106-110

*Chapter 106: My Target is You (Please Subscribe!)*

Koharu Utatane was stunned for a moment and didn't respond for a long time.

"Lord Jiraiya, we're currently discussing the issue of Touji betraying the village of ninjas..."

"Betrayal? Tell me, where is the betrayal? Or are you implying that Touji had a role in the Konoha Crush Plan?"

Jiraiya shouted angrily, glaring fiercely at Koharu Utatane.

Back when the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was in charge, many decisions were made by Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

First, they continuously marginalized the Uchiha Clan, forcing them into rebellion.

Then they spread rumors about the Nine-Tails. If it weren't for Naruto Uzumaki's strong resilience, he might have been driven to death.

Even earlier, there were shadows of these two in the incidents involving Dan Kato and Sakumo Hatake.

As long as it benefited their clan, they were willing to sell out anyone in the village.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado's faces became awkward.

Touji's supposed crime was baseless, and now that Jiraiya had exposed it, they both looked increasingly uncomfortable.

However, Koharu Utatane, clearly experienced in such situations, quickly regained her composure.

"Lord Jiraiya, if you were the Hokage, you would naturally have the authority to speak like this. But you've been away from Konoha for many years. Do you really understand everything about the village? Or do you think that Homura and I have become too old to handle you?"

Koharu's eyes turned cold as she stared at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya frowned deeply.

He had never expected Koharu to change her stance so quickly.

If there weren't people around who could restrain him, he might have already taken action.

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious? If you don't want to help us capture this rogue ninja, then step aside! But if you want to get involved, then your fate will be the same as Touji's!"

"You!"

Jiraiya had never been so enraged.

With just a few sentences, they wanted to decide someone's fate.

Jiraiya was deeply concerned.

Right now, Konoha had very few top-tier fighters left. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado would do anything to eliminate new rising talents if they couldn't bring them under their control.

If this continued, Konoha would eventually fall into their hands.

Touji, who was standing on the side, couldn't help but frown as well.

Koharu and Homura were even more malicious than Danzo.

While Danzo's methods were extreme, his intentions were still for the village.

But Koharu and Homura were only concerned about their own clans, completely disregarding the village's safety.

"So you're saying that if I help Touji, that makes me a rogue ninja as well?" Jiraiya was seething with anger, and his last few words were practically spat out through gritted teeth.

"Oh, Lord Jiraiya, of course you're not a rogue ninja, but aiding one certainly makes you one!" Koharu said coldly, smirking.

Jiraiya burst into laughter, looking up at the sky.

After all his hard work investigating the Akatsuki for Konoha, now he was being branded a rogue ninja in front of Koharu.

But Jiraiya wasn't planning to back down.

Touji was now known as the "Shadow in an Instant," a testament to the enemy's high regard for him.

If Touji were allowed to grow, he could definitely lead Konoha to new heights.

"No matter who comes today, I will protect Touji!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

A voice slowly echoed through the room, and everyone turned to look.

A man wrapped entirely in bandages, leaning on a cane, slowly walked out.

"Danzo Shimura!"

Touji's heart skipped a beat.

If there was anyone in Konoha more terrifying, it was definitely Danzo Shimura.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was too concerned about the image of the Hokage and hesitant in his actions.

But Danzo was different.

Once he made up his mind, he would never give up and would use any means necessary.

He had originally been placed under house arrest to take the blame for Hiruzen, but now he had emerged so quickly.

"Jiraiya, this has nothing to do with you. Don't make things difficult for me. All I want is this boy." Danzo's one eye fixed firmly on Touji. "I suspect this boy collaborated with Orochimaru to kill the Third Hokage!"

The room fell silent.

It wasn't an entirely baseless suspicion, but the whole village now hailed Touji as a hero, and the general consensus had taken root.

Moreover, the Hyuga Clan had fanned the flames.

Thus, the notion that Touji had killed the Third Hokage had been quickly suppressed.

At this moment, Touji was unusually calm, not nervous in the least.

He knew very well that being nervous would be of no help and might even make things worse.

It was better to stay calm and think of a strategy.

"I received a secret report that Orochimaru sought you out during his attack on the village. Can I say that you were behind this chaos?"

Touji sneered at Danzo.

While Touji himself wasn't clean, neither was Danzo.

