Chapter 77: Danzo's Death, Anko, and Orochimaru  

Sasuke slowly emerged from the darkness, his eyes filled with indifference and determination.

"What? How is this possible?" Danzo looked at the unscathed Sasuke in disbelief, a surge of shock washing over him.

However, something even more astonishing happened. The Sasuke who had been under Danzo's control suddenly turned into a puff of smoke and dissipated into the air.

Danzo's face paled instantly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He couldn't comprehend what had just occurred. He had used the precious Kotoamatsukami on a shadow clone!

How could this shadow clone be so lifelike, without any flaws?

"Damn you, Uchiha Sasuke!" Danzo was furious. He had never imagined that he could be so easily fooled by the enemy. Anger and despair intertwined, nearly driving him mad.

At that moment, a flash of lightning streaked through the air, piercing Danzo's chest. In an instant, his life force rapidly drained away, and the last trace of life was completely extinguished.

Taking advantage of Danzo's distraction, Sasuke struck without hesitation, not giving Danzo any chance to recover. He knew that if Danzo had time to activate Izanagi, he might prolong the old man's life even further. So, Sasuke seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Danzo's eyes widened in disbelief as he let out a final, resentful roar, but his body could no longer support him. In the end, he collapsed at Sasuke's feet, consumed by endless resentment and hatred.

Meanwhile, the Root members that Danzo had stationed outside the base remained oblivious to their leader's death, ensuring that no one interfered with the battle.

"Amaterasu!"

With a low shout, black flames ignited, burning Danzo's body to ashes. Sasuke did this not because he feared Danzo's body would be discovered, but because he had developed a good habit of finishing off his enemies.

He had seen too many people leave their enemies alive, only to regret it later. Sasuke wasn't about to make such a low-level mistake.

As for Shisui's Sharingan, Sasuke, of course, kept it. Kotoamatsukami was a powerful technique. Although Danzo's use of Kotoamatsukami seemed limited in duration, it was still a rare genjutsu. In battle, even a single second can make a difference, let alone the ability to control an enemy.

As Sasuke left the Root base, he took the opportunity to eliminate the Root ninja who had been stationed outside. Sasuke knew well that if you don't thoroughly eliminate the threat, it will come back stronger, like a wildfire that springs to life with the breeze.

**Konoha Forest**

A figure was darting through the dense forest at high speed, creating gusts of wind in its wake.

"I can sense it," Anko Mitarashi murmured to herself. She could never forget that familiar sensation. Just now, she had felt a powerful presence, the unmistakable aura of Orochimaru.

"It's very close," she thought, carefully approaching the source of the feeling. She soon arrived at a large tree and stared ahead.

Sure enough, under a tree not far away stood a tall figure—it was Orochimaru.

Anko's expression immediately became complicated, a mixture of hatred and a trace of something else she couldn't quite define.

"Long time no see, Anko," Orochimaru greeted her with a smile, his voice carrying a strange tenderness.

"You're now an S-rank rogue ninja, so no matter what, I'm going to take you down here. That's my mission!" Anko gritted her teeth, her eyes gleaming with determination.

"It's useless," Orochimaru shook his head lightly, a disdainful smile playing on his lips. Before he even finished speaking, he suddenly opened his mouth and shot out his long tongue, aiming at Anko like a sharp arrow.

Anko was startled, but she dodged sideways just in time to avoid Orochimaru's attack. She quickly leaped to another tree, keeping her distance from him.

Then, Anko swiftly formed hand seals and unleashed a jutsu: "Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Several long snakes shot out from Anko's sleeves, striking at Orochimaru with lightning speed.

But Orochimaru made no move to dodge. One of the snakes took advantage of his apparent unpreparedness and wrapped around his body, binding him tightly.

Seeing this, Anko's eyes flashed with joy. She immediately intensified her efforts to tighten the snake's grip, trying to completely restrain Orochimaru and slam him into a tree.

Anko didn't give Orochimaru any chance to catch his breath. She rushed forward and grabbed his right hand, preventing him from forming hand seals.

"I've got you, Orochimaru. Now, I'll just need your left hand," Anko declared, quickly forming a hand seal with Orochimaru's left hand.

"Is that... that seal?" Orochimaru immediately recognized the hand seal and was secretly shocked. He hadn't expected Anko to be so determined, willing to risk her life.

"Yes, it's that seal. Today, neither of us is leaving here alive," Anko's eyes flashed with resolve as she prepared to unleash the jutsu.

"Ninjutsu: Twin Snake Sacrifice!"

"Are you really planning to die here?"

Suddenly, Orochimaru's voice came from behind Anko. She was shocked, disbelief flooding her face.

"This is just a clone of mine," Orochimaru's voice continued, a smile forming at the corners of his mouth. As soon as the words left his lips, the Orochimaru in front of Anko dissolved into a puddle of mud, vanishing into the air.

"You're a Special Jonin of Konoha, yet you only know how to use the forbidden technique I taught you?" Orochimaru taunted as he slowly approached Anko.

"So, it's useless."

"What's your purpose in coming to Konoha?!" Anko demanded.

"Long time no see," Orochimaru replied, ignoring her question.

"Are you planning to disrupt the Chunin Exams?" Anko pressed further.

"No, I just want to leave my mark on someone in the village," Orochimaru answered cryptically. Anko, too, was in pain due to her curse mark.

"That Uchiha boy is an excellent vessel," Orochimaru added with a smile.

Sasuke? Anko knew immediately that Orochimaru was referring to Sasuke. After all, there were no other Uchiha left in Konoha.

"So your target is Sasuke?" Anko shouted, trying to hold back the pain.

"Yes, I believe he'll make good use of my curse mark to gain even greater power!" Orochimaru said, spreading his arms and laughing.

"Oh, really?" a voice suddenly interrupted.

A handsome figure appeared in front of Orochimaru. It was Sasuke, who had just emerged from the Root Base.