met free Chapter 315 Danzo: No one understands the Sharingan better than me!
Chapter 315 Danzo: No one understands the Sharingan better than me!
Chapter 315 Danzo: No one understands the Sharingan better than me!
The next morning, the underground prison in Konoha was cold and silent.
Danzo suddenly woke up from his dream and instinctively reached out to touch his back.
All he could touch was the rough prison uniform, but the lingering pain from the knife wound in his dream last night lingered, as if it were a dull ache beneath his skin.
"snort."
He gave a low, cold snort, a hint of hatred flashing in his single eye.
Recalling the sudden, deadly strike from Sakumo Hatake in his dream, his face darkened instantly.
This useless, broken dream has wasted an entire night of my life!
Danzo cursed under his breath, took a deep breath to force himself to calm down, closed his eyes and began to sort out every detail of last night's dream.
In that dream world, the Root organization was on its last legs and running out of manpower; the Akatsuki organization was secretly pressing closer and closer—even the Senju clan colluded with Orochimaru, plundering war orphans on a large scale, and Root's power was squeezed to the point of almost suffocation.
The enemy of the Land of Fire is not outside, but inside Konoha!
Damn it, how can we restore the glory of Konoha by associating with these insects!
After reviewing this intelligence, Danzo realized that in that world, both he and the entire Root organization were merely empty shells with their fates sealed.
No wonder!
No wonder those two old foxes, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, embarrassed him in public. Their favoritism was so blatant; they'd rather humiliate him than not fawn over Orochimaru.
At that moment, he suddenly understood, as if the clouds had parted and the sun had shone through.
It wasn't that the two old guys suddenly changed their ways, but rather that they were better than anyone else at reading people's expressions and keenly sensed the shift in the power dynamics.
I, Danzo Shimura, am losing power in that world, while Orochimaru is at the height of his power.
Therefore, these two people did not hesitate to become fence-sitters and quickly side with Orochimaru.
Having figured all this out, Danzo felt no relief whatsoever; instead, he felt even more frustrated and resentful.
After all, in that dream, his political setbacks were entirely due to these short-sighted fools!
In his view, as long as the roots remain strong, how could those people dare to betray him?
As long as he keeps his hand on the hidden hilt of the knife, they are only fit to forever bow down in submission!
These parasites have no right to comment.
Danzo involuntarily recalled another dream he had experienced.
That world where Izuna-sensei is still alive—that is the true ninja world!
There, he held a superior position with a promising future; even Hiruzen Sarutobi had to be mindful of Danzo Shimura's feelings.
That's right, that was the grand stage for him to realize his ambitions!
But besides that, let's look at other absurd worlds.
One is a world where Minato Namikaze is still alive, forcing the Root organization to hide underground and eke out a living.
The other one is this godforsaken place where the roots are practically gone, and where I was chased around like a stray dog by Sakumo Hatake last night.
What a mess this world is!
Danzo's anger burned ever brighter, and intense resentment surged to his head.
He clenched his fists in anger, roaring inwardly in frustration.
Why?! Why is it that when others go to other worlds, all they get are opportunities to make up for their regrets and realize their dreams?!
Why did Orochimaru, that good-for-nothing brat, not only successfully master Wood Release in his dream, but also gain the support of the Senju clan, and even have Hiruzen Sarutobi tacitly acknowledge him as his successor?
Hatake Sakumo, a dead man who should have been buried, was able to come back to life and enjoy boundless glory!
Why is it that I, an old man, am forced to go to these awful places where I suffer, endure hardship, and lose face?!
Why is God so unfair to me?
Why do you favor those mediocre talents, refusing to spare even the slightest favor for this old man?!
After venting his resentment, an even stronger desire and obsession gripped Danzo's heart.
He longed for the world where Izuna-sensei was still alive.
Only there could he rediscover the glory and stage that belonged to Danzo Shimura.
Next time, I must go back to that world!
Danzo made a silent vow in his heart.
He desperately longed to witness once again the unparalleled charisma of the First Hokage, Uchiha Madara, who looked down upon the world with such dominance—that was the true glory of Konoha!
