Chapter 309

"Tsunade, you've finally returned…"

Hiruzen looked at Tsunade with a mixture of surprise and relief. He had thought he'd have no choice but to pass on the Hokage title to Jiraiya, but seeing Tsunade now gave him hope. However, his expression shifted to shock when he saw Nawaki standing beside her.

"Tsunade… is that… Nawaki?"

"It is. Due to… an unexpected circumstance, Nawaki has been revived, which is why I returned to Konoha, old man," Tsunade replied curtly. Seeing Hiruzen's aged face, she held back the harsh words she had initially prepared. Nawaki was alive, stronger than before, and his chakra and cell vitality even surpassed her own.

"But the moment I returned, I heard something shocking—apparently, the Uchiha clan is to be exterminated under your watch as Hokage!" Tsunade said, glaring at him.

Hiruzen's face darkened, and he quickly asked, "Exterminate the Uchiha? I have no such intentions, Tsunade. Has someone approached you?"

"As soon as I got here, I was intercepted at the gate. And don't tell me you're unaware of Danzo's actions. This isn't a matter of 'turning a blind eye.' Who's really in charge here?"

Hiruzen fell silent, sighing deeply. "It's complicated, Tsunade. The Uchiha have become increasingly hostile…"

He had tried communicating with them, but the Uchiha refused to respond. It baffled him—hadn't Itachi passed along his message to Fugaku?

"Forget it, old man. I'm not interested in your excuses. The situation is critical; hand over control of the Anbu to me."

Without hesitation, Tsunade demanded control of the Anbu. She intended to prevent Hiruzen from interfering if Itachi decided to take down Danzo.

Although she felt uneasy about killing a Konoha elder, Danzo's actions—collaborating with Orochimaru, experimenting with Wood Release, and assaulting Shisui—were unforgivable. The revival of Nawaki, the invaluable gift from Yōichi, had compelled her to agree to Itachi's plan.

Hiruzen looked at her for a moment, then slowly lit his pipe. "If you agree to take on the role of Hokage, I'll grant you control of the Anbu."

"We'll discuss that later."

"Tsunade, I'm nearly seventy. Konoha has no one else fit for the role. Jiraiya is rarely around, and Kakashi, despite his abilities, has been unmotivated for years…"

Nawaki's revival and Tsunade's return gave Hiruzen hope that her hemophobia had faded, making her the ideal candidate for Hokage.

"Tch!" Tsunade clicked her tongue in annoyance. She hated it when people guilt-tripped her, but she couldn't simply lash out.

"Once this is over, I'll think about it. For now, I need to ensure Nawaki's situation is taken care of."

"Very well. The Anbu is yours to command."

Hiruzen called for an Anbu operative, instructing them to gather the remaining Anbu captains in the village. Tsunade also asked who among the Jonin had the most notable strength, and upon hearing Kakashi's name among others, she ordered them to assemble.

When everyone gathered in the Hokage's office, Tsunade confirmed the number of Anbu in the village and then gave her orders, "Kakashi will take command of the Anbu, along with the other Jonin, to seal off the Root base. No one is to enter or exit."

Hiruzen and Kakashi, along with the others, were shocked, and Hiruzen quickly asked, "Tsunade, why?"

"Since you've given me command of the Anbu, don't ask questions. By tomorrow, all will be clear," Tsunade said firmly. "The fact that a covert operation to massacre a clan is even being considered in this village is something you bear responsibility for."

"W-what?"

Hiruzen was stunned, realizing she referred to the Uchiha clan.

Seeing that no one was moving, Tsunade frowned and ordered, "Move immediately!"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," they replied in unison, then left to carry out her orders. Since Hiruzen had entrusted Tsunade with the Anbu, they had no grounds to question it.

"Old man, I'm heading to the Uchiha clan. Are you staying here, or will you come with me?"

"…I'll go with you. If things get dangerous, we'll have each other's backs."

Hiruzen agreed, not wanting Tsunade to face the Uchiha alone. Together, he was confident they could manage any threat from the clan.

Outside Training Ground 32, a secluded area only known to Root members, a figure emerged from the shadows, accompanied by the distinct sound of a cane tapping.

"Why are we here? Has the plan changed?" Danzo asked coldly, emerging from the darkness with two Root operatives by his side.

"It's time to implement the plan," Obito replied, his voice calm.

"Eliminating the Uchiha clan… it's too cruel. There has to be another way," Itachi said, staring at Danzo.

"There is no other way, Itachi!" Danzo snapped, cutting him off. "The clan's destruction ensures Sasuke's survival. I've arranged for his teacher to keep him at the academy as per your request. If you don't go through with this, my Root and Hiruzen's Anbu will wipe out every last Uchiha, including your brother Sasuke."

Hearing Danzo's words, Itachi clenched his fists, his gaze icy.

'Father was right to despise him. I was naive…' Itachi thought, recalling the time he saw Danzo wandering aimlessly as his father's technique clouded his mind. Back then, he had thought it excessive; now, he realized his father had been justified.

