69novels Chapter 514 Obito and Danzo
Chapter 514 Obito and Danzo
Chapter 514 Obito and Danzo
The capital of the Iron Country.
In the dead of night, heavy snow fell silently from the leaden sky, covering the streets, rooftops, and eaves.
The dark gray rock buildings appeared even colder and harder in the snow, like silent behemoths crouching in the darkness.
The streetlights on both sides of the street emitted a dim yellow light, which diffused in the snow, forming hazy halos.
The night watchman walked through the empty street, striking his clapper. His wooden clogs left deep footprints in the snow, which were quickly covered by fresh snow.
The sound of the clapper traveled far in the quiet night, carrying an ancient rhythm, one beat after another, like the heartbeat of this capital city.
The Konoha Village delegation's residence is located in the southeast corner of the capital and is a typical building of the Land of Iron.
A square courtyard is enclosed by dark gray stone walls. The main house is a two-story structure with steep eaves to prevent snow accumulation.
A string of cast iron wind chimes hung under the eaves, now drooping low under the weight of the snow, occasionally producing a dull thud when the wind blew by.
The snow in the courtyard had accumulated to a depth of half a foot, as smooth as a white velvet blanket.
Only from the main gate to the porch of the main house is there a newly trodden path, the footprints still fresh.
Danzo Shimura, leaning on a cane, walked slowly down the corridor.
He was still wearing that black robe, with a dark kimono underneath, and the Hokage hat on his head. His right eye and right arm were wrapped in bandages.
He walked slowly, using his cane to guide his way, each step steady and deliberate.
Aburame Tori and Yamanaka Fu followed half a step behind him.
Both men maintained the posture befitting guards, their eyes scanning the shadows on both sides of the corridor, their ears listening for every sound in the courtyard.
Qu Gen was completely wrapped in a dark protective suit, with even his face covered by a mask, leaving only his eyes exposed.
Yamanaka Fu had a gentle expression, but the vigilance in his eyes never wavered.
The meeting of the Four Film Congress proceeded slowly, lasting until late at night before the three returned to their lodgings.
The proposal to form a ninja alliance to jointly attack the Star Country sounds grand, but in practice, it's fraught with problems.
Who has command of the coalition forces?
How is command authority allocated among the various units?
How to solve the logistical supply problem?
Should the costs be shared among different countries or centrally allocated?
How can intelligence systems be integrated?
How could the secret police and intelligence agencies of different countries possibly share intelligence without reservation?
Not to mention the masked man, Afei, who suddenly barged in during the day and claimed to be a member of the "Akatsuki" organization.
His arrival made the already complicated situation even more chaotic.
As Danzo walked, he mentally reviewed the contents of today's meeting.
The Raikage's volatile temper, the Mizukage's shrewdness, the Tsuchikage's patience, and Mifune's composure—
And that masked man.
hooligan----
Danzo narrowed his one eye slightly.
The cane's handle rotated in my palm, the wooden handle warmed by the heat of my hand, its surface smooth and its texture delicate.
His room was at the end of the corridor.
Aburame Tori stepped forward and opened the door.
There were no lights on inside; only the faint light reflected from the snow outside the window shone in, barely enough to make out the outlines of the furniture.
Danzo was about to step inside.
His movements suddenly stopped.
The cane hovered in mid-air, an inch from the ground, and the person remained motionless, poised to step forward.
Aburame Tori and Yamanaka Kaze moved in an instant.
There was no communication, no eye contact; it was purely instinct formed through years of cooperation.
Take the root to the left, and the wind to the right. The two of them simultaneously moved half a step to the side, blocking Danzo's way.
The ninja sword on his back was already drawn, its blade gleaming coldly in the dim light.
The tip of the knife pointed into the house.
Pointing to that darkness.
Pointing to the figure sitting at the tea table in the center of the room in the darkness.
The figure sat casually on a low stool with its back to the door.
He wore a long robe with a black background and red clouds, the hem of which hung to the ground. In the dim light, one could vaguely see the blood-red cloud patterns on the robe.
An orange tiger-striped one-eyed mask faced sideways to the doorway, its single eye slowly turning in the darkness beneath.
It's Ah Fei.
During the day at the Four Kage Summit, there was the masked man who used strange abilities to humiliate the Raikage and claimed to be a member of the Akatsuki.
He is sitting in Danzo's room right now.
Waiting for Danzo.
Danzo's one eye was fixed on that figure's back.
After a few seconds of silence, Danzo slowly lowered his raised foot, tapped his cane lightly on the ground, raised his left hand, and waved it to Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fu in front of him.
"Step back."
His voice was steady and calm.
Qu Gen and Shan Zhongfeng exchanged a glance.
The two men did not retract their knives, but they stepped aside, revealing a passage.
They remained in a fighting stance, their eyes fixed on A-Fei, their muscles taut, ready to launch an attack at any moment.
