Chapter 26: A Radiant Bloom

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Konohagakure, Temporary Hokage Tent.

Danzō Shimura, who had narrowly escaped death in the Land of Iron, now leaned on a cane with his left hand. His right eye and arm had been replaced with a prosthetic eye and arm, both tightly wrapped in bandages to avoid drawing attention.

A letter from the daimyo had just arrived, and its contents were far from favorable.

It read:

"Danzō, your performance at the Five Kage Summit was, to be frank, utterly disappointing. However, since I personally appointed you as Hokage, dismissing you immediately would only reflect poorly on my judgment. I am giving you one hundred days to rectify the situation and steer Konohagakure back on track. Failing that, I will select a new Hokage."

After reading the letter, Danzō burned it with a candle, his gaze dark and brooding. "If only I still had *Kotoamatsukami* in my right eye... I could have easily resolved this with the daimyo."

Once the letter was reduced to ashes, Danzō sat in deep thought for a long time. He summoned the overseer of Konohagakure's reconstruction to inquire about the village's rebuilding progress and added a new directive: the construction of the Sixth Hokage's face on the Hokage Rock.

"This..." The overseer hesitated, clearly concerned. "Although the village has received reconstruction funds from the Land of Fire, the workload is immense, and public morale is unstable. Wouldn't focusing on the Hokage Rock at this time be... inappropriate?"

He carefully observed Danzō's expression, speaking with caution. But Danzō, who had managed to seize the position of Hokage through cunning and patience, was not one to lose his composure so easily.

"The inauguration of every Hokage is marked by the addition of their likeness to the Hokage Rock," Danzō said with feigned earnestness. "It symbolizes renewal. Now, more than ever, the village needs a new Hokage Rock to serve as a spiritual pillar for the people."

The overseer wanted to object further, but the cold, piercing gazes of the Root members flanking him silenced his protests. "That... does make sense," he finally conceded.

"Then begin immediately," Danzō commanded. "The Hokage Rock must be tailored to reflect my stature. From materials to craftsmanship to manpower, everything must be approved by me."

"Understood, Lord Hokage."

After the overseer left, Danzō stepped out of the tent, his single visible eye fixed on the distant ruins and the cliff where the Hokage Rock stood.

"My visage as Hokage will finally be etched into history..."

The experience in the Land of Iron, where he had narrowly escaped death, still left him shaken. Even now, he often found himself sleepless and restless, haunted by the memory.

Back in his seat, he gripped his cane tightly. "I was so close... Just as I seized the position of Hokage, it nearly slipped away. I never imagined Uzumaki Naruto's strength would reach such heights. The power of the *Rinnegan* is unparalleled. If only I had foreseen this, I would have done whatever it took to obtain Nagato's eyes back in Amegakure."

The loss of his right eye and arm had stripped him of his most crucial survival tools. Now, wherever he went, elite Root members guarded him within a hundred paces. Even the village's ANBU security had been replaced by Root operatives.

That evening, Terai, whom Danzō had sent to hunt down Kabuto Yakushi before the Five Kage Summit, returned, battered and bruised.

"Lord Danzō," Terai reported, "I found his whereabouts, but his strength far exceeded our intelligence."

Danzō frowned. "Far exceeded? Then how did you survive?"

"To be honest... it seemed he deliberately let me live."

Sss! A serpent's slit pupil flickered in Terai's eyes for a brief moment.

Snap! Danzō's gaze sharpened. He suddenly dropped his cane, leapt from his seat, and seized Terai by the throat.

"Urghhh—!"

A white snake emerged from Terai's mouth, clutching a scroll in its jaws. Terai collapsed, lifeless.

Danzō bent down, picked up the scroll, and unrolled it. His eyes flashed with intensity as he read its contents.

"Lord Danzō..."

"Dispose of Terai's body."

"Yes, sir."

"Also, I must leave the village for a time. This is an absolute secret. No one must know."

"But, Lord Hokage, what about the village...?"

"My 'double' will handle things in my absence."