He also longs to seize greater power under the guidance and protection of Izuna-sensei, to put his ultimate ideals into practice, and to put Konoha on the right track as he envisions.
Just thinking about how, in that world, mediocre talents like Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado were still very weak back then—Danzo's lips slowly curled into a sinister smile.
"Hmph, just you wait."
He murmured to himself.
When I return to that world, I will definitely teach you ungrateful bastards who led Konoha to its decline a lesson!
I will show you what a terrible fate awaits those who betray Shimura Danzo and the Will of Fire!
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office in Konoha.
Stacks of files were piled on the table, with several orders on top that were still wet with ink but not yet stamped.
Tsunade sat upright in the chair that symbolized the highest power in Konoha, her hands folded on the table, her expression solemn.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in front of the desk, not sitting down.
He didn't sit down as casually as he used to, perhaps because he no longer had that right, or perhaps because the topic at hand was too heavy for him to sit down.
The astonishment on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face had not completely faded, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.
He asked in a trembling voice, "What—what did you say?"
Tsunade's tone was firm and resolute as she said, "What I mean is, after being imprisoned for so long, it's time to give Shimura Danzo a formal trial."
"Trial—Danzo?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi could hardly believe his ears and instinctively wanted to speak up to stop him.
However, before he could finish speaking, Tsunade suddenly raised her hand and shouted sharply, "Old man!"
Her gaze was intense, like a sharp sword pointing directly at Hiruzen Sarutobi's cloudy eyes.
"Don't forget, you were the one who ordered a thorough investigation of Danzo and his imprisonment! And what's the result after all this time?"
After saying this, Tsunade suddenly stood up and slammed her palms heavily on the table.
The sunlight elongated her shadow, and an imposing aura instantly enveloped the entire office.
"Danzo has been imprisoned for so long, and besides keeping him in the dungeon to reflect on his actions, have you taken any substantial action?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his mouth, intending to say that the investigation would take time, the evidence needed to be complete, and that such matters should be handled with caution—but faced with Tsunade's aggressive gaze, he couldn't utter a single word of these excuses.
Without pausing, Tsunade continued her questioning, "He's been confined to the dungeon every day. Aside from losing his freedom, has he been deprived of anything—food, supplies, even books? You, the former Hokage, even bring him gifts to visit him every few days!"
At this point, a mocking sneer curled at the corner of her lips. "At this rate, he'll probably be living a much more comfortable life than those ninjas who were crippled in missions or lost their loved ones in war, right? Is this what you call investigation and punishment?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was rendered speechless by this series of questions, his old face turning red and white in turns. He wanted to defend himself but ultimately had nothing to say.
Especially in last night's dream, Orochimaru's cold words echoed in my ears again.
"Danzo isn't worried at all about being punished by his teacher."
How similar it is between dreams and reality!
His indecisive and lukewarm handling of Danzo was just a way of instilling in the other party the illusion and confidence that "no one will really do anything to me anyway."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze gradually dimmed, a belated sense of regret weighing heavily on his heart.
He remained silent for a long time, then finally nodded helplessly and sighed, "—You decide what to do."
As soon as he uttered those words, something he had always held onto crumbled.
In an instant, Hiruzen Sarutobi aged ten years, his back hunched slightly, and his eyes lost their light.
He slowly turned around, no longer glancing at Tsunade, nor lingering on the chair he had sat in for decades, and walked with somewhat unsteady steps toward the door.
He stopped at the door, without turning around, and whispered to Tsunade with his back to her, "Perhaps—I really am getting old."
"The same goes for Naruto's situation."
"The same goes for Danzo's matter."
He turned his face slightly to the side, and in the morning light, the wrinkles on his face appeared even more pronounced.
"From now on, you can make your own decisions about these kinds of things. You don't need to tell me anymore—you are the Fifth Hokage of Konoha."
After saying that, he didn't linger, reached out and opened the door, then slowly walked out.
