Facing Danzo's final trump card, Anya remained expressionless. Her five fingers glowed with different lights as she pressed them against his chest just before his Reverse Four Symbols Sealing could fully form — the technique instantly faded away. She then shifted her hand from a palm strike to a finger jab, driving a lightning bolt through his body.
Danzo collapsed to the ground like a punctured balloon, his face turning pale, his once-black hair fading to ash-gray, deep wrinkles carving lines across his face as though he had aged ten years in an instant.
Anya coldly observed his pitiful state, adding cruel words to his wounds. "The power of the Uchiha and Senju Clans doesn't come easy. Since I told you beforehand about my alliance with Orochimaru, it means I already knew about your arms. And those seals carved into your flesh? Ridiculous. When it comes to sealing techniques, how many people in this world can rival me?"
Victory belonged to the conqueror, and with his body now ruined beyond repair, Danzo instead felt a strange sense of peace. He couldn't resist a bitter taunt. "Marvelous. I'm genuinely curious now — is your relationship with Tsunade also one of manipulation? If not, things become even more interesting."
"You truly are inferior to Senju Tobirama. Even at a time like this, you still try to provoke me. Do you really think it will work?" Anya said, pity flickering in her voice. "If you had truly followed the ninjutsu he taught and worked hard on your Wind Release techniques — even if you'd only grasped half his strength — I would've been glad to face you in battle and grant you an honorable death. But the man you've become isn't even worthy of dying by my hand. So don't bother trying to anger me into killing you."
Hearing that, Danzo gave up all hope. His single eye burned with hatred, as if trying to etch Anya's features into his memory forever — then he bit down hard on his tongue.
A flash of lightning from Anya's hand paralyzed Danzo entirely. Trapped between life and death, he was completely powerless.
Want to die? Be patient then. I've arranged something fitting for you — not long now.
After speaking, Anya waved her hand casually, sending Danzo into complete unconsciousness. Meanwhile, the Root members who had previously lain on the ground all stood up, staring at the sudden appearance of Anya in shock and suspicion.
Having released them from the genjutsu, Anya spoke out indifferently. "I am the Chief of Anbu. Danzo harbored ulterior motives, and during Konoha's moment of crisis, he did not protect the Village as he should have. Instead, he secretly gathered strength, plotting to overthrow the Hokage's rule — an unforgivable crime. I have captured him. Starting today, Root will cease to exist entirely. You have until tomorrow; beginning from then, all former Root members shall officially be incorporated into Anbu."
As soon as she finished speaking, Anya vanished with a loud 'puff' — and that was just a Shadow Clone. The Root members were left stunned, exchanging confused looks. After a long pause, one finally asked, "So what do we do now?"
One Root member unsheathed his ninja blade and declared, "Konoha is under attack right now. This is our village. With Danzo gone, it's time we made our own decisions. I choose to go out there and fight — to protect Konoha!"
As soon as one took the lead, almost all the Root members surged toward the battlefield outside like a single wave.
Back on the surface, Deva Path Pain, who had been searching for Naruto in Konoha without success, finally lost his patience and flew directly to the Hokage Platform to find Tsunade.
As soon as they met, Tsunade recognized him and recalled what Jiraiya had mentioned about the Rinnegan. "I never thought you were that boy from the Rain Village back then."
Deva Path Pain asked coldly, "Where is Uzumaki Naruto? Where is the Nine-Tails?"
Tsunade scoffed dryly. "Who knows?"
"All the main Jinchuriki have already been captured. The balance of power among the villages, once maintained by the Tailed Beasts, can no longer be sustained. Even if you keep hiding the Nine-Tails, it's meaningless now."
"So it's true—you're targeting all the Tailed Beasts?"
"Conflicts will erupt soon, and the seeds of war will spread everywhere. We will control this war. If you cooperate with us, we may even let you off easy. You should already understand Konoha's current situation compared to our strength."
Seeing the smoke spreading across Konoha, Tsunade finally exploded in anger. "Don't underestimate the Five Kages! You think you can destroy the peaceful life our ancestors sought for generations? You terrorists—nothing you say will change my mind."
This sentence struck the deepest wound in Pain's heart. A violent surge erupted around him, and a single Rinnegan radiated an astonishing killing intent. "Your peace is oppression to us. Do you think everything Konoha has done was just?"
Tsunade admitted, "Indeed, Konoha's past actions weren't entirely right, but I will never forgive what you're doing."
"Watch your words. This is God's final warning." Deva Path Pain was already out of patience. "Tell me where Naruto is. Now."
Unfazed, Tsunade replied calmly, "I will gather all our strength to defeat you—that's all. And there's one thing you've terribly misunderstood: the thing you desire most will never fall into your hands."
Faced with Tsunade's innate sense of superiority, Pain's inner flame surged rapidly. "Certainly, before overwhelming power, everything becomes useless. That has already been proven by your great nations themselves. Yet even now, you still act so arrogant, imagining yourself the protagonist of this world, thinking death is still distant. How shallow you are, indulging in such illusions. Killers will always be killed. Hatred ties both sides into a cycle."
Tsunade frowned and pointed at Pain angrily, shouting, "Don't talk nonsense. Our great nations have also suffered equally. There's no justification for committing terrorist acts like this."
"How ridiculous."
Pain lost his last ounce of patience. Slowly levitating high into the air, he looked down upon the entire Konoha village through his purple Rinnegan. Tremendous chakra gathered toward his body as he whispered, "[Shinra Tensei]!!! (Heavenly Subjugation: Deva Path's Divine Devastation)"
A blinding flash of light erupted beneath the sun as [Shinra Tensei] surged forth, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground and kicking up massive clouds of dust and debris. Originating from beneath Deva Path's feet, the blast radiated outward in every direction with devastating force. Every last building in Konoha was reduced to rubble, and the devastation spread even farther. Within just a few seconds, the once-thriving village had been transformed into a lifeless, desolate ruin. Those who hadn't reached the underground shelters in time were now buried beneath the wreckage, fighting for survival, while countless ninja had already lost their lives.
Anya stood observing the unfolding chaos right up until the moment [Transcending Shinra Tensei] was unleashed. He sighed softly and muttered, "Truly the Rinnegan—its power remains astonishing even if it's only a counterfeit version. Naruto should be arriving soon too."
Just as his voice trailed off, a wisp of smoke drifted through the air. In its wake, Naruto appeared standing atop the backs of three giant toads, emerging onto the devastated landscape.
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