As a seasoned schemer, Danzō had long prepared a body double. From appearance to mannerisms, the double was indistinguishable, even to most jōnin-level shinobi.

"Even though it's a double," Danzō added, "the Hokage's presence must remain impeccable. Anything less will arouse suspicion. The daimyo is already pressuring me; I cannot afford any mistakes now."

"And your personal guards?"

Danzō's former guards, Fū and Torune, had both fallen to Naruto. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Recall Ryōma."

"Aburame Ryōma?!" The Root operative in white showed a hint of reverence.

Aburame Ryōma, one of the most formidable members of the Aburame clan, had once partnered with Orochimaru during his time in Root. [Refer to the Orphanage Arc, where Ryōma stood alongside Orochimaru behind Danzō.]

That night, after making all necessary arrangements, Danzō donned a black cloak to conceal his identity and quietly left the village.

Before departing, he glanced back at the Hokage Rock and murmured, "By the time I return, my likeness will surely be complete. The era of Danzō Shimura is finally dawning..."

He turned and vanished into the night.

...

The long night stretched on, shrouded in darkness.

In the southern region of the Land of Fire, within the Akatsuki's hideout.

"Ugh..." Sasuke Uchiha stirred awake.

"Sasuke..." Karin greeted him with a radiant smile.

"You're awake..." Tobi, seated on a high ledge, rested his chin on one hand.

As Sasuke's muddled consciousness cleared, he asked, "Where's Naruto?"

Tobi replied, "After clashing with the Raikage, he safely left the Land of Iron."

Bang!

Sasuke's fist slammed into the stone platform.

"Damn it! Naruto's power... it's already reached such heights...!"

Tobi said, "There's no need to be disheartened, Sasuke. During your battle, your own power awakened significantly. If Naruto hadn't obtained Nagato's eyes, he wouldn't have defeated you so easily."

"Don't insult me with such childish excuses!" Sasuke snapped coldly.

Tobi probed, "Then, what do you plan to do? If you go to Konohagakure seeking revenge now, the outcome won't change."

Sasuke's eyes burned with the desire for strength. "I will transplant Itachi's eyes...!"

"Oh?" Tobi's gaze shifted slightly as he descended from his perch.

"So, you've finally decided?"

"I need power strong enough to crush Naruto and destroy Konohagakure. Nothing else matters!"

Tobi looked at Sasuke intently. "Come with me, then..."

...

Outside the Land of Iron, in a cave hidden among the mountains.

Zzz! Naruto's right eye slowly opened, revealing the sharp, angular pattern of four Mangekyō Sharingan tomoe—the eye that once belonged to Shisui Uchiha.

"Naruto-kun, how do you feel?" Orochimaru asked with a sly smile, having personally performed the transplant.

Naruto replied, "The darkness is even clearer to me now..."

Orochimaru explained, "*Kotoamatsukami* is an extraordinarily unique dōjutsu. Without Hashirama's cells, it can only be used once every decade. But as a member of the Uzumaki clan, distant relatives of the Senju, your waiting period will be much shorter—approximately half a month. However, the risk of blindness remains."

Naruto asked meaningfully, "Orochimaru, aren't you afraid I might use this dōjutsu on you?"

Orochimaru chuckled knowingly. "Heh heh... If you truly intended to use it on me, you wouldn't bother warning me first. Besides, even if you did, I wouldn't realize it until it was too late, would I?"

Naruto withdrew his gaze.

Konan stepped forward. "Now that your goal has been achieved, shall we return to Amegakure?"

Naruto's eyes deepened with thought.

The Akatsuki was now targeting the Eight-Tails. The Raikage was already rushing to rescue it.

That man was likely doomed.

Naruto could never forget the sight of that man, defending his comrades to the very end...

"To facilitate our next move, we should increase our manpower wherever possible."

Konan asked, "Do you plan to recruit more once we return to Amegakure?"

Naruto half-closed his right eye. "There's one man I want to save and bring to our side."

"Who is it?" Konan inquired.

Naruto's gaze burned with intensity. "One of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, wielder of Samehada—the sharkskin blade—Kisame Hoshigaki!"