The Tenseigan started from the Hyuga main family.

Didn't they disband?

The leader of the secret service members immediately recognized the difference in the pattern on the mask and determined the other party's identity.

"May I ask what your code name is? We have been commissioned by the Barrier Team to investigate the source of the disturbance ahead."

Seeing that the Root ninja remained silent, the ANBU squad leader tentatively took two steps closer and spoke.

"This is a special mission, none of your business. Leave now, or don't blame us for being ruthless!"

As if to enhance their persuasiveness, the eight Root members simultaneously released Jonin-level chakra pressure and held kunai in their hands, clearly indicating that it was not just a verbal threat.

"You guys... are still so arrogant!"

A flash of anger crossed the dark squad leader's eyes, but he obediently retreated to his original position.

Every Root member is a ruthless machine that will stop at nothing to carry out their mission. If we get any closer, they will really disregard the camaraderie among the Hidden Leaf Village and take action.

After hesitating for a while, the four secret agents retreated to a distance of more than ten feet. They sent the fastest member of the team back the way they came to report the situation to their superiors. The remaining three hid in the treetops and kept a close watch on the movements ahead.

The eight Root members remained motionless from beginning to end, not even putting away the kunai in their hands. Their sharp eyes would occasionally sweep over the hiding places of the Anbu, inspiring fear in everyone.

-----------------

In the dark jungle, Danzo lay prone in the grass, panting heavily.

Well, aren't I in the middle of a fierce battle with the enemy?

A sudden thought made Danzo realize that something was amiss.

What was the name of the formidable enemy I fought?

Just as he was pondering, Danzo's pupils contracted as five or six kunai with explosive tags attached shot out from in front of him, interrupting his thoughts.

As he struggled to dodge, Danzo felt his body brimming with energy and sensed something was amiss once again.

Such a young body, how wonderful!

"Danzo, are you alright?"

Just then, a familiar figure shot out from the side, grabbed Danzo, and leaped rapidly through the forest—it was Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Mind your own business, you'll be executed!"

Danzo abruptly pushed Hiruzen Sarutobi away, refusing to accept the other's help.

"We're surrounded by the enemy..."

With two fingers tapping the ground and his eyes tightly closed, Tobirama Senju immediately determined the number of his opponents and the ninja village they belonged to.

"In this situation, someone must act as bait to lure them away in order to create an opportunity to break through."

Uchiha Kagami proposed the only feasible solution: his three-tomoe Sharingan glowed an unusual crimson in the darkness.

"I'll do it!"

As if he had practiced it a thousand times, Danzo was surprised to find that his body spoke first, even though he knew he would die.

what happened?

Why did my body experience unprecedented excitement and pleasure after I said it out loud?

Was it because he took on the responsibility of covering the rear before Hiruzen?

My grandfather and father both died on the battlefield as ninjas; self-sacrifice is a ninja's duty!

Tobirama Senju, kneeling in front, looked surprised, clearly not expecting that it was Danzo, who was usually hesitant to make decisions, who volunteered.

"I'll be the bait, of course!"

Tobirama Senju's words were filled with determination.

“You are all young inheritors of the Will of Fire who will protect the village in the future, and you must not sacrifice yourselves here.”

After his gaze lingered between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, it finally settled on Danzo.

"Danzo, starting tomorrow, you will be the Hokage!"

Danzo froze on the spot, stunned for several seconds, before responding loudly.

Monkey, this time, it's me walking in front of you!

-----------------

"Danzo, how could you, as the Third Hokage, become the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki? This is far too dangerous!"

Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi abruptly pushed open the office door and angrily spoke.

"As the Hokage, shouldn't you keep the village's strongest fighting force under your control, Hiruzen?"

Danzo, wearing the Hokage's hat, slowly raised his head. Inside the sealed cage in his abdomen, the red Nine-Tailed Fox roared to the sky.

You'll regret this!

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi, his face contorted with rage, shout those words in a fit of rage, Danzo felt an unprecedented surge of exhilaration welling up from the depths of his heart, reaching straight to the top of his head.

"Hiruzen, I am the Hokage!"

Danzo slowly stood up from behind his desk, straightened his Hokage hat, and couldn't help but break into a broad, joyful smile.

-----------------

"Lord Hokage, the clansmen who disobeyed your orders have been eliminated."

Inside the Uchiha clan's territory, Itachi Uchiha knelt before Danzo, blood continuously flowing from the kunai he held in his hand.

