71-75

Chapter 71: Izanagi! Danzo’s Final Trump Card! !!!  

Kakashi Hatake stared at Shimura Danzo’s power, especially knowing it was bolstered by his own father’s strength. Shock and anger churned inside him. 

But more than that, he was quietly worried for Yoru. 

“Lord Yoru!” 

Many others couldn’t help but cry out in alarm. 

But… 

“Pathetic tricks!” 

Yoru only sneered, completely ignoring Danzo’s fierce assault and choosing to counter with overwhelming force! 

Susanoo! 

The Thousand Binding Sin Chains lashed out, whipping forward with a sharp crack. The black-and-red chain, radiating deadly intent, extended instantly, wrapping around the Dream Tapir and binding it tightly. With a surge of power, it crushed the beast, leaving it gravely wounded! 

The Dream Tapir let out a pained wail, trying to dispel itself and escape, but how could it break free from Yoru’s Thousand Binding Sin Chains? 

In an instant, its soul was sealed in the Sin Domain, while its physical body was ground to pulp, blood and flesh splattering everywhere! 

As for Shimura Danzo… 

Yoru’s Tenfold Sin-Slaying Sword pierced straight through him. Hellfire, like molten lava, and lightning, like divine judgment, erupted simultaneously, burning and blasting apart his body! 

Before Danzo or anyone else could even react… 

Boom! 

Danzo stared blankly at his own body as his chest exploded into a massive, bloody crater. His death was gruesome beyond words! 

“What?!” 

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Kakashi and every ninja on both sides were utterly horrified, their hearts racing! 

But Yoru just sneered dismissively. 

“Stop pretending.” 

“Come out, Shimura Danzo.” 

Kakashi and the others were stunned. 

They had just seen Danzo brutally killed—why was Lord Yoru saying this?! 

Could it be… a genjutsu? 

No, impossible… 

Kakashi had a Sharingan himself, and he could clearly sense that what just happened wasn’t an illusion. 

So, what was going on…? 

The next moment, under everyone’s dumbfounded gazes, Danzo’s figure reappeared. 

He stood in place, as if he’d materialized out of nowhere, yet also as if… 

He had been there all along! 

Nothing had happened at all. 

Yoru, of course, knew this was Danzo’s true final trump card—the forbidden Uchiha technique… 

Izanagi! 

He had long suspected that Danzo’s Izanagi wasn’t obtained after the Uchiha Clan Massacre. 

After all, no one in the Uchiha clan even knew this forbidden technique. 

As the current leader of the Konoha Military Police Force, second only to the clan head, Yoru had access to the clan’s secret scrolls. But even those only mentioned Izanagi in passing, with no details on how to use it. 

In the original manga, Itachi Uchiha explained that Izanagi was overused during the Warring States Period, leading to severe consequences. The Uchiha clan banned it, and it gradually faded into history. 

In other words… 

The technique was lost to the Uchiha clan. 

The most likely people to still know it were two others… 

Tobirama Senju and Orochimaru! 

Danzo’s use of Izanagi now confirmed Yoru’s suspicions. 

His Izanagi came either from Tobirama or, more likely, Orochimaru. 

Danzo’s brows furrowed. He hadn’t expected Uchiha Yoru to see through his ultimate technique! 

“You… you know about this forbidden technique?!” 

Yoru replied coolly, “Izanagi.” 

“Shimura Danzo, you thought you could use my clan’s forbidden technique against me?” 

The name didn’t shock Kakashi or the others—they’d never even heard of it. 

Danzo fell silent. 

“Uchiha Yoru, it seems I underestimated you. To think you’d know the secrets of a technique lost even to the Uchiha clan.” 

He slowly unwrapped the bandages on his arm, revealing an arm infused with Hashirama Senju’s Wood Release cells—and, more chillingly… 

Five blood-red Sharingan eyes, slowly rotating, grotesque and menacing! 

Everyone felt a shiver run down their spines! 

“What… what are those…?” 

“Sharingan?!” 

Kakashi, Akimichi Shito, and the others were equal parts shocked and nauseated, barely holding back the urge to retch! 

“That bastard Danzo… how many disgusting things has he done in the shadows to gain such vile power…?” 

Danzo quietly observed Yoru. 

“These were all taken from the corpses of Uchiha clan members.” 

“Seeing this… you must be furious, right?” 

But Yoru remained completely unfazed, even letting out a cold laugh. 

“Only five?” 

Danzo was taken aback. 

