Chapter 244: Hiruzen Steps Down, Danzō Dies
Late at night.
The Fire Daimyō was just preparing to go to sleep when he heard a knock at the door.
He walked over and opened it.
Standing outside was Kazuma, one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
In the original story, Asuma Sarutobi joined the Twelve Guardian Ninja, which led to their division into two factions: one radical, led by Kazuma, who believed the Land of Fire only needed the Daimyō and not the Hokage; and one moderate, led by Asuma Sarutobi, who believed both were necessary.
Due to Hoshikawa's butterfly effect, Asuma Sarutobi hadn't joined the Twelve Guardian Ninja, so the group hadn't split.
"Daimyō-sama," Kazuma bowed slightly. "Danzō Shimura is waiting outside to see you."
"Danzō?" the Fire Daimyō asked, confused. "Wasn't he arrested?"
"He likely escaped and wants your help," Kazuma speculated.
"We have some history. Let him in," the Fire Daimyō said with a slight chuckle.
"Understood." Kazuma turned and left.
A moment later, the door knocked again.
"Enter." The Fire Daimyō looked up toward the door.
"Daimyō-sama, it's been a long time," Danzō Shimura walked in, forcing a strained smile onto his face.
"What do you want from me?" the Fire Daimyō asked in a flat tone.
"I wish for your support to become the Hokage," Danzō Shimura stated straightforwardly.
"Hokage?" The Fire Daimyō narrowed his eyes. "Then you should speak to Hiruzen."
"While Hiruzen is the Hokage, he still answers to you," Danzō Shimura flattered him. "With just a word from you, I can become the Hokage."
"Tsunade is more suitable than you," the Fire Daimyō shook his head. "You may leave."
"Even you say that?" Danzō Shimura's face instantly darkened, and a chilling aura emanated from him.
"What's this?" The Fire Daimyō showed no fear. "Are you thinking of attacking me?"
His Twelve Guardian Ninja, all Jonin-level, were right outside. Moreover, they were in Konoha Village; if Danzō Shimura dared to strike, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others would arrive swiftly.
"I wouldn't dare, of course," Danzō Shimura abruptly softened his attitude.
"Then you should leave, Danzō," the Fire Daimyō waved his hand impatiently.
"Daimyō-sama." Danzō Shimura unwrapped the bandage over his right eye, revealing a three-tomoe Sharingan.
The Fire Daimyō instantly froze, falling into a daze.
"Hmph, good thing I was prepared!" Danzō Shimura said smugly.
This Sharingan came from the Land of Frost battlefield. He and Orochimaru had split many of the eyes recovered.
"Go to the Hokage Building," Danzō Shimura commanded.
The Fire Daimyō rose and began walking out.
"Daimyō-sama." Kazuma and the others waiting outside immediately stepped forward.
"You all stay here. Danzō and I are going to the Hokage Building," the Fire Daimyō said casually.
"Understood." Kazuma and the others didn't think much of it. They didn't believe any ninja in Konoha would dare to attack the Fire Daimyō.
"A Sharingan, is it?"
Hoshikawa, who was watching from a rooftop, instantly formed hand signs and created a Shadow Clone. "Go find Hizashi Hyūga."
Despite the slight inconvenience, Danzō Shimura was still following his plan. It had simply shifted from an attack on the Daimyō to control via the Sharingan.
Hoshikawa jumped off the roof and transformed into the disguised, loyal Root ninja outside the door.
"Ding, go notify the rest of the Root members to gather at the Hokage Building," Danzō Shimura instructed Hoshikawa.
"Yes, Lord Danzō." Hoshikawa vanished instantly.
The Root ninja he had impersonated, code-named Ding, was a real person. Coupled with Shisui's implanted suggestion driving Danzō's urgency to become Hokage, Danzō didn't stop to question Hoshikawa's authenticity.
Hokage Building.
Since it was late at night, most ninja had already gone home, leaving only ANBU on guard duty.
When Danzō Shimura and the Fire Daimyō appeared, four ANBU ninja immediately blocked their path.
"Lord Danzō, what is the meaning of this?" Hare glanced at the Fire Daimyō and asked.
"Danzō Shimura is attempting treason!" Hizashi Hyūga's voice rang out from nearby.
Danzō Shimura froze in surprise. How did he get here so fast?
"Hizashi Hyūga, you should watch your words," Danzō Shimura said coolly. "The Daimyō is here. What treason are you speaking of?"
"You used the Sharingan to control the Fire Daimyō," Hizashi Hyūga stated directly.
"Nonsense!" Danzō Shimura's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained impassive. "I am not an Uchiha ninja. How could I possess a Sharingan?"
Hizashi Hyūga attacked without hesitation.
Whether for Hoshikawa or for the Fire Daimyō, stopping Danzō Shimura now would be an immense service to the village.
