Chapter 128: Orochimaru's Retreat with Plant-Danzō, Tsunade's Reluctant Treatment, Hiruzen's Growing Suspicion, and Naraku's "Dakkon" Puppet Plan
Konoha's ninjas, upon receiving the retreat order, immediately began fleeing at full speed—everyone pushing their absolute limit.
The Raikage glanced at Orochimaru, who hadn't joined the main Konoha force, and ordered: "Everyone! Pursue and kill the Konoha ninjas with full force!"
Then he charged ahead himself—every punch, elbow, kick, and finger became a killing weapon.
It was foreseeable that if the Third Raikage continued slaughtering unchecked, only about half of the retreating ninjas might escape.
Just as the Third Raikage was killing in a frenzy, a group of Root ninjas began sacrificing their lives to slow him down.
This was an arrangement Orochimaru had made earlier, using Shimura Danzō's life as leverage.
Half an hour later, the Raikage saw his own troops nearing their limit and the fleeing ninjas scattering in different directions—he finally ordered a halt.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru—who had brought Danzō back to camp—handed the plant-covered Danzō over to Tsunade, then stood to the side watching with great interest.
The moment Tsunade saw the greenery growing on Danzō, her anger flared.
She clenched her fists, looked left and right, then remembered her "precious disciple" wasn't on the front lines.
Jiraiya—standing nearby—also felt a chill.
Orochimaru asked in a cool, detached voice: "Is Shimura Danzō still savable?"
Orochimaru was mainly standing there thinking: if Danzō couldn't be saved, he'd have another excellent specimen.
Tsunade could only suppress her rage—this was her duty as a medical ninja.
She began carefully examining Shimura Danzō's condition and discovered his insides had become a complete mess—utter chaos.
Yet the chaotic power, while wreaking havoc, was also sustaining Danzō's life. Moreover, this chaotic force possessed astonishing vitality.
Tsunade had no good solution for something like this.
"Right now this old thing is still alive because the chaotic power inside him is both damaging and sustaining his life! If you want to treat him, it'll depend on my 'beloved disciple'! This old bastard deserves it—charging in recklessly the moment he hit the battlefield!" she said, emphasizing certain words sharply.
Jiraiya, hearing Tsunade's sarcastic jab at the village's upper echelon, stepped in to smooth things over: "Danzō is already in this state. The situation isn't great right now—let's say a little less. It wouldn't be good if the lower-rank ninjas overheard."
Orochimaru, listening to Tsunade's words, felt a slight disappointment.
He then called over the Root ninjas and said: "Lord Shimura Danzō—Tsunade has no good solution either. If you want to save him, he needs to be sent back to Konoha and let Uchiha Naraku try."
The Root ninja took the plant-covered Danzō away.
...
The next day, Sarutobi Hiruzen received Orochimaru's message. Looking at Shimura Danzō—who had almost completely turned into greenery—he angrily slammed the table.
Danzō had gone to the front lines and acted without permission—now he was half-dead.
Danzō had brought this on himself, but he was still his friend of many years! Seeing him like this, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a pang of "the fox mourns the rabbit's death."
Moreover, Konoha had suffered massive ninja losses—defeat would further drop frontline morale.
This made Sarutobi Hiruzen even angrier. And seeing intelligence reports that the Third Raikage A—after obtaining the Teigu Haki Seed—had gained terrifying strength,
he began to grow suspicious of Naraku. Connecting it to Jiraiya's earlier mention of the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, he started raising his guard.
But Konoha couldn't afford to lose Uchiha Naraku right now—and Danzō might still be saved by him.
So Sarutobi Hiruzen made up his mind: the moment Uchiha Naraku finished forging the Guardian Divine Machine [Supreme Throne], he would immediately place him under house arrest!
Then conduct an interrogation! Even using special methods—he would make Uchiha Naraku confess everything.
During this process, he must ensure Naraku didn't gain control of the Guardian Divine Machine [Supreme Throne]. He planned to personally strengthen surveillance over Uchiha Naraku.
Moreover, someone from their side must take control of it before Naraku did—otherwise Sarutobi Hiruzen would rather it never be completed.
Or just obtain a semi-finished product!
...
Naraku arrived at the ward and looked at Shimura Danzō—who had almost turned into a plant. Joy surged in his heart, but on the spot he forced his expression into deep sorrow.
This was difficult for an ordinary person suddenly turning into a veteran actor—even Zhang Yimou would be shocked.
Sarutobi Hiruzen saw Naraku's sorrow seemed genuine. He asked gravely: "Danzō—can he still be saved?"
Naraku stepped forward to examine him. He saw Danzō's insides had become a complete stew—utter chaos.
Moreover, Danzō's hair had turned completely white.
Naraku was just about to say "No hope! Wait to die! Goodbye!"—the classic Bian Que triple combo—when he suddenly thought of something interesting.
His "Dakkon" hadn't been distributed yet—and Dakkon gained part of a slain creature's power and vitality.
But the more one relied on this blade, the more it would control them—eventually turning them into a half-human, half-ghost monster, completely enslaved by the weapon.
Could he use Dakkon to control a monsterized Danzō—while he himself controlled Dakkon through Weapon Sovereignty?
That way he'd gain a powerful combat puppet!
At the same time, he could easily recover Hachifusa from puppet-Danzō.
So Naraku planned it out mentally and put on a hesitant, conflicted expression.
Sarutobi Hiruzen forced a smile and said: "Just say it—I'll support you!"
Naraku immediately began lying: "Lord Danzō's current condition is that the power inside him has become extremely chaotic due to Inspiring Armor and Hachifusa. I have a Teigu called Dakkon that might be able to save him. Originally, because this blade has some evil nature, I wasn't planning to bring it out—even call it a demon blade. Dakkon kills living beings and gains part of their power and vitality. Cutting other weapons can also strengthen itself. As Dakkon's power grows stronger, it can suppress the chaotic energy inside Lord Danzō while also replenishing his vitality. At the same time, Lord Danzō can no longer use Hachifusa—because Dakkon would have difficulty suppressing another Teigu like Hachifusa. Finally, the wielder's appearance will become slightly uglier."
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Naraku again—this weapon that grows stronger by killing people and breaking enemy blades truly deserved the name demon blade.
"Then what is the limit of this demon blade?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.
"Dakkon's limit will approach Infinite Armor—but it absolutely cannot surpass Infinite. That's determined by its materials," Naraku replied, sensing the Third Hokage's concern and giving him a bit of reassurance.
In the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen made his decision: "Naraku—Danzō is entrusted to you from now on!"
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