102. Danzo's Demise

The grotesque display reminded Kakashi of Obito, of the friend he'd lost and the eye that had been given to him as a final gift. Rage bubbled up inside him, threatening to overwhelm his usually calm demeanour. But Kakashi was not just any shinobi; he was an experienced ex-ANBU captain. He took a deep breath, channelling that anger into focused determination. The combination of cold calculation and burning resolve made him an even deadlier opponent.

In a flash, Kakashi summoned his father's tanto, channelling lightning chakra through the blade. The weapon crackled with electrical energy as he charged at Danzo.

Danzo, not to be outdone, infused his kunai with wind chakra, extending and sharpening the blade. The two weapons clashed in a shower of sparks, the opposing chakra natures creating a volatile reaction.

Despite Danzo's age, his skill was undeniable. However, Kakashi's speed and precision gave him an edge in the close-quarters combat. With each exchange, Kakashi pushed Danzo back, the elder shinobi's face twisting with effort and frustration.

Suddenly, Danzo saw an opening. "Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere!" he shouted, releasing the jutsu at point-blank range.

Kakashi's instincts kicked in, allowing him to duck at the last second. Even so, he felt the rush of air above him, singeing the tips of his silver hair. The near-miss was too close for comfort, but Kakashi had no time to dwell on it.

Sensing an opportunity, Danzo pressed his advantage. But as he moved to strike, something unexpected happened. A hand burst from the ground, grasping Danzo's ankle in an iron grip.

Danzo's eyes widened in surprise, but his reaction was immediate. Wind chakra exploded from his foot, shredding the earthen hand and freeing him from its grasp. But the momentary distraction was all Kakashi needed.

In a blur of motion, Kakashi's lightning-infused tanto sliced through the air. There was a sickening sound of metal cutting through flesh, and Danzo's head flew from his shoulders.

For a moment, Kakashi allowed himself to believe it was over. But years of experience screamed at him not to let his guard down. It was a warning that saved his life.

Just as Kakashi began to relax, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw Danzo's hand protruding from his torso, the elder's face twisted in a triumphant sneer.

"You should never let your guard down during battle, Kakashi," Danzo gloated. "That's how you meet your demise."

But Danzo's victory was short-lived. A voice from behind him caused the elder to stiffen. "Danzo, you should follow your own advice."

The Kakashi impaled on Danzo's arm crumbled into earth - a well-executed Earth Clone jutsu. The real Kakashi stood behind Danzo, his hand crackling with the sound of a thousand birds. Before Danzo could react, Kakashi's Chidori pierced through his heart.

This time, Kakashi was prepared when Danzo attempted another Wind Style jutsu. He leapt back, putting distance between them as Danzo's body shimmered and reset, the fatal wound disappearing as if it had never existed.

"So," Kakashi mused, his Sharingan spinning as he analyzed what he'd just witnessed, "you have additional lives. Two down, I count ten Sharingan on your arm. Eight more to go, I suppose. Maa, my work is increased, it seems."

Danzo's face contorted with rage. "You understand nothing, Kakashi! The lengths I've gone to, the sacrifices I've made - all for the sake of the village!"

"Save your justifications," Kakashi retorted. "Your actions have brought shame to Konoha. It's time to answer for your crimes."

With a snarl, Danzo formed a new set of hand seals. To Kakashi's shock, wooden tendrils burst from the ground, snaking towards him at incredible speed.

'Wood Release?' Kakashi thought, bewildered. 'But that's the First Hokage's technique!'

Reacting on instinct, Kakashi's hands flew through seals. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" A massive ball of flame erupted from his mask, incinerating the wooden tendrils before they could reach him.

As the flames died down, Kakashi sensed two familiar chakra signatures approaching. In the next instant, two ANBU appeared at his side - one wearing a snake mask, the other a cat mask.

"Senpai, let us help you," said the one in the snake mask - Tenzo, Kakashi's former subordinate in ANBU.

"Maa, maa," Kakashi replied, his tone casual despite the intensity of the situation. "Be careful. This guy has nine lives left."

Yugao, the ANBU in the cat mask, tightened her grip on her sword. "Understood, senpai. We'll follow your lead."

