All the trees in the small forest were flailing their branches like claws, as if warning Sosuke not to approach.
If it were Senju Hashirama casting Deep Forest Emergence, Mokgetsu would naturally retreat with discretion, but the caster was Shimura Danzo.
Various Ninjutsu techniques were casually deployed by Mokgetsu, easily shattering the attacking vines and wooden stakes.
Shimura Danzo spared no effort in continuing to channel Wood Release Chakra, twisting dozens of trees together to form a massive giant wood, charging toward Sosuke.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Hurricane Dragon!"
Mokgetsu calmly switched to Breath of Wind, quickly forming the Dragon Seal.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!
The Wind Release Air Flow spewed out by Mokgetsu sliced through the surrounding trees.
The air flow quickly formed into a white giant dragon, the terrifying hurricane sweeping across the scene in an instant.
The giant wood created by Shimura Danzo shattered into uneven wood fragments under the impact of the white dragon, large quantities of branches were also cut at that moment.
Even Shimura Danzo in the distance was lacerated by the scattering airflow when the dragon dissipated, his body covered in numerous bleeding small wounds.
"Am I really going to die in the Land of Rain?" Shimura Danzo felt the chill of death.
Sosuke was simply too strong; his Wood Release Ninjutsu stood at no advantage before Sosuke.
"If only I had a few more months of cultivation time..."
Shimura Danzo felt intensely unwilling, believing the outcome wouldn't be like this if he had more time to cultivate.
But Sosuke's relentless approach made Shimura Danzo realize that there are no "ifs" in this world.
"Summoning Technique!"
Shimura Danzo swiftly formed hand seals and slammed the ground.
This was his last resort to delay time; he had a Summoning Beast named Tapir, large in size but of relatively ordinary strength.
Dense white smoke flashed by, and a slightly peculiar-looking Summoning Beast appeared in front of Shimura Danzo.
The Tapir opened its large mouth, swallowing everything in front, then exhaled airflow from its trunk-like part.
"Wind Blade!"
Mokgetsu extended his right hand, straightening and joining his thumb, index and middle fingers while bending the other two fingers downward.
Whoosh!!
A gust of wind erupted from Mokgetsu's fingertips, blowing away the surrounding broken wood fragments.
The next instant, a thin red line appeared across the Tapir's massive body.
Splat!
A large volume of blood gushed out, staining the ground around the Tapir red.
Bang!
White smoke flashed by, and the Tapir vanished instantly.
It's futile; although its intelligence is average, it understood that Shimura Danzo summoning it now was sending it to death.
"Why isn't Mokgetsu here yet!"
Realizing his Summoning Beast didn't last even a minute, Shimura Danzo felt extremely anxious.
He truly didn't want to die; if he were to die, what would become of Konoha? Who would compensate for Sarutobi Hiruzen's indecision? Who would become the new God of Ninjas? Who would make Konoha great again?
Shimura Danzo was making his final struggle, attempting to control the remaining trees to extend branches to hinder Sosuke, hoping to obstruct his advance.
The merciless, scorching flames swallowed Shimura Danzo's hopes for survival.
Crackle!
The trees and vines controlled by Shimura Danzo acted like fuel for the flames spewed by Mokgetsu, making the fire even more vigorous.
With the aid of numerous trees, the flames continued to spread and grow, eventually transforming the forest into a sea of fire.
Though overwhelming heat and flames were everywhere, the temperature unbearably high, Shimura Danzo now felt only chill in his limbs.
Because he truly might die, not at the hands of one of the Five Great Ninja Village shadows, but at the hands of a small country's ninja organization leader.
"Fire Release: Flame Vortex!"
Mokgetsu utilized the flames within the fire sea to quickly create several fire rings, trapping Shimura Danzo and controlled the rings to continuously shrink.
"Wood Release: Wood Block Wall!"
Shimura Danzo used Wood Release to resist, but the temperature of the fire rings was extremely high, burning through the wood wall, with many flames still remaining.
Accompanied by a barely perceptible pale blue flame and remaining flames hitting Shimura Danzo, a cry rang out within the sea of fire.
Shimura Danzo felt as if his soul were ignited, an unprecedented burning pain spreading throughout his body.
He was in such pain he couldn't even straighten up to face the approaching Sosuke.
As if to prolong his agony, Sosuke did not immediately use Instant Body Jutsu to kill him but instead walked toward him step by step, his footsteps distinct and clear.
Pa! Pa!
The sound of powerful footsteps seemed to pound at Shimura Danzo's heart, almost making him unable to breathe.
Shimura Danzo clenched his fist, exhausting all his strength to drag his heavily injured body in the direction of Konoha.
Even if Mokgetsu wasn't using the exaggeratedly fast speed of a ninja, Shimura Danzo was too severely wounded, and the distance between them was rapidly closing.
No matter how much Shimura Danzo didn't want to die, faced with the approaching sound of footsteps, he had to admit one thing; he's going to die, even if he wants to run away, it's of no use.
At this moment, countless memory fragments flashed through Shimura Danzo's mind.
There were carefree times of cultivation with childhood friends like Sarutobi Hiruzen, and memories of striving as leader of Root and becoming Konoha's darkness.
Ultimately, only two memories stayed before Shimura Danzo's eyes.
The first was encountering Kinkaku and Ginkaku staging a coup when going with Senju Tobirama to sign a treaty with the Land of Thunder.
They were hunted by the elite squads of Hidden Cloud; when the team needed bait to lure out the enemy, Sarutobi Hiruzen was the first to volunteer to act as bait to distract the enemy, arguing that he was the strongest next to Senju Tobirama.