Chapter 198: Danzō: I Will Rise
"Come on."
Uchiha Hikari's shadow clone activated skeletal Susanoo and beckoned to Shion.
"Come… come what?"
Shion froze for a moment.
"Get on."
When Shion didn't move, the skeletal Susanoo's arm grabbed Shion along with her luggage and tossed them into the Susanoo.
Huh?
So other people could stand inside this thing too?
Shion curiously stomped her foot on the Susanoo beneath her.
It looked transparent, but it was actually quite solid and sturdy.
The next second, Hikari's shadow clone pushed off the ground and leapt into the air. Skeletal Susanoo sprouted wings on its back and flew straight into the distance.
Hikari had always been able to activate Perfect Susanoo with the chakra volume of Yachihoko. After experiencing "F**king Sun Sage Mode" and the Radiant State, it wasn't like she gained nothing from it.
When it came to controlling Susanoo, no one could surpass her anymore.
Without activating the perfect form, she could already use the wings that normally only appeared in the perfect state.
Woohoo, takeoff.
Shion became the first person to experience a Susanoo flight in the ninja world.
Whooo…
After a sonic boom tore through the sky, the figure of Susanoo vanished beyond the horizon.
"So… when we came here, why didn't we use that? Was there not enough room to stand?"
Tsunade stared at the "afterburner trail" in the sky and, after a moment of silence, asked.
"Because there was no rush. Shiromo said it wasn't urgent, so why hurry?"
Uchiha Hikari looked at Tsunade strangely.
What Hikari enjoyed more was the process of being with Shiromo. As for the result?
What result?
Even for the thing she cared about most, [overturning the ninja world created by the tragic lovers Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara], she wasn't in a hurry.
"You really are here on vacation, huh."
Tsunade was speechless.
They had walked on the road for so long, turns out they weren't traveling, they were sightseeing?
….
At the same time, in the Land of Fire, Konohagakure Village.
After Tsunade left, Danzō made his move.
More precisely, Root made its move.
Root, the organization under Danzō's command, not referring to Danzō's literal "root."
In order to rescue Danzō, Root members began their operation.
The place where Danzō was imprisoned was set with a barrier. The moment chakra was used, it would be detected immediately.
After discovering this, the Root members resorted to the classic chakra-free ninja infiltration.
Eventually, they found Danzō with his eyes covered and his entire body wrapped in bandages.
Inside the cell, beside him were a few rice balls, some bread, and a large water barrel.
These were the supplies he relied on to survive.
Seeing their once domineering leader now in such a miserable state, the Root members felt immense sorrow (or joy).
"Danzō-sama!"
Three Root members knelt inside the prison and cried out.
"...Mm."
Hearing his subordinates' voices, Danzō's body twitched.
A wave of stench rushed into their noses.
The Root members lowered their heads to look.
The floor of the cell was filthy.
They had only thought about sealing Danzō's chakra and restraining his limbs, forgetting that Danzō also had physical needs.
One hand was gone, the other bound by bandages. With his chakra sealed and unable to break free, Danzō's bodily functions could only…
"Danzō-sama, I'll help you."
One masked Root member took out a roll of drawing cloth from his chest, tore it open, and started wiping Danzō's butt.
"...Get out first. Don't bother with that!"
Danzō suppressed the fury in his heart, though he couldn't quite say much.
After all, this was his subordinate showing loyalty.
And he remembered this subordinate well, Root members were required to sever emotions, and this one was among the best at it.
"Danzō-sama, don't worry. There are no guards here. We checked before coming in."
"Yes, Danzō-sama. We received news before arriving, Tsunade had left the village."
"Since she overstepped her authority and took control of the Land of Fire, affairs have been extremely busy, so a lot of manpower has been pulled away."
The other two Root members smoothly reported the outside situation.
"Oh?"
Hearing that Tsunade had left Konoha, schemes immediately formed in Danzō's heart.
And hearing that there were no guards outside, he no longer stopped his subordinate from cleaning him.
He, Danzō, would of course make a powerful return in a dignified state.
But even while being cleaned, the restraints still couldn't be removed.
Once they were undone, it would immediately trigger the chakra alarm.
Danzō knew very well that the old man Hiruzen and his disciple Jiraiya were still around.
And there was also Tobirama-sensei, who could appear at any moment with Flying Thunder God.
He had to be cautious.
"Ah~"
Danzō was in the middle of serious thought when a soft moan suddenly escaped.
Realizing what sound he had made, Danzō viciously turned his head toward the subordinate cleaning him.
It turned out that the subordinate thought the cloth was too stiff, hard to push in, and easy to poke and tear, so he had taken out a paintbrush he used for drawing.
He inserted the brush into Danzō's that place and began cleaning.
"Danzō-sama, I don't mind. Leave it to me."
"..."
Danzō really wanted to say that he minded.
He hadn't even let Hiruzen touch back there, and today he had fallen.
Sigh.
This humiliation was all Tsunade's fault.
He would take revenge.
Danzō firmed his resolve.
After calming down, Danzō spoke.
These subordinates who came to rescue him were loyal beyond question, especially the one beneath him. Though the behavior made him uncomfortable, or perhaps a little too comfortable, it was still a sign of loyalty.
So Danzō began bestowing code names upon them.
"From today on, your codename will be Sai."
He said this last to the subordinate who was scraping him with the brush.
"Sai… thank you, Danzō-sama."
The thanks carried very little sincerity, but Danzō didn't mind.
The other party had no emotions to begin with. He wasn't giving names to earn gratitude.
Ten minutes passed.
Still no one came.
The anxiety hanging in Danzō's heart finally eased.
It seemed this place truly was as empty of guards as his subordinates had said.
"Leader, please wear my pants."
Sai took off his trousers and helped Danzō put them on.
"Good. Very good."
Danzō was extremely satisfied.
He even felt a bit moved.
Having fallen to such a state, only these emotionless subordinates could still make him feel something like emotion.
"Sai, I have an important mission for you. Go inform the others, I, Danzō, have returned. Lead all Root members to the Hokage Tower and subdue everyone inside."
After giving the order, Danzō turned to the other two.
"You two, come with me to a place."
What Danzō thought was this: no matter what, his strength was no longer enough. But he had to become Hokage at least once.
Before being discovered, before Tobirama-sensei appeared with Flying Thunder God, he had to realize his ambition.
He would let his sensei see it. Let the world witness it.
He, Danzō, was the one most suited to be Hokage.
"Hm? Wait, come back!"
Just as Danzō was about to break into laughter, he suddenly sensed something and called out to Sai, who was about to leave.
"Danzō-sama, what is it?"
"Your paintbrush. Take it with you."
"Oh, Danzō-sama, sorry."
Sai stepped forward, reached into Danzō's pants, and pulled the yellow-stained brush out from behind.
(End of this chapter)