Chapter 182: Still Infighting

In the forest.

Zabuza, after crashing into a large tree, spat out a mouthful of blood and then fainted on the spot.

Suigetsu Hōzuki was suspended in mid-air, his neck clutched by Dan, his feet flailing helplessly. His face had turned the color of a pig's liver, appearing as though he was about to suffocate.

Both of them were young, having fought their way out of the brutal environment of the Hidden Mist Village. Their hands stained with the blood of countless people, they managed to become Mist Jonin.

They were the cream of the crop.

That's why they were so confident.

Until they crossed hands with Dan.

Their all-out attack failed to break Dan's defense, while a casual punch from Dan obliterated the ninjutsu that they had tried so hard to cast.

To describe Dan throughout this entire encounter, four words would suffice: "A walk in the park."

The power gap between the two sides was like a chasm.

It was despair-inducing.

The severe defeat of Zabuza and Suigetsu Hōzuki made the remaining Mist Shinobi extremely nervous.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

They immediately took battle formations, either drawing their ninja swords with a clang or summoning "Water Whip" in their hands, and surrounded Dan.

"Do you all wish to die that much?"

Dan looked around at everyone and asked faintly.

As soon as his words fell, a strong gust of wind erupted from him, sweeping all around, causing the Mist Shinobi to look horrified, and they retreated one after another.

"Stop!"

Mei was taken aback and stopped her companions. Then she quickly walked to Dan, bowed deeply to him, and said, "I apologize, sir, we have offended you."

Upon hearing this, Dan's eyes flashed, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Before he could speak.

The Mist Shinobi held their breath, not even daring to breathe heavily. Many were trembling with fear, unable to hold onto their ninja swords.

Mei's heart was lodged in her throat as she silently prayed that Dan would let them off the hook.

After a few agonizingly long seconds.

Dan released his grip on Suigetsu Hōzuki's neck.

Thud.

Suigetsu Hōzuki fell to the ground, immediately coughing violently. His face turned red from coughing, and then he began to breathe in fresh air deeply.

The top genius of the Hidden Mist Village had narrowly escaped death.

Seeing this, Mei was relieved. She quickly asked Dan on behalf of the Mist Shinobi:

"Sir Dan, what should we do to earn your forgiveness?"

Forgiveness?

Dan smiled, glanced at Mei, and said, "If you want me to forgive you, then attack Konoha with all your might and destroy it."

After saying these words.

Dan left amidst the stunned expressions of the Mist Shinobi.

After his figure disappeared in the distance.

The Mist Shinobi finally let out a sigh of relief. They felt as if they had survived a calamity. Some even slumped to the ground.

Only by facing Uchiha Dan could one understand how terrifying this man was.

Even the Fourth Mizukage had never given off such a powerful oppressive aura.

After a while.

Mei regained her senses and ordered everyone to carry Zabuza, Suigetsu Hōzuki, and the team leader Ao back.

Even though Dan had shown mercy, the Hidden Mist still had three top-ranking shinobi severely injured. It seemed that they wouldn't be able to participate in the upcoming Konoha siege.

This encounter had taught the Mist Shinobi a lesson about their recklessness, arrogance, and ignorance.

Soon, everyone left in a dismal mood.

...

Dan was strolling in the forest of Konoha.

With each step he took, he would explosively release chakra from his feet, instantly covering a distance of more than ten meters.

As he neared the Uchiha Clan's area, Dan suddenly stopped.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Three figures appeared in front of him, blocking his path.

It was the Fourth Raikage and his two guards — C and Darui.

It seems that the Cloud and Mist had the same idea, both intending to infiltrate Konoha before the battle to gather information and gain an advantage.

However.

The Cloud Village sent the Fourth Raikage himself, and moreover...

He specifically came for Dan.

Dan had previously sent a message to the Raikage through Samui: The Uchiha Clan would instigate a coup and cause internal strife in Konoha. He hoped that the Cloud wouldn't miss this opportunity.

As Dan predicted, the Uchiha broke away from Konoha and left the village.

Following Dan's instructions, the Fourth Raikage immediately assembled the Cloud forces and moved south.

But what puzzled him was, why didn't Dan leave with the Uchiha Clan, but instead return to Konoha?