The relationship between Hiruzen and Danzo had been strained for a long time.

Danzo was no longer content with remaining in the shadows and was tired of being suppressed by Hiruzen.

So, during the Konoha Crush Plan, not only did Danzo not stop it, but he even encouraged it.

His goal was to kill Hiruzen and become the next Hokage!

When Touji said this, Danzo's hand, which was gripping the cane, trembled slightly.

Touji smiled faintly, taking advantage of the situation. "You're basically saying that if the Third Hokage and Enma couldn't defeat them, how could I have driven them away, right?"

"Exactly! The Third Hokage and Lord Enma may not have been able to win, but they wouldn't have lost so easily. And Touji, you're just a genin—how could you possibly have the strength to face Orochimaru?"

Danzo tapped his cane against the floor repeatedly, his eyes fixed on Touji, waiting for any sign of hesitation.

"So, what do you want?"

"My plan is simple. We'll arrange a fight between Touji and some of the strongest ninjas. If he wins, then his strength will prove everything. But if he loses, he’ll be taken away for brainwashing!"

Danzo's smile widened as he spoke.

"And the ones he'll fight will be from the Ino-Shika-Cho trio of clans!"

"I refuse!" Touji said with a cold laugh.

"This kid is clearly hiding something. Just arrest him!" Koharu Utatane shouted.

"Right! There's no way this young boy could defeat Orochimaru. His refusal is proof enough!" Homura Mitokado added with a sneer.

"So let's arrest him now and take him for brainwashing!"

Everyone was excited.

Sending Touji to the Land of Wind would earn them endless wealth.

And now they had a legitimate excuse, so they stood taller with newfound confidence.

"Wait!" Touji said with a cold smile.

"What else do you want to explain?"

"Rogue ninjas should stay quiet."

"Right, let's get as much as we can out of him before he's gone!"

Touji couldn't help but laugh coldly again as he pointed at Danzo.

"My target for the fight is you!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 107: The Three-Day Challenge (Please Subscribe!)*

"Me?"

Shimura Danzo pointed at himself for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Aside from Jiraiya and Hiashi Hyuga, if anyone else in Konoha Village could be considered a top-tier fighter, it would be Shimura Danzo.

Danzo, like Hiruzen Sarutobi, was a student of Tobirama Senju.

The two of them were nearly equal in strength.

However, since Danzo had always operated in the shadows, many people forgot just how formidable he was.

Now, being directly challenged by Touji, he couldn't help but laugh.

"Challenge me? Fine, if you can defeat me, that proves you're capable of beating Orochimaru. No, in fact, if you can just last three minutes against me, I'll consider it your win!" Danzo said with a smug smile.

Jiraiya quickly ran over to Touji and nudged him.

"Danzo is a crafty old fox, not someone to mess with. Maybe you should pick someone else," Jiraiya said anxiously.

"No! I choose Danzo! I want to see his strength for myself!" Touji paused, then smirked slightly. "But I have one condition: the battle will take place in the Chunin Exam arena, where the whole village can watch!"

Danzo immediately frowned.

If the fight took place in public, many of his secrets couldn't be revealed, and his combat effectiveness would be greatly reduced!

Moreover, Danzo suspected that Touji might know something.

"Alright, but since we're going there to fight, it looks like today won't work. In three days, in front of everyone, I’ll expose your secret as a rogue ninja!" Danzo smiled dismissively.

Even though Touji was impressive, he was still just a Genin.

Danzo, on the other hand, had Kage-level strength. There was no need to fear him.

And once the whole village saw Touji’s secret, there would be no way for him to recover, and Danzo's authority would be restored.

After everyone left, Jiraiya immediately began complaining to Touji.

"Touji, why challenge Danzo? Even I’m not confident in beating him! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Touji smiled bitterly. He was well aware of how dangerous Danzo was.

But the combined attacks from Ino-Shika-Cho were also hard to defend against.

Though each member of Ino-Shika-Cho was just an average Jonin, together, their strength was nearly equal to that of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

However, if Touji fought Danzo in public, Danzo would have to conceal at least half of his power.

At the very least, Danzo wouldn't be able to use his Sharingan.

And the battle didn’t necessarily require him to defeat Danzo—he only needed to last three minutes to claim victory.

