Uchiha Madara could see the Susanoo.
And Danzo Shimura, who was currently fighting Hanzo of the Salamander, could see it as well.
But even though he hated the Uchiha more than anyone, he had no time to worry about them now.
Hanzo and the Third Kazekage's combined assault had already left him riddled with wounds.
Danzo knelt on one knee, gasping for breath. He looked at his left arm, already infected with poison, and a ruthless glint flashed through his eyes.
A shrill whistle cut through the air as chakra surged around the kunai in his hand.
Slash!
With one decisive strike, Danzo grunted in pain. His body trembled violently as his arm was severed and fell into the muddy ground, blood pouring out.
Crimson blood mixed with the rainwater and spread in all directions, flowing toward Hanzo's feet.
Hanzo stepped on the blood and spoke coldly,
"Shimura Danzo, you've lost. If you surrender now, I can spare your life."
"Heh… heh heh…"
Danzo panted heavily, his dark, chilling eyes fixed on the man known as the 'Demigod of the Shinobi World.' Then he glanced at the Third Kazekage beside him, whose back bore black wings.
"Surrender?"
"You want me—who inherited the Second Hokage's Will of Fire—to surrender?"
"Hah!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Ridiculous!"
Danzo staggered to his feet. Using his remaining arm, he pointed at his own head, a mocking smile on his face.
"In the end, all this effort to hunt me down…"
"Isn't it just for the intelligence in my head?"
As Konoha's second-in-command, Danzo's value was unquestionable. Both enemies and himself knew this well.
"The information is right here. Come and take it."
The dark-clad man curled his finger at Hanzo provocatively, his sneer growing wider.
Seeing that the Demigod remained unmoved, Danzo's smile became even more arrogant.
"Looks like I'll have to capture you first before you're willing to hand it over."
Hanzo stepped toward him, one step at a time, his voice devoid of emotion.
The Third Kazekage watched silently. He did not intervene.
Even when hunting a rabbit, a lion used its full strength.
Danzo, known as the 'Darkness of the Shinobi,' would not surrender so easily.
So he chose to observe.
As Hanzo drew closer while the Third Kazekage still did nothing, a hint of disappointment flashed through Danzo's eyes.
Suddenly, Danzo tore open his clothes.
His well-built upper body was revealed, covered in mysterious black markings that immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Hahahahaha!"
"Being able to drag a Demigod down to the Pure Land with me is worth it!"
"Reverse Four Symbols Sealing!"
Black ink erupted from Danzo's body and spread outward in an instant. Hanzo, who was closest, had no time to dodge.
The Third Kazekage, who had been watching, immediately spread his wings and flew away, distancing himself as fast as possible.
He didn't know what these dangerous-looking substances were, but retreating was clearly the safest choice.
At the moment of death, Danzo seemed to see Senju Tobirama.
The man who had shaped his entire life.
All his life, he had never been able to surpass Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Ninjutsu. Taijutsu. Genjutsu.
He lost in everything.
Back when the Gold and Silver Brothers led their pursuit, their teacher had said someone needed to stay behind.
Because of his hesitation, Danzo lost to Hiruzen once again.
Later, Hiruzen became Hokage, and he was forced to remain hidden in the shadows.
He seemed to see Hiruzen again—his lifelong rival.
Monkey.
You are a leaf bathed in sunlight.
I am the root buried underground.
But…
That doesn't mean I've always lost to you.
My Will of Fire never went out, even in darkness.
Now, let me show you the fire burning in my heart.
This time…
I win.
Monkey, I'll go first.
I'm going to see Tobirama-sensei.
Konoha… is in your hands.
Endless darkness burst forth from Danzo's body, swallowing everything around him.
The coverage spanned nearly a hundred meters, forcing even the Third Kazekage to retreat further.
"Seal!"
With Danzo's final roar, the darkness rapidly contracted and vanished completely.
All that remained was a terrifying crater.
The Third Kazekage stared at the scene in lingering fear.
Danzo and Hanzo had completely disappeared.
"What a terrifying technique…"
Uchiha Madara slowly opened his eyes. He could feel his connection with Hanzo had been severed.
"The Reverse Four Symbols Seal truly lives up to its reputation as an Uzumaki secret technique."
"Even on the brink of death, it can produce such power."
"The Uchiha over there won't last much longer."
Uchiha Hikaru ignored him and looked toward the battlefield, where the golden half-body Susanoo had already degraded into a skeletal frame.
"I see. Then the battle in the Rain Country is about to end."
"Next, Konan will replace Hanzo as the leader of Amegakure and continue cooperating with the alliance."
As Madara spoke, the distant golden Susanoo completely disappeared.
Clearly, the Uchiha who had awakened the Mangekyo could no longer hold on.
"For someone who just awakened the Mangekyo, lasting this long is impressive."
Madara chuckled softly, seemingly appreciative.
"Hmph."
The cold girl snorted, clearly dissatisfied with his praise.
Before long, a White Zetsu emerged from the ground, carrying the barely breathing Uchiha Naoki.
Hikaru stared coldly at him and drew her blade without hesitation.
A flash of icy light cut through the night.
The newly awakened Mangekyo user died instantly.
Madara said nothing. He simply reached out with his withered fingers and skillfully removed the pair of Mangekyo Sharingan from Naoki's sockets.
"Let's go. It's time to transplant the dōjutsu."
"…I understand."
Even though she had undergone transplantation before, just thinking about the pain made Hikaru uneasy.
But she had already agreed. There was no turning back.
As Madara and Hikaru departed, the battle in the Rain Country finally came to an end.
Without exception—
Konoha's forces were completely annihilated.
Not a single survivor remained.
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