Chapter 125: The Wager

All along, Danzo Shimura has been a man of extreme confidence. A man who, in the original story, could pull off audacious moves like stabbing Hiruzen Sarutobi with a kunai, how could he not be brimming with confidence?

So, Danzo has always been playing with fire. Whether it was sending assassins after the Third Hokage or planning to annihilate the Uchiha clan, Danzo never considered the consequences of failure, because he always believed he could control everything.

Just like today.

He incited tens of thousands of Leaf ninjas and villagers, aiming to force the Uchihas into rebellion, then gather the entire village's power to eradicate this clan in broad daylight.

In Danzo's view, even if the Leaf Village paid a relatively painful price, as long as they could eradicate the Uchihas in one fell swoop, then in the long run—

It would be greatly beneficial to the village.

Not to mention, after annihilating the Uchihas, the three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan and dozens of regular Sharingan of this clan would belong to the Leaf Village.

And Danzo just happened to have the means to utilize these Sharingan, maximizing their power.

At that time.

Even if other ninja villages took advantage of the situation and waged another Great Ninja War against the Leaf Village.

Danzo had absolute confidence that he could annihilate all enemies with the Uchiha's Sharingan, then ascend to the Hokage's throne with this prestige.

From this perspective, he was even eager for other villages to attack the Leaf Village.

Unfortunately.

Just as Danzo's plan was about to be realized, Dan stepped in.

With Dan's deployment of the Dark Aura Technique, all Leaf ninjas below Jonin level lost their combat power, instantly losing their numerical advantage.

In this way, the Leaf Village's strategy of overwhelming numbers was useless against the Uchihas.

However.

Even so, Danzo was still full of confidence, believing that the situation was still under his control.

This confidence was not unfounded, but came from his formidable power.

He had already gathered the power of both the Senju and the Uchiha.

After integrating the power of these two clans, Danzo was convinced of one thing.

He, Danzo Shimura, was already invincible.

The last time at the clan leaders' meeting, he was caught off guard by Dan's surprise attack and was thrown out of the Hokage building, that was purely an accident.

Today was the real test.

So Danzo proposed a wager to Dan.

Facing the confident Danzo.

"Oh? How do you want to bet?" Dan seemed intrigued.

In response, Danzo stared intently at Dan and answered: "We're all ninjas of the Leaf Village. If it's not absolutely necessary, none of us want to see a river of blood. It's not good for either the village or the Uchiha clan. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary casualties, I propose—we have a one-on-one duel, representing the village and the Uchihas to determine the winner, and no one else is allowed to interfere. How about it?"

As soon as these words came out.

Everyone present showed a surprised expression.

Danzo, who usually lived a life of luxury and was of advanced age, actually proposed a one-on-one duel with Dan.

"And what's the wager?" Dan asked.

He planned to take action against Danzo, but didn't expect the latter to have the same idea, even proposing a wager.

Interesting.

"Very simple. If you win, we'll let today's matter

rest. I guarantee, in the name of the Hokage's advisor, that the village will not pursue the Uchihas' responsibility any further."

Danzo's expression was serious as he slowly made his promise, but then he changed his tone, "However, if I win, the Uchiha clan must... leave the Leaf Village and never return!"

The cat was out of the bag.

Danzo's goal was to expel the Uchiha clan.

That's because after Dan unleashed his terrifying Dark Aura Technique, causing tens of thousands of Leaf villagers to faint and all Chunin and Genin to lose their combat power.

Danzo realized that with the remaining manpower, when facing the Uchiha clan, they were not only at a disadvantage, but were actually in a worse position.

After all, the Root and the Police Force were not united, while the Uchihas on the other side were united as one.

If a real fight broke out, the Root could very well be wiped out.

So, although it was a pity, Danzo had to give up his original plan to annihilate the Uchiha clan and instead, adopt a backup plan.

That was to drive the Uchihas out of the Leaf Village.

Indeed.

The Uchiha clan was powerful, but even the strongest ninja clan, once they leave the protection of the Leaf Village, their fate is only one.

Just like the Uzumaki clan of the past.

Extinction.

Ninja villages were born out of various ninja clans banding together for warmth, and those clans that didn't want to join the group basically disappeared in the river of history.

If the Uchihas stayed in the Leaf Village, only the people in the village would be displeased with them.

But if the Uchihas went out to establish their own village, then those who would be displeased with them would be the entire ninja world.

In Danzo's view.

The Uchihas and the Uzumakis had many similarities.

The Uzumaki clan was hot-tempered, easily provoked, and not well-liked; while the Uchihas were arrogant and looked down on others, making them even less popular.

The Uzumaki clan possessed powerful sealing techniques, able to seal Tailed Beasts within their clan members, creating Tailed Beast weapons; the Uchihas also had the terrifying power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, which could easily manipulate even the Nine-Tails.

A man without guilt is guilty if he carries great wealth without a means to protect it and himself.

The Uzumaki clan's abilities made various countries and ninja villages wary, eventually becoming the enemy of the ninja world, attacked by all and leading to their extinction.

Could the Uchihas escape such a fate?

Back then.