What was wrong with this guy? 

He’d revealed five Sharingan eyes to provoke Yoru, yet the man was calm, almost dismissive, saying “only five” as if it were nothing! 

Was he truly heartless, like some kind of demon?! 

At that moment, the first Sharingan on Danzo’s arm began to close slowly. 

Its light faded, plunging into darkness. 

“Four left, huh…” Danzo glanced at his arm. 

“That means about four minutes…” 

“For that time, I can attack without worrying about any risks.” 

Izanagi’s Sharingan weren’t like revival coins. 

They granted invincibility for a set duration. 

It wasn’t that each death consumed one eye—during that time, no matter how many times he died, it didn’t matter. 

That was why Danzo, with Izanagi active, fought without fear of consequences. 

Danzo, along with the reanimated Sakumo Hatake, Uchiha Setsuna, and the remaining four, stood together, facing Yoru. 

He was betting everything on these four minutes! 

Snap! 

“Wood Release: Spear Tree Barrage!” 

Danzo took the lead, unleashing a Wood Release secret technique! 

Instantly, countless massive Wood Release vines erupted from his right arm, shooting toward Yoru! 

Kakashi and the others were stunned. 

“That’s… the First Hokage’s…!” 

Boom! 

Before he could finish, the ferocious Wood Release attack slammed into Yoru’s Susanoo! 

But, as expected, it couldn’t break through. 

Danzo, however, smirked. 

Suddenly… 

Vines burst from the ground inside Susanoo, shooting upward! 

Yoru gave a rare nod of approval. 

This Danzo was smarter than he’d given him credit for! 

It made sense. In the original manga, Danzo had never faced a true Susanoo and even tried stabbing it with a kunai—an absurd move. 

But this Danzo had seen Shisui Uchiha’s Susanoo and had clearly done his homework to prepare for Yoru. 

Before Susanoo reached its fourth stage—gaining legs and a full lower body—it wasn’t an absolute defense. The ground beneath it was a weak point. 

In the original manga, Gaara exploited this, using sand to drag Madara Uchiha out of his Susanoo! 

Yoru silently praised Danzo’s tactic but didn’t hold back. He swung his Lightning Release: False Dark Blade, slicing through the vines with ease, reducing them to scattered splinters. 

Then, he controlled Susanoo’s Tenfold Sin-Slaying Sword, slashing down at Danzo with ferocious force! 

Danzo knew he couldn’t dodge, but he didn’t bother trying, a cold smirk on his face. 

With Izanagi, he knew he wouldn’t die. 

But… 

Yoru’s Tenfold Sin-Slaying Sword didn’t actually strike. 

“Huh?!” 

Danzo was caught off guard. 

Yoru let out a mocking scoff. 

“Shimura Danzo, since I know the secret of Izanagi, did you really think I’d waste time killing you over and over, watching you revive each time?” 

“You’re far too naive and foolish…” 

“Your Izanagi means nothing to me.” 

“Face your judgment!” 

“Tsukuyomi!” 

Danzo’s face went white with terror, his soul nearly leaving his body! 

“What… what are you doing?!” 

But before he could react, Yoru’s right Mangekyo Sharingan glowed with a blood-red, terrifying light, enveloping Danzo completely, swallowing him whole! 

In the next instant… 

Danzo was plunged into a hellish nightmare. 

Endless crimson hellfire consumed him! 

Izanagi? 

Utterly meaningless. 

Chapter 72: Danzo’s Death! Root’s Destruction! ! 

Danzo Shimura indeed possessed a wealth of knowledge. 

About the Mangekyō Sharingan, about Susanoo, about Izanagi. 

This gave him wisdom and power that surpassed even his peak in the original story! 

However, he could never have imagined… 

The secrets Yoru knew far exceeded his wildest expectations! 

Since Yoru knew that during Izanagi’s duration, Danzo could not truly die. 

Since he knew that any damage, even death itself, was meaningless during that time. 

Why would Yoru bother playing such childish games with him?! 

The Magatsuhi no Kami activated. 

Yoru dragged Danzo’s soul directly into a purgatory realm, subjecting it to the judgment and searing flames of the Crimson Lotus Fire! 

Whether it worked or not didn’t matter. 

It was irrelevant. 

As long as those four minutes were exhausted, Danzo’s death was certain! 

So… 

Danzo’s so-called final trump card was nothing but a laughable joke in Yoru’s eyes! 

And the meticulously planned, supposedly flawless strategy turned Danzo into an utter clown! 

