura Danzō, enjoy your little victory for now. Once I've maxed out everything in my arsenal, your left flank won't be where I stick my Chidori next time!

Chinatsu clenched her fists and muttered under her breath. She lifted her head to look at the sky, thinking that it was still early and nowhere near time to pick up Naruto and Sasuke. She changed course and headed home.

Upon returning to the Uchiha Residence, Chinatsu felt wonderfully refreshed. She even had the urge to break into a dance.

Without realizing it, she had grown accustomed to this place and come to think of the Uchiha Residence as her home. Coming home really did feel good.

"All right! Forget Shimura Danzō for now. Let's prepare this beef and make a proper beef feast!"

Chinatsu looked confidently at the beef in her hands, then headed toward the kitchen inside the Uchiha Residence.

That evening, Sasuke and Naruto left the Ninja Academy at their usual time. As they approached the Uchiha Residence, wisps of black smoke rising from inside caught their attention...