Naruto: Starting with Tsunade

Chapter 415 Gouging Eyes

Located one kilometer away from the "Root" stronghold.

As Hiashi Hyuga lowered his hand seals, the veins around his eyes gradually relaxed.

Aokiji crossed his arms and asked, "How are you? Is the old man asleep?"

Hiashi Hyuga replied, "I'm lying down."

Aokiji continued, "Tell me the location of the members secretly guarding Root."

Hiashi Hyuga truthfully informed him, and Aokiji understood that as long as he avoided being seen or heard, he could easily sneak into Danzo's room and assassinate him.

Aokiji looked at Itachi beside him: "You'll be with me on this assassination mission. Your genjutsu is more suited to this kind of work. You can also take revenge on your enemies and avenge Shisui."

Itachi's eyes flashed with icy coldness: "Thank you, Uncle Aokiji."

Aokiji then assigned tasks to his clansmen behind him: "Until I successfully assassinate Danzo, or until I subdue him, none of you are to make a move."

The Eighth Uchiha looked surprised: "Even if the assassination fails, you won't make a move?"

Aokiji laughed and said, "A failed assassination is part of the assassination itself."

Since Aokiji had said that, the Uchiha members, though curious, said nothing more.

After giving all these instructions, Aokiji seemed to be preparing to leave. Hiashi Hyuga watched him leave when suddenly Aokiji cast a glance at him, containing a malicious smile.

A sense of foreboding washed over Hiashi Hyuga: "What's wrong?"

Aokiji grinned: "Come with me."

Hiashi Hyuga's eyes widened: "What did you say?"

Aokiji laughed and said, "I think my speech is fairly clear."

Hiashi Hyuga said in a deep voice, "Didn't we agree that I wouldn't get directly involved?"

Aokiji teased, "Since you're already an accomplice, one more time won't make a difference."

"you……"

Hiashi Hyuga cursed Aokiji's despicable behavior under his breath, knowing full well that he couldn't get off the ship anymore, so he stopped pretending.

Aokiji knew perfectly well what the other person was thinking, but he didn't say it outright: "Okay, don't be angry. I had no choice but to drag you along."

Hiashi Hyuga looked incredulous: "With your strength, Danzo could never have escaped from you."

Aokiji acknowledged this point, saying mysteriously, "That's true, but to handle this matter well, we can't do without you."

Hiashi Hyuga frowned.

Aokiji explained it to him briefly.

After hearing this, Hiashi Hyuga sighed, "I understand..."

Now that things have come to this, there's no turning back.

◎

In the minimalist room, Danzo, who was asleep, suddenly sensed a murderous aura. He abruptly opened his eyes, and saw a gleaming blade radiating a chilling aura.

"Whoosh."

A flash of light, and the blade struck down suddenly.

Danzo dodged the slash by sidestepping, then sprang to his feet and kicked backward.

Even after retiring from the limelight, Danzo still dedicates time to training. Apart from his stamina being noticeably less than it was in his youth, he maintains a relatively good condition in all other aspects, which is rare and commendable at his age.

The slash, having lost its target, struck the pillow, causing the cotton inside to burst out.

The slash cut through the darkness, flashing with white light.

Danzo dodged several slashes, created some distance, and saw who it was: black hair, eyes gleaming with crimson light: "It's you, Itachi..."

"That's right."

"What are you doing?"

Itachi gritted his teeth and said, "I will kill you to avenge Shisui."

Danzo narrowed his eyes: "I see. So you've ultimately sided with the Uchiha. I had a feeling this would happen when you resigned from Root."

"Die, Danzo. The Uchiha clan has launched a coup tonight."

Danzo's one eye suddenly enlarged.

impossible!

Why haven't the Bull Head and Horse Head sent out any information about such an important matter?

"Hehe...is this what you're looking for?"

As a leisurely, mocking voice rang out, a dark shadow emerged from the shadows.

A man with white hair and red eyes walked out with leisurely steps, casually tossing the things he was carrying at Danzo's feet with a thud.

Danzo lowered his gaze and saw a bloody head staring at him with a deathly look.

Danzo gritted his teeth, unable to maintain his composure any longer: "It's you..."

Aokiji grinned, a delighted laugh escaping his lips.

Danzo's eyes twisted, and he looked at Itachi with hatred. That bastard.

It must have been this traitor who told Aokiji about the existence of the Ox-Head and Horse-Head, which led to their deaths.

The next second, a mocking voice interrupted Danzo's thoughts: "Don't get me wrong, Itachi didn't tell me this."

"What did you say?"

Danzo didn't understand how Aokiji knew about the existence of the bull-headed and horse-headed people if Itachi hadn't told him about their village.

A mocking smile crept across Aokiji's lips as he poked his temple with his index finger: "Judging from the attitude of your higher-ups towards the Uchiha clan, anyone with a brain could guess that there's a traitor in the clan."

"W-what?!"

Aokiji's three tomoe eyes rapidly connected, merging into a blood-red snowflake pattern, and he entered battle mode: "The Sharingan is a wonderful thing. It has the functions of erasing memories and hypnosis. With a little deduction and a clear range, I can find the spies in my clan in no time."

Danzo saw Aokiji reveal his Mangekyou Sharingan, his pupils radiating intense killing intent, and he knew something was wrong.

Aokiji had already shown murderous intent. Danzo wouldn't be afraid if he were fighting Itachi, but if it were Aokiji, he would have absolutely no chance of winning.

asshole--!

Danzo instinctively reached out to untie the bandages on his face, intending to use Kotoamatsukami to fight Aokiji to the death, but quickly abandoned the idea.

Aokiji wouldn't let this opening slip by; he had no chance to untie the bandages.

Unexpectedly, the usual caution became a stumbling block.