… 

Kakashi Hatake and the others stood dumbfounded. 

They couldn’t even comprehend what had happened. 

And who could blame them? 

Whether it was Izanagi or Magatsuhi no Kami, only someone like Yoru, who knew all the secrets, could truly understand the intricate struggle at play. 

Even Danzo himself didn’t fully grasp it, let alone the onlookers. 

Yoru sneered, dismissing his Susanoo. With the lightning-fast speed of his Lightning Release Chakra Mode and the Pseudo-Dark Blade, he instantly killed the four Root ninjas maintaining the Four Violet Flames Formation. 

In an instant, the barrier collapsed, and the purple glow slowly faded away. 

Then… 

He didn’t pause for a moment. 

Four minutes from now, Danzo would be dead. 

But Yoru had no reason to waste those four minutes. 

His figure moved like lightning, like a meteor, like a phantom. 

In a flash, he slaughtered the remaining five or six Root ninjas, reducing them to clouds of blood mist! 

With that… 

The Root organization was completely eradicated! 

Kakashi Hatake, Shikaku Nara, and the others stood frozen, still unable to process what had happened. 

Yoru said calmly, “Relax.” 

“The battle is over.” 

Kakashi was overwhelmed with awe. 

“Lord Yoru, what did you do?!” 

“Danzo Shimura, he…” 

Yoru didn’t look back, letting Danzo suffer in the purgatory realm, his body and soul enduring unimaginable agony under the Crimson Lotus Fire’s judgment. His screams were hysterical, unbearable, and utterly horrific… 

Danzo’s sins were likely the greatest in the entire ninja world. 

Even Yoru couldn’t fathom the extent of his suffering, nor did he care to. 

“He’s already dead.” 

Yoru’s casual remark left Kakashi and the others staring at each other, speechless! 

Though Kakashi didn’t understand, he nodded in trust. 

“If Lord Yoru says so…” 

He looked at his father. 

“My father, he…” 

Yoru understood his meaning. Turning to Danzo, he activated his Mangekyō Sharingan’s genjutsu. 

The Mangekyō Sharingan was, after all, the Mangekyō Sharingan. 

Though Yoru rarely used genjutsu, its power was still terrifying! 

With ease, he manipulated Danzo in the illusion to release the Impure World Reincarnation bindings. 

And so… 

Sakumo Hatake, Setsuna Uchiha, and the others regained their consciousness. 

But their souls would soon ascend once more. 

Sakumo Hatake looked at his son. 

“Kakashi, is that you?” 

“I never thought I’d see you again…” 

Kakashi’s body trembled, his fists clenched so tightly they creaked. 

“Father… what happened to you back then…” 

Sakumo paused, then let out a long sigh. 

“Just the eternal darkness of the ninja world…” 

“No different from what’s happening now…” 

Kakashi gritted his teeth. “Was it… the Konoha higher-ups?” 

Sakumo looked at his son, sensing the change in him. 

“Kakashi, don’t think about avenging me. It’s meaningless, and…” 

“Though I was driven to it, I was also tired of this dark ninja world and chose to take my own life, so…” 

Kakashi understood his father’s meaning. 

But he couldn’t forgive, nor did he have the right to. 

“I understand.” 

Sakumo knew his son didn’t truly understand, but he sighed helplessly. “You have your own path, and I won’t interfere. After all, I was an irresponsible father to you…” 

“Kakashi, walk your path with conviction. As your father, I’ll always support you…” 

Kakashi glanced at Uchiha Yoru. 

“Father, I’ve already chosen my path.” 

Sakumo followed his gaze toward Yoru. 

“The Uchiha clan, huh? To think they’d have such spirit and strength…” 

“What a remarkable man…” 

“Kakashi, if you’ve chosen to follow his path, then do it boldly…” 

“I will, Father.” 

As father and son spoke, Sakumo’s soul began to ascend, gradually fading away. 

The other souls followed suit. 

The fierce battle had finally ended with Yoru’s total victory. 

Danzo’s Root forces were completely wiped out, and the reincarnated dead returned to the Pure Land of the afterlife. 

And at that moment… 

The four minutes were nearly up. 

Yoru glanced at Danzo’s arm, where the final Sharingan slowly closed. 

Izanagi was indeed powerful. 

During its duration, even the Magatsuhi no Kami’s direct burning of body and soul was nullified. 

But its time had finally run out. 

Danzo’s hysterical screams rang out once more, but there was no chance of recovery now. 