Behind Itachi Uchiha, only a dozen or so members of the Uchiha clan remained; the rest lay dead in pools of blood.

"Please accept these Mangekyou Sharingan. The power of Kotoamatsukami should belong to the Hokage."

Uchiha Shisui gouged out his own eyes, held them in his palms, and presented them to Danzo.

Danzo skillfully picked up the two kaleidoscopes and placed them into his eye sockets.

Tobirama-sensei, the Uchiha clan that you've always been worried about has been completely eliminated by me!

-----------------

On the platform in front of the Hokage Building, Danzo stood at the highest point, his Hokage robes fluttering in the wind.

Long live the Hokage!

Countless ninjas and civilians cheered below, for from this day forward, the last Land of Lightning had been conquered by the Konoha ninja army, the entire ninja world was unified, and everything was brought under the rule of Konoha.

Looking down at the cheering ninjas and civilians, Danzo felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration.

"This life is so wonderful. Even though I know it's an illusion, I can't help but immerse myself in it and don't want to leave..."

Just then, the world went completely dark, and Danzo slowly turned around, revealing the Mangekyou Sharingan in his right eye.

"I never expected that Lord Danzo would regain his senses?"

A phantom figure appeared, it was Hinata Sawatatsu.

"A fake is still a fake!"

Danzo glanced longingly at his Hokage attire and formed hand seals.

Illusion - Dispel!

However, it was no use; everything around remained the same, and they were still in the illusion.

"Does Lord Danzo know why Izanagi, the ultimate eye technique of the Sharingan, is listed as a forbidden technique and is not allowed to be learned by his clansmen?"

Hinata Sawatatsu's illusory figure stood beside Danzo and asked a question.

"Because Izanagi has a forbidden technique specifically designed to counter it, Izanami!"

Before Danzo could answer, Hyuga Sawatatsu gave his answer directly.

"Coincidentally, one of the human puppets happened to be a user of the Uchiha Sharingan with three tomoe."

Danzo's pupils constricted as he tried to disrupt the chakra again without success, and he subconsciously looked around.

Is this the world of Izanami?

When Danzo was learning Izanagi, he did indeed learn the name of the technique Izanami from the Uchiha clan's records, and knew that it was a forbidden technique that countered Izanagi.

"Lord Danzo, may you forever be trapped in the world of Izanami..."

After leaving behind a single sentence, Hyuga Sawatatsu's phantom vanished, leaving Danzo alone in the entire world.

I won't let you succeed!

Danzo hesitated for a long time before forming hand seals again.

Izanagi solution!

Chapter 58 The Imminent Birth of the Pot's Shadow

In the conference room of the Hokage Building, the seat that once belonged to Hiruzen Sarutobi is now empty.

On either side of the table, Konoha's high-ranking officials, including Jiraiya, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Shikaku Nara, as well as Jonin such as Kakashi, sat attentively, listening to the reports from the Anbu who had returned from the Naka River.

What exactly does Danzo want to do?

After the secret service finished reporting, this was the thought that arose simultaneously in the minds of everyone present.

"If I remember correctly, after the Uchiha clan massacre, Danzo was removed from his position as Hokage advisor, and his direct subordinate Root was also disbanded..."

Jiraiya turned to look at Mitokado Homura, his tone carrying a hint of aggressiveness.

“That’s right, Hiruzen did give such an order. However, because of some special missions, a small number of Root members still obeyed Danzo’s orders. Only Hiruzen and Danzo know the exact number.”

Under Jiraiya's gaze, Mitokado Homura felt immense pressure and could only selectively reveal parts of the story.

In fact, Danzo was still able to control most of the Root members because he had the covert support of Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. As members of the Hokage Advisory Council, these two did not want Hiruzen Sarutobi to monopolize power and consistently favored Danzo in order to maintain a balance and solidify the Hokage Advisory Council's power amidst their conflict.

"If that's the case, why didn't we see Danzo when Orochimaru and the Sand Ninja attacked the village?"

Jiraiya immediately noticed the glint in Mitokado Homura's and Utatane Koharu's eyes and asked the crucial question that went straight to the heart of the matter.

"Jiraiya, please be mindful of your status! No matter what, we are your seniors!"

Turning to the dormitory, Xiaochun frowned, slammed her hand on the armrest of the chair, and shouted angrily.

Jiraiya clenched his fists under his long sleeves, about to utter a sarcastic remark, when a glance at the empty Hokage seat at the head of the table brought to mind Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice and smile. His anger was quickly replaced by sorrow.