Sarutobi Hiruzen stared coldly at Uchiha Shin, who stood before him, his presence radiating defiance.
"What do you intend to do?" Hiruzen demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.
"Old man Hokage, hand over Danzo to me."
Uchiha Shin wasted no time with pleasantries. His demand was absolute, cutting through the air like a blade.
Hiruzen's expression darkened, his emotions conflicted. On one hand, he was relieved that Uchiha Shin had not outright declared war on Konoha, but on the other, he felt the weight of the impossible request.
With a heavy sigh, he leaned back into his chair and attempted to reason with the younger man.
"Shin, you should go and find Danzo yourself. If there's an issue, we can discuss it—"
"Don't try to sweet-talk me. I'm not here for negotiations. Answer me—yes or no?"
Shin's voice cut through the room like a kunai, leaving no room for diplomacy. He remained by the door, his piercing gaze locked onto Hiruzen. The aged Hokage frowned but remained composed.
"You haven't even given a reason. At the very least, tell me why you're after Danzo," Hiruzen replied calmly.
Shin exhaled sharply, his irritation evident.
"I should have known talking to politicians is pointless."
He despised pointless discussions. Everyone knew the truth, yet they still played these diplomatic games.
Did Hiruzen think he was Uzumaki Mito, someone who would waste time arguing before attacking?
No. If someone reached for his throat, he would cut off their hand.
"Kagura's Mind Eye!"
In an instant, Shin expanded his sensory perception, covering the entirety of Konoha. He had already marked Danzo's chakra signature in advance, and now, he zeroed in on it with ease. His eyes flickered toward the Hokage Rock, the iconic monument of Konoha, as his senses guided him.
Below the colossal stone faces of the First, Second, and Third Hokage, he could feel multiple chakra signatures—all of them Chunin level or higher. There were no weaklings stationed there.
A hidden base beneath the Hokage Rock?
Shin smirked.
"Typical. The filth of Konoha takes root in its deepest shadows," he muttered.
Without another glance at Hiruzen, Shin turned and leaped out the window.
He landed lightly on the rooftops, his speed increasing as he made his way toward the Hokage Rock. His movements were a blur against the twilight sky.
Hiruzen's eyes widened in confusion before realization hit him like a storm.
"Hokage Rock… Danzo?"
His breath caught in his throat.
"Damn it!"
He wasted no time. Immediately, he summoned the Anbu and relayed urgent orders before launching himself in pursuit.
Hiruzen's mind raced. Shin wasn't attempting to impeach Danzo or expose his crimes through official means.
No.
He was going to execute him on the spot.
"Has he gone mad?!"
Hiruzen had prepared countermeasures, expecting a more conventional approach, but Shin had no interest in legal battles or evidence. He was out for blood.
Meanwhile, Shin had reached his destination. Without hesitation, he slammed both palms into the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Sever!"
Raw chakra surged through the earth, causing the entire Hokage Rock to tremble violently.
A deafening crack echoed through the village as a massive fissure split the monument in two.
BOOM!
Konoha's people gasped in horror as the revered stone faces of their leaders fractured apart, sending debris crashing into the streets below.
Hiruzen, arriving just in time to witness the destruction, was frozen in disbelief.
"Is he insane?!"
As the so-called Professor of Ninjutsu, Hiruzen recognized the technique, but the scale at which Shin had executed it was terrifying.
A simple Earth Flow Sever should not have had the power to split an entire mountain apart!
Deep underground, within the now-exposed Root headquarters, Danzo's eyes widened as the ceiling cracked above him.
Chunks of debris plummeted down, crushing Root facilities and personnel alike. The underground chamber was flooded with sunlight for the first time, illuminating the formerly hidden domain.
Standing amidst the destruction, silhouetted against the light, was Uchiha Shin.
Danzo swallowed hard, a rare flicker of fear gripping him.
"What the hell?! Wasn't this brat locked in a civil war with Uchiha Toyama?!"
After delivering his report to Hiruzen, Danzo had retreated to the safety of the Root base, thinking himself secure.
He had been wrong.
Shin's voice rang out, cold and absolute.
"Danzo, I'm here to kill you."
The old war hawk barely had time to react before Shin inhaled deeply.
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A roaring inferno erupted from Shin's mouth, a massive sea of flames consuming everything in its path.
The heat distorted the air, turning the underground chamber into an oven.
Danzo's panicked voice rang out:
"Counter it! Now!"
Dozens of Root operatives immediately formed hand seals, their voices uniting in a desperate chant.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
A towering barrier of water surged up, crashing against the oncoming fire.
HISSSSSS!
A thick cloud of steam filled the air as the opposing elements clashed.
But then—
Screams.
The intense heat boiled away the water within seconds. The steam was just as deadly as the flames, scalding the flesh from the bones of the Root operatives. The stench of burnt flesh filled the chamber.
Danzo's horror grew tenfold.
"Impossible…! How did our combined water jutsu fail?!"
Before he could process it, black flames burst forth, engulfing the remaining Root forces.
Danzo barely managed to leap away as the deadly Amaterasu flames consumed his men. Their agonized screams echoed through the cavern, but Shin paid no mind.
His Mangekyō Sharingan spun as he observed the devastation.
"Amaterasu is perfect for wiping out insects," he murmured, watching the flames feast upon his victims.
With his [Soul Sacrifice], even Amaterasu's flames absorbed vitality and chakra, making them an even deadlier weapon.
Lowering his gaze, Shin locked onto Danzo, who had managed to escape the immediate blaze but was now vulnerable in the open.
A slow smirk spread across Shin's face.
"Now, where do you think you're running to?"
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