His sins were too great. 

Even the Crimson Lotus Fire seemed unable to burn them all away. 

Kakashi and the others watched as this prominent figure of Konoha, the partner and comrade of Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, was burned alive. They felt a mix of satisfaction and dread. 

“Uchiha Yoru… Aaaargh!” 

“No, I’ll never admit guilt!” 

“Everything I did was for Konoha, for the peace of the entire ninja world!” 

“To achieve that noble goal, I’d spare no cost!” 

“You’re not a god! You can’t judge me!” 

Yoru said coldly, “Your death is my judgment.” 

“There’s no escape.” 

Danzo’s face contorted in agony, his screams tearing through the air, leaving everyone both thrilled and horrified. 

“Uchiha Yoru, your fate will be a hundred times worse than mine!” 

“And… Hiruzen…” 

“I’ll be waiting for you in the Pure Land…” 

With those final words, Danzo Shimura lost all signs of life. 

He was dead. 

Kakashi and the others let out a collective sigh of relief, gazing at Yoru with awe at his unmatched power and presence, a force that shook everyone to their core. 

In that moment, Uchiha Yoru’s prestige reached its absolute peak, shining brighter than anyone, unmatched. 

Not even the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, could compare! 

Kakashi and Shikaku exchanged a glance before respectfully asking, “Lord Yoru, what’s next?” 

Yoru replied calmly, “We return to Konoha and eliminate the remaining filth.” 

“Yes, sir!” 

Chapter 73: Danzo’s Dead?! Hiruzen’s Despair! !  

Inside the Hokage’s office, the air was thick with tension. 

Hiruzen Sarutobi paced restlessly, puffing on his pipe nonstop. The room was shrouded in swirling smoke, the sharp smell growing stronger by the second. 

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged a glance, both frowning. 

“Hiruzen, calm down,” Koharu said. 

Hiruzen clenched his fists. “Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down?!” 

“Right now, Uchiha Yoru is locked in a life-or-death battle with Danzo. Until we know the outcome, how can I relax?!” 

“This is a critical moment for our survival!” 

Homura shook his head. “It’s not that dire. Danzo might not even lose. And even if he does, Uchiha Yoru won’t come out unscathed. Danzo’s got an Impure World Reincarnation army that’s practically a one-man military!” 

Koharu nodded. “Exactly.” 

“With so many elite fighters, plus Danzo himself and what’s left of Root, even someone as strong as Yoru can’t handle it all.” 

Hiruzen’s voice was icy. “I’ve heard Kakashi Hatake and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio have left the village. They’re obviously joining the fight!” 

“That traitor Kakashi is openly defying my orders now!” 

Homura sighed. “Even so, Kakashi’s team is only seven or eight people. The Ino-Shika-Cho clans’ elites are on the battlefield. Those few can’t make much of a difference.” 

“Besides, didn’t you send Zo and the other Anbu to gather intel? We’ll know what’s happening soon enough.” 

A cold glint flashed in Koharu’s eyes. “Hiruzen, instead of pacing around anxiously, why not seize the opportunity?” 

Hiruzen’s heart skipped a beat. “You mean… while Fugaku and Yoru are both gone, launch a surprise attack on the entire Uchiha clan?!” 

“It’s not a bad idea.” 

Homura’s expression shifted. “That… might not be wise.” 

“What’s unwise about it? Could there be a better chance than this?” 

Hiruzen fell silent. 

After a long pause, he shook his head. “No.” 

Koharu frowned. “Why not?” 

Hiruzen’s voice was heavy. “The Uchiha clan is vulnerable right now, sure. But even if we wiped them out, it’d only treat the symptom, not the cause.” 

“Fugaku’s not the real issue. The key is Uchiha Yoru!” 

“If he comes back alive and finds his clan slaughtered, the consequences would be unthinkable!” 

“Plus, Yoru’s no fool. He’s likely left a contingency in place. According to Anbu reports, he’s still at the Military Police headquarters—probably a shadow clone.” 

Koharu’s eyes widened. 

She couldn’t believe it—Hiruzen was scared… 

Scared of that man, Uchiha Yoru… 

Just a shadow clone was enough to make the Hokage hesitate! 

But it wasn’t surprising. Yoru’s power was growing at an alarming rate, defying all logic. 

Who knew how strong he’d become?! 

Homura nodded. “Hiruzen’s right. We can’t act rashly.” 

“Besides, slaughtering the Uchiha while their two key figures are away wouldn’t just anger the other clans—it’d ruin Konoha’s reputation in the ninja world.” 

