[Yūhi Kurenai's shock was beyond words. She had many questions she wanted to ask you, but now was not the time for conversation. She told you to continue fighting, and that anything else could wait until after everything was over. You nodded in agreement; after all, you were only there to maintain a presence and couldn't do anything inappropriate under these circumstances anyway.]
[Then you returned to the Chunin Exam arena and transformed back into your original attire. You saw that Rōshi had already been defeated by Guy, who had opened the Seventh Gate, and was rendered combat-incapable. The battle within the Four Violet Flames Formation had only just begun.]
[Danzo had already shed all pretense, and both sides engaged in a fierce exchange of trash talk. You released your sensory perception, which allowed you to generally understand what they were saying. Hashirama was questioning how Danzo had ended up like this, while Tobirama remarked that Danzo's way of using the Sharingan was quite innovative. Sarutobi Hiruzen continuously apologized to the two Hokages, but Danzo remained silent, simply preparing for battle.]
[As for Orochimaru, he was mocking Hiruzen's Will of Fire while simultaneously tattling to the First and Second Hokages, telling them just how rotten Konoha had become. He claimed that resurrecting the two Hokages with Impure World Reanimation was also for the future of Konoha. You didn't know how sincere Orochimaru was being, but he was definitely trying to spite Hiruzen.]
Nojuro Ryun listened with great interest. It was just a pity that, being separated by the Four Violet Flames Formation, he couldn't see clearly. Otherwise, he absolutely would have sketched the expressions on Danzo and Hiruzen's faces on the spot.
He wondered if, after the simulation ended, he could use Flying Thunder God to get inside and experience it for himself.
[Then this pivotal battle began. The battle situation wasn't going as smoothly as Orochimaru had anticipated. It turned out that although Danzo couldn't use Izanagi well, using it under these circumstances to shield Hiruzen was absolutely perfect.]
[Furthermore, with Hashirama and Tobirama consistently refusing to cooperate proactively, even with Orochimaru controlling them, he couldn't bring out their true strength. This gradually put Orochimaru at a disadvantage. Then Orochimaru adjusted his strategy and began tempting Danzo to cooperate with him, promising to support Danzo in becoming Hokage.]
[Danzo outwardly appeared unmoved, but in reality, he was already thinking about how to become Hokage after the war ended. The reason for his confidence was, naturally, that Hiruzen had begun forming hand seals for the Dead Demon Consuming Seal. With their aged bodies, there was still no way they could defeat Hashirama and Tobirama in their Impure World Reanimation state with their unlimited chakra.]
[Finally, Danzo summoned Yume. With Yume's cooperation, Wood Release, and Enma, they finally managed to trap Orochimaru, Hashirama, and Tobirama simultaneously. Hiruzen seized the opportunity, using Shadow Clones and the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to begin sealing these three. It seemed the tide of the battle was about to completely turn.]
Seeing this, Ryun felt a bad premonition surge within him. Could it be that Danzo was going to distinguish himself and gain merit because of this?
That wouldn't do.
If Danzo didn't die, he would have to do it himself.
Anyway, there was no one else here now; even Guy and Kakashi had already gone to support others.
Ryun could easily toss Danzo, who had already used up all his Izanagi, somewhere and then beat him to death with his bare fists.
But then Ryun realized he was completely overthinking it.
[Hiruzen hadn't created just three Shadow Clones, but four. The moment Danzo used his final Izanagi, the hidden Shadow Clone ambushed Danzo and used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal on him as well. Shocked and enraged, Danzo furiously demanded an explanation from Hiruzen, but Hiruzen, already resolved to die, calmly replied: He would use the deaths of himself and Danzo to bury the past darkness of Konoha. Let the two of them go to hell together.]
Seeing this, Ryun was dumbfounded.
Good grief, really, good grief.
So this was the kind of bond the Hokage had!
A bond of going to hell together; its intensity didn't seem lower than the Reconciliation Seal between Naruto and Sasuke at the Valley of the End!
Seeing this, Ryun also understood why Hiruzen had always indulged Danzo.
Perhaps, aside from the responsibilities he had to fulfill as Hokage, there was nothing in Hiruzen's eyes more important than Danzo.
But the question was, could Hiruzen withstand sealing four people at once?