"Are you insane?" Danzō Shimura was completely taken aback by Hizashi Hyūga's unexpected decisiveness, which was utterly unlike the Hyūga Clan's usual caution.
"Damn it!" Danzō Shimura retreated quickly, dodging Hizashi's Gentle Fist strike.
Since things had escalated, he had to finish this quickly. Danzō Shimura immediately formed hand signs.
Hizashi Hyūga closed the gap again and threw a punch.
But in the next instant, Danzō Shimura grabbed his fist with both hands.
As Hizashi Hyūga tried to pull his hand back, he found his body immobilized. From his fist, countless black sealing formulas began to spread—the Self-Cursing Seal.
In the original story, Danzō Shimura used this sealing jutsu to restrain Sasuke Uchiha. Ninja warfare was an information war. If even Sasuke, with his Mangekyō Sharingan, could be affected, let alone Hizashi Hyūga.
Just then, a mist spread out without warning.
Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm!
Danzō Shimura reacted quickly, clapping his hands to generate a ferocious gust of wind that blew away the thick mist.
A whistling sound followed.
Danzō Shimura saw a jet of water rushing toward him.
"Is that Tobirama-sensei's Water Release: Water Severing Wave?!"
Danzō Shimura was terrified. He quickly enveloped himself in Wind Release chakra and fled frantically.
The water jet sliced through the floor, leaving a deep gash.
"Hoshikawa!" Danzō Shimura looked around and shouted. "Show yourself!"
In Konoha, only Hoshikawa knew the Hiding in Mist Technique and Water Release: Water Severing Wave.
He suddenly looked down and saw a pair of hands reach up from beneath the floor, gripping his ankles.
Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!
Danzō Shimura took a deep breath and violently exhaled a sphere of wind.
Boom!
The wind sphere exploded like a cannonball, blasting open the floor and exposing a deep crater. Lying inside the crater was a seemingly unconscious Hoshikawa.
"So much for the 'Dragon of Konoha'!" Danzō Shimura's face broke into a triumphant smile.
But two seconds later, Hoshikawa transformed into a life-sized rock formation.
Danzō Shimura's smile froze, and he instantly became vigilant.
An ear-splitting chirping sound erupted.
Danzō Shimura instinctively turned and saw a streak of lightning closing in on him.
He quickly leaped backward and formed hand signs.
Bang!
Danzō Shimura's hand signs were forcibly interrupted because he slammed into an earthen wall.
"How could his sealing speed be so fast?"
Wind Release: Shuriken!
Danzō Shimura flung two shuriken imbued with Wind Release chakra.
Hoshikawa didn't dodge.
The two shuriken struck his body.
Thump!
His body instantly vanished.
"A Shadow Clone?" Danzō Shimura was momentarily stunned.
"Over here." Hoshikawa's voice came from his left.
Danzō Shimura subconsciously turned his head.
Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!
Danzō Shimura was immediately caught in the genjutsu, his face contorted in terror.
A cold flash appeared.
Hoshikawa thrust the Raijin Blade through Danzō's heart.
Blood spurted out.
Danzō Shimura broke free of the genjutsu, screaming in pain.
"You... you dare to kill me?" Danzō Shimura looked at him in disbelief.
"Why wouldn't I?"
Hoshikawa pulled out the Raijin Blade, then swung it upwards.
Danzō Shimura only saw a flash of brilliant lightning before his head hit the floor.
His mind ceased to function entirely. The last thing he saw was his severed neck, spurting blood like a fountain.
Just then, black sealing formulas suddenly appeared on Danzō Shimura's body. Blood sprayed outward like ink, and a large sphere of chakra swelled up.
This was the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing.
A seal carved into the body beforehand that activates upon death, dragging everything nearby into the afterlife.
But Hoshikawa was prepared. After striking the final blow, he used the Body Flicker Technique to distance himself from the seal's range.
The black chakra generated a powerful gravitational pull.
Danzō Shimura's corpse became a black hole, sucking in nearby objects. But aside from the air, only the floor was nearby.
Ultimately, Danzō Shimura sealed the section of the floor, the chakra dissipated, and everything returned to calm.
"He... he's dead?!" Hizashi Hyūga was dumbfounded.
When he attacked Danzō Shimura earlier, he hadn't intended to kill him, only to capture him first and then break the Fire Daimyō's genjutsu.
"No Izanagi?"
Hoshikawa stood before Danzō Shimura's body, waiting quietly.
Izanagi required hand signs. Although Danzō Shimura hadn't had a chance to perform them during the fight, Hoshikawa wanted to be sure.
Hoshikawa suddenly let out a small sound of surprise.
He had gained a new talent trait.
[S-rank Talent Trait: Shadow of the Ninja World.]
[Activation Requirement: Kill Danzō Shimura.]