"Alright, don't worry, Pervy Sage. I'll be fine! You should be more concerned about other things than me."

"What could be more important than you?" Jiraiya grumbled.

Touji blushed slightly and started coughing.

"For example, the Akatsuki."

"The Akatsuki?" Jiraiya immediately became serious.

After all his investigations, Jiraiya had only uncovered surface-level information about the Akatsuki. But now, with Touji mentioning them, his interest was piqued.

"That's right. Tomorrow, I'll take you to meet someone."

Based on Touji's deductions, according to the story, Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki were about to arrive.

If Touji could gain enough favorability from Itachi, his odds in the upcoming fight wouldn’t be so slim.

But the quickest way to raise Itachi's favorability was to reveal the whole truth about Sasuke Uchiha and Danzo.

With access to key ninjutsu, anything was possible.

"Tomorrow, huh? Alright, I’ll find you tomorrow."

After seeing Jiraiya off, Touji finally relaxed.

Dealing with all these important figures had left his nerves on edge, and he knew he couldn't keep it up for long without cracking.

At least now he was alone and could get some rest.

Just as Touji was about to close his eyes and rest, a figure slowly emerged.

His previously relaxed demeanor vanished as he instantly tensed up.

"Touji, I want to know why you rejected me," Temari asked seriously, her eyes showing a hint of defiance.

Touji smiled helplessly.

He had thought it was Hinata Hyuga, the peeping maniac, but to his surprise, it was Temari.

Since she had approached him first, Touji figured he might as well boost her favorability.

"Why would you assume I’d say yes?" Touji asked with a mischievous smile.

Temari was caught off guard.

She had imagined countless responses but hadn't expected such a retort from Touji.

They’d only met a few times, so assuming he’d agree was indeed far-fetched.

"Is it because you don’t find me attractive?" Temari gathered her courage to ask.

Touji chuckled and shook his head.

"Do you think relationships are just about looks? If that's the case, then please leave. You and I live in different worlds."

Temari became flustered.

She hadn’t expected to be asked to leave after just two sentences, but Touji didn’t seem as unapproachable as she’d thought.

*[Ding! Temari's favorability increased by five points! Her favorability is now seventy-nine!]*

"You're a unique man. This condition my teacher Baki set is also part of my mission. As a ninja, I must complete my task, no matter what it takes!"

"A mission?"

Touji instinctively took a few steps back.

Temari was definitely serious.

So when she said "no matter what it takes," did she mean...

Touji shivered at the thought. A man must protect himself out in the world!

"Exactly, so stay alert. You never know when I’ll come to collect the prize!"

Touji's mouth twitched.

Are all ninjas this reckless? Willing to sacrifice anything to complete their missions?

And I'm only twelve years old!

"Well... I’ll be going now..."

"Go ahead, but you won't escape my grasp!"

Hearing that, Touji almost stumbled and quickly ran off.

"Such an interesting man..."

Early the next morning, a thick fog blanketed Konoha Village.

At this early hour, most people were still asleep, and even the gate guards were dozing off.

Touji and Jiraiya hid outside the village gates, cautiously scanning the surroundings.

"Hey, Touji! Are you sure that man will come?"

"He will. The Third Hokage is dead, and to ensure his brother's safety, he’ll definitely return."

Just then, the sound of bells echoed from afar.

Touji, who had been speaking, immediately snapped to attention.

In the distance, two figures slowly approached.

"They're here!"

*Chapter ends!*

*Chapter 108: Sharingan*

In the distance, two figures slowly approached.

They were wearing black cloaks with red clouds, and large straw hats on their heads, resembling monks.

Jiraiya's heart started racing as he saw this scene.

"It really is them!"

But before Jiraiya could get too excited, he noticed that one of the figures suddenly disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Touji's heart sank.

Despite being cautious, they were still discovered.

This only confirmed how strong Uchiha Itachi’s observational skills were.

However, Touji had no plans to remain hidden for long. Since he was discovered, it was time to proceed with the plan.

"Perverted Sage, stick to the plan!"

"Got it!"

After confirming, Jiraiya rushed towards Kisame Hoshigaki, who carried a massive weapon on his back, while Touji activated his Byakugan and sprinted into the forest.

Even with his Byakugan activated, Uchiha Itachi’s movements were elusive.

