Chapter 359: The End of Darkness – Conclusion
At some point, all traces of the horrific scene vanished as though they had never existed.
"This… what is this?" Itachi Uchiha was stunned. As a clan with some of the most powerful genjutsu users in the shinobi world, the Uchiha clan prided themselves on being able to detect illusions. He was certain, beyond a doubt, that he wasn't under a genjutsu.
"You don't recognize it? Looks like Clan Leader Fugaku hasn't yet told you of this jutsu," Kakashi commented calmly.
At that moment, Fugaku Uchiha approached them. "This jutsu… it's Izanagi," he declared, his expression hardening as he spoke the technique's name.
Itachi had more questions about the details of Izanagi, but both he and his father turned at the same moment, their faces shifting into combat ready expressions. Two enormous skeletal avatars materialized around them, each shielding Kakashi from either side. Itachi's Susanoo was a striking crimson, while Fugaku's radiated an orange glow.
A voice filled with frustration sounded nearby. Danzo Shimura stood unharmed once more, distancing himself from them as he began to release another technique.
"Wood Style: Rampaging Trees!"
As all knew, true Wood Style was a technique mastered only by Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. What Danzo wielded was nothing but an inferior imitation a mere tree mimicry, laughably weak by comparison.
The sight of his father's killer intensified the murderous glint in Itachi's eyes, his sharingan filled with blood and rage. His skeletal Susanoo transformed from its initial form into its second stage, muscle and sinew growing over the bones, massively increasing its power and durability. With a single swipe, Itachi's Susanoo obliterated Danzo's imitation wood style.
"Hokage sama, please leave this matter to the Uchiha," Fugaku requested, rallying the Uchiha warriors who were already more than eager to exact their vengeance on Danzo.
In under ten minutes, Danzo's five Sharingan implants were completely spent, reducing his Izanagi to nothing more than wasted potential. Exhausted and drained of chakra, Danzo's movements became sluggish, and the wear of age was evident.
Clinging to defiance, Danzo glared at his assailants, his voice a vile curse. "You traitorous scum of Konoha!"
With a venomous stare, he began tearing off his final robe layer, exposing his frail, scarred body. "You are inherently evil! You Uchiha schemed to usurp Konoha's power, using that other Kotoamatsukami to corrupt Hiruzen's will! Now you'll steal Shisui's other eye to manipulate those who embody the true Will of Fire. But you won't have it! I'll see you all in hell!"
His hoarse voice turned into a shriek as he activated his final, deadly jutsu. "Sealing Jutsu: Reverse Four Symbols Sealing!"
Dark ink like chakra seeped from the four symbols etched on his torso, forming a vortex meant to consume everything around him. Danzo had unleashed his last resort, a suicide sealing technique capable of taking down all nearby enemies with him. But his opponents were seasoned shinobi. The instant they recognized the danger, the ninjas around him fled to safety at lightning speed.
For a fleeting moment, Danzo felt regret watching his enemies escape, but he still believed he had finally fulfilled his purpose.
"Master Tobirama… I, too, can die for the Will of Fire."
"Trying to escape through death? Not so fast."
A cold voice pierced the silence. Kakashi, unmoved by Danzo's dramatic finale, swiftly wove hand signs, encasing Danzo in a massive crystal prism barrier that suspended him within its transparent walls. The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing was interrupted, the curse marks fading from Danzo's torso, leaving him defenseless.
In the next instant, a wave of searing pain tore through his face as Kakashi ruthlessly extracted Shisui's Sharingan from Danzo's eye socket.
"Aaargh!" Danzo's scream of agony reverberated across the battlefield, louder than any previous cry. Though he had died several times in combat before, none of those instances had inflicted this level of suffering. Kakashi handed Shisui's eye to Fugaku.
"Here. Your clan's treasure," he said.
Fugaku took the precious eye from Kakashi, his own narrowed gaze twitching at the sight. The Sharingan was an Uchiha jewel, and it stung to see it handled so roughly. Still, Kakashi was Hokage now, so Fugaku held his tongue and accepted it.
With the Sharingan gone, Danzo's body, infused with Hashirama's cells, began to twist and mutate uncontrollably, his right side writhing as a massive tree sprouted from it, roots growing out of control. Danzo, realizing the transformation was beyond stopping, acted on instinct, severing half of his body to escape the painful transformation.
Yet, his nightmare was far from over.
The shinobi present turned their hatred onto Danzo, their former grievances coalescing into a shared desire for justice. Danzo's betrayal was so severe that simply killing him would feel like mercy. Instead, he was sentenced to public humiliation, paraded through the streets of Konoha to remind the villagers of the darkness he represented.
"Fire… the Hokage's Will of Fire," Danzo would mumble incoherently, his mind finally broken. His delusions of grandeur as Hokage had been crushed irreparably, and though his life was spared, no one in Konoha spared him any pity.
With Danzo's fall, the village of Konoha finally rid itself of the dark force that had tainted its halls for so many years.
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