Land of Fire — Konohagakure.
Near the Konoha Prison, beside the guards.
Outside the main gate.
Behind the rusted iron bars, the man who once carried a thousand schemes in his cloudy eyes looked utterly drained. There was no longer the high and mighty posture of the former Konoha shadow ruler.
Danzo's clenched fist trembled slightly.
Three years.
This was the first time in three years that he saw the sun again, that he breathed air outside steel bars, and thought again about him.
Despite being imprisoned, Danzo had occasionally received tidbits of news from the guards — fragments of the world outside.
He knew about the trial of Sarutobi Hiruzen three years ago. The public disgrace. The rise of Uchiha Bai Ye. The restructuring of Konoha.
"Just wait, Sarutobi…"
Danzo muttered with a hoarse growl in his throat. Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward into the sunlight.
Unlike him, Sarutobi had been sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor — reduced to sweeping streets for the village he once led.
But him?
He had survived.
"The old man… is finally out!"
As the doors creaked open, Danzo stepped out into the sunlight, the intensity of its warmth almost foreign to him. He resisted the urge to shout out — not out of humility, but to retain what little dignity remained.
Three years.
No one but he knew the true weight of those days — the humiliation, the hatred, and the silence.
As one who lived by deceit and manipulation, adapting was his specialty. Survival was his instinct. Just like in the manga — cornered and mortally wounded, he still tried to escape from Sasuke's judgment rather than face death.
This time, fate had given him another breath.
"Lord Danzo!"
At the gate, Shisui stood, calling softly, a look of concern on his youthful face.
Still unaware of the full truth, Shisui harbored the naive belief that Danzo, while having erred, had noble intentions. He still hoped Danzo had been misled, not malicious.
He believed Danzo could reform.
Beside him, Uchiha Itachi stood with calm restraint. His gaze didn't waver — cold, unreadable. He was here for Shisui. He didn't trust Danzo for a second.
"I want to be alone. We'll speak tomorrow."
Danzo waved them off. His tone was tired but cold. He didn't spare them a second look before disappearing into the streets.
Even after three years, a schemer like Danzo wouldn't act hastily. He would wait. Plan. Calculate.
And Shisui? Danzo knew that Shisui's nature would bring him back. That's when the real game would begin.
For now, he needed to understand everything that had changed in these three years.
When he returned to the now-abandoned Root base, he stood silently, looking at the dust-covered walls.
Then a presence emerged from the shadows.
"You really came."
Danzo narrowed his eyes at the masked man standing before him.
It had to be him. A man who wouldn't dare step into Konoha unless Bai Ye was away — likely on one of his rare rest days.
Masked Man — Uchiha Obito.
"The seeds are almost ripe. I need you to stir things up again."
Obito's voice was rough, his Mangekyō glowing beneath the swirling mask.
At this point, both men knew they were temporary allies, bound by mutual interest. Neither wanted to see Konoha thrive — not under Bai Ye's rule.
Just like during the Nine-Tails' attack, Obito had manipulated Danzo into withholding Root's assistance. Danzo hadn't interfered, and Root had stayed silent while Konoha burned.
Again, they aligned.
Each seeking revenge against Bai Ye.
Neither willing to act directly.
"I want to meet him," Danzo said coldly, referring, of course, to Itachi Uchiha.
Itachi — the seed Danzo had planted long ago. A triple agent under Sarutobi's leash, the pawn with a Mangekyō, and Konoha's most unpredictable card.
Sarutobi had failed to fully control Itachi.
But Danzo believed he still could.
"I'll find a secure time," Obito responded indifferently, "but the old man has a question, and I want your answer first."
Danzo paused.
"I have every reason to hate Konoha, Bai Ye, and the Uchiha clan," he declared.
"For Uchiha Cong's false accusations, for losing my position, for being imprisoned. My Root was dismantled by Bai Ye's Guard. My weapons, my lab, my Sharingan… all taken."
Danzo took a deep breath.
"But what about you?"
"You call yourself Uchiha Madara. But even a fool wouldn't believe that."
"Why do you help me against Konoha? Why attack your own clan?"
Obito stood silent for a moment.
Then he sneered beneath the mask.
"When it's over, I want half the Sharingan."
He refused to explain further.
Danzo's importance was limited now. Their alliance was temporary. If it weren't for needing Itachi's influence or using Danzo as bait, Obito wouldn't have risked this meeting.
Without another word, Obito vanished into a Kamui vortex.
Danzo sat cross-legged in silence.
He was waiting.
Waiting for Shisui to come to him.
What he didn't know was…
At that moment, Shisui was in Tsunade's office — kneeling on one knee, presenting his proposal.
Tsunade's expression was deeply skeptical.
"Are you joking?"
"No!" Shisui said firmly, activating his Mangekyō, revealing its distinct pinwheel design. He pointed to his temple.
"O Kotoamatsukami! This is Distinguished Heavenly Gods!"
Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"Konoha already knows you have Mangekyō. That you can use Susanoo. But your pupil technique? I question it."
"Control someone without them knowing? Total mental domination?"
"Even if Distinguished Heavenly Gods is real, I still think your plan is flawed."
Shisui had proposed using his jutsu on Uchiha Fugaku — to change Fugaku's will and quell the unrest in the Uchiha clan.
"Why?"
"Because Uchiha's problem can't be solved by changing the patriarch's mind alone."
Tsunade's voice was sharp as she slapped the table.
"I'm not Sarutobi. I understand what truly went wrong."
"Even if Fugaku is controlled — do you really believe radicals like Uchiha Rai or Uchiha Tekka will fall in line?"
"Even if your jutsu is successful — can you guarantee it won't be dispelled?"
"What if Fugaku regains awareness and chooses death?"
Each question landed like a kunai.
Shisui's scalp tingled. He believed in his plan, but he couldn't answer her doubts.
It was the same flaw Itachi had noted years ago — Shisui's idealism, his refusal to retreat even when reason faltered.
Back then, he had trusted Danzo — even revealing the truth of his Mangekyō.
Now? He was still doing the same.
But Tsunade had changed over the years. Her thinking had matured. She had learned from Bai Ye. She had seen deception in its rawest form.
And her instincts told her…
This plan was wrong.
Tsunade sighed. "Besides… Bai Ye once told me — illusions don't work on him. And the women close to him? They're nearly immune."
"Your power is dangerous. But don't speak of it again. That's an order."
Shisui left the Hokage Tower, disheartened.
And just then…
"Shisui-san?"
A familiar voice rang out.
Bai Ye, strolling by the tower after finishing work, raised an eyebrow.
He glanced at Shisui, then at the open Hokage office window behind him.
"Did something happen?"
Shisui hesitated.
"Lord Bai Ye… do you know about Distinguished Heavenly Gods?"
"Oh, that thing?" Bai Ye yawned, clearly unimpressed.
"That illusion technique that claims to control someone's will… and needs ten years to recharge?"
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCE 30+ CHAPTERS
patreon.com/Prince209