The door closed softly, yet it seemed like a dividing line, separating the remnants of one era from another.
The office fell silent again.
Tsunade remained standing behind the table, gazing at the closed door. The sharp glint in her eyes had gradually faded, replaced by a calm and resolute expression.
She knew that her teacher had truly entrusted the future of Konoha to her this time.
In a dark underground cavern within the Land of Grass, a fierce battle has just concluded.
The muffled thuds of fists colliding and the clanging sounds of clashing swords gradually subsided, leaving only heavy breathing echoing between the rock walls.
Sasuke knelt on one knee, covered in dust, his clothes torn and tattered in many places, with charred burn marks on the edges, and several new bright red wounds on his exposed skin.
However, his eyes remained as firm as iron, fixed on the person opposite him.
A few steps ahead of him, Madara stood with his arms crossed, quietly observing the panting Sasuke.
The tall figure remained motionless, a rare hint of condescending satisfaction appearing on his cold face.
"Not bad." Ban nodded slightly, his voice deep and magnetic. "Your resolve is much stronger than when you first arrived here."
He took a few steps forward, his tall figure casting Sasuke's shadow like a small mountain, his tone revealing a hint of approval.
"It seems—you've begun to understand and are willing to accept it."
"Reality is often more cruel and ruthless than we imagine."
"Only by truly experiencing this cruelty can you achieve real growth and gain the power to determine your destiny."
-
Upon hearing this, Sasuke gritted his teeth and, despite his weak and sore body, forced himself to stand up slowly.
He raised his hand to wipe away the blood that had spilled from the corner of his mouth, and pouted unconvinced, saying, "I understand these big principles without you having to tell me."
Having gone through so many hardships, Sasuke understands the cruelty of reality better than anyone else. What he needs now is not preaching, but utter power.
Faced with Sasuke's almost defiant response, Madara was not angry at all; instead, a smile appeared on his lips.
Very good. His pride remains. This little wolf cub has the greatest potential to become his pawn and is the most like a successor.
This is more like a Uchiha, not a piece of trash like Obito.
"Good to know," Ban said calmly, his tone clearly conveying a sense that his efforts had not been in vain.
Just then, in the shadow of the rock wall on one side of the cave, the earth suddenly swelled up like soft mud.
A strange humanoid figure slowly rose from the soil; it was none other than Jue.
Sasuke glanced at Zetsu, said nothing, and simply nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
After spending some time together, he was no longer unfamiliar with this elusive follower of Madara, and he also knew that Zetsu was an important source of intelligence and executor for Madara.
Madara waved his hand, signaling Sasuke to step back, and said calmly, "Go down first and thoroughly review the taijutsu techniques I just taught you."
"Yes." Sasuke withdrew his gaze from Zetsu, nodded respectfully, and then turned to walk deeper into the cave.
Gradually, his figure disappeared into the darkness, and the sound of his footsteps vanished completely.
Madara only turned around after hearing Sasuke walk away.
The instructive look on his face had completely vanished, replaced by his usual indifferent and dignified demeanor.
"How is the situation?" Ban asked in a deep voice.
The situation he was referring to was naturally the progress of Project Eye of the Moon.
Black Zetsu bowed slightly and respectfully replied, "Lord Madara, the Akatsuki's tailed beast capture operation has officially begun, and everything is progressing as expected."
"Oh?" Madara raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "That Obito brat is actually being quite obedient this time, not causing any unexpected trouble?"
As if recalling a funny scene, Zetsu's smile widened, and he said lightly, "So far, he's cooperating quite well. He's officially joined the Akatsuki under the alias Tobi, and he's even partnered with me in an operation."
"On your team?" Madara narrowed his eyes slightly and repeated it meaningfully.
After a moment, he nodded and said, "That's good."
Rain Village, top floor of the central tower.
Under the dim sky, the drizzling raindrops kept pattering against the outer wall of the tower.
-
In the main hall inside the tower, Pain, Konan, and Obito reunited.
Unlike the tense and confrontational atmosphere of their previous meetings, there was now a strange sense of cooperation between the three of them.
