Chapter 78: The Evil Beyond the Leaf Village (Extra Chapter – Requesting Continued Reading)

At this moment, Danzō appeared to be enduring a torment beyond the comprehension of any ordinary man. His entire body was bound tightly to a hospital bed by restraining straps.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had never seen Danzō in such a state—broken, helpless, reduced to a husk. The Wood Release Cells and Sharingan implanted within him, once sources of unparalleled power, now seemed utterly useless, failing to shield him from the agony that wracked his body.

Hiruzen could tell Danzō had likely been screaming for a long time. His voice was hoarse, nearly gone.

“Hokage-sama,” a voice whispered from the shadows— an Anbu Ninja, low and urgent. “We still don’t understand what’s happening to Shimura Danzō. Perhaps we should call in medical-nin from the Medical Corps.”

“We suspect,” the Anbu continued, “this is directly tied to Uchiha Iizumi’s Sharingan technique. And for some reason… multiple Sharingan eyes implanted in Danzō’s arm have sealed shut.”

Hiruzen fell silent.

A chill crept down his spine.

The Anbu didn’t know the secret of the Sharingan’s forbidden technique—Izanagi. But Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, did.

He was certain Danzō had used Izanagi multiple times tonight.

A forbidden jutsu from the Uchiha clan—yet it hadn’t saved him. Not even the power of Izanagi could free Danzō from the grip of Uchiha Iizumi’s eerie Mangekyō Sharingan.

The thought flickered through Hiruzen’s mind, unbidden and unsettling: If Iizumi had used this power against me… would I have any way to escape such agony?

Gazing at Danzō—now little more than a living corpse—Hiruzen felt a strange, reluctant pity.

Perhaps death, for Danzō, would be a mercy. A final release from endless torment.

His heart heavy, Hiruzen took a deep breath and spoke, voice low and firm.

“Fetch the finest medical-nin from the Medical Corps. Now.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama!”

Just as the Anbu turned to leave, Hiruzen suddenly called out, stopping him mid-step.

“Wait. Bring Itachi too. His understanding of the Sharingan surpasses us all. He may have a solution.”

Hiruzen felt he had done all he could for Danzō.

If the man couldn’t survive, Hiruzen would have no choice but to let his death serve as a sacrifice—something to calm the fears of the bloodline clans. Danzō’s actions had already sent tremors through the village’s elite.

This… was for the sake of the Leaf.

…

Minutes later.

A group of elite medical-nin from the Leaf Village, guided by an Anbu Ninja, arrived in the hidden chamber beneath the Anbu Base.

“Is that…?” One of them narrowed his eyes, instantly recognizing the figure lying on the bed—Shimura Danzō, pale, trembling, barely alive.

“Can he be saved?”

A sudden voice cut through the silence, making the medics whirl around.

“Hokage-sama!”

They stared in shock—there, standing in the corner of the dimly lit chamber, was the Third Hokage himself.

One of the medics quickly answered, “We must first examine Danzō’s condition before we can determine a treatment plan. Hokage-sama… if I may ask—what exactly happened to him?”

“Sharingan Technique,” Hiruzen replied, voice grim. “Can the damage caused by this Uchiha clan eye jutsu be undone?”

The medical-nin exchanged uneasy glances.

“It’s… uncertain,” one admitted. “We can only try. The effects of such techniques aren’t just physical. They often reach deep into the mind and soul. We can’t guarantee anything.”

Before long, another figure entered the chamber.

It was Uchiha Itachi—his Anbu mask concealing his face, his presence silent and precise.

He glanced at the medical-nin, then paused for two seconds, his gaze lingering on Danzō’s ruined form—half of his body severed, barely clinging to life.

Then, to Hiruzen: “Hokage-sama.”

Without waiting for permission, he asked, “Danzō… was he affected by Uchiha Iizumi’s Mangekyō Sharingan?”

The Anbu had captured Iizumi, but Itachi hadn’t been present—his reputation had been ruined in the village, and he was no longer welcome in public, especially not among the Uchiha clansmen gathered at the scene.

His presence might have sparked a confrontation with the Uchiha Police Force.

Hiruzen nodded. “Itachi, you’re the best person here to help. Try to find a way to stop this.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.”

…

On the other side of the village.

Izumi had returned to the Uchiha clan’s residence—but Uchiha Iizumi and Tachibana Jiro were still outside.

“Master Iizumi,” Tachibana Jiro asked, “aren’t you returning?”

Then, realization dawned on its feline face. “Ah! You’re searching for the surviving Danzō, aren’t you?”

It puffed out its chest, grinning. “Leave it to me, Master Iizumi! I’ll send every one of my cats—every last kitten and grandchild—to scour the entire Leaf Village!”

Its expression was pure confidence: This is all on me.

Uchiha Iizumi remained calm, his voice quiet. “The Divine Retribution Flame branded upon Danzō’s soul… it lets me sense his approximate location. Even if the Third Hokage does everything he can, he won’t save him.”

“The Leaf Village has tonight welcomed an unexpected guest. As the former, Danzō is helpless—any moment could be his last. As the latter, the guest… if he misses this chance, he’ll lose it forever.”

He paused, then added:

“Whether it’s the evil within the village… or the evil beyond it… Absolute Justice must purge them all. One must not be spared.”

Tachibana Jiro noticed Iizumi’s direction—toward the Ninja Cemetery.

It dared not leap onto Iizumi’s shoulder like it usually did.

Instead, it hurried behind him, scrambling to keep pace.

“Master Iizumi… who is this ‘unexpected guest’?”

Tachibana Jiro’s voice trembled with confusion.

Uchiha Iizumi exhaled slowly.

“Uchiha Obito.”

Tachibana Jiro: “!!!”

…

Ninja Cemetery.

Under the moonless night, a lone figure stood before a grave—motionless, silent, having stood there for several minutes.

Dressed in a black cloak, Obito stared at a bundle of wilted white flowers left beside the tomb three days prior.

Beneath his mask, his brows furrowed slightly.

A flicker of disdain passed through his eyes.

He bent down, picked up the dead bouquet, and tossed it aside with distaste. Then, gently placed a fresh bouquet in its place.

“…Rin.”

A faint, strained smile tugged at his lips.

“I’m sorry… I’m late. Let Kakashi’s shadow taint your peace.”

He exhaled slowly, his fingers brushing the surface of Konoha Rin’s tombstone.

His mind drifted back to half an hour ago—when a White Zetsu Clone had delivered a message.

Not about Danzō.

But about Uchiha Iizumi’s Mangekyō Sharingan.

Every second of Danzō’s agony had been witnessed by the White Zetsu.

“The left eye—some unknown technique—stripped Danzō of all resistance in an instant. He collapsed, helpless, screaming like a broken man.”

“The right eye—another unknown ability—ignited Danzō’s body from afar. A flame that burned even through seals, Water Release jutsu… even Izanagi couldn’t extinguish it.”

Obito’s greatest fear? The right eye’s fire.

How could it strike Danzō from a distance?

Was it possible even beyond line of sight?

Was it somehow linked to the left eye’s power?

“I still don’t have enough information…”

A sudden, chilling question surfaced in his mind:

What if I were to get caught in it?

Would Spiral Space protect me?

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end