Everyone in the Root Division, including Danzō, was within the range of Kazuyama Gekkō's overwhelming presence.
At that moment, Danzō truly realized just how powerful Kazuyama Gekkō was.
"This chakra…"
"I never imagined your strength would grow this much in just a few short years."
"Hmph. If it hadn't been for that cowardly bastard, Hiruzen, and Orochimaru's interference back then…"
"A talent like yours should have belonged to the Root Division. Your Kekkei Genkai is perfect for infiltration, and with your innate gift, you could have been the sharpest weapon in my arsenal."
As Danzō released the seals on his arm, a sense of regret for Kazuyama Gekkō appeared on his face.
"Too bad you've chosen to stand against me."
"For that, I'll have to make a sacrifice to ensure your death."
He laughed. He couldn't stop himself from laughing.
Kazuyama Gekkō couldn't hold it in either.
"Hahahaha!"
"Sorry, sorry, Danzō. I just couldn't keep it in."
"Hahahaha!"
"Seriously, how do you think you've got me cornered??"
"With these half-baked tricks? Or with your First Hokage cells and Sharingan??"
Danzō's expression remained unchanged as he listened to Kazuyama's laughter. The seals on his arm weren't just to suppress the Sharingan; they were mostly to seal the First Hokage's cells.
Those cells were far more violent than the Sharingan. A small mistake and they could easily consume him.
"Everyone, attack! Buy me some time."
Watching Kazuyama still laughing, Danzō prepared to sacrifice his men to buy him enough time to execute his next move.
But Kazuyama Gekkō stopped laughing and raised his hand.
"No need to rush. Keep doing your thing."
"Once you're ready, we can begin."
"Regardless, Danzō, this will be the last time. I'll turn you into a crystal statue and bring you back to Konoha."
"I wonder if your good buddy, Hiruzen Sarutobi, will blame me when he sees it. But, honestly, I couldn't care less."
Kazuyama stood there, his chakra slowly retracting inward, no longer radiating outward. In this state, he was truly preparing for battle.
After all, in a fight, no one would waste chakra spilling it out unnecessarily.
"So arrogant?"
"Kid…"
Danzō glared at Kazuyama, his expression dark, but his hands never stopped moving.
"Arrogant?"
"No. This is confidence."
"Unlike you, who's been rotting in this village like a dead tree."
"I, on the other hand, have always been at the forefront of war."
"The battles I've fought are beyond your comprehension."
These weren't exaggerations from Kazuyama. Whether facing Tailed Beasts head-on, killing them, or dealing with Kage-level enemies—he had done it all. Even against multiple Super Kage-level foes, he kept fighting. That was the difference.
"Hmph! Enough talk."
"Attack!"
Danzō had removed all the seals on his arm. The bandages fell away, revealing a grotesque limb with three Sharingan implanted on it.
Hearing his command, the Root Division operatives rushed toward Kazuyama without hesitation.
In the confined space, forty or fifty men launched their attack at once. The sight was certainly impressive.
"Fighting here? Danzō, you really aren't afraid of collapsing the Daimyō's Manor?"
"I couldn't care less. Crystal Release: Torrential Pear Blossom Needle!"
The size of the space didn't matter to Kazuyama Gekkō. After all, the power of his technique remained unaffected by whether the area was vast or confined. The long needles formed by Crystal Release launched a wave of full-area coverage.
Clang!
Instantly, the dim underground space flashed with sparks of all kinds—Root Division members intercepting the attack with their weapons. Short swords, kunai—these weapons collided with the crystal needles, creating bursts of sparks.
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"
"Lightning Release: Ground Walk."
Root Division members were all elite ANBU-level ninjas; otherwise, they wouldn't have caught Danzō's eye. So, while the techniques they used weren't particularly powerful, their execution was flawless. Wind blades sliced through the crystal needles, simultaneously enveloping Kazuyama Gekkō. Not to mention the more direct electrical attacks.
"Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm. If this were my classroom, I'd be praising all of you."
"Excellent teamwork, great coordination."
"Unfortunately, this isn't a classroom, and I can't teach you."
"So, my apologies."
Kazuyama Gekkō suddenly clasped his hands together. In the next instant, the entire underground began to shift. It was chakra—Kazuyama Gekkō's chakra. It spread through every corner of the underground space, starting the crystallization process.
"Crystal Release: Crystal World."
In an instant—driven by Kazuyama Gekkō's full chakra output, without caring about the consumption—it happened. The entire underground transformed into crystal. Whether people, objects, or even ninjutsu—nothing escaped. Everything turned into crystal. Even Danzō, standing in the back, wasn't spared.
"Ah, indeed. Crystal-crafted things are truly a delight to behold."
"Isn't that right, Danzō?"
"Don't hide it. Just as I know Izanagi's name, I also understand the power of this technique."
Kazuyama Gekkō turned his gaze toward the distance. The moment his words left his mouth, a ripple formed in the space there. No, not space—it felt more like an illusion. This technique could erase unfavorable events that occurred within a set period, making them as though they had never happened, while only allowing the favorable events to become reality. Completely illogical, but the cost was equally huge: permanent blindness in the Sharingan.
"Hmph. Familiar indeed."
"Then you should know, with this technique, you can't kill me."
Danzō reappeared. Hearing his words, Kazuyama Gekkō burst into laughter again. He extended his finger, pointing at Danzō as he said, "Is that so? Three Sharingan eyes, three chances to avoid death."
"Can you catch them?"
After all, Danzō had once fought on the battlefield. Once the fight began, his skills, far beyond the ordinary ninja, quickly became apparent. His hand seals were formed with lightning speed, and his mastery of Wind Release ninjutsu was evident.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
The attack that burst from his mouth was sharper than wind blades. Even Kazuyama Gekkō had to admit that Danzō possessed impressive talent in Wind Release. Unfortunately, Kazuyama didn't care. After all, his own technique was far more powerful and devastating.
"Crystal Release: Light Prism Shield."
"Danzō, keep dancing. Don't stop. Let me see the strength of an old-school powerhouse."