"Everyone, fall back!"
Before Kushina could finish speaking, the Sandaime immediately issued the retreat order and took the lead, swiftly moving in the opposite direction of Danzo.
Swish, swish, swish!
No one hesitated. The moment Kushina's warning rang out and the Third Hokage gave the command, every shinobi present bolted at full speed.
Within mere seconds, the Sandaime's forces had already put four to five hundred meters between themselves and the unfolding danger.
Meanwhile, Danzo, his body now oozing streaks of black ink that stained both the ground and the vines ensnaring him, let out a chilling declaration.
"Uchiha Toshiro, even in death, I will take you—and every Uchiha behind you—down with me!"
His gaze flicked toward the Sandaime and the others, who had safely withdrawn. Then, shifting his attention to Toshiro and the Uchiha behind him—whose expressions had now shifted to sheer dread—his eyes finally landed on the First and Second Hokage, standing ominously at his side.
"Hahaha! So what if you've mastered Sage Mode, awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and even summoned the First and Second Hokage through the Edo-tensei? None of it matters—because today, I'll drag all of you to hell with me!"
The Four Symbols Seal had already reached the point of no return. Given its sheer destructive range, neither the Uchiha nor the Shodaime could possibly escape in time.
'Hiruzen… this time, I won't hesitate.'
As he watched the Sandaime disappear into the distance, Danzo Shimura reflected on the one decision that had cost him the title of Hokage.
Last time, he had faltered. But this time—though circumstances had forced his hand—he did not waver. Instead, he had created an opening for Hiruzen to escape.
"Sensei… this time…"
Danzo's gaze shifted toward the Second Hokage, his long-deceased sensei. And in that moment, despite the lifelessness of the reanimated figure, he swore he could see it—that same resolute determination reflected in his master's eyes.
"What a shame… I never became Hokage, even in death."
In his final moments, Danzo's only regret was that he had never claimed the title he had coveted for so long.
But… gaining his sensei's acknowledgment… somehow, that didn't seem so bad.
"Toshiro, go!"
As dark ink spilled from Danzo's body, staining the ground with the markings of the Four Symbols Seal, Asuka, Kirishima, and the others still didn't fully grasp the nature of the technique.
However, Kushina's warning had made one thing clear—this jutsu had an enormous range, and escape was nearly impossible.
"Don't worry about us. If anyone can make it out, it's you."
Their gazes turned to Toshiro. They had accepted their fate, but if he could escape—even without the aid of the First and Second Hokage—it would be enough.
With the sacrifices in Konoha's prison, the Uchiha still had the power to stand against the village's leadership.
"Toshiro, please... forgive Itachi's youth and ignorance!"
At that moment, Uchiha Fugaku showed no fear of death. His chakra surged violently, summoning a colossal Susanoo that enveloped his body in its spectral armor.
With one massive hand, Susanoo reached out, seizing his eldest son and Mikoto, who had come with him. The other hand extended swiftly, grabbing the others.
"Go!"
Channeling the full force of his Mangekyō Sharingan, Fugaku hurled them hundreds of meters away with a single motion. Then, as the spectral warrior faded, he let Susanoo dissipate completely.
His gaze locked onto Danzo, the thin, triangular arcs and black tomoe in his eyes spinning relentlessly—a clear sign.
He was preparing to use Izanagi.
And he wasn't the only one.
From the sidelines, Uchiha Izuna and Uchiha Nako activated their own Mangekyō Sharingan, their intricate patterns gleaming ominously, as if readying powerful ocular techniques of their own.
Danzo let out a harsh, almost deranged laugh as he watched the Uchiha across from him prepare their counterattack. Izanagi against Izanagi. He was confident—no, certain—that he held the advantage.
With deliberate slowness, he ripped off the white bandages covering his hand, revealing Sharingan, now fully unveiled and gleaming with ominous power. He locked eyes with his opponents, daring them to challenge him.
"Damn it…" Izuna's expression darkened the moment he saw the swirling red eye embedded in Danzo's arm made of Hashirama's cells. His voice was heavy with disbelief. "That bastard… How did he get his hands on another Sharingan?"
His gaze flickered toward the younger Uchiha behind him. No… this was bad.
Without hesitation, he summoned Susanoo, its spectral form towering around him. He had no time to waste. Fugaku's orders were clear. If they had any chance of saving the next generation of their clan, it had to be now.
"Nako…"
"Understood."
It wasn't just Izuna—Uchiha Nako had also taken action. Though she was the one who had developed Izanami, once the technique was triggered, it was nearly impossible to escape its effects.
With Danzo's interference, there was no way to stop him from activating the Four Symbols Seal—unless…
"What's happening?!"
Danzo's triumphant laughter was abruptly cut off as his face paled. His breath hitched, and his expression twisted in shock.
"I activated Izanagi. I initiated the Four Symbols Seal. There was no way to interrupt it… So why…?"
He scanned his surroundings in disbelief. Everything had reverted to how it was before—as if his deadly jutsu had never even begun.
The black sealing symbols that had spread across his body? Gone.
The ink-like markings that had spurted out moments ago? Erased.
Everything was back to square one.
The only proof that anything had happened at all was the sharp pain throbbing in his skull and the lingering dizziness from Tobirama's devastating punch.
If not for that, he might have believed he was trapped in a powerful illusion.
"Nothing is impossible!"
With his scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan blazing, Toshiro stepped forward, positioning himself in front of his clansmen. Thin streaks of blood trickled down from his eyes, a clear sign of the immense strain on his body.
"Go. Put him to sleep."
His gaze flickered toward the Shodaime, his tone calm yet laced with quiet authority.
Killing Danzo outright would be far too merciful.
If he didn't utterly humiliate the man first, how could he possibly vent his fury?
"10th Edict of Enlightenment!"
Though he hesitated for a brief moment, the Shodaime ultimately obeyed. With a swift movement, he leaped to Danzo's side—his brother standing beside him—and unleashed a binding jutsu powerful enough to suppress even the Nine-Tails.
"Impossible… This can't be happening…!"
Danzo's face twisted in sheer disbelief. His breath came in ragged gasps as his mind desperately tried to rationalize what had just happened.
'I activated Izanagi… I initiated the Four Symbols Seal… How—how did I still lose?!'
Not a single sound escaped.
As the Shodaime pressed his palm—marked with the kanji—onto Danzo's shoulder, the once-struggling man slowly closed his eyes, as if drifting into a deep slumber.
"What a waste of talent."
With the same jutsu used to suppress the Nine-Tails, Danzo's chakra was completely silenced.
Without hesitation, he pulled a small container from his sleeve and carefully extracted the stolen eyes, reclaiming them for their rightful clan.
"Your... eyes..."
A strained voice interrupted him.
The Shodaime turned his head with great effort, his eyes locking onto Toshiro's gaze. His expression grew heavy, his voice slow but deliberate:
"…Eternal Mangekyō…"
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