Obito had completely changed his outfit.
He wore an orange swirling mask that covered his entire face, leaving only the hole in his right eye visible.
He was wearing an Akatsuki uniform with a black background and red clouds, and a ring with the character "空" (empty) engraved on the ring finger of his left hand.
That ring originally belonged to Orochimaru.
At this moment, he tilted his head slightly, playing with the ring on his hand with great interest.
Pain silently observed Obito's new appearance. After a few seconds of silence, he finally asked without any emotion, "Was it necessary for you to change your mask and fabricate an identity as Tobi before joining the organization?"
In Payne's view, this was completely unnecessary.
What does it mean to change the name but not the substance?
Upon hearing this, Obito stopped fiddling with the ring and shook his head, saying, "Too many people recognized him with that previous mask. I need a completely new identity. This Tobi is a clean slate, which makes things easier."
Clearly, he was quite pleased with himself for playing different roles, and even enjoyed it.
Konan stood beside Payne, a hint of helplessness and a faint doubt flashing in her purple eyes.
From one mysterious masked man to another mysterious masked man.
Obito's actions were truly baffling.
But looking at his slightly trembling shoulders, he seemed to be quite pleased with his new identity.
Xiao Nan couldn't help but exchange a glance with Payne, her eyes revealing a hint of unspoken worry.
Payne seemed to have given up on dwelling on the issue, and simply sighed softly: "—Let's leave it at that for now."
After all, the current plan is the most important thing, and as for Obito's performance art, let him be.
The Akatsuki organization is full of talented people, and Obito is not the only oddball. It's just that he had been living in seclusion behind the scenes, and Nagato had rarely had any contact with him.
Having said that, Pain turned his attention back to the main topic and looked at Obito, asking, "Is the next target decided?"
"Of course," Obito said confidently. "Utaka, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki of Kirigakure, is currently wandering outside the village. Without the protection of a ninja village, he's a lone, easy target. Let's capture him next."
"Okay, then I'll trouble you." Payne nodded and said matter-of-factly.
Hearing Pain's blunt arrangement, Obito's body stiffened, and his tone instantly changed from smug to incredulous: "Me again?"
He whirled around, glaring at Pain through the single hole in his mask, and began to complain, counting on his fingers, "I was the one who found the new recruits, I was the one who negotiated the cooperation with Orochimaru, and now you're even dumping this dirty and tiring job of capturing tailed beasts on me?"
Obito sensed something was amiss.
He, who once controlled the ninja world, has now been reduced to Nagato's number one errand boy.
Isn't this going against the Heavenly Gang?
Faced with Obito's complaints, Pain remained calm and said, "You said it yourself. Madara Uchiha might be secretly watching my Rinnegan and told me not to leave Amegakure without permission, so as not to give him an opportunity to take advantage of me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Obito's expression behind his mask froze, as if he had choked on his own words.
Yes, those were his words. Now that they're being used to shut him up, it's like shooting himself in the foot; he's left speechless with bitterness.
But he remained unconvinced and continued to argue, "Then what about the other members? Aren't they quite free? I remember Sasori and Kakuzu already completed their missions and returned to Amegakure to rest, didn't they?"
His words sounded exactly like those of a working-class person trying to shirk their work and pass it on to other colleagues.
Konan quickly added, "They are indeed in the village. But the Six-Tails Jinchuriki is very secretive, mainly active in the waters near Kirigakure and the border mountains, where the terrain is complex and tracking them is difficult. The others are neither as familiar with the Kirigakure environment as you are, nor do they have your ability to freely traverse space to deal with unexpected situations."
Pain nodded, his tone calm, but he said something that slightly surprised Obito: "Moreover, as far as I know, your ability is the most efficient at capturing Jinchuriki, and it causes the least commotion. None of the other members of Akatsuki are as good as you."
Obito was stunned.
He felt very uncomfortable being praised by Payne in a detached yet extremely confident tone, but he had to admit that the words were particularly pleasing to the ear.
