The ruins of the Land of Ancestors lay an unknown distance from Konoha.
A blue butterfly fluttered through the air, eventually drawing a swarm of butterflies along with it.
Countless butterflies swept over a place resembling an altar, and a black silhouette appeared there with them.
"You're late."
As the shadow appeared, a figure dressed in an Onmyoji's hunting robes emerged atop the altar as a gate of light opened.
Black Zetsu, or rather... Tsuchimikado Getsuchō, who was being controlled by Black Zetsu.
Yet the shadow ignored Black Zetsu's words and instead strode to the very center of the altar.
"I need more eye power."
The shadow slowly raised his right hand and placed it over his eyes. There, a pair of grayish-white Sharingan brimmed with deathly stillness.
"Of course I have eye power, and I also have the power to evolve Kagami Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan. But you must pay a sufficient price for that.
"Shimura Danzō, our cooperation can officially begin now, can't it? You should know that returning to Konoha as it is now is impossible for you.
"And let me tell you a secret. That fellow Tobirama Senju... has been secretly watching you all this time. He knows everything you've done.
"Not only that, he... has also meddled with the Uchiha's kekkei genkai, just like you. So even if you're a false Shimura Danzō, you're still the person closest to Tobirama Senju."
This shadow was none other than Shimura Danzō, who should have perished together with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Or rather, the one here was still merely one of Shimura Danzō's Dream Clones.
"Shimura Danzō? From now on... that person will no longer exist. Shimura Danzō is dead. That was everyone's choice. The one who survived is only Baku."
Shimura Danzō-no, Baku-slowly raised his hand and gently stroked