"Are you threatening me?"
If Sarutobi Hiruzen had said this, maybe Hanzō would have tolerated it--but Danzo? Who did he think he was? Did he really think his title as Konoha's advisor gave him that kind of authority?
Who do you think you are?
Danzō could feel the killing intent emanating from Hanzō, and his heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, he took a step back.
"Danzō-sama, be careful!"
Noticing the shift in Hanzo's aura, Danzō's Root operatives immediately moved in, surrounding their leader in a protective formation. The rest of the team encircled Hanzō.
"Are you threatening me, Hanzo?" Danzō's anger flared.
Hanzō sneered, "You can threaten me, but I'm not allowed to threaten you? Seems I've overestimated you, Danzō, the so-called 'Root of Konoha.""
"Stop him!" Danzō's pupils contracted as he saw Hanzō's hand reach for the handle of his scythe. He quickly retreated, knowing full well that Hanzō had made up his mind. This wasn't just a bluff; Hanzo really intended to kill him.
Damn Hanzō!
Cursing inwardly, Danzō continued to fall back. He wasn't about to put himself in such a dangerous situation.
After the incident with Chiyo, Danzo had become especially cautious. He wasn't about to risk his life. If his subordinates died, they could be replaced, but if he died, that was the end of everything.
"Coward!" Danzō spat while fleeing, still trying to save face. Hanzō only felt more disdain. To think Danzō was part of Konoha's high command-he was nothing but a coward, not even on par with the Sannin.
At least the Sannin would fight back, willing to fight to the bitter end. But Danzō? All he did was run.
"Protect Danzō-sama!"
As soon as Hanzō revealed his intent, the Root operatives moved to shield their leader. A few stayed back to engage Hanzō, while the rest led Danzō to safety.
"Protect Lord Hanzō!" The Amegakure ninja, seeing the clash unfold, quickly joined the fray. "Ahhh!"
Danzō could hear the anguished cries of his subordinates behind him. His body trembled with rage, but he couldn't afford to stay. Now that he had lost both an eye and an arm, his strength had diminished significantly. He stood no chance against Hanzo in his current state.
If he stayed, the one who would die would be him, Danzō.
"Hanzo, you coward, you only know how to leave your subordinates to die!" Danzō shouted as he continued to flee.
This madman!
Never in his wildest dreams did Danzō imagine that his simple words would push Hanzō over the edge.
Danzō was used to using the village's authority to pressure others. It was a habit he had developed in Konoha.
But what he failed to realize was that Hanzo, after the war with Konoha and the humiliation he had endured, had grown extremely sensitive to such condescension.
By trying to lord over Hanzo, Danzo had only succeeded in enraging him.
"Danzō-sama, run! He's coming after us!" The Root operatives fought valiantly to buy Danzō time to escape.