[Effect: Defense is increased by 200\% of the original value, and the power of all Sealing Jutsu is increased by 100\%]
Hoshikawa was contemplative. Since the system granted the trait, it confirmed Danzō Shimura was dead.
The effect was somewhat strange.
He understood the Sealing Jutsu power increase. Danzō Shimura's sealing techniques were indeed excellent, especially the S-rank Reverse Four Symbols Sealing.
But what was the logic behind the defense boost? Danzō Shimura had no known connection to defensive power.
Was it related to his title as the "Scap-Hokage" (the Hokage who takes the blame)? Taking the blame certainly required defense.
Hoshikawa twitched his lips. Regardless, he had profited. The 100% boost to Sealing Jutsu power alone made the venture worthwhile.
Just then, a rushing sound filled the air.
Hoshikawa sheathed the Raijin Blade and looked toward the arriving Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and others.
His fight with Danzō Shimura was brief, lasting less than half a minute. Since it was late, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others had all been at home sleeping. Their arrival now was normal. The majority of those who arrived were ninjas originating from the ninja clans.
"What... what happened here?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, his eyes wide.
"Hoshikawa." Tsunade rushed over to him and asked in displeasure, "Why didn't you notify me?"
Although she didn't know the specifics, she was certain Hoshikawa had killed Danzō Shimura. Aside from him, none of the other ninja present, whether Hizashi Hyūga or the ANBU like Hare, were a match for Danzō Shimura.
"Hoshikawa!" Hiruzen Sarutobi scanned Danzō Shimura's corpse. "Did you kill him?" he asked in disbelief.
As an experienced veteran ninja, he immediately recognized that the wounds on Danzō Shimura's body were caused by Hoshikawa's sword.
"I killed him," Hoshikawa admitted.
"Preposterous!" Koharu Utatane raged. "Do you realize what you've done?!"
"This is the murder of a comrade!" Homura Mitokado echoed.
Hoshikawa's surging power had made them feel endangered. If he dared to kill Danzō Shimura, what about them?
"Silence!" the Fire Daimyō angrily reprimanded them, his expression grim.
With Danzō Shimura's death, the control from the Sharingan automatically lifted. The Daimyō now understood everything that had happened.
"Daimyō-sama." Hiruzen Sarutobi finally noticed the Fire Daimyō's presence.
A powerful sense of dread washed over him.
"Your Konoha Village is truly something!" the Fire Daimyō walked up to Hiruzen Sarutobi and sneered. "Did you instruct Danzō Shimura to attack me?"
"N-no!" Hiruzen Sarutobi broke out in a cold sweat. "There must be some misunderstanding!"
"Misunderstanding?" The Fire Daimyō bent down and undid the bandage around Danzō Shimura's head.
His right eye was exposed to everyone.
"A three-tomoe Sharingan?!" The crowd erupted in shock.
Hiruzen Sarutobi instinctively stepped back half a pace. At this moment, he had guessed everything that happened and wished he could tear Danzō Shimura's corpse limb from limb.
"Hokage-sama!" Fugaku Uchiha stepped forward and said firmly, "The Uchiha Clan demands an explanation!"
He recalled the heavy losses the Uchiha Clan suffered in the Land of Frost. A new thought dawned on him: they had been set up by Orochimaru and Danzō Shimura, all for the sake of stealing their eyes.
"Hoshikawa saved me," the Fire Daimyō said, still shaken. "If it weren't for him, I don't know if I would still be standing here alive."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was speechless, unable to defend himself. Even if he suspected Hoshikawa was behind the entire plot, without proof, it would only be slander.
"Hiruzen, as Hokage, you must take responsibility for this incident," the Fire Daimyō continued.
"Yes." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed inwardly and accepted the blame. Konoha had already lost Danzō Shimura; it could not afford to lose Tsunade or Hoshikawa.
"Daimyō-sama," Hiruzen Sarutobi bowed slightly. "I am advanced in age and guilty of lax governance. I resign from the position of Hokage."
"Hiruzen!" Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane immediately panicked. Without Hiruzen Sarutobi, would their positions as Hokage advisors remain secure?
The rest of the ninja were surprised, followed by excitement. This was especially true for the Hyūga and Uchiha Clans. The former gained merit for stopping Danzō, and the latter's situation would improve with Danzō's death.
"Accepted," the Fire Daimyō nodded.
"I recommend Tsunade as the next Hokage," Hiruzen Sarutobi offered without prompting.
Although the events of today displeased him, he knew that Tsunade was the most suitable person for Konoha right now.
"Approved." The Fire Daimyō nodded once more.
.............
I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to those who support me on this journey. Your contribution make a real difference!
As a patron, you unlock:
Exclusive Access: Get advanced +90 chapters ahead of everyone else.
👉 Join now: P-a-treon/Chaos_God
(Just remove the- hyphen to access normally)
Thank You so much For your Support and for Reading!