Chapter 38: Young Lady, You…
Sasuke and Danzo stared at each other up close, both breathing heavily.
"You're too impatient. My eye is still open."
Danzo glanced at one of the Sharingan on the back of his right hand. This eye was still open, indicating that Izanagi was still active, capable of turning Sasuke's attack into a dream.
"If it weren't for those two up there, I would have many ways to kill you, and I certainly wouldn't be in such a sorry state."
Danzo's expression was grim because he knew that even if he defeated Sasuke, others were still waiting for him. His Shisui eye could only cast genjutsu on one person.
"Go to Itachi's side and receive his guidance."
Danzo slowly withdrew the Wind Release chakra blade from Sasuke's body, but at that moment, he noticed Sasuke's wide-open Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Izanagi didn't activate... could it be..."
Danzo immediately looked at the Sharingan on the back of his right hand. It had now closed. The ten Sharingan on his right arm were all consumed. He had been misled by Sasuke's genjutsu into thinking one eye was still open.
"It's you who should go see Itachi."
Sasuke gasped heavily, pressing one hand against the wound Danzo had stabbed into his chest. He glanced sideways at Su Xiao and Obito, who were watching from above, feeling a surge of frustration. Those two bastards had been watching the whole time. Even if he died here, they probably wouldn't show any emotional fluctuation—at most, they'd retrieve his Sharingan.
At that moment, Sasuke realized a cruel truth: apart from himself, no one was trustworthy. Companions were just tools for mutual use. When one side lost their value, they would be discarded.
Sasuke appeared to be an adult, but in reality, he was only seventeen—a teenager. A teenager spending every day in the Akatsuki organization—how could his worldview remain unchanged? Just think about the current members of the Akatsuki:
- Su Xiao (drenched in bloodlust, often decapitating enemies in battle)
- Obito (an old schemer)
- Deidara (an explosion maniac who once massacred a small ninja village)
- Kisame (would cut down anyone on a mission without hesitation)
- Black Zetsu (a thousand-year-old schemer)
Surrounded by such a group, could Sasuke become a model youth? Don't be ridiculous. The fact that Sasuke hadn't completely fallen to darkness already showed that the kid had a naturally good heart.
"He managed to kill Danzo alone, but Danzo relied too much on that right arm."
Obito was satisfied with Sasuke's growth, especially the change in his gaze. However, his tone carried some contempt for Danzo—contempt that Danzo, possessing both Senju and Uchiha power, still lost to Sasuke.
"Danzo isn't weak. The older a ninja gets, the more their condition declines. Danzo is already seventy-three. He had neither a bloodline limit nor family support—everything he achieved was through his own efforts. Without that right arm, Danzo would just be an old, white-haired ninja. Relying on that thing is normal."
Su Xiao took a wild fruit from the cloth bag Amu was carrying and took a bite. The flesh was sweet and sour, full of juice, and tasted excellent. He hadn't expected Amu to have a talent for finding wild fruit.
If Danzo and Sasuke were placed at the same starting point, Danzo's intelligence and political acumen would give him an advantage. But Sasuke had higher talent.
Unfortunately, Danzo had nothing in his youth—no Uchiha eyes, no Senju vitality. He obtained all of that through his own efforts.
"But losing is losing. He had a good hand, but the situation messed it all up."
Su Xiao chuckled. Danzo had a significant advantage before the Five Kage Summit, but Obito's interference caused the greatest damage to Danzo.
While Su Xiao and Obito chatted, the situation below changed. In his desperate struggle, Danzo took hostage Karin, who had been assisting Sasuke in battle.
On the stone bridge.
"You, who constantly preach self-sacrifice, are now taking a hostage."
Sasuke's voice was cold, but there was a hint of mockery in his words.
"I'm not afraid of death. For the sake of Konoha, for the ninja world, I can't die here yet. No matter what means I use, I must survive. I am the only reformer who can change this ninja world. This woman must be sacrificed for that."
As he spoke, Danzo's remaining arm tightened around Karin's neck. As for his right arm, he had already discarded it because he couldn't suppress Hashirama's cells, or else he would have been consumed by them.
It had to be said, Danzo was Danzo. In the ninja world, only he could make "desperate measures" sound so noble.
Bubu Wang, watching from above, was clearly stunned by Danzo's shamelessness. If you're afraid of death, just say so—there's no shame in it. But dragging the entire world into it? Listening to Danzo's tone, he seemed to be the spiritual leader of all ninjas.
"As expected of Konoha's politician. He can make 'desperate measures' sound so good."
Su Xiao chewed on the wild fruit, speaking indistinctly.
"Oh? I thought you admired Danzo."
Obito was quite surprised by Su Xiao's words.
"Admire? I never admire anyone. So-called admiration is just expressing personal opinions from a moral high ground. If I were Danzo now, I'd find a way to take down all the enemies here. This is an opportunity. Although he's fatally wounded, he still has a chance to survive. The enemy would never expect him to go for mutual destruction. But the current situation is that Danzo is doomed. However, if Danzo had the attitude of mutual destruction, no one except the vengeful Sasuke would get close to him. Maybe that way, he'd have a chance to escape. Showing desperation is a sign of weakness—a mad dog is what's truly terrifying."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Obito shook his head. He wanted to say that not everyone dared to threaten the Five Kage with a high-powered explosive like you did.
A blue beam extended from Sasuke's hand.
Pfft.
The beam pierced through both Karin's and Danzo's chests, hitting vital spots.
Danzo's hand went limp. Karin in front of him fell to the ground with a thud.
Watching Karin fall and Danzo stagger back, Sasuke's emotions were complicated. There was both the guilt of killing a comrade and the satisfaction of avenging his enemy. In this conflicting state, the corners of Sasuke's mouth curled up. He smiled. At that moment, his heart seemed to undergo a transformation.
"Brother, I've dealt with one."
Blood dripped from Sasuke's chin. Karin, lying on the ground, struggled to lift her head. Her glasses had fallen off, and her severe nearsightedness made her vision blurry.
Karin looked at Sasuke. Through her hazy sight, she vaguely saw him smiling. At that moment, all strength left Karin's body.
"I'm such an... idiot."
Karin suddenly regretted everything. She had saved Sasuke many times when he was on the verge of death. And now, just because she was taken hostage, Sasuke had unhesitatingly pierced her vitals with Chidori Sharp Spear.
As her consciousness faded, Karin suddenly thought that Sasuke must be badly injured and might need treatment. But as soon as this thought appeared, she mocked herself inwardly. Why bother about Sasuke now? He had already abandoned her.
Footsteps sounded beside her ear. Sasuke walked past her, chasing after Danzo, without even glancing at her.
"If... I ever get another chance... I won't be... this stupid..."
Karin completely lost strength.
In her daze, Karin suddenly felt something approaching her. The Uzumaki clan's tenacious vitality kept her alive.
Karin struggled to open her eyes. What came into view was a dog's head. She immediately recognized it as the "ninja dog" beside Su Xiao.
Noticing Bubu Wang's gaze, Karin let out a bitter laugh. But for some reason, she always felt that this dog was conveying a message: "Young lady, do you desire power?"