Shimura Danzō!

Naruto's way with words... had actually worked.

Had Nagato... chosen to believe after all?

"The Rinnegan... the power to control life and death... it really is powerful."

This world's power system was getting more and more interesting.

The battle against Pain had ended.

Ye Chuan returned to his little hut and sat cross-legged, immersing his mind completely in the system panel.

[First inheritance template (Hawkeye · Dracule Mihawk) completed!]

[Completion of the first inheritance detected. Distributing milestone reward...]

[Congratulations, host! You have received a special item: Bloodline Evolution Pill x1]

[Bloodline Evolution Pill: A mysterious pill containing miraculous power. After consumption, it allows the host to selectively awaken a powerful bloodline based on physical compatibility. Note: The evolution outcome involves a degree of randomness. Please use with caution.]

"A Bloodline Evolution Pill?"

Ye Chuan looked at the glasslike pill in the system storage, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

"There's even a reward like this? Doesn't that mean I can selectively acquire a Kekkei Genkai?"

This was an unexpected windfall.

He had thought his power system would revolve entirely around Hawkeye's swordsmanship. He hadn't expected the system to give him a chance to incorporate this world's native power system!

Then which bloodline should I choose?

Ye Chuan began thinking rapidly.

The Sharingan? It has enormous potential, but evolving it into the Mangekyō or even the Rinnegan requires harsh conditions, and the side effects are obvious.

The Byakugan? Its scouting ability is first-rate, and it's quite powerful when paired with Gentle Fist, but its ceiling seems lower than the Sharingan's.

Wood Release? The First Hokage's divine technique, but I might not be able to wield it perfectly...

After much deliberation, a name finally surfaced in Ye Chuan's mind.

The strongest bloodline in this world... without question, it belongs to the Rabbit Goddess, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.

He thought of Kaguya possessing both the Byakugan and the Rinne Sharingan, along with her terrifying power to perform divine techniques such as All-Killing Ash Bones and Yomotsu Hirasaka.

If he could obtain Kaguya's bloodline, even just a portion of it, his strength would undergo another qualitative leap, truly giving him the means to act without restraint in this world.

But...

Ye Chuan ultimately suppressed the urge to take it immediately.

Kaguya's bloodline was far too shocking. Once exposed, it would likely draw the immediate attention of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, or even beings on a higher level. As he was now, he might not be able to withstand that.

Besides, the system warned that the evolution outcome involved randomness. What if the evolution went wrong?

More importantly...

His gaze returned to the countdown notification on the system panel.

[Second inheritance template locked! Countdown to inheritance activation: 19 hours, 34 minutes, 23 seconds...]

"I should wait until the second inheritance activates and see what power system it offers before deciding how to use this Bloodline Evolution Pill."

Choosing a bloodline that could complement both his swordsmanship and his second inheritance's abilities was the optimal solution.

Having made up his mind, Ye Chuan put the Bloodline Evolution Pill away for now, intending to first consolidate his newly completed Hawkeye inheritance.

But just then, his Observation Haki, which had reached its peak, suddenly triggered.

Outside the hut, more than a dozen sources of suppressed, icy killing intent were silently closing in from every direction like well-trained hunting hounds.

They moved extremely quickly and coordinated seamlessly. These clearly weren't ordinary ninja.

"Hmm?" Ye Chuan's gaze instantly turned cold.

At a time like this... who could it be?

A name immediately surfaced in his mind!

Shimura Danzō!

Ye Chuan suddenly realized!

His attention had been focused on Pain and the Akatsuki, and he had actually overlooked this greatest hidden threat within Konoha!

Tsunade had fallen unconscious from exhaustion, the village needed rebuilding on every front, and he had just fought a major battle. Although his strength had increased enormously, he had also expended a great deal...

For an ambitious schemer like Danzo, this was a heaven-sent opportunity to seize power!

In the original story, the man had stayed back and done nothing during Pain's invasion. He had even killed the messenger toad sent to Mount Myōboku for help, intent on waiting for Tsunade's downfall so he could take over...

Now, although Tsunade hadn't died, she was temporarily incapacitated.

And he, Tsunade's senior disciple, had displayed terrifying strength in the battle just now, enough to threaten Danzo's plans...

Without question, Danzo already regarded him as the greatest obstacle to seizing the Hokage position.

And the one that most urgently needed to be removed first!

"An accurate assessment, and decisive action. As expected of the man who upholds Konoha's dark side."

Ye Chuan slowly rose and gripped the Wado Ichimonji beside him.

He hadn't expected that, having just completed his inheritance, he would have to face a new challenger before he could even enjoy the joy of graduating.

And a challenge from one of Konoha's own, at that.

"Fine, then. Let me see whether this Root of yours is worthy... of being uprooted by me."

Ye Chuan pulled open the hut's door.

Outside, beneath the moonlight, more than a dozen masked Root ninja had already surrounded his humble little hut, leaving no gaps.

They held short blades, their bodies exuding a cold, deathly stillness, like emotionless killing machines.

Judging by their numbers and positions, Danzo had clearly resolved to kill him in a single strike!

The murderous tension was ready to erupt!

But just as the Root ninja were about to attack, Ye Chuan's gaze suddenly sharpened!

A terrifying pressure, seemingly originating from the depths of his soul, instantly erupted from his body like a tangible shock wave, sweeping outward in every direction!

[Conqueror's Haki]!!!

This was the quality of a king, awakened naturally when the [Hawkeye] inheritance reached 100% completion!

A power that required no training, relying purely on one's own force of spirit to directly crush an enemy's mind.

A gift possessed by only one person in a million!

Before this sudden, terrifying pressure-

Thud! Thud! Thud...

The dozen or so elite Root ninja surrounding him didn't even have time to react.

Like stalks of wheat being cut down, their eyes rolled back one after another. Foaming at the mouth, they collapsed to the ground in convulsions, instantly losing consciousness!

Their wills, which should have been incredibly resilient after brutal training, proved too fragile to withstand a single blow from true [Conqueror's Haki]!

Only a very few Root members with exceptionally strong willpower barely managed to remain standing, but their faces were deathly pale, and their entire bodies shook violently.

Their gazes as they looked at Ye Chuan were filled with unprecedented fear!

With just one look, one eruption of his presence, the force Danzo had carefully arranged to surround and kill him had instantly fallen apart!

Ye Chuan looked at the Root ninja sprawled across the ground, his face expressionless.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing the night as he looked toward a nearby spot concealed in shadow.

"Shimura Danzō, come out."

"These few men aren't nearly enough."

"I... won't run away."