“We’d have no justification…” 

As the three stewed in worry, two Anbu figures suddenly appeared at the door. 

“Lord Hokage!” 

Hiruzen’s body jolted, nearly dropping his pipe. “What’s the situation?!” 

“Speak!” 

The Anbu’s voice trembled. “Lord… Lord Danzo, he… he’s…” 

“He’s what?” 

“He was killed by Uchiha Yoru!” 

“What?!” 

The three old foxes went pale, their faces drained of color! 

“How… how could this happen…?” 

“What about Danzo’s Impure World Reincarnation army?!” 

The Anbu shook as he answered, “Completely wiped out by Uchiha Yoru!” 

“He… he awakened the power of Susanoo!” 

“The reanimated fighters couldn’t even use a fraction of their original strength. Against his Susanoo, they were utterly powerless!” 

“Lord Danzo, despite transplanting the First Hokage’s Wood Release cells and five Sharingan eyes, and even using the Uchiha clan’s forbidden technique, Izanagi… he was still…” 

“Easily slaughtered by Uchiha Yoru!” 

“The surviving Root ninjas were taken out by Kakashi Hatake, Akimichi Shito, and Yoru himself. Root… it’s gone, completely!” 

Thud! 

Hiruzen collapsed into his chair, stunned, his pipe flickering out as he stared blankly. 

“Danzo’s dead…” 

In a way, Danzo had betrayed him, but still… 

Hearing this news, Hiruzen couldn’t help but tremble slightly. 

Their relationship was too complex to sum up in a single sentence. 

Koharu and Homura were equally shocked but managed to stay composed. 

“Hiruzen, Danzo dying to Yoru wasn’t impossible…” Koharu said. 

“But to lose so badly…” 

“With him gone, Root is finished too…” 

Koharu quickly asked, “What about Uchiha Yoru? Controlling Susanoo isn’t easy. Wielding it like that has to come at a steep cost!” 

The two Anbu exchanged glances. 

“He… he seems fine…” 

“His Mangekyo Sharingan shows no signs of weakening, let alone going blind…” 

“What?!” 

This time, the three were struck with utter shock and despair. 

Homura was sweating profusely. “So, even after sacrificing Danzo and all of Root, that man is still…” 

“Completely unscathed?!” 

The Anbu stayed silent, implicitly confirming it. 

Koharu finally grew anxious. “It seems we’ve severely underestimated that guy…” 

The office fell into a deathly silence. 

After a long while, Hiruzen snapped out of it, relighting his pipe. He took a deep drag, exhaling a thick ring of smoke, and spoke in a heavy tone. 

“Where’s Uchiha Yoru now?” 

“He’s heading back to Konoha.” 

“Hiruzen, what do we do?” 

Hiruzen’s expression was grim, almost tragic. “Call everyone immediately. Convene a Hokage meeting.” 

“Announce a full reckoning for Danzo and Root!” 

Koharu and Homura instantly understood, nodding. 

“Got it.” 

Meanwhile, elsewhere… 

In Yoru’s mind, a delayed system notification chimed. 

[You’ve successfully freed Danzo Shimura from his scapegoat fate. Great deed! +2000 Merit Points!] 

[Host’s Mangekyo Sharingan chakra increased to 10,000 points!] 

[Host has successfully awakened…] 

[Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan!] 

Chapter 74: The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Awakened!  

The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan! 

It’s finally awakened! 

Yoru, though he knew this was bound to happen, let out a small sigh of relief. 

Before, when he used the Mangekyō Sharingan’s power, he could never go all out. Overusing it would drain him too much, even for someone like him.  

But now…  

Everything’s changed! 

The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan isn’t fundamentally different from the regular Mangekyō, but its ocular power is far stronger and more terrifying. Most importantly, it comes with the blessing of never going blind, completely eliminating the side effects! 

In the entire history of the ninja world, only two people are known to have awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan:  

Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Sasuke. 

But Madara is dead, and Sasuke is still a kid. 

Right now, in this era, Yoru is the only one. 

For the first time, Yoru carefully reviewed his gains. 

Killing Shimura Danzō earned him 2,000 merit points. 

Sealing the other Reanimated (Edo Tensei) powerhouses brought in around 3,000 merit points! 

Add to that the few hundred points from taking out the other Root ninjas… 

In total, this single battle netted Yoru over 5,000 merit points! 

Without hesitation, he poured all of it into his ocular power. 

