Analyzing the Ninja World Starting from Konoha

Chapter 257 Danzo Under House Arrest

"Shadow-level?"

Zhi Shui pondered the word, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Do you think that all Jonin are the same in strength?" Aoba pulled up a chair and sat down, then picked up the kettle on the table and poured himself a glass of water.

"Of course they're different."

Shisui shook his head. "The ninja ranks—genin, chunin, join—are just titles established by the village for the convenience of management and task allocation. They do not fully represent a person's true combat strength."

"That's right."

Aoba took a sip of water to moisten his throat. "Even among Jonin, there are differences in strength. Some Jonin remain ordinary Jonin throughout their lives, while others are not only battle-hardened but also possess powerful secret techniques or bloodline limits, making a name for themselves in the ninja world. We usually call these elite Jonin."

Aoba's gaze fell on Shisui.

"For example, you, with your 'Shisui' technique, are an elite Jonin."

Shisui paused for a moment, then gave a humble smile.

"You're too kind."

"This is not an overstatement, but the truth."

Aoba waved his hand. "And the Kage of each village are actually selected from these elite Jonin, but have you ever thought about it? The reason why the Kage of each village became Kage is that they often have some special qualities."

"For example, the Kazekage of Sunagakure has mastered Magnet Release, which combines offense and defense, while Onoki of Iwagakure has the Kekkei Tota Dust Release, which can turn everything into atoms."

"Take the Fourth Raikage, who just fought us, for example. Although he doesn't have a bloodline limit, his method of using the Lightning Release chakra mode to stimulate his physical activity far surpasses that of ordinary bloodline ninjas."

"There's also Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique, and the five chakra nature transformations that the Third Hokage was proficient in."

Shisui listened attentively and seemed to understand somewhat.

"This kind of power, which surpasses that of a regular Jonin and possesses an absolute ability to determine the outcome of a local war, I call 'Kage-level.'"

Shisui nodded thoughtfully, Aoba's words replaying in his mind.

"Then—Lord Aoba, how far am I from reaching the Kage level with my current strength?"

Shisui couldn't help but ask.

"You now possess the strength of an elite Jonin."

Aoba looked at Shisui's crimson Mangekyou Sharingan, "If we don't consider the excessive consumption of ocular power, and recklessly use Mangekyou eye techniques, or even activate Susanoo—"

"You already possess Kage-level combat power!"

Upon hearing this, Shisui's eyes widened slightly, and then he slowly nodded.

He got it.

The standard for Kage-level combat power is not a fixed threshold, but a qualitative change in comprehensive abilities.

Ordinary Jonin rely on skills and experience, elite Jonin rely on a particular outstanding skill, while Kage-level ninjas need to possess a core power capable of changing the course of a battle.

The Kotoamatsukami of the Mangekyou Sharingan, Susanoo, certainly possesses such qualifications.

Although Lord Aoba claimed to possess Kage-level combat power, he knew it was just an illusion.

If I were to use the kaleidoscope without any restraint, I'm afraid my eyes would go completely blind after just a few battles.

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, Lord Aoba."

Shisui bowed respectfully, then a strong sense of curiosity flashed in his eyes.

"Lord Aoba, what about you? What rank are you at now?"

In Shisui's opinion, Aoba-sama's strength was definitely more than just Kage-level, given that he could easily defeat the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

Upon hearing this, Aoba's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

"Me?"

He put down his water glass and said calmly, "Actually, I haven't fully shown my full strength yet."

Shisui's pupils suddenly contracted.

It hasn't been fully shown yet?

Shisui quickly recalled all the battles Aoba-sama had fought since arriving at the front lines, and it seemed that it really was—

Lord Aoba seems to have been in control of the war, and even when facing the strongest duo in Kumogakure, Abby, he still has the confidence to win.

"However, if I go all out, I should have the strength of a Kage."

Super Shadow?!

Zhengshui's eyes widened. Although he had already guessed that Lord Qingye's strength was probably more than Kage level, he still couldn't help but gasp when he actually heard the word.

It surpasses the level of a Shadow!

"Lord Aoba, just how strong is the Super Shadow?" Shisui's voice trembled slightly.

"Hmm... how should I put it?"

Aoba stroked his chin, seemingly pondering how to describe it, "The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, was probably at the level of a Kage."

