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Ron took out a Sealing Scroll, found a piece of Danzo's flesh, and grabbed a White Zetsu.
Ninjutsu: Edo Tensei.
The ground trembled as a coffin emerged from below.
"Bang!" The coffin lid burst open, and Shimura Danzo stepped out.
"What is this… Ron Stark!? Edo Tensei?!"
Danzo was well-versed in all of Konoha's forbidden techniques, including Edo Tensei.
"From the shadows of Konoha's hidden scrolls, Danzo had plumbed the depths of forbidden jutsu, with Edo Tensei among his most chilling acquisitions."
The moment he was revived, he immediately understood his situation. His heart was filled with shock.
Who the hell is this guy?How does he know all of Konoha's forbidden jutsu?!
But he was dead. Even his soul was under Ron's control now, so naturally, no one was going to give him an answer.
Ignoring the stunned Danzo and the three women nearby, Ron simply commanded:
"Go. Find Hiruzen Sarutobi.""Tell him that if he dies, I'll let Konoha go."
Tsunade's expression grew tense. She opened her mouth, hesitated, but in the end, she said nothing.
Danzo stepped forward, heading straight for the village. He ignored the guards at the gate and made his way toward the newly built Hokage Building.
The guards didn't dare to stop him.
This was definitely Lord Danzo.But those pitch-black eyes… that cracked skin?
They didn't dare to ask. Absolutely not.
If they asked the wrong question, they might just be dragged off to Root.
Along the way, many people saw him, but not a single one dared to question him.
Some Root members who had stayed behind in the village even approached to report their missions.
But Danzo said nothing. He only nodded before continuing toward the Hokage Building.
His behavior left everyone puzzled.
But this was Danzo.
His reputation had been deeply ingrained in their minds. Even if things felt off, no one dared to step forward and ask.
Some sharp-eyed individuals sensed something was wrong and discreetly followed him all the way to the Hokage Building.
Was Danzo unable to speak? Of course not.
His actions were controlled by Ron, but his thoughts remained intact.
He could have warned everyone that Ron was already at Konoha's doorstep.
But he didn't.
Danzo: Damn! I'm already dead, I can't be Hokage—then none of you should even think about it!*
After the initial shock, Danzo quickly understood his situation.
Right now, as an Edo Tensei summon, he had to obey Ron completely. Betrayal was impossible.
Loyalty.
What did this mean? It meant absolute trust.
You could say that in the entire ninja world, no one could be more trustworthy to Ron than he was.
Danzo actually hoped Ron would take down Konoha.
Would Konoha be destroyed?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Ron was working with Orochimaru. Even if Konoha was destroyed, as long as people were alive, it could be rebuilt.
And seeing how Ron vanished from time to time, someone would have to manage Konoha in his absence.
Who else would be more suitable than him?
If Ron saw how obedient he was, maybe he'd let Danzo govern Konoha after he left.
It wouldn't be the official title of Hokage… but it would be the power of Hokage.
At least he'd get to enjoy it for a while.
And as for how many people would die in the process?
He had only one response: "Everything is for Konoha."
In Konoha, very few people knew about Edo Tensei.
Tobirama Senju had sealed it away not long after creating the technique.
The only ones who knew were a handful of his close disciples.
Back in the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already sensed the commotion outside. But he didn't go check it himself.
He was the Hokage.
Danzo was merely an advisor. There was no reason for the Hokage to personally welcome him.
Besides, he didn't have to act.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado would go in his place.
Seeing him remain seated, the two elders exchanged glances.
"We'll go take a look."
Then they stood up and left.
As members of Konoha's "Elder F4", they knew exactly what Danzo had been up to.
Naruto—the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—had been taken away.
If it hadn't been for Hiruzen keeping his composure, they would've already been in full panic mode.
Now that they heard Danzo had returned, how could they sit still?
Hiruzen took a slow puff from his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke.
Within the drifting haze, his expression relaxed.
"So impatient. Sensei had good judgment choosing me as Hokage."
If Danzo was back, didn't that mean he won?
And if he won, what was there to be anxious about?
Wait…
He came back alone?And the Nine-Tails… is gone?
Heh, gains always come with losses. To obtain Wood Release and that incredibly powerful iron armor, losing a few men and a Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails is an acceptable trade.
Not to mention Wood Release, even that iron armor alone isn't any weaker than the Nine-Tails.
A weakness… He still hasn't found the Iron Man's weakness.
Besides, he knew that Orochimaru had already returned yesterday.
With two Kage-level fighters intact, Konoha was about to reclaim Wood Release. If he hadn't laughed out loudly, he'd been already back.
Of course, if Danzo didn't make it back… what did that have to do with him?
He was the Hokage, upright and righteous!
Danzo had gone behind his back to attack Ron. If he were alive, he would have been punished severely, and he would have compensated Ron.
But now that Danzo was dead, what was there to punish?
Trading a dead man—one with countless dark secrets—for a powerful combat force…
No matter how it turned out, he was still the winner.
"Sizzle—" Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag of his pipe and shook his head. "This is what you call political foresight. Konoha is destined to return to the top of the ninja world under my leadership!"
He instinctively glanced at his missing arm, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
Once he got Wood Release, the ones responsible would pay.
Crash! Suddenly, loud commotion erupted outside the building.
Hiruzen frowned. A ruckus outside the Hokage's office? How undignified.
Then—Bang!
A figure leapt up from below, smashing through the glass of the Hokage's office and barging in directly.
"Who!?" Hiruzen's eyes widened. "Danzo, you… You!? Edo Tensei!?"
How bold. Hiruzen was just about to scold whoever dared to intrude when—
In the blink of an eye, he realized that the intruder's outfit was identical to Danzo's.
Just as he was about to assert his authority as Hokage and suppress Danzo—
The gust of wind from Danzo's entry blew away the lingering smoke in the office.
And at that moment, Hiruzen saw clearly.
A forbidden technique—Edo Tensei!
Danzo had been killed and resurrected through Edo Tensei!?
Wait—Danzo is dead? That means he failed!?
Hiruzen's pupils contracted violently, his face full of disbelief.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The doors of the Hokage's office were pushed open, and a group of people rushed in.
The Anbu immediately moved in front of Hiruzen.
But they only stood there—they didn't dare make a move against Danzo.
As for the others, they stopped in their tracks and observed the scene, glancing between the Konoha elders, especially Danzo.
Just now, down below, Koharu had shouted "Edo Tensei" loud and clear.
Most of them had never seen this forbidden jutsu before and didn't fully understand it, but they had all heard of it.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had developed this technique before sealing it away.
So, Danzo's current state… meant someone had used that technique?
At that moment, Danzo sneered and spoke.
"Hiruzen, Ron Stark is waiting for you at the village gate."
"He's calling you out to die."
Danzo had failed… Ron was probably going to use Edo Tensei as well.
Either way, Hiruzen hadn't been involved in this incident. At worst, Ron would hold a grudge against him.
He just needed to figure out how to handle this. It wasn't a big problem.
With that thought, Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly, and his face turned serious.
"Danzo, tell the truth in front of the whole village. Did you go after Ron Stark yesterday?"
"What you did has brought an enemy to the village!"
"If he only holds me responsible, I accept that. After all, I am the Hokage, and I failed to keep you in check."
"I bear some responsibility for your actions against Ron Stark."
"But if he dares to threaten the village, I will never allow it!"
"....."