Danzo

Biodata

History

Attempts to Seize Rinto’s Research

Danzo’s Root agents initially approached Rinto in Konoha and demanded his research materials, only to be incapacitated. Orochimaru subsequently offered to restrain Danzo’s interference as part of a bargain for Rinto’s help improving a Cursed Seal’s concealment. Kabuto later confirmed that Root had temporarily stopped approaching the laboratory after Orochimaru spoke to Danzo 8 10.

The reprieve ended when Root joined the Anbu assault on Rinto’s laboratory. Root operatives brought chakra-restraining tools and erected a sealing barrier that blocked even the air vents. Rinto escaped through an emergency passage and destroyed the laboratory rather than surrender his work 20.

Root continued pursuing him outside Konoha. Operatives attacked his mine hideout and demanded his research for Danzo, then attempted another capture after a black-market auction. Their sealing formation was specifically designed to suppress his chakra attributes, but Rinto destroyed its core and escaped 25 27.

Escalation After Dust Release

A Root squad confronted Rinto in the Forest of Death under orders to kill him if he resisted. He used Dust Release to kill three of the eight attackers, allowing the survivors to flee 29.

Danzo was present when a survivor reported the defeat to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Previously interested in using Rinto’s Kekkei Genkai tools to strengthen Root, he now viewed the research as a means of mass-producing Kage-level combat power. He demanded that Rinto be captured at any cost—or killed before another village could acquire him. Hiruzen then designated Rinto an S-rank missing-nin and raised his bounty to ten million ryō. Danzo privately resolved to recover the technology even from Rinto’s corpse 29.

Root followed Rinto to the Land of Whirlpools. Fighting between Root and Orochimaru’s Sound Ninja accidentally triggered the ruins’ buried sealing arrays, causing a chain reaction across the island. The Root captain reiterated Danzo’s order to return with Rinto alive or dead, but ultimately retreated after witnessing his barehanded Dust Release 31.

Falling Sand Town Operations

When Rinto returned to Falling Sand Town, Danzo dispatched Kazama and five elite Root jōnin to capture him. Danzo ordered them to preserve Rinto’s hands and brain and warned them to suppress his chakra circulation before he could cast Kekkei Tōta. Rinto disabled the squad and sent Kazama back with a warning to stop interrupting his research 45 46.

Danzo severely punished Kazama for the failure. Before the next underground auction, he ordered Kazama either to capture Rinto or seize the materials Rinto wanted, preventing any further increase in his strength. Root also sought Tobirama Senju’s sealing manuscript for its own use, but Rinto outbid Kazama with reusable ninja tools 48.

The subsequent ambush escalated into an attempt to capture or destroy Rinto and his research. Jiraiya intervened, condemned Root’s theft of research, and challenged the legitimacy of Danzo’s wanted notice. Facing the consequences of another failure, Kazama and four operatives activated Root’s Death Cursed Seals. Kazama died during the confrontation 49.

The pursuit nevertheless continued. Root scouts tracked Rinto toward the Land of Waterfalls, while Kakashi declined to arrest him and instructed his teammates to conceal their encounter from Danzo 50.

Appearance

• One visible eye: Danzo is described as having a “lone eye” when reacting to the report of Rinto’s Dust Release 29.

Personality

Danzo treats Rinto’s discoveries primarily as military assets. His interest escalates from multiplying Root’s strength with Kekkei Genkai tools to acquiring technology he believes could produce Kage-level fighters. Shock at Rinto’s progress quickly gives way to greed and a determination to monopolize the research 29.

He combines claims of village security with coercion, lethal orders, and harsh punishment for failure. His willingness to recover knowledge from a corpse shows that preserving Rinto’s life is secondary to obtaining the technology. Kazama’s fear of returning unsuccessful is so severe that he chooses a suicidal attack rather than face Danzo again 29 48 49.

Abilities & Resources

Root Command

Danzo directs elite capture teams, sealing specialists, scouts, and suicide operatives 29 46 49 50.

• Issues mission-specific instructions, including preserving Rinto’s hands and brain during capture 46.
• Maintains pursuit across national borders and into the Land of Whirlpools 25 31.
• Uses operatives whose fear of punishment reinforces their willingness to undertake lethal missions 48 49.

Specialized Capture Countermeasures

Danzo prepares operations around intelligence about Rinto’s techniques rather than relying solely on direct combat 27 46.

• Deploys sealing formations tailored to Rinto’s chakra attributes 27.
• Orders the preparation of tags that obstruct chakra transmission 46.
• Equips capture teams with binding chains intended to suppress instantly cast ninjutsu 46.
• These measures repeatedly fail against Rinto’s ability to dismantle seals and disrupt chakra configurations 27 46.

Wanted Notices and Intelligence

Danzo circulates a wanted notice portraying Rinto as an exceptionally dangerous rogue ninja 47 50.

• Kakashi initially recognizes Rinto through the notice but suspects its charges serve Danzo’s attempt to seize his technology 47.
• Jiraiya challenges the notice’s legitimacy, stating that he found no corresponding notice on the Hokage’s office board 49.
• Root scouts continue reporting Rinto’s movements after Kazama’s death 50.

Relationships

• Rinto — Target of repeated capture and assassination orders. Danzo covets his research, while Rinto refuses to return to Konoha because he expects Danzo to deprive him of his freedom and extract his knowledge 29 46 50.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi — Danzo urges the Third Hokage to treat Rinto’s technology as a threat that must not fall into another village’s hands. Hiruzen subsequently orders an S-rank designation and increased bounty 29.
• Orochimaru — Longstanding rival. Orochimaru temporarily restrains Danzo’s interference, but their subordinates later fight over access to Rinto 10 31.
• Kazama — Elite subordinate assigned to difficult capture missions. Danzo punishes his failure and later gives him orders to capture Rinto or prevent him from acquiring further research 46 48 49.
• Jiraiya — Opposes Danzo’s pursuit, protects Rinto, and threatens to confront Hiruzen about Root’s misconduct 49.
• Kakashi Hatake — Distrusts Danzo’s motives and ultimately refuses to enforce his wanted notice against Rinto 47 50.

Notable Quotes

“We must capture him at any cost, or kill him outright. We absolutely cannot let him fall into another hidden village’s hands.” 29