He wasn’t particularly fast, but his movements were incredibly eerie. Touji could easily widen the distance between them if he wanted to.

His goal was to make Uchiha Itachi follow him.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of Touji, and he quickly stopped, smiling slightly.

"Tell me, why did you lead me here?" Uchiha Itachi said calmly, having already seen through Touji's intentions.

Touji smiled back, feeling no pressure when facing Uchiha Itachi. He knew well that Itachi wouldn't kill him.

*Ding! Uchiha Itachi! Favorability: 50 points! You can sign in!*

*Favorability 50 points unlocked: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!*

*Favorability 60 points unlocked: Water Fang Bullet!*

*Favorability 70 points unlocked: Transcription Seal!*

*Favorability 80 points unlocked: Great Clone Explosion!*

*Favorability 90 points unlocked: Sharingan!*

*Favorability 100 points unlocked: Izanami! Gain: Foolish Brother! Activate Unlimited Sign-In (7-day interval)!*

"Sign in with Uchiha Itachi!"

*Ding! Successfully signed in with Uchiha Itachi! Gained Transformation Technique! Favorability increased by 5 points!*

*Ding! Since you already possess the Transformation Technique, the low-level technique has been upgraded to the highest level!*

"You came to the Leaf Village because the Third Hokage died, and you had to ensure Sasuke's safety, right?" Touji smiled, and Itachi's expression became more serious.

During the massacre of the Uchiha clan, the deal with Danzo was to guarantee Sasuke Uchiha's safety.

Now, with Hiruzen Sarutobi dead, the conditions for controlling Danzo's actions had weakened.

So, Uchiha Itachi had to show himself again to remind Danzo of his presence.

This was supposed to be a closely guarded secret, but somehow, this kid knew.

"Who exactly are you?"

After scanning the area, Uchiha Itachi exhaled and asked.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Touji."

"Touji? The Shadow of a Moment!" Itachi immediately became alert. His earlier underestimation due to Touji’s age vanished, replaced by heightened vigilance.

Touji scratched his head awkwardly.

He didn’t expect his nickname to even be known by Uchiha Itachi. He was becoming somewhat of a small celebrity.

"You don't need to be so guarded. I'm here to help Sasuke."

"Help Sasuke? That's unnecessary. All I want is for him to grow properly in the Leaf Village…"

"And then come and kill you, right?"

Itachi was cut off mid-sentence by Touji's remark.

Itachi’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly retreated.

"Mind reading?"

Sweat trickled down Itachi's forehead as he glared cautiously at Touji.

The fact that he wanted Sasuke to kill him was an extremely classified secret, known to no one.

Yet somehow, Touji knew.

For a moment, Itachi felt terrified. In a single encounter, all his secrets had been exposed, while he knew nothing about Touji.

Touji sighed.

He hadn’t expected his words to have the opposite effect, causing Itachi to become even more wary.

"Sasuke is confused right now. Despite his efforts, he’s being surpassed by someone who was once a failure. I’m worried he’ll go down the wrong path."

Since Itachi was on guard, Touji decided to play his trump card.

"The wrong path?"

As expected, Itachi furrowed his brow and asked seriously.

"Yes, that kid is now willing to do anything to gain power and defeat you. Is that part of your plan?" Touji said with a hint of mockery.

Itachi clenched his fists tightly.

He had no choice but to push Sasuke to keep getting stronger.

Even though he was out there as a threat to Danzo, there was no guarantee that Danzo wouldn't lose his mind and kill Sasuke.

Also, as a ninja, Sasuke wouldn’t survive in the outside world without sufficient power.

All the negative influences could be erased once Sasuke killed him.

"So, you're saying you're willing to help me protect Sasuke and guide him in the right direction?"

*Ding! Uchiha Itachi’s favorability increased by 5 points! Current favorability: 60 points! You can sign in!*

"Sign in with Uchiha Itachi!"

*Ding! Successfully signed in with Uchiha Itachi! Gained Sharingan! Favorability increased by 4 points! Current favorability: 64 points!*

Touji was stunned.

According to Itachi's sign-in list, the Sharingan was supposed to be unlocked at 90 points, yet he had obtained it at only 60!

Before Touji could figure it out, he suddenly felt intense pain in his left eye.

