This Danzo Is Weird!

"Detected Konan's gratitude. Skill point +1. Acquired skill package: [Dance of the Shikigami]."

The instant reward made Danzo, hidden behind the mask, smile slightly. Staying behind to cover their retreat had been worth it.

"With Konan's flying ability, it should be very difficult for those Amegakure Ninja to catch them now."

Nagato turned back, now standing beside Danzo, scanning the surrounding enemies.

"I'm sorry," Nagato said suddenly, his voice filled with guilt.

"Hmm?" Danzo glanced at him with a puzzled expression.

"Despite betraying Lord Danzo's goodwill, he still chose to help us, even dragging you into this. I truly apologize."

Nagato's heavy explanation was met with a faint smile from the disguised Danzo.

"There's no need to apologize. All members of Root are born to uphold the will of the Root and maintain peace. Since Lord Danzo believes you are the future of peace, I will protect you with my life if necessary."

Nagato was stunned.

Sacrificing oneself for the idea of peace—what an extraordinary and noble virtue!

If even a single member of Root had such awareness, how great and selfless must the leader, Lord Danzo, be?

In comparison, someone like Hanzō the Salamander was not even worthy of shining Lord Danzo's shoes.

And yet, they had ignored Lord Danzo's warning...

Guilt surged in Nagato's heart once more.

Moved by these thoughts, he said with resolve, "Don't worry. I'll do my best to hold off Hanzō. If there's a chance, you should leave me and escape!"

Danzo, still in his mask, shook his head. "I, Maru, would never abandon a comrade and run away."

Nagato was moved once again.

But Hanzō wasn't about to let them continue their heartfelt conversation. Armed with his chained scythe and flanked by his Amegakure Ninja, he approached the two of them.

"Although those two brats escaped, capturing your pair of Sage Eyes is more than enough. As for the rest of your group, I'll eliminate them one by one."

Hearing Hanzō's words, Nagato's anger flared.

But before he could respond, Danzo sneered, "Stop wasting time, Hanzō. If you're so confident, face us yourself!"

Hanzō squinted, clearly uneasy. He did indeed harbor fear of the legendary Sage Eyes.

Without fully understanding the other's abilities, he was reluctant to make the first move.

Exposed, Hanzō snorted coldly. "Kill them!"

"Cowardly fool," Danzo mocked mercilessly.

He turned to Nagato. "One in the front, one in the back. Don't leave any openings!"

"Understood."

Not one for words, Nagato focused entirely on the impending battle.

Shing-shing-shing

Under Hanzō's orders, the Amegakure Ninja unleashed a barrage of kunai and shuriken, forming a dense rain of metal aimed at the pair.

"Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm!"

Without hesitation, Nagato struck, unleashing a powerful gust of air that scattered the incoming projectiles.

Danzo also made his move.

He exhaled concentrated Wind Release chakra, wrapping it around his kunai.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"

The sharp, whistling blade emitted a terrifying screech as it cut through the air.

In the next moment, Danzo used the Body Flicker Technique once more. Before several Amegakure Ninja could react, their heads were severed.

A whirlwind later, four enemy shinobi who had tried to engage in close combat were already lying lifeless on the ground.

Meanwhile, Nagato was showcasing his own terrifying prowess and extraordinary ninjutsu talent.

"Earth Release: Earth Spikes!"

"Fire Release: Flowing Flames!"

"Lightning Release: Lightning Fang Stream!"

"Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm!"

Elemental jutsu erupted in succession, leaving the Amegakure Ninja in complete disarray as Nagato and Danzo defended their position with overwhelming strength.

　　Various types of jutsu flowed effortlessly from Nagato's hands. Most devastatingly, having mastered all elemental nature transformations, he could easily counter his enemies' techniques with perfectly matched jutsu.

Under the relentless bombardment from Nagato's ninjutsu and Danzo's close-combat assaults, the Amegakure Ninja found it impossible to close the distance.

Hanzō observed the battlefield intently.

The power of the Sage Eyes was indeed formidable, and that brat's chakra reserves were disturbingly vast. Fortunately, Hanzō had brought enough subordinates this time.

All he needed was to let Nagato exhaust himself, and victory would be his.

As for the masked ninja claiming to be from Root...

Something about his Body Flicker Technique felt oddly familiar.

Hanzō's Water Body Flicker Technique was one of his signature abilities. While not unique in the ninja world, very few could execute it with such speed. Among those he knew, only he himself could manage it.

"Who exactly is this guy?"

The more Hanzō observed, the more suspicious he became of this so-called Root member. After all, the real Danzo wouldn't have mastered such a technique.

As time dragged on, Nagato began showing signs of fatigue after prolonged combat.

He leaned on his knees, his chest heaving violently.

However, the damage he and Danzo had dealt was equally staggering.

One at a distance and one up close, their combined efforts had already eliminated at least thirty Amegakure Ninja—by a rough estimate.

These were Hanzō's elite guards, carefully selected and highly skilled. Even Hanzō couldn't help but feel a pang of loss.

But it would all be worth it if he could claim the Sage Eyes.

Seeing his remaining Amegakure Ninja wavering, Hanzō decided it was time to step in.

In an instant, he moved silently and appeared behind Nagato.

The sharp edge of his scythe sliced through the air, aiming directly for Nagato's neck.

Nagato's keen sensory abilities alerted him to Hanzō's presence, but his body was too exhausted to react in time. All he could do was lunge forward in a desperate attempt to evade.

Just as Nagato braced for the inevitable injury from the sudden attack, the masked figure appeared once again at the perfect moment.

Danzo used the Water Body Flicker Technique to match Hanzō's speed, blocking the lethal strike with his Vacuum Sword.

"Detected Nagato's gratitude. Skill point +1. Acquired skill package: [Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall]!"

"Annoying pest!"

Hanzō retreated, flinging the chained mace attached to his scythe with a powerful swing. The weapon whistled through the air, hurtling toward the masked man.

However, by this point, Nagato had recovered. Stepping up beside Danzo, he unleashed a Violent Wind Palm, the gust carrying the chained mace back toward Hanzō.

Seeing this, Hanzō had no choice but to use the Body Flicker Technique again to distance himself.

But Danzo gave chase without hesitation. Wielding the Vacuum Sword, he closed the gap with another Body Flicker, engaging Hanzō in a fierce close-quarters battle.

The battlefield became a blur of shadows, punctuated by sparks from their clashing weapons.

Through his mask, Danzo closely observed Hanzō's every move.

He had to admit, the years had eroded the once-mighty demi-god of the ninja world.

Hanzō's fighting style had grown increasingly cautious. If he had once been a proud and untamed lion, he was now little more than a wary old fox, consumed by schemes and paranoia.

His sharp fangs had long since dulled.