Chapter 57: Digging Up Konoha’s Roots

Konohagakure Underground Root Base

This facility was hidden on the outskirts of the village—perfect for Danzo to carry out his dirty work away from prying eyes.

The Root base was built like a massive vertical well. Layer after layer of rooms and staircases descended into the earth like a vast ant colony.

Danzo was in an unusually good mood as he sat in his private chamber, sipping sake and nibbling on a few side dishes.

After all, tomorrow marked the beginning of the Konoha Crush Plan. His old friend Hiruzen Sarutobi would finally die. All Danzo had to do was wait for Orochimaru to retreat... and then he would take over, becoming the next Hokage.

To Danzo, Kabuto's sudden visit could only mean he wanted to negotiate. But Orochimaru was just a rogue ninja—how much trouble could he really stir up?

He'd just become another one of Danzo's pawns, that's all.

As far as Danzo was concerned, Sarutobi had only become Hokage through temporary cunning, not strength. Konoha's ongoing decline was proof enough of his incompetence.

No—Danzo was the one destined to restore the village to greatness.

A knock echoed through the room.

Knock knock knock.

A voice followed: "Lord Danzo, Orochimaru's subordinate is waiting outside."

It was Yamanaka Fū, his bodyguard.

So... Orochimaru finally made his move, huh? Danzo thought to himself.

"Tell him I'm busy," Danzo ordered calmly.

He intended to let Kabuto stew for a while. Make him understand that being a traitor came with a price.

But in the very next moment, the door exploded off its hinges. Aburame Torune was sent flying, crashing to the ground as a blur of motion surged into the room.

Hyuga Gakuya moved like lightning.

Before Danzo could react, a powerful fist smashed into his gut. Gakuya's right hand clamped onto Danzo's hair like a steel vice, yanking his head back.

In one smooth, vicious motion, his left hand shot up and shattered the bandages on Danzo's face—then reached straight into his eye socket.

With a sickening squelch, Gakuya tore out the Sharingan.

"A waste to let you keep Shisui's eye. I'll take it off your hands."

Danzo wasn't one to survive this long without quick instincts. He leapt backward, ripping away the seals on his right arm.

The bandages and restraints fell away, revealing a pale arm embedded with ten blood-red Sharingan—each one twitching and writhing. It was grotesque.

Danzo narrowed his eyes, recognizing the familiar face.

"You're... Hyuga Gakuya?"

Four years ago, this was the man who annihilated the Hyuga Clan—an act that had directly sparked the Fourth Great Ninja War.

Kabuto stepped beside Gakuya, gingerly accepting the eye that held the most powerful genjutsu: Kotoamatsukami.

Even Izanagi required preparation. Danzo hadn't had the time to activate it before Gakuya struck—meaning he couldn't rewrite reality to pretend the eye was never taken.

Gakuya casually flicked blood off his fingers.

"I'm flattered you still recognize me, Lord Danzo."

"You… you're Kabuto? How are you still alive?" Danzo squinted, finally recognizing the man.

Kabuto's jaw tightened, voice like steel.

"Lucky, I guess. Lucky enough to still be alive to kill you myself. For the director."

"You mean... Nonō?" Danzo sneered. "So that's what this is about."

He knew, then—there was no talking his way out of this.

Aburame Torune struggled to his feet, stepping between them to defend Danzo. Danzo formed three quick hand seals—Hare, Boar, Goat.

The signs for Izanagi.

He'd recorded his state. For the next sixty seconds, any damage or death he suffered would be nothing but an illusion.

"You've sided with Orochimaru, haven't you?" Danzo offered coldly. "You two should join Root instead. I can give you whatever you want."

Gakuya smirked, his voice laced with mockery.

"No need for that. You won't be around tomorrow anyway."

"Arrogant fool! Wind Style: Vacuum Bullet!"

Danzo spewed a sharp blade of wind from his mouth, slicing through the air toward Gakuya. But Gakuya vanished and reappeared behind him, launching a brutal kick that sent Danzo crashing into the wall.

Torune moved to intervene, but Kabuto stepped in front of him, smiling.

"Your opponent is me."

Kabuto was no longer the man he once was. After years of training, he was at the threshold of Kage-level strength.

Orochimaru himself had once praised his potential. There was no way Kabuto would remain mediocre.

Danzo's body slid down the wall, his face grim. That speed and power—he couldn't even handle it in his prime.

He could feel his bones shattering from the last hit.

Then his body began to fade.

Izanagi activated.

Reality rewrote itself—his death never happened. But another Sharingan on his arm closed shut forever.

Danzo reappeared behind Gakuya, kunai in hand, aiming straight for the kill.

Gakuya turned instantly, catching Danzo's wrist with one hand and driving the other straight into his chest.

Crunch.

He crushed Danzo's heart in his grip.

Blood burst from the wound as he yanked his arm back out. Danzo's body collapsed like a ragdoll. Another Sharingan dimmed and went blind.

The body vanished again—teleported to a new location.

Danzo scanned the area.

Not a single Root shinobi in sight. The once-bustling base was deathly silent, littered with corpses. Even Yamanaka Fū, who had spoken earlier, stood frozen like a puppet.

Gakuya strolled out into the hallway, his voice taunting.

"Give it up. All the Root shinobi are dead. I killed them."

"This must be a Sharingan genjutsu," Danzo growled. "Fine—then I'll take your eye to replace Shisui's!"

He bit his finger and slammed his palm to the ground. A summoning circle flared.

Smoke exploded outward.

From within the mist rose a monstrous creature, covered in red-brown fur like an elephant—Baku.

Its gaping mouth opened, unleashing a massive suction force that tore through the hallway, sucking in everything around it.

Debris, rubble, even stone walls—nothing could resist the pull.

But Gakuya stood firm, unmoving.

Then he leapt.

Landing squarely on Baku's back, he drove his palm down hard.

Boom!

The beast crumpled beneath the blow.

Gakuya launched away just in time. The moment he landed, the Explosive Release chakra he'd planted earlier detonated.

BOOM!

Baku erupted in a massive explosion—fire, flesh, and ash raining through the base.

Gakuya ducked behind a stone wall, untouched by the bloodstorm.

Danzo, however, had been directly beneath the beast.

Flames engulfed him. Another Izanagi was forced to activate, teleporting him far away once more.

He stared down at his arm. Three more Sharingan had closed.

His face was dark with fury.

He had planned to drain Gakuya's stamina by spamming Izanagi. But Gakuya's overwhelming power had forced him to burn through three of them in a matter of minutes.

Panic clawed at his chest. He was already scanning for a route to escape.

But still, he spoke through clenched teeth.

"Your attacks... they're useless. I can't die."

"I've already seen your death," Gakuya said calmly, stepping through the crumbling wall.

His foot landed with a wet splat—blood rippling beneath his sandal.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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