"So, in that moment, did I actually feel relaxed..." Shimura Danzo closed his dim eyes.
In the past, he only remembered that he had proposed to be the bait, but he was just a step slower than Sarutobi Hiruzen.
It was only in his dying moments that Shimura Danzo clearly recalled everything.
When Sarutobi Hiruzen declared himself as bait, a sense of relief welled up inside him. It was to avoid being looked down upon by others, and to compete with Sarutobi Hiruzen, that he too claimed he would be bait.
In truth, he didn't have the courage to be the first to step forward; Sarutobi Hiruzen was indeed the rightful Third Hokage.
The second memory fragment was the dinner with Sarutobi Hiruzen before leaving Konoha.
Shimura Danzo was once just a step away from becoming Hokage and had sparred with many renowned strong figures in the Ninja World. His life wasn't perfect, but surely it was quite extraordinary.
In his dying moments, Shimura Danzo didn't think about any single glory of his, but rather the first and last time he invited Sarutobi Hiruzen for a meal.
The relationship between Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo was extremely complex. In childhood, they were like-minded good partners.
After becoming ninjas, they were good friends who trained together, competing for the position of Hokage.
When Sarutobi Hiruzen became Hokage, their relationship changed due to differing political views, leading them to often oppose each other. Shimura Danzo sometimes even thought of overthrowing Sarutobi Hiruzen through a coup.
"We shouldn't have discussed politics back then," Shimura Danzo sighed to himself.
If they hadn't discussed politics, they wouldn't have quarreled, and the last impression he left on Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't have been so bad.
Putting work aside, Sarutobi Hiruzen truly was his best friend in this life, and now his only friend.
Tap! Tap!
Footsteps gradually approached, and Shimura Danzo silently gathered chakra.
He had mastered a ninjutsu known as the Inner Four Symbols Fuinjutsu, a mutually destructive technique capable of sealing everything around him.
Due to its limited range, Shimura Danzo had to wait for Sosuke to get close enough to execute it.
"Let me protect Konoha one last time." Shimura Danzo thought silently.
In these dying moments, he pondered many things.
He boldly speculated that Sosuke and "Uchiha Madara" were in league!
Otherwise, why had "Uchiha Madara" vanished at this crucial time?
As for why "Uchiha Madara" used Wood Release as bait to make him help kill Sosuke and seize Nagato's Rinnegan, Shimura Danzo believed it was a conspiracy targeting Konoha.
If "Uchiha Madara" wanted to kill Sosuke, he should have acted long ago; clearly, "Uchiha Madara" was plotting to deplete Konoha's strength and possibly take him for his Hashirama Cells experiment.
Shimura Danzo even thought "Uchiha Madara" and Sosuke could potentially be the same person.
Where in the Ninja World are there so many nameless powerhouses, and besides, "Uchiha Madara" always appeared fully covered when meeting him—something was definitely amiss.
"No matter who you are, you won't have another chance to harm Konoha."
Shimura Danzo was confident in his mutually destructive sealing technique; unless Sosuke had intelligence, he wouldn't be able to avoid this move.
Yet, few in Konoha were aware of this move, let alone Sosuke.
Just as Shimura Danzo prepared to execute the Inner Four Symbols Fuinjutsu, a yellow-haired figure darted over like lightning.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
A massive torrent of water extinguished most of the fiery sea, a portion of which pushed back Mokgetsu's body that was close to Shimura Danzo.
Shimura Danzo's despairing heart ignited with a final glimmer of hope.
Mokgetsu arrived—the Mokgetsu, nurtured alongside Sarutobi Hiruzen to become the strongest young ninja of Konoha, had finally arrived.
"Blazing Sun Mokgetsu has come too." Hanzo, preparing to save Shimura Danzo, frowned.
He immediately recognized this as Konoha's most prominent young ninja in the last year.
Blazing Sun Mokgetsu's recent major victory was fought in the Land of Grass, a neighbor of the Land of Rain; Hanzo knew that despite Mokgetsu's youth, his strength rivaled the Sannin.
Nagato, who readied himself to take action, found himself stunned upon recognizing the newcomer.
As the only one who knew Mokgetsu's dual identity, Nagato was somewhat bewildered.
He never would have dreamed that Blazing Sun Mokgetsu could face Ninja Master Sosuke.
"Danzo-sama, sorry for being late." The Shadow Clone Mokgetsu said apologetically, looking at Shimura Danzo.
"Quickly, take me!" Shimura Danzo urgently called out in a weak voice.
Though he had once had thoughts of reprimanding Mokgetsu, now Shimura Danzo just wanted to survive.
Mokgetsu possessed the Flying Thunder God Jutsu and had mastered Medical Ninjutsu, making him an impeccable ally.
Without further words, the moment the Shadow Clone Mokgetsu finished speaking he activated the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
Swish, swish!!
Shimura Danzo and the Shadow Clone Mokgetsu vanished from the charred, wet ground, leaving Mokgetsu's original ninjutsu empty.
"Sosuke, it's time to settle our affairs." Hanzo stepped forward and said sternly.
Earlier, when Shimura Danzo used Izanagi for the second time, Hanzo also wanted to intervene, but Nagato and Sosuke coordinated too well, and Hanzo's Water Release couldn't counteract the Fire Dragon Dance, leaving no opportunity.
Now that Shimura Danzo was saved by Habu Mokgetsu, Hanzo felt relieved.
Shimura Danzo was undoubtedly annoying, but his death would indeed cause trouble.
"Having watched the recent battle, has your opinion still not changed?" Mokgetsu dusted off the black ash, looking at Hanzo and asking.