At that moment, he realized the truth.

Itachi didn’t only possess his own Sharingan; he also carried Uchiha Shisui’s.

And now, the sharp pain in Touji's left eye confirmed his theory.

After several seconds of excruciating pain, the discomfort in Touji’s left eye finally subsided.

However, a stream of red blood trickled down from his eye socket.

Though the pain was intense, Touji felt ecstatic.

Kotoamatsukami—the ability to subtly change someone’s mind. With that eye, Touji could control any ninja at will.

But he’d have to choose his target wisely.

After all, Kotoamatsukami had an extremely long cooldown period, requiring years before it could be used again.

"Are you alright?" Itachi cautiously asked, still on high alert.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Touji quickly wiped away the blood, smiling as he looked up.

But when Itachi saw him, his heart trembled.

Touji's right eye was still its usual black, but his left eye had turned completely white, with three black tomoe spinning within it.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 109: The Ungrateful Wolf (Requesting Subscriptions!)*

"Three-tomoe Byakugan?"

Uchiha Itachi was puzzled.

Itachi had seen the Byakugan before, and he himself possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, but the eyes Touji had now were something he'd never seen.

However, Itachi wasn’t too surprised. After all, the ninja world is vast, and anything unusual can happen.

Hearing Itachi's words, Touji realized his contact lens had fallen out.

He quickly deactivated the Byakugan.

As the Byakugan deactivated, Touji's pure white pupils immediately turned black.

"As expected, he can activate and deactivate his eye technique at will!"

Unusual pupils don’t necessarily mean an eye technique or a kekkei genkai; sometimes they are just a family trait.

But someone like Touji, who could turn it on and off freely, was definitely linked to some eye technique.

For a moment, Itachi became serious.

He knew nothing about Touji, and now with this strange eye technique, it made sense why someone so young had already earned the title of "Shadow of the Instant."

Judging by the title, Touji was undoubtedly a speed-type ninja.

"So, are you planning to teach Sasuke along the way?"

"I'm not planning to teach Sasuke. He can find his own path. But have you heard? I'm going to duel Danzo Shimura!" Touji said with a mischievous grin.

Itachi's entire body trembled.

The thing he feared most right now was Danzo targeting Sasuke, which was why he'd come all the way to the village of Konoha.

But he never expected Touji to say he was going to fight Danzo.

For a moment, Itachi shook his head.

Itachi had worked under Danzo before and knew all too well how strong Danzo was.

Even if Touji was incredibly fast and had that bizarre eye technique, Itachi still didn’t think Touji stood a chance.

After all, Danzo was a cunning and crafty old fox, with countless techniques up his sleeve.

Still, Danzo was one of Konoha’s top leaders. Now that Touji had declared a duel, Itachi grew cautious.

"So, why are you coming to me? To help you take care of Danzo?"

"I do need your help. If I lose on the day of the duel, I need you to rescue me. But if I win, I will kill Danzo!" Touji's tone grew cold.

This statement startled Itachi.

Danzo was one of Konoha’s top leaders, with deep and mysterious power, while Touji was only twelve years old—and he planned to kill him!

This was something Itachi had always wanted to do but never dared.

Back when Danzo ordered Itachi to massacre the Uchiha clan, it wasn’t something he did willingly.

But for the sake of Sasuke, for his own path as a ninja, he had no choice.

Now Touji was saying he would kill Danzo, stirring a sense of admiration in Itachi’s heart.

Ding-dong! Itachi’s favorability increased by 10 points! Current favorability: 74 points!

"Sign in with Uchiha Itachi!"

Ding-dong! Successfully signed in with Uchiha Itachi! Obtained the Transcription Seal! Favorability increased by 3 points! Current favorability: 77 points!

Touji was ecstatic.

The Transcription Seal was one of the illusion techniques he desired the most. It allows you to set a preset condition, and once that condition is met, the technique triggers automatically.

It’s practically impossible to defend against!

Moreover, with so many people present, Danzo would definitely avoid using the Sharingan, so he would never see it coming.

"Alright! I’ll step in when the time comes! Where and when?"

"Two days from now, at the Grand Arena. Almost the whole village will be there!"

"Okay... wait, what did you just say?" Itachi nodded calmly but suddenly realized something was off and asked again quickly.