When the Uzumaki clan was destroyed, those who feasted on the clan's remains were not just other ninja villages, the Leaf Village, their "ally", also gained a lot, including a Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.

Danzo had many of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, which played a crucial role in his creation of the Root.

He believed that the fate of the Uzumaki clan,

Will surely be repeated with the Uchihas.

As long as he drives the Uchihas out of the Leaf Village.

That's Danzo's master plan.

"You want the Uchihas to leave the Leaf Village? You're not the Hokage, do you have the right to make such a wager with the Uchihas?"

Dan, after listening, looked at Danzo with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, understanding the latter's intentions clearly.

"What, are you scared?" Danzo squinted his eyes, immediately counter-questioning, using a provocative tactic.

Dan shook his head, turned back to consult with the Uchihas, "What do you think, should I accept his challenge?"

The crowd exchanged glances, whispering among themselves.

"Accept Danzo's wager, Dan." Unexpectedly, Shisui was the first to voice his opinion, urging Dan.

Because he believed that Dan could definitely win, Danzo's move was simply a gift.

As long as Dan won, the crisis of the day could be resolved, which would be the best outcome for both the Uchihas and the village.

At least that's what Shisui thought.

After a round of discussion, the clan members also nodded one after another, raising their hands to cheer for Dan: "Chief, you must teach that old guy Danzo a good lesson, let him see your power."

"Danzo dares to challenge the Chief, he's simply seeking death."

The crowd's feelings for Dan were no longer just trust, but blind admiration.

Fugaku, seeing this, solemnly handed the Gunbai to Dan, advising his nephew, "Dan, use this Gunbai to fan the prestige of the Uchihas."

Tsunade didn't say a word.

After all, she wasn't part of the Uchiha clan, it wasn't her place to butt in and give advice.

However, Tsunade didn't think that Danzo, a cunning old fox, would propose a wager he was sure to lose, there must be some powerful backing.

If Dan underestimated the enemy, he might capsize in the gutter.

For Tsunade, as long as the Leaf Village didn't fall into civil strife, it didn't matter who won or lost between Danzo and Dan.

Dan took the Gunbai from his brother-in-law.

Although he never used ninja tools, this fan was a treasure of the Uchiha clan, and it was nice to play with it occasionally.

Whoosh.

Dan held the Gunbai, casually waving it a couple of times, creating a gust of wind.

This fan, taller than a person, would seem too large for most people to hold with both hands, but in Dan's hand, it was just right.

As if it was tailor-made for him.

The next second.

"Well then, let's do this." Dan pointed the Gunbai at Danzo.

As for the wager proposed by Danzo, Dan didn't haggle with him, because he simply didn't care.

Those conditions were just Danzo's wishful thinking.

"Alright."

Danzo's eyes flashed, immediately throwing his cane aside, and taking off his upper garment, revealing the right arm he usually hid under his clothes.

So.

The Uchihas and the Root personnel all retreated, leaving a large space for Dan and Danzo.

But that wasn't enough.

Danzo said that he hoped both of them could go all out and fight freely, but also ensure that their fight wouldn't affect others.

So.

Danzo proposed to have four Root members jointly deploy the Four Violet Flames Formation

to enclose him and Dan inside.

"Fine."

Dan agreed readily.

With a signal from Danzo.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Four Root members went to the four corners of the southeast, southwest, northwest, and northeast, simultaneously casting seals, opening a huge semi-transparent rectangular barrier.

This barrier was very sturdy, not only could it not be broken from the inside, but the barrier was also covered with purple flames, anyone who touched it would be burned, making it difficult for outsiders to enter.

The moment the Four Violet Flames Formation was formed.

"Uchiha Dan, today, this place will be your grave!"

Danzo finally dropped his pretense, revealing his intense killing intent, and quickly cast a seal, launching the first attack on Dan.

Whoosh.

He took a deep breath, leaned back, and then exhaled a high-pressure wind ball.

The wind ball quickly grew larger, like a Category 12 hurricane sweeping across, covering the entire Four Violet Flames Formation.

Great Vacuum.

Danzo went all out from the start, using his most powerful Wind Release technique.

This technique not only had a wide range, making it impossible for Dan, who was trapped inside the barrier, to avoid it, but also, with the cutting force of Wind Release, even if Dan's body was stronger, he definitely couldn't withstand it.

Die! Danzo stared unblinkingly at the Great Vacuum attacking Dan, as if he had already seen the scene where the latter's body was torn apart and killed on the spot.

Dan was calm and composed.

He didn't plan to take the Great Vacuum head-on with his body. He could do it, but there was no need.

Because he had the Gunbai.

Whoosh.

Dan timed it right, raised the Gunbai and fanned forward, hitting the incoming Great Vacuum.

Hiss, hiss, hiss.

The two collided, causing a strong airflow. The Gunbai was pressed to bend, seeming to break at any moment.

But it didn't break.

This fan, made from the branch of the God Tree, was both hard and flexible, truly a treasure.

Whoosh.

As Dan swung again with force, he swung the Gunbai like he was playing tennis, and actually sent Danzo's Great Vacuum, at an even faster speed- back at him.