Especially the comment that none of the other members were as good as him, which greatly reduced the anger that had been building up inside him from being bossed around. He subconsciously puffed out his chest and snorted, "That goes without saying."
Pain and Konan worked together, using both soft and hard tactics, reasoning with him while also giving him face. Obito knew in his heart that he couldn't refuse this task.
He stood up irritably, ready to leave.
As he turned around, he couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Tsk, it feels like I'm working for you now."
He clearly sees himself as a collaborator and even a behind-the-scenes leader, but in practice, he's increasingly resembling a high-level employee being relentlessly exploited by his boss.
Payne ignored the grumbling; his Rinnegan remained calm and still, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
Xiao Nan, standing to the side, turned her head slightly. At this moment, she had to keep the corners of her mouth down, knowing that this was difficult.
After all, the man in front of us, who was once mysterious and always claimed to be a master of impersonating Madara Uchiha, and even once threatened Nagato's life, now showed such a defeated and helpless appearance, which was both satisfying and ridiculous.
At that moment, Obito suddenly stopped, as if he had remembered something, and said without turning his head, "This time, I'm going to take Kisame and Itachi Uchiha with me."
He specifically mentioned these two people's names when he spoke.
Kisame is from Kirigakure, so he is familiar with the environment there, and his abilities are suitable for suppressing Jinchuriki.
Uchiha Furu was incredibly powerful; his Sharingan, combined with genjutsu, greatly enhanced his control efficiency.
More importantly, he didn't intend to do all the work by himself; he had to drag others into it, especially this health-conscious group—he couldn't let them be idle.
In any case, it was he who helped solve Itachi Uchiha's health problems.
Using swimming for health is a bit unreasonable.
"Okay." Payne nodded almost without thinking. "I'll inform them to meet up with you, and you'll be responsible for coordinating the operation."
For him, as long as the mission can be completed efficiently, it doesn't matter what kind of team Obito wants to form.
"Okay, okay," Obito replied lazily, dragging out his words, completely unconcerned.
Then, he waved his hand, not even looking at Payne and Konan again, and the space around him began to distort silently.
In the blink of an eye, his figure disappeared along with the ripples in that space.
The top floor of the tower returned to calm, with only the incessant sound of rain outside the window.
Xiao Nan lowered her hand from her lips, the smile on her face gradually fading, but a hint of relaxation still lingered between her brows.
She looked at Payne and whispered, "This guy is unpredictable, but surprisingly easy to use. Nagato, how did you come up with such a way to control him?"
She was a little curious; Nagato seemed to be getting better and better at dealing with this dangerous collaborator.
Payne did not answer immediately.
He slowly turned around, his back to Xiao Nan, gazing at the endless rain outside the window, the gray sky reflected in his Rinnegan.
After a moment of silence, Payne suddenly spoke up: "Konan, don't you think so?"
"What do you mean?" Xiao Nan was taken aback, a look of confusion flashing in her eyes.
"The way he looked just now—" Payne's voice was low and complex, "very much like Yahiko."
Xiao Nan's pupils suddenly contracted, and her expression froze instantly.
Nagato's reminder suddenly awakened a subtle feeling that had long been buried by time and pain.
Despite their completely different temperaments, stances, and purposes, at the moment when Pain was controlling her, Obito did exude a familiar feeling that made her heart tremble.
Night was falling.
Before falling asleep, Danzo kept muttering to himself, hoping to return to the world where Izuna-sensei existed.
However, when his consciousness sank into darkness and then resurfaced, Danzo opened his one eye and was greeted by the familiar office.
The humiliation he suffered yesterday, the lingering pain of shame, and the image of the decaying root organization described by Ryoma Aburame all rushed back to his mind like a tidal wave.
Danzo's eyes flashed with barely concealed agitation.
It's here again!
He cursed inwardly.
Why hasn't the dream world that would allow him to follow the First Hokage, Madara Uchiha, and achieve great things arrived yet?
But this very place, where he constantly ran into obstacles and lost all his prestige, kept appearing again and again!
He pushed open the office door with a gloomy expression and looked around.
