As Hiruko slowly approached, Danzo showed surprisingly little panic. Instead, his expression remained calm.
He already understood the fate awaiting him.
All of his Sharingan had been exhausted, his Mangekyo Sharingan abilities were unavailable, and most of his chakra had already been depleted. The possibility of making a comeback was practically nonexistent.
Still, Danzo was not someone who surrendered easily. He believed there was still a chance to salvage the situation.
That thought was shattered in the next instant.
Hiruko formed hand seals with one hand.
Suddenly, Danzo's right arm, the one implanted with Hashirama's cells and modified with Wood Release, began to swell uncontrollably.
The hidden curse seal Hiruko had secretly planted during the procedure activated at once.
Danzo's chakra surged uncontrollably toward his right arm, and a massive tree burst from the ground.
After enduring a fierce battle and expending most of his chakra, Danzo no longer had the strength to suppress the rampant Wood Release.
His eyes turned cold.
Without hesitation, he drew a kunai with his left hand and severed his own right arm.
Before he could react further, Hiruko delivered a powerful kick to his chest, sending him flying backward.
Danzo crashed to the ground and struggled to breathe.
Hiruko slowly walked over.
He raised two fingers like a blade and dug out Danzo's right eye. Then he carefully placed it inside a test tube, sealed it, and stored it within a sealing scroll.
At that moment, a small white snake slithered out from the grass.
Hiruko glanced at it and tossed the scroll onto the ground.
The large white snake opened its mouth, swallowed the scroll whole, then vanished in a puff of smoke.
Without another word, Hiruko turned and left.
Danzo remained sprawled on the ground like a lifeless husk.
His right arm was gone.
His right eye was gone.
He had reached the end.
At this point, there was nothing left for Danzo to do except wait for death.
A light rain began to fall.
Because of the freezing air, it quickly transformed into fine hail.
After an unknown amount of time, Fugaku appeared beside him.
His expression was extremely grim.
After receiving a report from White Zetsu, he had rushed over immediately.
Yet despite his speed, the Mangekyo Sharingan had already been taken.
Damn it.
Killing intent surged from Fugaku.
Looking at Danzo, who was barely clinging to life, Fugaku made no visible movement.
However, a kunai floated through the air and shot toward Danzo's head.
Without the Mangekyo Sharingan, Danzo no longer held any value in Fugaku's eyes.
Besides, Danzo had previously harmed Fugaku's father, Uchiha Yama.
Fugaku had no intention of showing mercy.
Danzo also noticed Fugaku's arrival.
His vision had already become blurry.
As death approached, memories from his life replayed one after another.
The final memory that surfaced was from after the Second Hokage's death.
He was looking at a snowman in the courtyard while someone spoke about dreams with an indescribable sense of sadness.
A strange smile formed on Danzo's lips.
Whether it was joy, regret, or mockery, no one could tell.
"You are the light, and I am the Root that dwells in darkness. This is... the last thing I can do for you, Hiruzen."
"Reverse Four Symbols Sealing!"
A tremendous force suddenly erupted from Danzo's body.
Brilliant white light spread in every direction.
At this moment...
What was Hiruzen doing?
Did he know...
That I was...
Dying?
Danzo slowly closed his eyes.
He was tired.
Finally...
He could rest.
Konohagakure.
The Third Hokage stood beneath a large tree, quietly watching a group of children playing.
Most of them were very young.
The oldest, such as Iruka, was no more than eight years old.
The youngest, such as Yūgao Uzuki, was only four.
Because they were still children, they retained their innocence, laughing and playing without any fear of the Third Hokage's presence.
The Third Hokage enjoyed watching them.
A warm smile rested on his face.
The village's authority had already been completely handed over.
Not only had Fourth Hokage Hayashi adapted quickly, but Minato and Nawaki had also become exceptionally capable.
The Third Hokage did not feel reluctant to relinquish power.
Instead, he felt relieved.
The village would eventually belong to the younger generation.
Seeing them prosper brought him nothing but comfort.
Still, after suddenly becoming free, he found himself somewhat bored.
Eventually, he returned to the Ninja Academy and resumed his position as principal.
Yet even then, something felt missing.
After thinking about it carefully, he realized what it was.
He no longer had someone to talk to.
"Danzo, you never supported an Uchiha becoming Hokage. But after Hayashi became the Fourth Hokage, he worked diligently, fulfilled his responsibilities, and never monopolized power. The village is thriving now."
"It seems... you were wrong after all."
"And look at me. Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya. Those three disciples have all become extraordinary individuals."
"Whether it's raising disciples or choosing successors for the village, I've always done better than you."
"You spent your whole life competing against me, but you never truly won."
He had lived for over fifty years.
Too many words had remained buried in his heart.
Now, with no one left to speak to, he could only talk to himself.
"Without you... I really am lonely."
The Third Hokage watched the children playing, yet an inexplicable chill washed over him.
Suddenly, he looked up and caught a snowflake in his hand.
"It's snowing again."
"I wonder what Danzo is doing right now."
The old man stood alone beneath a pine tree that remained green throughout winter.
The pine tree stood alone.
So did he.
Meanwhile, after killing Danzo, Fugaku remained by the river with an ugly expression on his face.
He could not understand how Hiruko had intercepted Danzo so precisely.
Nor did he know where Hiruko had suddenly come from.
After all, Fugaku had always focused on major players and significant events.
Why would he pay attention to such an obscure figure from the past?
A moment later, a White Zetsu emerged from underground.
"Fugaku, we've investigated him. Hiruko was a contemporary of the Three Sannin. Later, Danzo recruited him into Root as a researcher for unknown reasons."
"After Danzo defected, Hiruko disappeared. He only resurfaced today."
"I see."
Fugaku frowned.
He always felt today's events were somehow connected to Hayashi, but he had no evidence.
At the same time, Hiruko's actions were entirely reasonable.
As Danzo's former researcher and participant in his human experiments, it made sense that he knew Danzo possessed a Mangekyo Sharingan.
But that did not matter.
"You should never have done this."
"You absolutely should never have tried to steal something that belongs to me."
Fugaku's expression twisted with rage.
Having spent so long operating from the shadows, his attention had always been focused on the Five Kage, the Tailed Beasts, and people like Hayashi.
Now, an insignificant figure had suddenly appeared and stolen his prize right before his eyes.
How could he not be furious?
"Have you found his location?" Fugaku asked.
White Zetsu nodded.
"Good."
"Then take me there. I'm going to kill him."
===
Read chapters ahead on Patreon, with every chapter organized into collections.
P-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/_Zeph.