These words struck Zhi Shui like a thunderbolt.

The First Hokage!

God of Ninjas!

That legendary figure who ended the Warring States period and single-handedly established the ninja world's格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall structure or pattern of the ninja world)!

Lord Aoba said he could reach that level with his full power?!

Shisui stared intently at the man in front of her, her mouth opening and closing, but she couldn't utter a word for a long time.

"Okay, stop looking at me like that."

Aoba was amused by Shisui's expression, which looked as if he had seen a ghost. He then took out a small brocade pouch from his ninja tool bag, poured out a dark brown dumpling, and casually tossed it to Shisui.

"Eat this."

Shisui instinctively caught the soldier's ration pill, and without thinking, threw it into his mouth and swallowed it.

He believed that Lord Aoba would not harm him.

Soon, a warm current flowed through his body, and Shisui was surprised to find that his eyes were now experiencing a cool and comfortable sensation!

Even my somewhat blurry vision has recovered a little!

"Is this soldier's ration pill something special?"

"Shisui said in surprise."

He wouldn't mistake the soldier's ration pills, but ordinary soldier's ration pills are only used to restore chakra, and could never have this effect!

"My specially made military ration pills contain some special medicinal ingredients that have a remarkable effect on restoring pupil function and relieving optic nerve fatigue."

Aoba waved his hand, "Consider this a small reward for your dutiful subordinate."

Feeling the comfort emanating from his eyes, Shisui took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock in his heart.

"Thank you, Lord Aoba!"

Konoha Village.

A massive storm is sweeping through the upper echelons of Konoha.

After days of thorough investigation by the Anbu, the evidence regarding missing persons, illegal human experimentation, and the theft of secret techniques from various races all strangely pointed to Orochimaru, the Third Hokage's most prized disciple!

When the Third Hokage led the Anbu to surround Orochimaru's laboratory, a corpse was lying on the lab table.

Faced with the Third Hokage's questioning, Orochimaru offered no explanation, but instead broke through the encirclement head-on, injuring the Third Hokage and several Anbu members, and defected from Konoha!

This news sent shockwaves through the entire Konoha leadership.

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Orochimaru's defection was like a sharp knife, piercing his heart.

He knew how much of this evidence was true and how much was fabricated by Danzo.

But now that things have come to this, Orochimaru's defection is a done deal.

-

Taking a deep drag on his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi made his final decision.

In order to give an explanation to the Daimyo and the Land of Fire, and to quell the anger within the village, the Third Hokage finally made up his mind.

The next day.

The Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned all the high-ranking officials of Konoha and officially announced the final decision regarding Danzo Shimura.

First, effective immediately, the "Root" organization is officially disbanded, and all Root members are incorporated into the Dark Division.

Second, all positions and authority of Shimura Danzo as "Hokage's assistant" are revoked.

Third, Danzo was allowed to keep a small number of close subordinates, but only for their daily needs.

Fourth, Danzo is to retire to his home immediately and is not allowed to leave without the Hokage's permission.

The news caused an uproar among the Konoha leadership.

Although the Third Hokage had privately suspended Danzo, that was only a temporary measure.

Now, however, it is a formal decision announced in black and white in front of everyone.

Having lost Root and his position as Hokage's assistant, Danzo's long-cherished dream of becoming Hokage has become a pipe dream.

However, what no one knew was that in a hidden base deep underground in Konoha.

Danzo Shimura, who should have been "reflecting on his mistakes behind closed doors" in his mansion, was now sitting upright on a cold stone chair, his single eye gleaming with a cold, venomous light.

"Hiruzen, do you think you can take away my power like this?"

Danzo sneered, his voice echoing through the empty underground base.

The "roots" on the surface were indeed disbanded, leaving the third generation with nothing but abandoned outposts that had long been emptied and useless shells to search.

The true "roots," those elite assassins who had been thoroughly brainwashed by him and were loyal only to him, had long since moved to this top-secret base that even the Dark Guard didn't know about!

The "roots" were not destroyed; instead, they hid even deeper!

Just then, a Root ninja wearing an animal mask appeared silently in front of Danzo and knelt on one knee.

"Lord Danzo, the latest top-secret intelligence has been sent back from the front lines."

"read.