And now… 

Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan Ocular Power (11,500/30,000)! 

With his ocular power evolving into the Eternal Mangekyō, the abilities of his Mangekyō Sharingan in both eyes automatically reached perfection! 

Kuyabiko (1,000/1,000)! 

Hotsume no Kami (1,000/1,000)! 

As for Susanoo, it leaped forward by two major stages! 

It skipped right past the third form’s Karasu Tengu armor… 

And instantly grew into the Fourth Form! 

The Fourth Form Susanoo! 

It now has a complete body, an absolute defense with no weaknesses or flaws. It even sprouted a lower body and legs, fully resolving Susanoo’s original lack of mobility! 

And that’s not all… 

Once the Fourth Form Susanoo is activated, beyond its signature spiritual weapon, it can wield the true Susanoo Greatsword! 

The Susanoo Greatsword has no special attributes or unique abilities. 

It has only one thing… 

Extreme, overwhelming attack power and ferocious destructive force! 

If the first three stages of Susanoo were like a half-bodied warrior giant, the Fourth Form is a true god descending to earth! 

When activated, the user stands at Susanoo’s head, commanding and controlling its full power. 

In other words… 

This is a real-life Gundam! 

Of course, Yoru was a bit disappointed that he hadn’t unlocked the Perfect Susanoo. 

In the original story, only four people ever controlled the Perfect Susanoo: 

Indra, Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Sasuke, and Kakashi Hatake—or rather, Uchiha Obito. 

Sasuke, even after awakening the Eternal Mangekyō, didn’t unlock Perfect Susanoo until he received the Sage of the Six Paths’ power.  

Kakashi, or rather Obito’s Perfect Susanoo, was the same—only awakened after gaining Six Paths power. 

Indra, naturally, already had Six Paths power. 

The only one who could use Perfect Susanoo without Six Paths power was Uchiha Madara. 

Still, Yoru figured that with some time to grow, he could unlock Perfect Susanoo without needing Six Paths power. 

It was just a matter of time. 

After evolving into the Eternal Mangekyō, the six-pointed star pattern in Yoru’s eyes transformed into a more intricate, gorgeous design, framed by a perfect circle and dotted with faint starlight. 

Mysterious, powerful, dazzling, and eerie—like something out of myth and epic. 

… 

Yoru summed up his gains: 

• Awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan! 

• Both eyes’ abilities, Kuyabiko and Hotsume no Kami, reached perfection! 

• Susanoo advanced to the Fourth Form! 

This haul was massive! 

Kakashi Hatake, standing by his side, couldn’t help but sense the change in Yoru. 

“Lord Yoru, after this battle, you seem… even stronger?”  

“It’s like there’s this unfathomable, terrifying aura about you…” 

Yoru seemed to see right through him. 

“Kakashi, your Mangekyō Sharingan’s power has grown too, hasn’t it?” 

Kakashi’s heart skipped a beat. 

Nothing gets past him… 

In truth, Kakashi had awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan long ago, during Rin Nohara’s death. The overwhelming grief and pain synced with Obito’s, awakening it in both of them at the same time. 

But his ocular power was limited, and he never dared to use it recklessly—it was too hard to wield. 

However… 

After seeing his father Sakumo Hatake’s empty coffin, the beliefs he’d clung to were shattered again. With that pain and rage, his Mangekyō’s power had indeed surged! 

Yoru estimated that Kakashi’s current ocular power was at least on par with his level during the Shippuden era. 

And this was years before the original storyline even began. 

Thanks to the altered plot and fate, Kakashi had gained unimaginable power ahead of schedule! 

“As expected of Lord Yoru. Your eyes see everything…”  

Kakashi didn’t hide it. 

“I did awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. But I’m not an Uchiha. Using it drains my chakra and ocular power massively, and it comes with unbearable pain and side effects, so…” 

Yoru understood what he meant. 

He knew Kakashi’s situation all too well. 

Using the Mangekyō once and ending up bedridden for a month…  

It wasn’t just a joke. 

But still… 

“Kakashi, your power growing is a good thing.” 

“You’ll have a chance to use it soon.” 

Kakashi’s heart stirred. 

“I understand, Lord Yoru.” 

“I’m ready to follow your orders anytime.” 

“Good.” 

… 

Back in the Leaf Village, Yoru tied up all the loose ends. 

With Danzō’s death, the cursed seals on all Root ninjas vanished automatically. 

The children controlled by Root were freed. 