[Hiruzen exhausted all his strength and finally succeeded in sealing the First Hokage and the Second Hokage. The sealing of Orochimaru and Danzo was only half complete. At this critical moment, the Sound Four dispelled the Four Violet Flames Formation and began to rescue Orochimaru.]
[They were not weak and were focused solely on rescuing Orochimaru. Meanwhile, the Anbu members from Konoha's side, tasked with guarding the Hokage, were first concerned about Hiruzen's physical condition. By the time Hiruzen ordered them to stop Orochimaru, the conflict had already begun.]
[Seeing the situation was unfavorable, the Sound Four directly unsealed their Cursed Seals to the second state. With their vastly increased power, they suppressed the remaining Hokage-guard Anbu. By now, Hiruzen was completely exhausted. He had to choose between Orochimaru and Danzo.]
[Danzo also realized this and shouted hoarsely, begging Hiruzen to trust him, that he would take care of Konoha. Seeing Hiruzen unmoved, Danzo, gripped by fear, changed his tune, saying he would find Tsunade, let her inherit the Hokage position, and he would faithfully assist the Hokage.]
[In the end, Hiruzen suddenly mustered his spirit and, with a final flicker of life, made his ultimate decision. He released Orochimaru and instead focused all his strength on pulling out Danzo's soul. Danzo's pleas gradually turned into curses, and Hiruzen, on his deathbed, spoke the words Danzo least wanted to hear: "I am the Hokage!"]
[The Konoha Crush Plan essentially ended here. Orochimaru was severely injured and fled once again. Rōshi became a prisoner of Konoha, and the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, became a hero who fought fiercely against Orochimaru to protect the village. As for Danzo, he died quietly, as if everyone had forgotten him.]
Seeing this, Ryun sighed softly.
Although he generally held a dismissive attitude towards the bond between Hiruzen and Danzo, he had to admit that Hiruzen's mind was still clear; he knew exactly what kind of person Danzo was.
But didn't this further illustrate that all the past darkness of Konoha was a result of his indulgence?
Ryun shook his head. Konoha's most difficult hurdle was over. What changes would Konoha undergo next?
He knew that the fact he could use Flying Thunder God probably couldn't be hidden, but he was a civilian. He could choose to serve whomever he wanted.
Even Danzo couldn't force Ryun, let alone now that Danzo was gone.
Hmph, beef, I don't eat it!
[Hiruzen's funeral was very simple because Konoha had no time to celebrate victory. The border situation, which had just calmed down, began to destabilize again. Unexpectedly, Konoha began to vigorously publicize your deeds, gave you the title "Flash Iron Fist," and claimed you were the personal disciple of the Fourth Hokage.]
Seeing this, Ryun was so shocked he almost choked.
Flash Brawler? Why not call him Flash Armor?
Even something like "Gray Flash" or "Flash Fist" would have been acceptable!
And this clearly showed that Konoha was at its wit's end, even resorting to using him, whose stance was unclear, to bolster their propaganda.
If Ryun were to side with someone else at this moment, wouldn't Konoha be in turmoil?
[At the same time, within Konoha, an intense investigation into your identity began. The several girls familiar with you gathered at Kurenai's house, asking where your strength came from, and they were also curious about your relationship with the Fourth Hokage.]
[You told them that, due to your previous injuries, you had awakened an ability to converse with a certain someone. The Fourth Hokage personally taught you the Flying Thunder God technique, and the price was your promise to lend a hand if Konoha ever faced a crisis.]
[Your explanation wasn't brilliant, but faced with you entering your "no beef" exposition period, others wouldn't question you either. Especially since you mastered the Flying Thunder God, and the intelligence about you throwing Kimimaro to the Land of Earth had also returned to Konoha. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura tacitly acknowledged you as someone beyond their control.]
[The girls took your answers home to tell their respective parents. Kurenai and Anko stayed behind, each with their own questions. Anko asked you, since you were so strong, why had what happened between you two occurred that day?]
[You told her that at that time, you had been bitten by the snake she summoned and your whole body was paralyzed, but Anko had forgotten that fact. Anko was shocked and quickly apologized to you, but you magnanimously told her you forgave her. Then it was Kurenai's turn, and Anko tactfully left the space to you two.]
Ryun was also looking forward to Kurenai's reaction.
If Kurenai refused again, then Ryun would have no choice but to have Anko summon snakes to bite people.
Fortunately, this time Kurenai finally didn't disappoint. She slowly shed her facade and opened her heart.
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