"Yamashiro Aoba single-handedly defeated the combined forces of the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki of Kumogakure, and unleashed a powerful Lava Release ninjutsu, forcing the Kumogakure army to retreat completely. Currently, Konoha holds an absolute advantage on the front lines."

Click!

Danzo squeezed the cane in his hand so hard that it cracked.

Yamashiro Aoba!

It's that brat again!

That brat who was once marginalized under his nose has now grown up to this extent.

Now, this kid has actually made such a huge contribution on the front line!

Once he returns to the village, this brat's reputation will surely rise even higher, and he might even be a shoo-in for the next Hokage.

How can this be allowed!

"Damn it! Damn it!"

Danzo's chest heaved violently, and the resentment in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Just as he was getting angry, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his right eye.

"Hmm!"

Danzo covered his right eye and let out a painful groan.

"Lord Danzo!"

The researchers in white coats rushed forward and, after a thorough examination, broke out in a cold sweat.

"Sir, this is a rejection reaction. The Sharingan you transplanted is severely rejecting your body. If this continues, not only will the eye be ruined, but it could even endanger your life!"

"waste!"

Danzo kicked the researcher to the ground, roaring, "Why is it that brat Kakashi Hatake had no problems after transplanting the Sharingan, but I have a rejection reaction?!"

Ignoring the pain, the researchers quickly got up and explained, "Lord Danzo, each Sharingan reacts differently to the body's rejection response. Kakashi's Sharingan was given to him voluntarily by Obito Uchiha, so it might have a higher compatibility in chakra. But your eye—"

The researchers didn't dare to continue, but everyone knew perfectly well how Danzo got his eye.

Upon hearing this, Danzo's face turned terribly grim.

Is all the power he painstakingly acquired just going to go to waste?

Suddenly, a figure flashed through his mind, and he thought of Yamashiro Aoba.

That guy who didn't have Uchiha blood but still awakened the Sharingan.

He had learned in detail from his informant within the Uchiha clan about the entire process by which Aoba obtained the Sharingan.

Yamashiro Aoba's Sharingan was not a bloodline limit at all, but a Sharingan imitated by some kind of secret technique.

"Since that brat was able to replicate the power of the Sharingan through research—"

A fanatical light erupted from Danzo's single eye.

"I possess the largest ninjutsu database in the entire Hidden Leaf Village, and I have a top-notch research team under my command. There's no reason I can't do it!"

You can master the power of the bloodline limit without taking the risk of transplant rejection!

This is a path we might want to give!

"Immediately halt all current transplant experiments!"

Danzo abruptly turned to the researchers, "From this moment on, dedicate all your efforts to researching the essence of the Sharingan! I want you to replicate its power!"

The researchers paused for a moment, then looked troubled.

"Lord Danzo, although Root has collected quite a few Sharingan, the data from the Sharingan alone is probably not enough to analyze the essence of the eye techniques and replicate them in a short time. If we could conduct comparative research on multiple different eye techniques and find the commonalities in their chakra manipulation, the progress might be much faster."

"Multiple eye techniques"

Danzo narrowed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

Besides the Sharingan, what other eye techniques does Konoha have?

The answer is obvious.

The Hyuga clan's Byakugan!

Although Danzo always looked down on the Byakugan, it is undeniable that the Byakugan is also one of the most famous dojutsu in the ninja world.

However, the Hyuga clan is extremely strict in protecting the Byakugan.

Each branch family member has that damned Caged Bird Seal on their forehead. Once they die, their Byakugan will automatically be destroyed. Trying to win over or assassinate a branch family member will not get you a complete Byakugan.

As for the main family, they were protected with an airtight seal.

"etc."

Danzo suddenly remembered something; he had come up with an excellent target.

The Hyuga main family member who accidentally lost his Byakugan in the previous war!

Because of the loss of the Byakugan, that branch of the main family's status within the Hyuga clan plummeted, and its next generation directly lost the right to inherit the main family.

For the once-powerful main family, the feeling of falling from grace is far worse than death.

People are most easily controlled when they are in despair and filled with resentment.

Although he is currently under house arrest by Hiruzen and has lost his public identity, it is easy for him to secretly contact a disgraced Hyuga main family member.

"Go and make the arrangements."

Danzo turned around and ordered, "I want to see Lord Hyuga, who has lost his status as the head of the Hyuga clan, in person."

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