No matter what, Shimura Danzō was the leader of Root — the man who had built it from the ground up.
Even if it meant sacrificing comrades, Aburame Toru was determined to protect him.
In this moment, Toru didn't care how many Root operatives his forbidden jutsu might kill.
As long as Lord Danzō survived, they still had hope to carry on.
"Hm?"
Senju Haruto quickly noticed Toru's movements.
So, the Jar of Venom Technique, huh? Haruto cast a glance at Toru's position, noting the scraps of flesh and foul, darkened blood at his feet.
He knew this was a forbidden art of the Aburame clan — one that killed indiscriminately, friend and foe alike. Combined with Danzō's possession of Izanagi, it was indeed an effective tactic.
But…
Haruto had already learned all about it beforehand.
"You're loyal. And strong," Haruto remarked casually. He didn't even bother to rush in and stop Toru.
It wasn't that he lacked ways to keep the toxin from entering his body — he had over a hundred. It was simply that… Haruto wasn't really here at all.
His only mission was to take down Danzō together with Uchiha Itachi.
This "Haruto" was just a Wood Release clone.
Toru realized it almost immediately. His poisonous dust swirled through the air, yet Haruto showed no hint of alarm — only a look of complete indifference.
What's going on…?
Sure, Haruto could be holding his breath or wrapping himself in a chakra armor to resist it.
But Toru's forbidden art could still seep in, however slowly.
Either Haruto was supremely confident that the toxin wouldn't kill him…
Or he simply didn't care if he lived or died.
No…
Toru's mouth slowly formed an O as a more shocking possibility struck him.
This man… was a clone.
A Wood Release clone — like Yamato's, a tangible body, far more advanced than the Shadow Clone Technique developed by the Second Hokage.
But was that even possible?
The man they were fighting wasn't some ordinary jōnin of Konoha — it was Danzō, the disciple of Senju Tobirama, a veteran of countless wars.
And Haruto had fought Danzō once before, with the latter escaping unscathed.
No matter the circumstances, any shinobi facing such a formidable opponent would factor in every possible variable and fight with complete seriousness.
Yet…
Haruto had only sent a clone?
He thought killing Danzō required nothing more than that?
No…
A chill ran up Toru's spine. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't underestimate Danzō like this.
The real Haruto had to be hiding somewhere.
Toru unleashed more of his insects, trying to flush out Haruto's true body.
"There's no need for all that trouble," Haruto said offhandedly. "My real body isn't here. He's with Sarutobi Hiruzen and Yamanaka Kaze, on the way to the Land of Iron for the Twin Kage Summit."
"What?!"
This time, it wasn't just Toru — every Root operative within earshot froze.
Haruto had made sure to lace his voice with chakra so that even those outside the Jar of Venom's range could hear.
The one attempting to assassinate Danzō with Uchiha Itachi wasn't Haruto himself at all… it was just his Wood Release clone.
Inside the poisonous half-sphere of Toru's jutsu, Haruto, Danzō, Itachi, and several Root operatives were trapped together. Those caught within were dying at a rate visible to the naked eye, while those outside couldn't step into the toxic dome without perishing instantly.
"You really think I need to get serious to deal with Danzō?" Haruto sighed, shrugging. "My real body wouldn't bother going all out for this."
Boom!
The moment Haruto finished speaking, the massive tree behind him exploded. Something flew out — Danzō's corpse.
It had been crushed into pulp by Haruto's Wood Release… yet in the next instant, Danzō was standing there unharmed.
He had heard every word Haruto had spoken.
"A Wood Release clone?!"
Danzō's eyes widened in disbelief. His plan had been to use Tree Root Burial to take Itachi down with him, then revive himself with Izanagi.
Meanwhile, Toru's Jar of Venom would finish Haruto off.
Even if he were poisoned in the process, Izanagi could undo it all.
A perfect opportunity to eliminate both Haruto and Itachi in one strike, with plenty of chances later to replace any Sharingan lost in the process.
But now?
After pulling off such an intricate kill-strategy with Izanagi…
The Haruto standing before him was just a Wood Release clone?
His real body was in the Land of Iron, chatting with Sarutobi Hiruzen?
"Senju Haruto!"
But his gaze shifted — drawn to something else entirely.
A colossal skeletal structure had materialized around Uchiha Itachi, blood-red vapor rising from it.
His three-tomoe Sharingan had transformed into the Mangekyō.
"A suicidal attack, leveraging Izanagi's properties…" Itachi murmured. If he hadn't activated Susanoo at the last moment, that Tree Root Burial might have killed him outright.
But poison was another matter.
"So… toxins."
Glancing around, Itachi saw they were still trapped in the poison's range. For now, he couldn't release Susanoo — even if it strained his eyes and revealed his Mangekyō, it was the only thing keeping the venom from seeping into his skin.
"Those eyes…"
Danzō's throat bobbed as his gaze locked onto Itachi's Mangekyō.
He knew that power. When Shisui had fled Root's pursuit, he'd used the same ability.
And now Itachi possessed it as well.
Danzō glanced at his right arm — nine of the eyes embedded there had already gone dark. Including his right eye, he had only two minutes of Izanagi left.
If he didn't kill them within that time… he was finished.
"In these two minutes… I'll end you both," Danzō muttered, eyes narrowing. The fact that Haruto had sent only a clone still gnawed at him.
"Itachi… your eyes will be mine!"