The Raikage believed that he needed to find Dan and ask him in person.

So he came.

"We meet again, Uchiha Dan."

The Fourth Raikage looked intently at Dan and greeted him.

Dan knew what the other party wanted to ask. Before the Raikage could speak, he calmly said, "In this war, I'm just an observer."

In other words, when the Cloud attacks Konoha, he won't intervene.

Hearing this, the Raikage's face lit up:

"Good! Your words reassure me."

But Dan's next words took the Raikage by surprise:

"However, if I encounter someone who interests me, I don't rule out the possibility of taking action. Like... Pain."

Upon hearing Pain's name.

The Raikage's face darkened, his expression turned ugly.

"It seems, you've already crossed paths with Pain." Dan noticed the Raikage's expression.

The Raikage was somewhat embarrassed, then with a serious look, he warned Dan in a deep voice:

"Pain is very strong. He sent me flying with one move, and I lost face. You should be careful if you meet him."

"Alright."

Dan nodded and said nothing more. He walked straight past the Raikage and his men and headed towards the Uchiha Clan's area.

Watching Dan's retreating figure.

It was quite exciting.

Perhaps this time, in front of the entire shinobi world, there would be a showdown on the battlefield.

Pain vs. Dan.

Just thinking about that scene made even the Fourth Raikage, who had seen all kinds of storms, feel a surge of excitement.

Just then.

Dan, who was about to walk away, suddenly stopped and asked over his shoulder:

"By the way, how is Samui?"

The Fourth Raikage was taken aback and replied, "She is now a Cloud Jonin, but she didn't come to this war. Instead, she stayed in the village and took a vacation."

Upon hearing this, Dan nodded in satisfaction. His next words left the Raikage and his men wide-eyed:

"That's best. After all, Samui carries my child. If something happens to her, I might... not be very happy."

With that, he left.

Dan and Samui had a child.

The Fourth Raikage came back to his senses, breaking out in a cold sweat.

When ordinary people say they're "not very happy," they might just throw a tantrum. But if Uchiha Dan said so, the consequences might be...

Unthinkable.

The Raikage couldn't help but feel grateful.

It was a good thing Samui wasn't sent to the battlefield. Otherwise, if anything happened to her or the child in her belly...

Thinking of this, the Raikage's expression became serious, and he immediately ordered C:

"Send a message back to the Cloud, dispatch Anbu to protect Samui's safety. We must..."

"Understood," C replied promptly.

Clearly, from this moment on, Samui's status in the Cloud Village had elevated to a considerable level.

Because she was Uchiha Dan's woman.

Whether it was due to the Raikage's personal admiration for Dan, or the benefit of the Cloud Village, it was necessary to win over Dan through Samui.

...

The Leaf Village's Anbu jail, dark and damp.

In the deepest cell, the most high-profile prisoner in history was held — the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Despite Danzō assuming the position of the new Hokage and ordering Hiruzen to be put in jail for dereliction of duty, no one really took action.

After all, Hiruzen had been Hokage for forty years, and even though he had fallen from grace, his prestige remained in many hearts.

In this cell, Hiruzen began to reflect on himself.

Over the years, he had worked diligently as the Hokage, dedicating most of his life to the village and believing he had no regrets.

So he pondered and pondered, still not understanding what he had done wrong.

Perhaps his biggest mistake was being too merciful and too kind.

His kindness made him lenient towards Danzō, again and again, until Danzō usurped his position.

Similarly, due to his kindness, he never had the resolve to eradicate the damned Uchiha Clan, eventually causing a great disaster.

Thinking of this, Hiruzen was filled with regret.

Just then, there came the crisp sound of a cane.

Danzō, wearing the pristine white Hokage robe and the Hokage hat, slowly walked through the jail corridor, arriving at the gate of Hiruzen's cell.

Through the bars, their eyes met, silence falling between them for a moment.

Finally, Danzō was the first to speak, remarking:

"Not long ago, I was in there, and you were out here. Who would have thought that our positions would completely switch. Hiruzen, I told you that you would regret it."

Hiruzen shook his head, "Danzō, are you here to gloat, or to take my life? Give me a straightforward answer."