Touji flashed an awkward smile.

"The whole village will be there..."

"......"

Two days later, early in the morning, the Grand Arena was already packed with people.

Everyone was buzzing about the upcoming duel.

Over the past two days, Touji had gone from being Konoha’s hero to a rogue ninja.

It could be said that most of the people here today had come to watch Touji lose.

"I can't believe that guy is a traitor!"

"Yeah, we trusted him so much."

"I don’t think we even need a duel. Just arrest him already."

"But Touji saved our village."

"What do you know? It’s all a scheme! Haven’t you heard? He’s in cahoots with the Sand Village, and it’s all just an act!"

Hiashi Hyuga listened gravely to the conversations around him, frowning deeply.

Although the Hyuga clan’s influence had greatly increased,

the faster they rose, the more pressure they faced.

Especially after Hiruzen Sarutobi’s death, all the families loyal to the Hokage had banded together to apply relentless pressure.

Now, forget dealing with the rumors outside—they could barely handle their own affairs.

"Those bastards! They killed Sakumo Hatake the same way back then!"

Hearing Hiashi’s words, Kakashi Hatake frowned.

The current situation was eerily similar to what happened to Sakumo Hatake, and perhaps even worse.

And Kakashi, more than anyone, understood the pain.

Moreover, with the heavy burden Touji was carrying, it seemed like he’d already lost half the battle before it even began.

"Damn it! Why can’t I do anything at a time like this?!" Kakashi said, angrily punching the wall, creating a hole.

Still, Kakashi was somewhat relieved.

He had sent Guy away beforehand, fearing that with his impulsive nature, Guy would have caused a scene by now.

But he was also worried. If Guy returned and found out Touji was gone, he might just go straight for Danzo.

Meanwhile, in the audience,

Hinata Hyuga’s face was flushed with anger, but her eyes were unusually determined.

"Touji is not a traitor! Don’t forget—he saved you!" Hinata shouted loudly.

Immediately, all eyes turned towards her. When they saw her pure white eyes, they began throwing things.

"With all the rumors flying, how can it not be true?"

"She’s from the Hyuga clan. That bastard hangs around the Hyuga family all the time. I bet the whole clan’s in on it!"

"You traitors! Get out of Konoha!"

"A bunch of ungrateful wolves! Get out of Konoha!"

The voices in the crowd grew uglier, and soon, they weren’t just calling her a traitor, but attacking Hinata's character as well.

Hinata, normally shy and soft-spoken, had never been subjected to this kind of abuse, and her eyes filled with tears.

"You jerks, shut up!" Sakura Haruno roared, slamming her fist into the audience stands, causing the whole section to shake.

"If any of you say one more word, I swear I’ll stab your faces with this kunai!" Tenten and Anko Mitarashi said coldly.

Meanwhile, Ino Yamanaka, standing with her clan, watched everything unfold with a chilling gaze.

She held a thin string in her hand, and if Touji lost today, everyone would die!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 110: Battle Against Danzo Shimura (Please Subscribe)*

The match was about to begin, and Danzo Shimura patiently waited in the middle of the arena.

However, as time passed, there was still no sign of Touji.

"Where is that kid?"

"Scared, probably! After being exposed as a spy, he must have run back to the Sand Village."

"Damn, I used to think he was a good guy!"

"But… Touji once saved our lives..."

Danzo Shimura's lips curled slightly.

The rumor had already spread, and now everyone in Konoha believed Touji was a spy.

From now on, whether Touji won or lost, Konoha would no longer tolerate him as a traitor.

This is why Danzo dared to boast that he would finish Touji in three minutes.

Originally, Danzo intended to kill Touji, but it turned out keeping him alive was more valuable. So sparing his life was a better option.

After all, once brainwashed, Touji would be as good as useless.

"Go see where that kid ran off to! If he's trying to escape, catch him and publicly announce it!" Danzo said, closing his eyes.

Just then, a figure slowly emerged, with sharp eyes glaring at Danzo.

"Oh? You still dare to come?"

"Why wouldn’t I? I’m here to defeat you," Touji sneered, secretly activating his Sharingan.

Danzo felt a wave of irritation but quickly returned to normal.

"Alright, you've got guts. Let’s begin!"

"Wait a minute."