With that, the trio engaged Danzo once more. The elder shinobi found himself suddenly on the defensive, forced to contend with three elite ninjas simultaneously.

Danzo attempted to use his Wood Release again, but this time, Tenzo was ready. The young ANBU's own Wood Release countered Danzo's, the two techniques clashing and intertwining in a deadly dance.

Danzo yelled, "Tenzo, are you going to betray me?!"

Tenzo remained silent, focusing on his jutsu. His wood constructs began to overpower Danzo's, pushing the elder back and limiting his movement.

Meanwhile, Yugao unleashed a barrage of flying chakra slashes from her sword which kept Danzo constantly on his toes, unable to find a moment's respite.

Kakashi took advantage of his teammates' support, engaging Danzo head-on once more. His Sharingan tracked every movement, every twitch of muscle that might betray Danzo's next move.

The battle raged on, with Danzo losing life after life. Each time he fell, he would reappear, a Sharingan on his arm closing forever. But with each resurrection, Danzo's movements became more desperate, more erratic.

Five lives left. Four. Three.

Danzo, realizing he was fighting a losing battle, decided to play his trump card. Biting his thumb, he slammed his hand on the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"

A massive creature appeared in a cloud of smoke - the Baku, a chimera-like beast known from legend to devour nightmares. Its trunk-like nose began to inhale, creating a powerful vortex that threatened to draw in everything in its path.

"Yugao!" Kakashi called out. "Can you handle this?"

The ANBU nodded, her hands already forming seals. "Leave it to me, senpai! Wind Style: Godly Wind from the Mountains!"

A powerful gust of wind erupted from Yugao, colliding with the Baku's inhaling force. The two wind techniques fought for dominance, creating a localized storm in the middle of the battlefield.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Kakashi and Tenzo pressed their attack on Danzo. The elder shinobi's movements were becoming sluggish, the strain of multiple revivals clearly taking its toll.

Two lives left. One.

As Danzo's final Sharingan closed, Kakashi prepared to land the finishing blow. But Danzo had one last trick up his sleeve. His hands formed a seal Kakashi recognized with dread - the seal for a Reverse Summoning technique.

"Everyone, back away now!" Kakashi shouted, leaping backwards and signalling his team to do the same.

Danzo's face twisted into a grotesque smile. "You may have defeated me, Kakashi, but I'll take you all with me! For the good of Kono-"

His words were cut short as the suicide technique took place, and the massive explosion occurred. When it cleared, Danzo was gone, leaving massive destruction in his awake.

Kakashi, Tenzo, and Yugao stood in stunned silence for a moment, the sudden absence of their enemy almost anticlimactic after such an intense battle, they were expecting him to have another one or two Sharingan transplanted somewhere else.

"Senpai," Tenzo finally spoke, "how did you know about his last gambit?"

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in what might have been a smile. "Maa, let's just say a little bird told me. Or perhaps a little toad would be more accurate."

Understanding dawned on his companions' faces. The Third Hokage, likely informed by Jiraiya's spy network, had anticipated this move and warned them in advance.

As the adrenaline of battle began to fade, Kakashi surveyed the scene around them. The Root base was in shambles, its operatives either subdued or fled. Danzo Shimura, one of Konoha's eldest and most influential figures, was gone.

"Good work, both of you," Kakashi said to Tenzo and Yugao. "We couldn't have done this without your help."

Yugao bowed slightly. "We're just glad we made it in time, senpai."

Tenzo nodded in agreement. "What happens now?"

Kakashi sighed, suddenly feeling the weight of everything that had transpired. "Now, we report back to the Hokage. This is just the beginning. We have a lot of work ahead of us to set things right, Also, let's check the surroundings to confirm that he died for real."

As they prepared to leave the destroyed Root base, Kakashi couldn't help but think of Sora, the young boy who had set all of this in motion. The child's actions had led to a seismic shift in Konoha's power structure, exposing long-buried secrets and setting the village on a new path.

'You've started something big, Sora,' Kakashi thought. 'I hope we can live up to the faith you've placed in us.'

With that, Kakashi led his team out of the base and into the night, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in rebuilding a stronger, more transparent Konoha.

***

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