Among them, Yoru spotted familiar faces. 

Sai and his brother, Shin. 

At this point, Sai was only about four years old. 

Yoru took these kids, along with the orphans from the orphanage, under his wing. He saw them as the future pillars of the ninja world, inheritors of his will. 

After settling everything, he decisively ended the suffering of the still-tormented, barely alive Yamanaka Ryōma, granting him release. 

With that, the Root organization was completely wiped out. 

Meanwhile, at the Hokage meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi “righteously” cut all ties with Danzō and Root… 

He declared with righteous fervor that Danzō was a “war criminal,” a “traitor ninja,” and a “monster who violated human ethics with inhumane experiments.” Root, he said, was a complete failure, a deformed tumor born from the village’s darkness! 

Of course, this grandstanding couldn’t erase the accusations of corruption against the Leaf’s leadership. 

The Danzō incident was bound to cost Hiruzen the people’s trust. 

At that moment, Hiruzen shifted the topic to something else… 

“The war with the Cloud Village is essentially over. Under Shikaku’s command and the Leaf ninjas’ efforts, the Cloud has been pushed back. The Fourth Raikage has agreed to new peace talks.” 

“The Leaf ninjas on the battlefield will soon return…” 

Everyone’s hearts stirred. 

It was crystal clear to all… 

With the external threat of the Cloud Village resolved, the next step was likely the ultimate battle within the Leaf Village! 

Chapter 75: The Meeting of Two Legends! Itachi and Obito! At the Hokage’s meeting, a tense and heavy atmosphere hung in the air, palpable to everyone present.  

No one seated here was a fool.  

It was clear to all that after everything that had happened, the conflict between the Uchiha clan and Konoha’s leadership had reached a boiling point, ready to erupt at any moment!  

With the Cloud Village, their greatest external threat, now dealt with, the fuse for an inevitable internal war had likely already been lit!  

Kakashi Hatake spoke up, “Even if Konoha holds the advantage on the battlefield, during peace talks, we’ll probably still have to give up some benefits to the Cloud Village, right?”  

His words sent a ripple of shock through the room.  

Kakashi wasn’t giving the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, any face at all…  

Sarutobi’s expression darkened.  

“Kakashi, what’s that supposed to mean?”  

Kakashi flashed a slight smile. “Nothing much. If you don’t want to hear it, Lord Hokage, just pretend I was talking to myself.”  

Sarutobi snorted. “Kakashi, you killed Danzo this time. Yes, I ordered the Anbu to track him, but I never authorized you to leave the village on your own, taking an Anbu squad and forces from the Ino-Shika-Cho clans with you, did I?”  

“That’s outright defiance of orders.”  

Kakashi shrugged, unfazed. “You’re right, Lord Hokage. I did disobey orders, which makes me unfit to continue serving in the Anbu. So…”  

“I request to resign from my position as Anbu squad leader.”  

Sarutobi’s brows furrowed tightly, but then relaxed.  

“Fine. If that’s your decision, I won’t stop you.”  

Kakashi grinned.  

“Now that I’m free of duties, Lord Yoru, could I possibly join the Police Force?”  

The room froze, faces shifting in shock once again.  

Kakashi was openly declaring his allegiance…  

Yoru hadn’t expected this move, but…  

“Alright,” he said, not refusing.  

Koharu Utatane interjected, “This… the Police Force has always been an Uchiha clan matter. Kakashi’s an outsider—doesn’t that break tradition?”  

Yoru replied coolly, “Rules are rigid; people are not.”  

His words left Koharu speechless.  

Sarutobi’s face flushed with anger, but knowing Kakashi had switched sides, he was powerless to act.  

Still, Sarutobi had one piece of good news that eased his mind.  

He announced to the room, “One more thing…”  

“Jiraiya is returning to the village.”  

The name sparked a wave of murmurs.  

After all, this was one of the legendary Sannin, a ninja considered among the strongest in the world!  

No wonder Sarutobi hadn’t completely lost hope after Danzo’s death. This must be another ace up his sleeve…  

The attendees exchanged glances, realizing the brewing civil conflict was growing ever more turbulent and complex…  

Sarutobi’s lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk.  

Jiraiya wasn’t his only card to play!  

Meanwhile, at the Uchiha compound, the Naka Shrine stood empty and silent.  

Suddenly, the air shimmered faintly, and a figure appeared out of nowhere, moving with eerie silence.  

Clad in a black robe, a hood over their head, and a tiger-striped mask concealing their face, the figure was shrouded in mystery, their features completely hidden.  

