Danzō was someone destined to leave a significant mark on the history of Konoha.
Not because his strength during his lifetime reached the level of a Kage, or because he once held a high-ranking position.
The era of the ninja villages produced many individuals who wavered between ideals and reality. The choice between these two became one of the primary dilemmas they had to face.
Among these individuals emerged a group of pure idealists who disregarded reality, treating everything in it as merely the darkness before the dawn.
They dreamed of light while walking in shadow.
Danzō embodied the dark side of such an idealist to the fullest extent.
He was the darkest moment before the dawn.
Thus, after failing in Konoha's internal power struggles, his only remaining option was self-sacrifice.
However, his final choice caught many by surprise, including Masashi, who had once been his teacher under the alias Muzo.
In Masashi's memory, Danzō was a very different type of idealist compared to Hashirama.
Hashirama, as an idealist, was highly self-disciplined. He abandoned nearly all selfish desires and didn't even cherish his own life.
In this regard, Danzō was different. He had many personal schemes. His love for Konoha was genuine, but so was his love for himself.
So much so that Masashi had always suspected that Danzō had faked his death under Hiruzen's protection. Based on his understanding of Danzō, he wasn't the kind to simply stretch his neck out for execution.
His sense of duty was mixed with personal motives.
Outwardly, this manifested in his tendency to hesitate or show fear. But this wasn't surprising. Those who harbor dreams fear nothing more than the inability to realize them, and death was the most definitive end to a dream.
Even so, he was fundamentally a pure Hokage-like figure. He valued bonds deeply.
Especially the latter.
These so-called bonds meant that even if he died, like-minded companions would continue to walk this path until the dream was fulfilled.
For Danzō, his bonds were with the Tobirama Squad. And only the the squad.
Faced with life-or-death choices, he might hesitate. But that hesitation could be overcome by his attachment to those bonds—it just took time. Like a blade being tempered, each moment of doubt made the final decision stronger.
However, if he ever lost or forgot those bonds, he would be consumed by his lust for power, living a life of utter pettiness and ugliness.
The darkness would win.
Masashi didn't know what led Danzō to choose self-sacrifice over resistance in the end, but one thing was clear: at the moment of his death, he hadn't lost those bonds. Thus, he chose to love Konoha more than he loved himself.
When Masashi used Flying Thunder God to flash into the scene of the ambush on the Raikage, he happened to see Danzō—now an Edo Tensei ninja—plunging into a group of enemies and unleashing wind jutsu.
"Danzō?" Masashi had initially come to pick off lone targets. When he saw that figure, he thought he might have been mistaken.
Then he saw another Edo Tensei figure.
If he wasn't mistaken, this was the version of Edo Tensei from his life as Muzo.
This version wasn't recorded in the Scroll of Seals, but he had taught it to Danzō.
At the time, he had no idea he'd get a second chance at life. Among his students back then, Danzō was the one who matched his preferences the most.
Young, uncertain, but burning with potential.
After all, a student who oscillated between timidity and recklessness was quite interesting. Even after he graduated, he would occasionally return to chat with him.
At the time, Masashi hadn't thought too much about it. He just wanted to pass on some knowledge. Since this student happened to be pleasing to the eye, he taught him.
However, a dead person cannot use Edo Tensei on themselves.
There was only one answer.
He turned to the other side, where Hiruzen was engaging in a heated shouting match with the most "generous" man in the shinobi world.
The two were truly having a verbal spar.
And their abilities perfectly matched the mutual reinforcement and restraint of the Five Elemental Natures.
They even occasionally combined their techniques, creating explosions of chakra that lit up the battlefield like miniature suns.
The area they were fighting in was vast, and there was no one else around them.
From Masashi's perspective, Hiruzen had the upper hand. Kakuzu was always the first to form hand seals, but Hiruzen managed to synchronize his techniques with him, forcing Kakuzu into a reactive rhythm, eating several hits in the process.
Kakuzu relied entirely on his chakra reserves to sustain himself.
The battle was too far away, and with how engrossed the two were, it didn't seem polite to interrupt. So Masashi shifted his focus back to the other combatants.
Homura and Koharu were working as a pair, entangled with Konan, who was flying around in the air. Although their ninjutsu leaned toward support techniques, their individual strength wasn't weak, leaving Konan with no openings.
Torifu had activated Partial Expansion Jutsu and was fighting alongside Kagami, clearing out the incoming Kumo ANBU units.
Danzō, on the other hand, was charging fearlessly into groups of Kumo jonin, fighting like a man possessed.
But the most frustrating fight was between A and Minato. The two flashed about constantly, exchanging blows before retreating again. Their speed was so fast that it made them appear as little more than streaks of light and lightning.
A was now clad in a Tailed Beast Chakra Cloak, with the Eight-Tails' chakra further enhancing his speed.
This posed a temporary challenge for Minato, as he had to rely on Rasengan to attack the Raikage, and he couldn't compare to a jinchūriki in terms of chakra reserves.