"What now, kid?" Danzo asked, annoyed.

Touji smirked mischievously and pulled out a scroll, tossing it to Danzo.

"In a duel, fists don't have eyes. It's better to sign a death contract first. My name’s already written, only yours is missing!"

Danzo's eyebrows furrowed.

A living Touji was far more valuable than a dead one, so Danzo absolutely wouldn’t kill him. But Touji, on the other hand, would show no mercy.

This death contract only worked against Danzo.

Danzo hesitated for just a moment before quickly signing it, confident that he couldn’t possibly lose to Touji.

"Alright, now we begin!" Danzo announced, but as soon as the words left his mouth, Touji vanished from sight.

Danzo had heard rumors of Touji’s incredible speed, but seeing it in person made him realize it was even faster than he had imagined.

He was faster than that Uchiha kid from before.

However, Danzo didn’t panic. He quickly formed hand seals, and three shadow clones appeared around him.

Since he couldn’t keep up with Touji’s speed, he would cover all angles.

"Kid, are you planning to run away for three minutes?" Danzo sneered.

If Touji relied on speed to evade for the entire time, the audience wouldn’t accept it. He would still be attacked by the villagers afterward.

"Dream on!" Touji appeared beside Danzo, and with a flash of white light, Danzo’s body was cut in half.

"Such fierce attacks, but your eyes can't keep up!" Danzo said, pulling out a kunai and blowing on it, forming a wind blade.

"Kid, your swordsmanship is decent, but let’s see how it compares to mine!" Danzo swung the kunai downward.

Touji instinctively blocked with White Fang, but at the moment of contact, he realized Danzo’s blade bypassed his and headed for his shoulder.

Touji felt a chill down his spine and quickly used his space-jumping technique to dodge.

"You dodged? Impressive, that teleportation technique has a spatial quality to it. If nurtured in Konoha, you could become the next Fourth Hokage. Too bad, you're a traitor!" Danzo taunted, throwing several shuriken.

The shuriken were surrounded by a thin wind blade, cutting the ground into paper-thin slices.

Touji’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly used the teleportation technique again.

He had never expected Danzo to be so strong. Without Wood Release or the Sharingan, Danzo’s Wind Release alone was overwhelming.

But while Danzo couldn't use Wood Release, Touji could!

Touji smirked, rapidly forming hand seals.

A massive wooden dragon burst from the ground, charging toward Danzo.

"No way, how does this kid know Wood Release! Could he be one of the survivors from that batch of experiments?" Danzo was shocked. He had always thought Touji’s identity was fabricated, but now it seemed real.

But at this point, there was no turning back.

No matter how strong Touji became in the future, he couldn’t match the benefits that would come from the Sand Village's compensation.

Danzo quickly formed hand seals.

"Vacuum Great Sphere!"

With a powerful blow, a compressed wind ball rushed toward Touji.

Touji frowned.

Such a massive jutsu couldn’t be dodged with teleportation. His only option was to face it head-on!

"Earth Release! Earth-Style Wall!"

A dog-shaped wall rose instantly, blocking the wind sphere’s path.

Still not satisfied, Touji continued forming hand seals.

More walls appeared, one after another, followed by a wooden house as the final barrier.

"Naive, do you think that can stop me?" Danzo sneered.

"Wind Release! Vacuum Serial Waves!"

A storm of dust rose as everyone shielded their eyes, and Danzo smirked confidently.

"Time’s almost up, but can you withstand this?"

The wind ball shattered the walls in an instant, breaking through five barriers before finally stopping.

The remaining Vacuum Waves hit the wooden house, which didn't even have time to sway before being blown apart.

Danzo’s smirk widened.

"Do you think you can challenge me? Foolish!" Danzo scoffed.

But just as the words left his mouth, his vision blurred, and suddenly Touji stood in front of him, smirking.

"Impossible! How did you avoid that?"

Danzo quickly formed more hand seals, launching continuous Vacuum Waves from his mouth.

But no matter what jutsu Danzo used, Touji easily dodged, his face still holding that faint smile.

"This kid is this strong? Wait! No, this is genjutsu!"

Only now did Danzo realize that the Touji in front of him was just an illusion. But he couldn't figure out how he had been trapped in it.

"Now that you've realized, it's already too late!"

*End of Chapter*