Chapter 357: The Fall of Darkness, Part 2
Ye Wen, who had been observing from the shadows, didn't lack for divine energy to perform the resurrection. It didn't matter if the Root operatives had just died or had been gone for years; as long as the bodies were intact enough to restore, they could be revived. With Ye Wen subtly managing the scene, any ninja with the rare ability to perceive souls would have noticed that the spirits of the dead Root agents remained in place, neither heading to the Pure Land nor fading away. This was another prerequisite for a divine resurrection, as Ye Wen had no desire to venture into the Pure Land to retrieve each soul one by one, nor did he want to risk alerting the Six Paths Sage.
Although Ye Wen didn't see the Six Paths Sage a mere third tier deity at best as a true threat, he didn't intend to eliminate the final boss too soon. Instead, he relished the prospect of gradually reshaping the world through his followers, with himself as the ultimate mastermind. As Kakashi revived the Root operatives, he noticed the intense gazes from the clan heads around him. Ninjas, too, had a deep seated aversion to death; nobody wanted to perish so easily.
Kakashi sensed everything aligning in his favor. With time, place, and people all on his side, he was ready to launch the next phase of his plan: dealing with the primary target of this encounter Danzo Shimura.
When Kakashi's gaze shifted to him, Danzo's usual cold composure faltered. The intense uncertainty he felt unsettled him, and he gripped his cane tighter. Yet, echoes of the past steeled his resolve: "Who among you is willing to volunteer to hold back the enemy to ensure our survival?" The words of Tobirama Senju rang in his mind like a haunting curse, but they rekindled his courage.
And now, Danzo told himself, "I am no longer who I was." He straightened, his gaze cold and unyielding as he surveyed the Konoha council members, who now regarded him as an enemy. With an air of authority, he challenged Kakashi.
"Kakashi Hatake, I demand you explain yourself. Do you intend to rebel against the Leaf?" Danzo's voice, though low, held an undeniable weight. His commanding tone stirred unease in the Konoha council, rekindling an instinctive fear of authority within them.
Everyone, except for one person.
The golden light surrounding Kakashi blazed brighter, illuminating the room with an awe inspiring, colossal chakra avatar that towered over ten meters tall. Ye Wen had foreseen the large scale battles of the late Naruto series, ensuring that Kakashi was equipped with a power worthy of those clashes. This new form, the Hanhai Chakra Mode an embodiment of the Hanhai God King was one such gift.
"What…is this?" Danzo's jaw dropped as he took in the sight before him.
As a former disciple of Tobirama Senju, Danzo had witnessed the colossal Susano'o and the True Several Thousand Hands techniques. Danzo also knew something his teacher never shared: there were Uchiha prodigies capable of awakening a Susano'o with a single Sharingan. Now, seeing Kakashi's left eye, transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan, stirred an envy he could not suppress. Kakashi had not only acquired a Mangekyō but had mastered it years before Danzo managed to steal Shisui's Sharingan.
"If I had more time, I too would have unlocked such power." Danzo's pride remained unshaken. Though Kakashi's avatar differed from Susano'o, he tossed his cane aside, standing tall. Kakashi, in contrast, observed Danzo with cold detachment, forming a hand seal to dispel any lingering illusions.
As Kakashi prepared, Danzo's hands moved in a frenzy of seals. "Release!"
The intensity of his chakra burst made some Leaf council members wonder what Kakashi was doing. Kakashi addressed them calmly, "Danzo's right eye is the Mangekyō Sharingan of Shisui Uchiha. It holds the power of Kotoamatsukami a jutsu capable of completely manipulating a person's will."
A stunned silence fell over the council, quickly replaced by gasps of shock. Even seasoned clan heads shuddered at the thought of such a power hidden within Danzo's grasp. But none reacted more viscerally than the Uchiha clan members present, who now regarded Danzo with murderous glares. His long standing hostility toward the Uchiha was common knowledge, but to think he had stolen one of their most revered powers…
One Uchiha elder spat angrily, "Curse you, Danzo! No wonder Shisui's disappearance was so sudden!"
This revelation ignited a fire within the Uchiha. Their Sharingans spun with rage, fixed squarely on Danzo. Among them stood Itachi Uchiha, who had been present at his father's urging to observe this historic gathering. The recent fall of Sarutobi Hiruzen had already caused Itachi to question his beliefs. Now, seeing Kakashi wield such power with ease, he understood that his attempts to balance Konoha's interests with those of his clan were futile.
"If I held such power myself," Itachi mused bitterly, "this conflict between the clan and the village would have been resolved."
Beside him, Fugaku Uchiha noticed his son's transformation. He saw Itachi's gaze sharpen with a newfound focus and smiled in approval.
Then, a sight sent a chill down everyone's spine.
Within the brief pause, Danzo shed his right sleeve, revealing his arm. He released a series of complex seals binding it.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10