But this challenge was only temporary. A's brief advantage meant little, as Konoha's side held the overall battlefield advantage.
Especially Danzō.
---
Danzō's Wind Release was devastating against Kumo ninja. And thanks to the immortality of his Edo Tensei body, he was able to push the power of Wind Release to its peak, rivaling his strength when alive.
In life, he had achieved Kage-level strength with Wind Release and sealing techniques. Before Naruto, he had been Konoha's strongest wind user.
Now, he fought like a madman, killing with unrestrained fervor. Body after body fell before him, cut down by invisible blades of wind.
The death of Tobirama tormented every member of the Tobirama Squad, and Danzō was no exception. His hatred for Kumo was beyond words.
It fueled every strike, every technique.
"Even if I possessed all the wealth of Solomon and lived a thousand years, I could not repay a lifetime's kindness."
This was something Muzo had once said to him during a casual chat, urging him to grow stronger and live up to Tobirama's expectations.
Danzō didn't know much about the ancient king's legendary riches, but the weight of those words had carved themselves into his heart.
The kindness of Tobirama and Muzo toward him was something he could never repay in his lifetime. Their teachings had shaped him.
It wasn't just the kindness of a teacher.
Muzo hoped he would not let down Tobirama's expectations. In Danzō's heart, he was also a significant teacher, and what he had taught was no less than what Tobirama had given him.
He likewise didn't want to disappoint Muzo.
Everyone believed his ideas were inferior to Hiruzen's. Even he had once doubted his own beliefs.
But Muzo, who liked to call him "Boomer," told him that the difficulty of chasing dreams lies in realizing one's own limitations. Only a rare few avoided becoming the thing they once hated most, and those few were called heroes and legends, remembered by all.
No one can judge the future, Muzo had said. Whether to stick to one's dreams was a personal choice.
Danzō remembered this clearly. Muzo had said he himself had become what he once hated most, and warned Danzō to take it as a cautionary tale.
But to Danzō, he was still a great hero and legend, even if he wasn't Hokage.
At the time, Danzō vowed that he, too, would become a great ninja like Muzo.
And after Muzo's death, no one called him "Boomer" again. That piece of his past died with his teacher.
"Hahahaha!" Danzō laughed loudly.
In his Edo Tensei body, he had no tears. On his face, there was only the blood of Kumo ninja. It ran down his face like war paint.
"Are you watching? Boomer will avenge you today!"
Around Danzō, the ground was littered with severed limbs, shattered organs, and blood flowing freely. His wind attacks had turned the battlefield into a slaughterhouse.
His eyes, now devoid of whites, burned with a fierce, malevolent glow. The darkness before dawn had never been so absolute.
Before him stood just one last Kumo ninja—the final jonin. The man trembled, but held his ground.
"You monster!" The Kumo ninja's face was filled with despair. He had watched his comrades fall one by one.
Edo Tensei bodies were supposed to be weaker than in life, but the Danzō before him seemed to defy that rule.
His Wind Release was overwhelming.
"Be quiet and join your comrades!" The wind howled with his words.
---
Masashi glanced briefly at the battlefield and decided to strike directly at the Raikage.
There was no issue on Danzō's side—no, it was about to be resolved soon.
Homura and Koharu worked seamlessly together—one healing, the other attacking. Their decades of partnership showed in every move.
Hiruzen, on the other hand, was relentlessly pummeling Kakuzu. The Iron Skin that Kakuzu prided himself on were reduced to mere punching bags in a matter of moments.
That "old veteran" must have had a lot on his mind by now.
As for Torifu and Kagami, there was absolutely no contest on their end.
Before Masashi's death in his life as Muzo, Kagami was already a jonin. Much like his descendant Shisui, he excelled in Body Flicker and genjutsu, in addition to the Uchiha clan's signature Fire Release and mastery of shurikenjutsu.
Shisui had inherited these skills entirely.
What level Kagami eventually reached was unknown to him, but it seemed clear that even if he hadn't reached the level of the Five Kage during his lifetime, he was very close.
In his reincarnated form, his power surpassed the original version of the technique devised by Tobirama. After numerous experiments to refine the jutsu, Masashi had taught Danzō the final, perfected version.
This version didn't alter the technique itself but rather improved the quality of the sacrificial offering.
Using direct blood relatives as sacrifices could restore up to 90% of the resurrected individual's strength, excluding taijutsu, which was an inherent limitation of the Edo Tensei.
He wasn't sure who Hiruzen had used as the sacrifice, but they had to have been at least jonin-level. Otherwise, Kagami's original strength would have been godlike.
Since that was settled, it was time to deal with the Raikage.
Pinpointing his target, Masashi located the Flying Thunder God seals scattered across the battlefield.
---
In midair, A and Minato clashed once again, creating shockwaves that rippled through the air.
These two familiar foes were keenly aware of each other's techniques.
With his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, A possessed extraordinary reflexes.
Minato's attempts to stealthily plant Flying Thunder God seals were repeatedly neutralized by the chakra cloak formed from the Eight-Tails' power.