The corridor was slightly more lively than yesterday.
In the distance, several members of the root were moving back and forth silently, exchanging documents, while a dull-witted guard stood at the door once again.
However, compared to the scene of the Root Organization at its peak in my memory, everything before me still seemed desolate and quiet.
The once prestigious root base has fallen to such a state, so shabby it's disheartening.
Danzo sighed silently, a sense of powerlessness mixed with resentment and anger washing over him once again.
Why can others command the wind and rain in their dreams, while he has to struggle to clean up the mess here!
Could it be that he's the one to save Konoha from this world?
Danzo thought about it more and more and more likely it was true.
The Leaf Village in this world is like a large tree that has been eaten away by termites and is full of wormholes, teetering on the verge of collapse.
Perhaps only he has the ability to get Konoha back on track.
Looking at the situation where Orochimaru, Sakumo Hatake, and even the Akatsuki were squeezing him almost to the point of suffocation, he leaned against the door, staring blankly at the few scattered figures in the corridor, and subconsciously whispered, his tone full of longing and resentment: "But—why—why can't it be Izuna-sensei's world—"
Rather than trying to turn the tide, he preferred to reap the benefits without sowing.
Wait a minute, Izuna-sensei?
These four words were like a pebble thrown into still water, instantly creating ripples in his heart.
Danzo's single eye suddenly lit up.
Uchiha!
The surname resonated deeply in his mind.
Yes, that's right—Uchiha!
This dream world is still far from the night of the Uchiha clan's massacre, so the Uchiha clan naturally still exists!
His ecstatic emotions instantly overwhelmed his previous dejection.
He suddenly stood up straight, his single eye gleaming with a greedy and calculating light, as if he had discovered a priceless treasure.
In reality, I was misled by the ideas and policies of that old man Tobirama Senju, and regarded the Uchiha as an inherently evil and untrustworthy threat. I fought against them for decades, wasting countless efforts, and in the end, I even personally contributed to the destruction of the Uchiha clan.
Looking back, he couldn't help but feel heartbroken; what a foolish thing to do!
At this moment, Danzo's eyes became incredibly sharp, gleaming with a fierce light.
No one in the world knows the terrifying potential hidden within the Uchiha clan better than I do!
No one understood the Sharingan better than Shimura Danzo!
From powerful manipulation of illusions to the ultimate evolution of dynamic vision, from replicating various ninjutsu to the various secret techniques after awakening ocular power, and even the legendary Mangekyou Sharingan—the Uchiha clan is the strongest elite born for battle!
And what about in this dream world?
According to the intelligence he had previously gathered: Orochimaru was at the height of his power, backed by the Senju clan; Sakumo Hatake was not only alive, but also led the Akatsuki organization, which could compete with Root for talent; Hiruzen Sarutobi's attitude was ambiguous; Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were opportunists; and his own Root was devastated and had no one to rely on.
So, what about the Uchiha clan?
What is their situation in this world? Are they still excluded from the core of power, suffering from the suspicion of those above and alienation from the villagers, just like in reality?
If it continues like this—
A crazy and tempting idea quickly took root in Danzo's mind: what if, in this world, he stopped being hostile to and suppressing the Uchiha clan, but instead took the initiative to contact and win them over, and even vigorously support them?
Danzo's breathing became rapid.
He could almost see that spectacular scene.
A brand new Root unit composed entirely of Uchiha elites, absolutely loyal to Shimura Danzo!
They possess the Sharingan's power to perceive, copy, and even unleash powerful illusions and forbidden techniques.
Although their emotions are a weakness, he can skillfully exploit and manipulate them, turning them into the sharpest weapon.
Such a force is enough to clear away any obstacle in his path!
Once the support of the Uchiha clan is secured—
Danzo slowly clenched his fist, a fierce fire of ambition burning in his single eye.
In this world, he will never again be chased and slashed by Sakumo Hatake, trampled underfoot by Orochimaru, or looked down upon by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Koharu Utatane.
He will realize the great revival of Konoha Village!