"Don't rush," Danzō smirked, speaking leisurely, "Hiruzen, I won't kill you, but I won't let you out either. You can stay in this gloomy cell and witness everything that's about to happen."

In response, Hiruzen just laughed coldly, retorting, "Witness what? Not to mention anything else, do you think you have the ability to defeat the united Shinobi forces?"

In Hiruzen's view, the Leaf Village was facing imminent doom.

By then, whether it was him, the prisoner in the jail, or Danzō, the seemingly glorious Hokage, their outcomes would be similar.

A path leading only to death.

Unexpectedly, Danzō's confidence was soaring.

"Defeat the united Shinobi forces? That's just my first step."

Danzō appeared nonchalant, his gaze fixated on Hiruzen, boldly declaring, "Hiruzen, just wait and see. In the near future, I will accomplish something that even the First Hokage couldn't do, that is to unify the five major Shinobi villages and establish an unprecedented empire. By then, I will not only be the Hokage of the Leaf, but the Hokage of the entire Shinobi world!"

When he said this, Danzō was brimming with confidence, seemingly in control of everything.

He then left Hiruzen, who was visibly shocked, turned around and walked away.

After taking a few steps, Danzō seemed to remember something, abruptly stopped, and without turning his head, said:

"I may not plan to kill you, but Koharu and Homura might not be so lucky. If they continue to oppose me, humph."

Hiruzen was instantly enraged, his hands gripping the bars of the cell, shouting:

"Danzō, you dare!"

Koharu and Homura were both great contributors to the Leaf Village, and moreover, they were close friends of both Hiruzen and Danzō. Was Danzō actually planning to harm them?

Sadly, facing the headstrong Danzō, Hiruzen, who was now a prisoner, was left impotently furious.

Night fell, and darkness enveloped the Leaf Village.

In the past, this was the time when the village was brightly lit and bustling, marking the start of a wonderful nightlife.

But now, the village was eerily silent.

Not a single light was lit.

Countless Leaf ninja hid in the darkness, fully armed, tense, and dared not easily close their eyes to sleep.

Because the enemy could launch a night attack at any moment.

Tonight was destined to be a long, sleepless night.

Or to put it another way, until the day when the united Shinobi forces entered the Leaf, every night would be a sleepless one.

Finally, after enduring a night...

The dawn broke, the first light of day appeared, and a new day arrived.

Contrary to the tense atmosphere in the village...

Early in the morning...

Dan and Tsunade left the house, went into the woods behind the medical unit, and climbed the small hill within the Uchiha compound.

At this point, the only ones who had the mood to go hiking in the Leaf Village were them.

Tsunade might verbally quarrel with Dan, but she obediently followed Dan in training these past days.

Upon reaching the peak, they saw the red sun slowly rising from the horizon, about to bring warmth and light to the world.

Swish.

Dan activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, squinting his eyes towards the direction of the sunrise.

Sunlight, like flowing water and silk ribbons, slowly entered his pupils. It felt as if Dan's eyes were absorbing the essence of the sun and moon.

Tsunade was taken aback upon seeing this.

Regaining her senses, she also activated her Sharingan, trying to absorb the essence of sunlight like Dan.

According to Dan, this training method could exercise the Sharingan and improve its power.

After the sun fully rose and the light became dazzling, the two ended their training, went down the hill, and returned to the compound.

"Huh?"

Before they reached the entrance of the medical unit, Tsunade uttered a soft surprise, seeing a familiar figure rush into the Uchiha compound.

It was Homura Mitokado.

This advisor and elder of the Leaf Village was covered in blood, his glasses broken, and seemed seriously injured.

"Dan, Tsunade!"

Upon seeing the two, Homura shouted joyfully, as if a drowning man had caught a lifeline.

"Well, what happened?"

Dan approached, making a casual comment with a look of amusement.

Homura was panting heavily, fear in his eyes, he said:

"In order to seize the Sharingan collected from the previous internal conflict, Koharu and I clashed with Danzō, and I didn't expect him to actually try to kill us! Koharu is already dead, and I'm seriously injured..."

"What?!"

Tsunade was taken aback upon hearing this.

She was shocked that even at this point, these old men at the top of the Leaf Village were still infighting, it was truly —

Astounding.