This man deserved no mercy.

"If that's the case… Hell Mist!"

Itachi released a dense black mist from his hands, crushing it in his grasp, causing it to erupt like dark flames spreading rapidly.

"What are you doing, Itachi!?" Danzo shouted, his eyes narrowing as he attempted to defend himself, but the black mist consumed him and his operatives.

When the mist cleared, Danzo found himself in a desolate, dim world. The sky was blood-red, and the eerie cries of crows echoed around him.

"A genjutsu…?" Danzo murmured, quickly uncovering his right eye to reveal a Mangekyō Sharingan, attempting to see through the illusion.

However, even with his Mangekyō, he couldn't detect any flaws in the illusion, which unnerved him.

Suddenly, he sensed an attack, instinctively tilting his head.

Swish! Swish!

Two shuriken sliced past his face, missing him but close enough to chill him. 'How is this genjutsu so powerful that even my Mangekyō can't see through it?'

Another wave of danger washed over him. Before he could react, a sharp pain struck his eye—it had been forcibly removed!

"Aah! My eye!"

"That was Shisui's eye, Danzo. You coveted the power of the Sharingan, as well as Wood Release… Die in repentance!" Itachi's voice echoed from all directions, and in the next instant, Danzo's body was engulfed in black flames.

"Damn you, Uchiha Itachi! The village will never forgive you!"

Danzo screamed, his expression twisted with rage. He attempted to extinguish the flames, but they only intensified, even his chakra surges proving ineffective.

"Curse you, Uchiha Itachi! Curse you!" In desperation, Danzo buried himself into the ground, but the flames still consumed him. As his soul drifted into nothingness, he faded away.

After Danzo's death, Itachi dispelled the Hell Mist, clutching his head and muttering, "The Fire of Sin is overwhelming. How did Father control that crow? Using it just once is exhausting…"

He took a couple of elixirs to regain his strength, then stood, pocketing the bottle containing Shisui's eye. Glancing at Danzo and the two Root operatives' lifeless bodies, he left without hesitation.

"Tsunade, why have you stopped?"

Hiruzen asked as they neared the Uchiha district, noticing Tsunade had paused.

"You go on ahead to Fugaku's home, old man," Tsunade replied. "I'll join you shortly, but don't let Fugaku leave until I get there."

Hiruzen looked puzzled. "What are you planning? Can you at least give me an idea?"

"You don't know anything anyway, so wait for the explanation afterward. Just remember what I said."

With that, Tsunade turned away.

"Tsunade… Tsunade!" Hiruzen called after her, but she ignored him. Sighing, he continued toward Fugaku's home, scanning the Uchiha district.

Despite what he had heard, there was no sign of a rebellion. The elderly, women, and children were going about their day, with stores still open.

'I need to have a serious talk with Fugaku,' Hiruzen thought, quickening his pace.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Police Force, space distorted, and a masked figure appeared.

Surveying his surroundings, Obito muttered, "Why hasn't the barrier been deployed yet? Danzo… well, my target is only the Sharingan…"

"Die!" a voice roared as a figure descended from above, landing with a powerful punch. The ground shattered under Tsunade's immense strength, creating a deep crater and cracks that spread across the area.

The nearby Police Force building was the first to feel the impact, cracking and shaking.

Obito leapt out of the dust, his Sharingan glaring through his mask at the woman before him.

"Tsunade the Slug Princess! Why are you here?"

The legendary Sannin, who had been off the grid, was suddenly here, attacking him the moment he arrived. The situation felt all wrong to Obito.

"What's going on? Who's attacking?"

"Who?"

"Who dares attack the Police Force?"

Uchiha clan members emerged from the Police Force building, recognizing the blond kunoichi with twin ponytails and the gambling mark on her back.

"Tsunade-sama?"

"The Sannin, Tsunade-sama? What is she doing here?"

"Who's that masked guy? Tsunade-sama, were you fighting him?"

Without turning, Tsunade responded, "Yes, this is the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails' attack eight years ago. His ability is space-time ninjutsu… be on guard!"

"That guy…" At the mention of the Nine-Tails' attack, the Uchiha all activated their Sharingan, glaring at Obito with hatred.

This masked man was responsible for eight years of undeserved scorn.

Seeing the crowd turn against him, Obito knew his plan for tonight was failing. He prepared to use Kamui to escape.

"Humph, I'll be back…"

Before he could finish, he activated Kamui, and space began to distort.

But at that moment, a fireball flew toward him from behind, matching the speed of his Kamui.

Sensing the danger, Obito canceled his teleportation, phasing his body to avoid the Great Fireball Jutsu.

Swish!

A figure appeared beside Obito—it was Itachi, who had just slain Danzo.

Arriving with Shunshin, Itachi calmly stated, "You can't escape. Surrender now, Obito."

(End of Chapter)

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