"This time, I don't have a partner for you to use against me," A growled. "And your partner isn't here either. Let's see who's left standing in the end."
As they crossed paths again, a tentacle from A's chakra cloak suddenly lashed out toward Minato. The attack came with perfect precision, aiming to create an opening in the Yellow Flash's defense.
Minato sighed inwardly and casually slashed through the tentacle, severing it.
The severed tentacle fell to the ground, revealing a Flying Thunder God marking.
A smirked.
Minato's abilities were indeed superior to his own, a fusion of the Flying Thunder God and unparalleled adaptability in battle. But with the power of a tailed beast, things were different.
The Tailed Beast Chakra Cloak allowed him to minimize the strain of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode. He only needed to use the Lightning Body Flicker to maintain high speed.
However, from the corner of his eye, A noticed a flash of lightning heading straight for him.
The attacker moved with incredible speed, also employing the Lightning Release Body Flicker!
Though the attacker's technique differed from his own, there were many similarities.
A, however, had no time to ponder such details. The timing of the attack was perfect. Turning around was no longer an option, and he couldn't expose his back to Minato.
As he prepared to further amplify his Lightning Release Chakra Mode to strengthen his armor, the chakra cloak from the Eight-Tails abruptly swelled, colliding with the attacker's fist.
Boom!
The surrounding buildings seemed to tremble. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered from the force of impact.
A was sent flying by the punch, his trajectory accompanied by a sonic boom that shattered windows for blocks around.
A row of buildings crumbled as his body crashed through them.
Moments later, lightning erupted from the rubble as A burst forth.
Half of his Tailed Beast Chakra Cloak had been obliterated and was still regenerating, wisps of chakra struggling to reform.
Eight-Tails! What was that outburst?! A roared internally.
It's him! He's the one who killed B!
"No need to tell me the obvious!"
A landed on the ground, forming a triangle with Minato and Masashi. His feet cratered the earth beneath him, chakra radiating from his form in violent waves.
"Your timing is impeccable," A said, glaring at Masashi with pure hatred. "Today, I'll kill you to avenge Killer B."
"Ok? But I won't go down easily." Masashi said. "You will likely die trying."
"Even if I fall here, the world will see Konoha's true face. You'll all pay for this, surrounded by enemies!"
"How much has Kumo stolen over the years? Everyone wants a piece," Masashi replied coldly. "Worry about yourself first. The ninja world doesn't need five great villages. Four will do. Another country without a ninja village won't make a difference."
"Indeed." The voice came from Danzō, who appeared from the side, covered in blood. "Konoha won't take a single coin. We'll invite Iwa and Kiri."
Danzō cast a glance at Masashi.
Though the Uchiha clan had played a significant role in his downfall, it no longer mattered. He had entrusted everything about the village to Hiruzen. Now, he had only one deeply buried desire left to fulfill.
First, they'd kill the Raikage to get things rolling.
"Raikage-sama, I'm Kagami," the young man with the Sharingan said as he landed nearby. "I bear no personal grudge against you, but I cannot let go of the deaths of Tobirama-sensei and Muzo-sensei. Please die here."
"Dead men have no right to speak to me," A sneered, but his eyes betrayed the growing realization of his situation.
"No problem." Masashi's tone was chilling. "You're about to die anyway."
"What are you waiting for?" A growled, his gaze shifting between Masashi and Minato.
Minato silently switched his kunai from his right hand to his left, saying nothing.
The ground began to tremble.
In the distance, two Hiruzen and Kakuzu concluded their battle. The final Earth Grudge Fear mask was obliterated from afar by a single strike from Hiruzen's staff.
Kakuzu began to retreat, but Hiruzen merely glanced in his direction before ignoring him.
The former Hokage, now fully embodying his killer instincts, wielded the Adamantine Staff and leapt into the fray, landing between Danzō and Kagami, closing the final gap.
The circle of death was complete.
"A," Hiruzen said coldly. "You should not have rejected our goodwill."
"You call this goodwill?"
Around him, there were no surviving Kumo ninjas left. The battlefield was littered with the bodies of his forces.
Apart from Dodai, every ninja who had accompanied him into this town was dead.
The only Konoha ninjas not yet part of the battle were Torifu, Homura, and Koharu, who were keeping Konan pinned down, preventing her from aiding the Raikage.
"You might kill me," A declared, drawing himself up to his full height as chakra exploded around him, "but I'll take one of you with me. Come on! Let's see who dies first!"
The Tailed Beast Chakra Cloak swelled once more as the Eight-Tails roared, its massive form beginning to take shape.
Masashi's expression remained stoic, his ocular powers surging.
One of the Eight-Tails' tentacles swept down like a falling mountain— but never reached its target.
A colossal hand of shot up from below, catching the tentacle mid-strike. The gigantic fingers clenched, frost spreading where they gripped. Then, as if being pulled up by that massive arm, a towering form of pure white emerged from the ground, its body materializing from bottom to top until it stood eye-to-eye with the tailed beast.