Naruto: The Fifth Hokage [5]

Chapter 5: Danzo's Death

"It seems I have no choice but to take action." Despite losing all his men, the Danzo remained composed. He threw down his cane and slowly unwrapped the bandages on his right arm, revealing a grotesque sight.

"Sharingan?" Inabi and Zaito, still protected by Susanoo, were instantly enraged. "How dare you desecrate our ancestors!"

"You Uchihas are a clan born of evil," Danzo declared, his gaze locked onto the crimson warrior standing in the downpour. "Only in my hands can the power of the Sharingan be used to protect Konoha. Uchiha Makoto, today, I will personally end your sins."

With that, Danzo surged forward, forming seals with both hands.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Bullets!"

Compressed wind chakra shot from his mouth like high-speed projectiles, hurtling toward Makoto's Susano'o. Danzo weaved between them, kunai in hand, aiming directly for Makoto.

Susano'o, unmoved, cleaved through the wind bullets with a single stroke. Danzo was caught in the same strike, his body split in two.

As the giant warrior slowly dissipated, Makoto, Inabi, and Zaito emerged.

"Is it over?" Inabi murmured, still processing the battle.

"Yes, it's over," Makoto affirmed, stepping toward Danzo's lifeless corpse. However, just as he was about to confirm the kill, Danzo's body vanished.

A gust of wind stirred behind him.

"Uchiha Makoto, I accept your eyes," Danzo's voice dripped with exhilaration. With Makoto's death, he would claim not only Shisui's but also another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan—a power that would solidify his path to the Hokage seat.

But just as his kunai was about to pierce Makoto's back, his body froze mid-motion. He watched in horror as his arm and weapon disintegrated into nothingness.

"What… what is this?" Danzo's voice trembled as he witnessed his own form eroding into the wind.

"You rely on Izanagi, don't you?" Makoto turned, his left eye spinning ominously. "It distorts reality, but unfortunately for you, it's powerless against my eye."

Danzo's expression twisted in disbelief as Makoto continued, "In my eyes, every illusion ceases to exist. Under its gaze, even Izanagi is rendered powerless."

The remnants of Danzo's body faded into the air, and his original corpse—the one erased by Izanagi—reappeared. Only half of him remained. Without chakra to suppress the Hashirama cells, they began to riot. Makoto swiftly performed a series of sealing techniques to contain the mutation before picking up what was left of Danzo.

"We're heading back to the village," Makoto declared.

"Back to the village?" Zaito asked in disbelief.

"Yes," Makoto affirmed, his gaze sharp. "We're going to demand answers." He then turned to the barely-breathing Wood Release user nearby. "Take him, too."

---

In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe for the twenty-seventh time that day. A foreboding sense of unease had plagued him since morning.

"Lord Third, Makoto has returned," an Anbu agent burst in urgently. "There's been a confrontation at the village gate."

Hiruzen's heart sank. If Makoto had returned, that meant Danzo had failed.

"They were merely returning from a mission. Why the conflict?" Hiruzen asked, trying to maintain composure.

The Anbu hesitated before answering. "He's carrying Lord Danzo's body… and there are multiple Sharingan on it."

"What?!" Hiruzen's breath caught. He had prepared for Danzo's potential failure. He had even anticipated Danzo falling to Kotoamatsukami. But he had not expected Makoto to kill him outright.

"The two advisors have been informed and are on their way to the village gate," the Anbu continued. "Also, the Uchiha clan has begun mobilizing."

Hiruzen could no longer remain seated. He shot up and strode toward the door.

---

At the village gate, the atmosphere was suffocating with tension.

Dozens of Jonin had encircled Makoto and Inabi, who carried Tenzo on his back. Yet no one dared to make the first move. Makoto stood calmly in the center, Danzo's mutilated corpse discarded at his feet like refuse.

"How dare you!" a furious voice rang out as the crowd parted. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu emerged, their faces contorted with rage at the sight of their fallen comrade. "You murdered a Konoha elder! Is the Uchiha clan rebelling?!"

"Let's see who dares to move," another voice countered coldly.

Pairs of scarlet eyes illuminated the dusk as Uchiha warriors stepped forward. At their lead were the radical faction elders and, reluctantly pulled along, the clan leader, Fugaku.

Zaito had returned to the clan with news, and the Uchiha had mobilized at unprecedented speed. The sight of Danzo's arm covered in Sharingan ignited fury in even the more pacifist members of the clan. Shisui, still recovering from his eye replacement, had attempted to intervene, but the outrage was beyond his control. Even Itachi, having rushed to stop the escalation, had been powerless against the clan's collective wrath.

"You dare desecrate our clan's remains? Today, we rebel!" an elder of the Uchiha fighting faction declared.

"Is the Uchiha clan attempting a coup?!" Homura bellowed.

"Enough!"

A powerful voice sliced through the chaos like a blade.

All eyes turned toward the approaching figure—a man whose very presence commanded authority. The two groups froze in place, waiting for the next move.