Danzo, leaning on his cane, slowly walked into the room.
He didn't turn on the light.
He simply walked over to the tea table and sat down on another low stool opposite Ah Fei.
The cane rested against the edge of the table, making a soft "click" sound.
There was a tea table between the two.
The table was completely empty.
Outside the window, the snow is still falling.
Snowflakes pattered against the window paper, making a soft "shush" sound.
Further away, the curfew bells of the Iron Kingdom's capital rang out, deep and long, drifting in the night wind.
Danzo's one eye looked at Tobi.
Afei also turned his head, his masked one-eyed gaze fixed on Danzo.
The two looked at each other.
After a long silence, Danzo spoke slowly, his voice so low that only the two of them could hear: "I thought you had already obtained the Rinnegan."
Danzo's voice carried a hint of probing.
More than a decade ago, this mysterious person used the information of "the Sage's Eye" to exchange some research data on "Sharingan transplantation".
Danzo knew then that this mysterious person was after the Rinnegan.
Those legendary eyes of a sage that suddenly appeared in the Land of Rain.
Later, Danzo colluded with Hanzo to set a trap in the Land of Rain, which led to Yahiko's death.
In that battle, only Nagato and Konan escaped.
It is said that the other members of the Akatsuki organization were also wiped out by a mysterious person.
The mysterious person who provided the information never appeared again.
Danzo once thought that the other party had succeeded.
He had already obtained the Rinnegan, then disappeared without a trace, hiding in some corner to study the power of those eyes.
until today.
Until this masked man who called himself "Ah Fei" appeared at the Four Shadows Conference venue.
That black robe with red clouds.
That bizarre spacetime ability that renders physical attacks ineffective.
Danzo recognized him at a glance.
It's the same person.
Faced with Danzo's probing, Tobi remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he laughed.
It was a deep laugh emanating from the depths of his throat, tinged with self-mockery and helplessness: "So what if I got the Rinnegan?"
His voice came through the mask, sounding somewhat muffled.
"Without sufficient strength, one will ultimately be no match for Shura."
Danzo's pupils contracted slightly.
He was analyzing the information in that sentence.
It seems the opponent is determined to obtain the Rinnegan, but even with the Rinnegan, he still doesn't seem to be a match for Shura.
Danzo recalled the battle in the Land of Rain more than a decade ago.
Under the overcast sky, the Gedo Mazo, summoned by Nagato, possessed the power to destroy everything.
He raised his hand, and the giant claw of the Gedo Mazo slammed down, crushing the Root ninjas like ants.
He formed hand seals, and a chakra dragon shot out from the mouth of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, annihilating all the Rain Ninja under Hanzo's command!
In that battle, Danzo lost seventeen elite members of the Root clan.
Hanzo lost more than fifty of Amegakure's elite soldiers.
If he hadn't run fast enough, he might have died there.
That kind of power, that kind of monster—
They're still no match for Shura?
Danzo stared intently at Tobi with his one eye, trying to find any trace of lying in the other's words.
"Then this time—" Danzo spoke slowly, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.
"You intend to use the elite forces of the four great ninja villages to deal with Shura?"
There was a calculating quality in his voice.
In Danzo's view, the Kage of the four major ninja villages, along with their elite Jonin, could easily defeat the Land of Stars. Even if the Land of Stars had monsters like Uchiha Hikaru or powerful figures like Shura, their individual strength would ultimately be limited in the face of overwhelming numerical superiority.
The Ninja Wars are never a game for one person alone.
It's intelligence, it's logistics, it's tactics, it's coordination.
It was a victory won by the lives of tens of thousands of ninjas.
Ah Fei laughed again.
This time, the laughter carried undisguised sarcasm and a condescending disdain. He shook his head slightly, the tiger-striped one-eyed mask shimmering in the dim light: "Danzo, even now, you still don't understand."
His voice was soft, but every word pierced the air like a needle: "As for Shura's strength, perhaps only Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju back in the day could fight him."
The moment the words left his mouth, Danzo's fingers stopped tapping.
His one eye suddenly opened wide, the pupil contracted, and a sharp pain shot through his right eye beneath the bandage.
Hashirama Senju —
Uchiha Madara —
These two names held special significance for Danzo.
He was a disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and grew up listening to the legends of the First Hokage.
He had personally witnessed Hashirama Senju fighting outside the newly established Hidden Leaf Village to stop Madara Uchiha from attacking it. He had also witnessed Hashirama's power to create forests out of thin air and suppress tailed beasts like playthings, and he had also witnessed the terror of Madara Uchiha.
At that time, Danzo was only twelve years old and had just become a genin.
Later, he also heard from his teacher about the ferocity of the battle at the Valley of the End.
In that era, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were the two people who stood at the pinnacle of the ninja world.
He is a god-like being.
Now, this mysterious man named Afei tells him that Shura needs those two people to join forces to fight him.
Danzo's first reaction was disbelief.
