Chapter 352: The Source of Hiruzen Sarutobi's Descent into Darkness
It was a highly dangerous ability—Onmyōji.
Though it sounded like mastery over yin and yang, low-level Onmyōji could barely manage the circulation of yin-yang energies within themselves.
These energies were used to summon and sustain shikigami,
but if the internal balance between yin and yang was disrupted,
it could lead to emotional instability at best—or mental collapse at worst.
Thus, Onmyōji were a deeply polarized group.
Some, who specialized in light-type shikigami and had abundant yang energy, would gather in temples and sanctuaries to ward off spirits and protect civilians.
They were revered by the people.
Others, who summoned ghost-type shikigami, were reclusive and eerie.
The more frightening among them would even slaughter entire villages to craft shikigami or use them as nourishment to grow their spirits.
"Danzo, activate Well of Death Qi!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the order to his summoned shikigami.
Well of Death Qi—
a large-scale healing ability that consumes massive amounts of yin energy,
a passive skill awakened by the shikigami based on its attributes and the will of the summoner.
"How foolish you've become, Hiruzen…"
The Shadowdeath Treant trembled its branches,
spilling black smoke like dust. On its vaguely human-like face, a look of strong disapproval emerged.
"You left the command center, risked your life to fight the Abyssal Evil Gods, and now you want to deplete your energy before battle?"
The Well of Death Qi consumed enormous energy.
Activating it would significantly hinder upcoming combat.
The shikigami, imbued with Danzo's soul and consciousness, sent out strong mental resistance, refusing the command.
"These shinobi… it's an honor for them to die protecting Konoha."
"But they're not dead yet. I can still save them."
Hiruzen remained expressionless, forcibly taking control and initiating the skill.
Shikigami and Onmyōji operated based on compatibility. The better the bond, the stronger the performance.
Usually, commands were given respectfully—never forced.
But Hiruzen pushed through without hesitation.
"Hiruzen… after being betrayed and discarded by the clans, tortured and humiliated, you're still this naïve?"
Danzo's spirit had become even more twisted after death.
He hated Orochimaru for daring to attack the village he once manipulated.
He hated the clans for keeping their strength hidden, waiting for a chance to defect.
And most of all, he hated—
Hiruzen's softness.
Forgiving the Uchiha boy who tried to kill him.
Allowing his own son Asuma to publicly oppose him.
"If I were still alive, I would never have been this weak!"
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"
"Shut it. I am the Onmyōji!"
The Treant's branches lashed outward, spreading waves of yin energy over the injured ninjas and civilians.
Though cold as frost, the dark mist restored their wounds like a healing spring.
One shinobi, lying on the ground with ruptured organs, visibly healed under the effect of the Well of Death Qi.
"If I'd had this ability back then… Dan might have survived."
Hiruzen's eyes were filled with emotion.
Had Dan not died, Tsunade wouldn't have fallen into despair or left the village.
The Legendary Sannin wouldn't have disbanded.
And maybe—just maybe—Orochimaru wouldn't have gone down the path of destruction.
"You're still wallowing in regrets, Hiruzen?"
As a shikigami, Danzo could faintly sense the fluctuations in Hiruzen's mood.
He sneered,
"It's your indecision that doomed Konoha. From the strongest village, we've become a laughingstock squatting in the Land of Hot Water."
"If you were going to wipe out the Uchiha, you should have eradicated them all."
"If you wanted to uplift civilian ninja, you should have crushed the clans—not tried to please both sides, becoming neither here nor there."
"If you wanted a proper Jinchūriki out of Naruto, you shouldn't have been afraid to support him openly, nor hesitant to entrust him to Root. Now he's a half-baked mess."
"Everything proves the Third Hokage was a mistake."
"You were never fit to be Hokage. Only I could have led Konoha to glory!"
Danzo's spiritual obsession remained potent even in death.
Now, without the limits of flesh, his emotions surged unchecked—his hatred, ambition, and bitterness turned near-physical.
In life, he had hidden behind diplomacy.
But now he made no attempt to pretend.
As Danzo's scathing words echoed in his mind,
Hiruzen's eyes dimmed—shrouded briefly in death qi—before he quickly snapped out of it, voice cold as steel.
"Shut your mouth. Sensei's decision is not for a coward like you to question."
"If you had become Hokage, Konoha would've turned into a bloodstained replica of the Mist."
He didn't deny Danzo's criticisms.
He knew his mistakes had led to Konoha's collapse.
But that was why he was doing everything now to atone.
Danzo's voice shifted: "When will you revive me?"
He hated this half-dead state. He wanted life.
Hiruzen sneered,
"You plotted with Orochimaru, gave him Konoha's defense plans, and helped bring about the village's destruction. Even if I wanted to revive you, do you think the others would allow it?"
He was furious.
If not for their long friendship, he would've destroyed Danzo's soul already.
To the surrounding shinobi,
this entire exchange looked like Hiruzen muttering incantations to activate a skill—
none could hear the shikigami's internal conversation.
He didn't linger. Once the healing ended, he charged to the frontlines.
Looking at the collapsed buildings, the bloodied shinobi still fighting tooth and nail to stop the Abyssal Evil Gods—
Hiruzen clenched his teeth and let out a silent scream.
It looked just like the fall of Konoha all over again.
Only this time, it wasn't rival nations, but deep abyssal horrors.
"Maybe you're right, Danzo. I was never fit to be Hokage…"
His voice trembled with sorrow and guilt.
Civilians fled in terror.
Ninjas fell one by one.
Ninjutsu rained down on the Abyssal Evil Gods, barely slowing them.
Any opening gave the [Abyss Brutes] a chance to kill.
[Abyss Mages, Abyss Summoners, and Abyss Swordsmen]—each an Evil God avatar—ravaged every corner of the Land of Hot Water.
Corpses littered the earth.
"Sea of Dead Trees!"
Hiruzen, full of anguish, unleashed his strongest move.
The Treant shikigami melted into the ground,
and in an instant—
A forest of dark, twisted trees erupted, engulfing half the city.
The black branches moved like iron chains,
entangling the Evil Gods.
Each time one broke free, more emerged to trap it again.
The branches dripped with concentrated death qi,
corroding even the thick shells of the Abyss Brutes.
In just five minutes,
Hiruzen exhausted all his energy,
but the shells of four Abyss Brutes cracked wide open.
Dozens of players saw their chance and surged forward.
Seizing the moment,
they cut down the now-exposed and immobilized Evil God avatars.
"We've killed the Abyssal Evil Gods!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Hiruzen, gasping, half-knelt on the ground, muttering wryly,
"Old bones… and I'm already spent the moment I reach the battlefield?"
It was a joke.
In truth,
to trap four Abyss Brutes and shatter their defense using just five branded [Onmyōji] skills was already an extraordinary feat.
Danzo's soul was silent now,
his gaze fixed coldly on Hiruzen,
deep in thought.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1