The masked man lingered briefly in the Naka Shrine, eyes scanning the surroundings as if deep in thought.  

Then, with practiced ease, he moved toward a hidden basement.  

The basement was pitch black, lit only by the dim, flickering glow of candles, barely illuminating anything.  

But in the masked man’s eyes, a stone tablet at the center of the room stood out clearly.  

The writing on the tablet was ancient and strange.  

He stared at it intently, his eyes glinting with a faint, blood-red light.  

But then…  

“Who are you?”  

A young voice, slightly immature, cut through the silence from behind him.  

The masked man was startled.  

He turned to see a boy, no older than ten.  

“You’re… Fugaku Uchiha’s eldest son…”  

“Itachi Uchiha.”  

The masked man nodded, a mix of surprise and admiration in his tone.  

“To think you could detect me without a sound—you really are a genius ninja.”  

Itachi’s voice was cold. “This isn’t your first time sneaking into the Naka Shrine.”  

“Why are you breaking in here?”  

“What’s your goal?”  

“And… who are you?”  

The masked man let out a faint, chilling laugh.  

“Pretty bold, aren’t you?”  

“But since you managed to notice me, I suppose I can tell you.”  

“My name is… Uchiha Madara.”  

Itachi’s eyes widened in shock.  

“Uchiha… Madara?!”  

“That’s impossible. He’s an ancestor of our clan and died years ago at the hands of the First Hokage…”  

The masked man sneered. “That’s just the ignorant misunderstanding of the world.”  

Itachi quickly regained his composure.  

“You can bypass Konoha’s barrier seals without a trace, you know the secrets of the Naka Shrine, and you wield mysterious space-time ninjutsu…”  

“Even if you’re not really Uchiha Madara, you’re definitely connected to him.”  

The masked man’s heart stirred slightly.  

“To have such sharp analytical skills at such a young age… you remind me of someone else…”  

“The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.”  

“During the Nine-Tails incident, he came to the same kind of conclusion you did.”  

Itachi’s eyes widened again.  

“The Nine-Tails incident… so it was you who controlled the Nine-Tails and unleashed it on Konoha?!”  

The masked man neither confirmed nor denied it.  

Itachi fell silent for a moment.  

“It seems you possess power beyond my imagination.”  

“But that Nine-Tails incident caused the entire village to distrust and pressure the Uchiha clan, leading to the irreconcilable rift with Konoha’s leadership.”  

The masked man scoffed. “So what?”  

Itachi pressed, “Even if you’re not the real Uchiha Madara, with the Sharingan’s power to control the Nine-Tails, you must be a formidable Uchiha. So why would you frame our clan?”  

“Frame?”  

“Hahaha…”  

“Ridiculous. I unleashed the Nine-Tails on a whim. As for the Uchiha clan? I don’t care about you at all. If the village turned against you, that was just a side effect.”  

“And don’t assume I have any attachment or loyalty to the Uchiha just because I’m one of you.”  

“Quite the opposite…”  

“I came to Konoha this time to…”  

“Wipe out the Uchiha clan!”  

Itachi stood dumbfounded, utterly shocked.  

“Why?”  

The masked man’s voice was icy. “From the moment I left Konoha, when the Uchiha chose to follow Hashirama and betray me, all that remained for me was hatred!”  

“The Uchiha have lingered long enough. It’s time for revenge…”  

“So, Itachi Uchiha, how about joining forces with me?”  

Itachi was still reeling from the shock.  

“Me?”  

“Why would I work with you to destroy my own clan?”  

The masked man sneered. “Don’t think I don’t know. You’ve already aligned yourself with Konoha’s leadership. After Shisui Uchiha, you’re another ace in Sarutobi’s hand!”  

“And what he wants from you is no different from what I want!”  

“How much of the stone tablet can those eyes of yours read?”  

Itachi closed his eyes, then opened them again.  

The blood-red glow of the Mangekyo Sharingan burst forth!  

“I knew it! You’ve awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, too!”  

“Ever since Shisui died…”  

But Itachi quickly deactivated it, shaking his head.  

“It’s meaningless.”  

The masked man frowned. “The Mangekyo Sharingan is meaningless?”  

“Exactly.”  

“Why?”  

Itachi’s voice was heavy, each word deliberate. “Because…”  

“Neither you nor I stand a chance against that man.”  

“Uchiha… Yoru.”  

The masked man froze, then erupted in fury!