Danzo's mind raced, and he quickly devised a plan, using words to provoke Aokiji: "As expected, the Uchiha clan are all children of evil. I should have nipped you in the bud despite Hiruzen's objections, otherwise Tsunade wouldn't have had to be sacrificed in vain."

As he expected, upon hearing Tsunade's name, Aokiji could no longer remain calm. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his face contorted: "Old man, you really have the nerve to say that? Don't worry, I won't kill you right away. I'll treat you well."

"Hmph, let's see if you have the ability."

Danzo leaped into the air, his hands rapidly forming hand seals. His mouth bulged like a toad's, and he unleashed a torrent of chakra, creating a powerful gust of wind as sharp as a blade. Suddenly, it split into eight, slicing through the air in a fan-shaped attack.

Any one of these compressed wind blades can easily cut through hard steel plates. Human flesh and blood would be instantly cut into pieces under such an attack, with blood splattering everywhere.

However, if the opponent is Aokiji, that's a different story. Danzo wouldn't be so naive as to think that an attack of this level could cause effective damage to Aokiji. His real purpose in using this move was simply to use it as cover, then slam his back against the wall to create an opening, reunite with the "Root" members outside, and finally reunite with the Hokage to gather all the village's ninjas for a full-scale siege of the Uchiha clan.

Aokiji scoffed. He had anticipated Danzo's actions the moment he jumped. A ring of black ribs appeared around his body, and he leaped into the wind blades with incredible speed, instantly catching up with his target and engaging in combat.

Aokiji already had an absolute advantage in taijutsu, not to mention he also had the Sharingan, and the outcome was decided in just two simple moves.

He twisted his waist and hips, flipped his body in mid-air, hung upside down on his right leg, and slammed his foot into Danzo's abdomen, slamming him heavily into the ground and creating a dent.

Aokiji did not press his advantage, but watched ahead with interest as Danzo staggered to his feet, coughing up mouthfuls of blood.

Aokiji wrapped his left palm around the incoming right fist, pressed it down, making a cracking sound, and wore a shrike-like smug smile on his face: "Old man, you'd better hold on, or you'll die in no time."

Danzo, panting heavily, maintained a calm expression.

That move isn't the right time yet.

It must be said that although Danzo's character was questionable, he was an excellent ninja. Even when the two sides were vastly different in strength and he was in dire straits, he was still able to calmly and rationally analyze the situation.

He understood that Aokiji hated him and would not kill him so easily; he would surely torture him slowly.

However, it was this arrogance that gave him his opportunity.

Aokiji saw an indomitable will in Danzo's eyes and sneered, "Interesting. I'll see how long you can hold out."

After saying that, he quickly formed hand seals and with a single hand gesture, a massive amount of chakra was transmitted through his palm to the ground, instantly covering the entire room with cold ice crystals.

Ice Release: Ice Age...

A chill ran from Aokiji's lips: "I won't let you get away."

Danzo's gaze swept across the room, which was now completely frozen, the chill penetrating as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

He cursed inwardly, "That bastard was afraid I'd run away, so he reinforced the whole room with ice."

Aokiji laughed to the person next to him, "Itachi, put away your weapon. There's no point in slashing with a sword. This is a rare opportunity, so come with me and give him a good beating with your fists."

Itachi put the sword back on his back, looked coldly at Danzo, and nodded in agreement.

Danzo, a man of high rank and power, had never suffered such a humiliation. He cursed and swore, his hands stained with blood. With one hand, he pressed down, and black characters spread out like spider silk. With a bang, a huge black shadow accompanied by white smoke smashed open the door, sending tiles flying.

A creature with orange fur, tusks, and an elephant trunk suddenly appeared; it was Danzo's summoning beast, Baku.

The commotion caused by this incident also alerted the Root members who were guarding Danzo.

"That is..."

The Root ninjas immediately recognized it as Danzo's summoning beast, Baku.

If this happens in the middle of the night, there's only one possibility.

Oh no, Lord Danzo, we're under attack!

Seeing his subordinates rushing towards him, Danzo disregarded everything else and prepared to run towards them. If he could reunite with his men, he would have a chance to escape Aokiji's clutches.

However, before it could even move, its feet suddenly shook violently, and it lost its balance. Looking closely, it saw a blue giant appear in front of it, slapping the Dream Eater to the ground and rubbing it wildly.

The Dream Eater struggled desperately, but the difference in strength was too great; the power of the Soul Fire was beyond its reach.

Taking advantage of Danzo's momentary lapse in balance, Aokiji and Itachi rushed in front of Danzo and launched a mixed doubles attack.

Danzo was already weaker than the two of them, and he couldn't even hold out for a single round. He quickly became clumsy and took several punches.

Aokiji seized the opportunity, extended his index and middle fingers together, bent them slightly into a claw shape, and made a gesture as if to pry open Danzo's right eye, which was wrapped in bandages.

"I'll take the Sharingan from your right eye."

Danzo knew he was in trouble. He couldn't dodge at this distance. This eye belonged to Shisui, and he absolutely couldn't let it fall into Aokiji's hands.

Danzo steeled his resolve and activated the forbidden technique—Izanagi.

Soon, accompanied by a scream, he will be able to turn the tide and gouge out the opponent's eyes. Aokiji will pay the price for his arrogance—that's how it should be, but the result is exactly the opposite.

"Aaaaaah—!"

Danzo let out a scream as bright red blood seeped from the bandages, staining them crimson.

Why?

Why is this happening!

Why didn't Izanagi activate?

Danzo covered his empty, bloodless eye sockets, unable to understand it at all.

"whee……"

Aokiji took a glass container out of his pocket and carefully placed Shisui's eyes inside.

In this way, he successfully collected a pair of Kotoamatsukami.

(End of this chapter)