CIATB Chapter 335: Danzo's Mistakes.
Chapter 335: Danzo's Mistakes.
From the moment he saw Danzo, Tobirama's keen eyes, ever vigilant, noticed something off about the man's appearance. His gaze narrowed, focusing on the empty socket where he knew Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan was supposed to be.
"Danzo," Tobirama's voice cut through the silence. He asked with a sharp and demanding tone. "Where is Shisui Uchiha's eye?" He asked again. 'Did you give it to one of your Root ninjas to safeguard it or did something else happen?'
Danzo stiffened, his expression darkening as he was forced to recount the events that had transpired just before Hiruzen's arrival. "It was taken... by a man who called himself 'Dragon.'"
Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly. "Dragon? Who is he? What happened, Danzo?"
The one eyed ninja sighed, his defeat was evident in his voice as he recounted the attack. "He appeared out of nowhere and came straight for Shisui's eye."
The Hokage's eyes widened. "Wait! Then does he know about-"
Danzo nodded. "He knows about Shisui's Mangekyo powers. He said he had plans with the Kotoamatsukami."
At that moment Hiruzen recalled the dead bodies he and his men discovered. "When I entered the building I came across several dead Root ninjas. I'm assuming that's his work."
The former Root commander nodded. "He infiltrated this base with such precision and power that even my most skilled men couldn't stop him. He cut through them like they were nothing. He moved as if he had knowledge of our operations. Like he knew exactly where to strike."
Tobirama's face remained impassive, though a spark of interest lit in his eyes. "Describe him."
Danzo clenched his fists, recalling the encounter. "He wore a dark green cloak, and a mask in the design of a Dragon, his face, chakra signature and scent were hidden and he wasn't ordinary. His strength... it felt like something I haven't encountered before. He could use multiple chakra natures and he moved with the fluidity of a seasoned front line warrior and yet had the precision of an assassin. His techniques were flawless, and his objective was clear. He was after Shisui's Sharingan and something more."
"What else did he take?" Hiruzen asked, his voice edged with concern.
Danzo's jaw tightened as he continued. "He didn't stop at Shisui's eye. He took my right arm. It was embedded with Sharingan. During my fight with him, I had already used three of them for Izanagi. Seven were left... but now they're gone."
"Sharingan arm? What are you talking about?" Hiruzen questioned while the Second Hokage merely stayed silent.
Danzo closed his eyes and sighed. He felt regret at the thought of someone else benefiting at the cost of his hard work and even more at the fact that it could be used against the Leaf village.
'Instead of trying to escape, I should have fought him and used the Reverse Four seal and killed him with me. At least then I could have died with some dignity.'
"Danzo..." Tobirama called his name and it woke the Root leader from his trance. "That right arm—it was no ordinary limb, was it? What exactly had you done to it?"
Hiruzen's attention was immediately drawn to the question, his own curiosity piqued. Though he had always known Danzo to be secretive, the extent of what he had hidden had not been fully revealed until now. He then remembered what his spy had said about Danzo's secret meeting with Orochimaru.
Danzo sighed, knowing there was no point in hiding the truth any longer. He looked between the two Hokage with the expression of resignation. "The arm... it wasn't just a prosthetic. It was a tool, a weapon I had created with the help of Orochimaru's research and the DNA of the First Hokage."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed dangerously, his tone immediately harsh. "You tampered with my brother's DNA? After all the warnings and precautions we put in place?"
Danzo didn't flinch under Tobirama's intense gaze and continued. "Yes. I knew the potential risks, but I believed the power it could grant was worth it. I had the arm implanted with cells from the First Hokage, which allowed me to wield the Wood Release, though not to the same extent as Lord Hashirama himself."
Hiruzen looked deeply troubled, his brow furrowed in concern. "Danzo, you were playing with forces you didn't fully understand. Lord First's cells... they're too dangerous to be used lightly..." He recalled the reports of his spy. "So that was what you did with Orochimaru that day."
"Yes." Danzo nodded, acknowledging the truth in Hiruzen's words. "I was aware of the risks. But that's not all. The arm wasn't just infused with Hashirama's cells. I also embedded it with multiple Sharingan."
"This is certainly strange." Hiruzen murmured.
"There's something else you both need to know," Danzo began, causing Hiruzen and Tobirama to turn their attention back to him. "During the battle with 'Dragon'... his focus wasn't on me at first. When we fought, at the beginning it was like I was just an annoyance to him. But after he recognized Hotaru... everything changed."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed, and Hiruzen's brow furrowed with concern. "Changed how?" Hiruzen asked.
Danzo's expression darkened as he recalled the intense confrontation. "Up until that point, 'Dragon' was efficient, almost indifferent. He seemed more interested in his mission than anything else. But the moment he laid eyes on Hotaru, his entire demeanor shifted. It was like something inside him snapped. He didn't just attack me... he went after me with the intent to torture and kill."
Tobirama's gaze sharpened. "He recognized this Hotaru? And that recognition caused him to react with such anger?"
Danzo nodded slowly. "Yes. It was as if Hotaru's presence infuriated him. From that moment forward he didn't just see me as an obstacle; he saw me as a personal enemy. The battle became more vicious, more intense. He was ruthless in his assault, and despite my skills, I was no match for his strength."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed with concern. "Why would this 'Dragon' have such a strong reaction to Hotaru? Could there be a past connection?"
Danzo hesitated and then spoke with a hint of uncertainty. "I'm not entirely sure, but during our fight, I noticed something peculiar... The way he moved, the techniques he used. They were eerily familiar. I recognized several taijutsu moves specific to Anbu assassination tactics."
Tobirama's eyes widened slightly at this revelation. "Anbu techniques? Are you suggesting that 'Dragon' might have a connection to the Anbu?"
Danzo nodded grimly. "It's possible. The way he fought, the precision, the efficiency—it was reminiscent of Anbu training. But more than that, his reaction to Hotaru suggests a deeper connection. If he truly is or was Anbu, it might explain his knowledge of Root's operations and his expertise in assassination techniques. But why did he react so strongly to Hotaru... that's the mystery..."
Hiruzen's expression darkened with the implications. "If 'Dragon' was once Anbu, or if he has some connection to our black ops, that would make him even more dangerous. He would have access to techniques and knowledge that could be devastating in the wrong hands. It looks like there's another unstable factor in our village."
Tobirama's voice was stern as he spoke. "This man... if he has ties to the Anbu, and if he's targeting Root and its secrets, then we're dealing with someone who knows our village's darkest secrets. A rogue ninja hiding in our ranks. We need to proceed with extreme caution."
As the weight of the situation settled heavily on their shoulders, Danzo spoke again with some unease. "There's more you need to know..."
Hiruzen groaned as he realized more bad news was coming.
Danzo continued. "This 'Dragon'... he knew things. Things that should have been impossible for him to know."
Tobirama and Hiruzen exchanged glances, the gravity of Danzo's words evident. "What do you mean?" Hiruzen asked cautiously.
"He knows the truth about the Uchiha massacre."
Danzo's words shocked Hiruzen while Tobirama raised the unknown man's threat level.
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Author's Note:
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