How is that possible?
How could a monster of that level possibly appear in this era?
Although he couldn't see the other person's expression behind the mask, Danzo could sense that the person opposite him was very serious.
Danzo remained silent.
His hand slowly clenched, the handle of his cane rotating in his palm.
He is reassessing.
Recalculate.
If what the mysterious masked man said is true—
If Shura is truly that powerful—
Are the combined forces of those four great ninja villages really enough?
A thoughtful glint flashed in Danzo's single eye.
No, that's not enough.
That's definitely not enough.
But this is for the best.
Let the troops from other ninja villages be worn down first, let them go and die first.
Once they and the Land of Stars are both severely weakened, once Shura's power is diminished, once monsters like Uchiha Hikaru are tied down—
Then, Konoha will make its move again.
Reap the benefits without lifting a finger!
Danzo's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Then————"
Danzo spoke slowly, his voice regaining its calm: "What brings you to this old man?"
He raised his head, his one eye staring directly at A-Fei: "You wouldn't just be here to tell this old man how strong Shura is, would you?"
Afei remained silent for a moment.
Outside the window, the snow was falling even harder.
The rustling sound of snowflakes hitting the window paper grew louder and louder, like silkworms gnawing on mulberry leaves.
Further away, the curfew bells of the Iron Kingdom's capital had stopped ringing, and the night had fallen into a deathly silence once more.
Ah Fei slowly turned his head and looked out the window.
His gaze pierced through the window paper, through the snow curtain, and looked towards the endless night sky, towards a distant direction.
"Although in the current ninja world, no one is a match for Shura—"
Ah Fei's voice was very soft.
"But I've heard that Konoha has a forbidden technique."
He paused, turned his head, and looked at Danzo.
"A forbidden technique that can temporarily revive the dead."
The moment the words left his mouth, Danzo's body tensed up abruptly.
He gripped his cane tightly with a "click," the wooden handle groaning softly in his palm. The pupil in his single eye contracted sharply, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly—a sign of extreme vigilance.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.
Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fu also gripped their sword hilts tightly at the same time, their killing intent suddenly erupting, like two ferocious beasts poised to pounce, staring intently at Tobi.
Danzo's breath hitched for a moment, then he slowly asked, "Where did you find out—?"
He paused, then uttered the name slowly and deliberately: "The Impure World Reincarnation Technique?"
Ah Fei did not answer.
He simply watched Danzo quietly, observing the old man's shock, his wariness, and the countless thoughts flashing through his single eye in an instant.
Danzo's mind was racing.
The technique of reincarnation in the Impure World.
The forbidden technique developed by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, can summon the souls of the dead from the Pure Land, granting them power close to that of their former lives, and allowing them to be controlled.
This technique is a top secret in Konoha, known only to a very few high-ranking officials.
Even the former Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had not mastered this forbidden technique!
How did this mysterious masked man know all this?
A name flashed through Danzo's mind.
Orochimaru.
After that guy defected from Miyo, he seemed to have briefly joined the Akatsuki organization for a period of time, but later defected from the Akatsuki organization for some unknown reason.
Three months ago, during the Chunin Exams, Orochimaru disguised himself as the Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields and approached the Third Hokage. He set up the Four Purple Flame Formation and used the Impure World Reincarnation Technique to summon the First Hokage Hashirama Senju and the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. In full view of everyone, he brutally beat the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Many members of Konoha's Anbu, including Yamato, witnessed that battle.
If Orochimaru had shared information about this technique with the Akatsuki organization—
A sinister glint flashed in Danzo's single eye.
Afei watched Danzo's changing expression, then chuckled softly twice, his voice coming through the mask with a seductive quality:
.
How I know is not important.
"The important thing is that this technique can summon both Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha." He paused, leaning forward slightly.
"Even—" Afei's voice was low, like a devil's whisper.
"We can also use this technique to verify whether the Fourth Hokage is truly dead or not—"
The moment the words left his mouth, Danzo's hand clenched tightly.
The wooden handle of the cane made a soft "crack" sound in the palm, revealing a thin crack.
A terrifying glint flashed in his single eye.
There was shock, elation, calculation, and a long-suppressed ambition, all of which surged up at this moment!
He used the Impure World Reincarnation technique to summon Minato Namikaze.
If the summoning fails.
This proves that Minato Namikaze's soul is not in the Pure Land.
He is still alive!
This proves that Shura really is Minato Namikaze.
This proves that the Nine-Tailed Fox rampage, the sacrifice, and the funeral twelve years ago were all lies.
It was all a scheme!
It's all a conspiracy!
As for the failed summoning?
Hmph, whether he succeeds or fails, it's up to him to decide!
Thinking of this, Danzo's breathing became rapid.
Even his hands were trembling slightly, not from fear, but from the excitement of discovering that he could completely turn the tide and ascend to the pinnacle of power!
Jiraiya, what makes you think you can fight me?
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