347. A Wise Man Knows When to Retreat

A blinding white light flashed as a terrifying slash extended rapidly from Danzo's front, cutting through everything in its path and splitting the entire capital in two!

Everything along the way was severed—the ground, all the houses blocking the line, and even Jiraiya's defenses...

Yet, despite this astonishing slash, not a single person in the entire capital was harmed.

The only damage was to the houses that had been cleanly sliced in half.

This alone was enough to prove that Danzo's control over his power had reached a masterful level.

Not only that, but his vision and timing were also terrifyingly precise.

In such a situation, Jiraiya naturally stood no chance.

His sage chakra-enhanced hairball had been effortlessly cut through, and now he stood there, dumbfounded.

"I've lost," Jiraiya suddenly said.

In the next moment, a thin black line appeared across his chest, followed by a gush of blood that instantly soaked the ground.

"Jiraiya!" Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi, despite his current status as a "prisoner," rushed forward in a panic.

Asuma Sarutobi, meanwhile, stared at the scene in front of him, his face filled with confusion and disbelief.

The idea that a single slash could split the largest city in the ninja world seemed too surreal to him.

"Don't worry, that slash didn't kill him," Danzo said lightly, seeing Hiruzen's concern. "Now, it's time to deal with the troubles in the capital."

As soon as he finished speaking, several figures wearing Root masks quickly appeared.

Indeed, Danzo had not come alone. While he alone was enough to defeat all his enemies, taking over the Daimyo's authority required dealing with far too many complications.

Thus, he had brought a considerable number of Root operatives with him.

"Give him some basic treatment. Don't let him die," Danzo ordered. "As for the others, take them into custody."

After giving his commands, Danzo walked confidently toward the capital, showing no concern that Hiruzen might flee with his son and disciple.

Or perhaps he was confident they wouldn't run.

This confidence stemmed from his own strength—no matter where they fled, they could never escape his grasp.

Thus, without much resistance, the Root ninjas provided Jiraiya with basic medical treatment and took Hiruzen and his son into custody.

Meanwhile, in the capital's castle, the Daimyo waited anxiously for news from the battlefield.


Unfortunately, before he could hear any good news about his defending ninjas' victory, a terrifying blade of light cut through the entire city, slicing straight through the castle where he resided.

Looking at the chair that had been split in two, the Daimyo broke into a cold sweat.

If he hadn't been pacing nervously, he would have been cut in half just like the chair!

"Damn it, what's happening on the battlefield?" the Daimyo muttered, his face tense.

Just as he was about to send someone to investigate, screams erupted from outside.

When he opened the door, he saw that the samurai responsible for guarding the castle had all been defeated.

In their place stood a group of masked ninjas who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere... No, the Daimyo thought he might know where they came from.

"You're from Konoha?" he asked, swallowing hard, his face pale.

There were about ten of them, all elite members of Root.

It had taken them less than a minute to take down all the guards.

The leader, a burly man, was none other than Kakuzu, a member of the Twelve Guardian Ninjas with the codename "Ox."

In response to the Daimyo's question, Kakuzu didn't waste any words.

Black tendrils shot out from his sleeves, wrapping around the Daimyo and lifting him into the air.

This sudden action filled the Daimyo with intense fear, and he quickly stammered, "Everyone, let's talk this out. Whatever Konoha wants, I can cooperate, really..."


Before he could finish, Kakuzu narrowed his eyes and impatiently used his "Earth Grudge Fear" to gag the Daimyo.

Kakuzu had no patience for noblemen's pleas.

His task was simple: to carry out Danzo's mission, nothing more.

Whether the Daimyo would be killed or how things would proceed was entirely up to Danzo.

The series of events in the capital naturally caused widespread panic.

Whether it was the massive explosion or the sudden appearance of a giant forest, one thing was clear—the Land of Fire was about to undergo a monumental change!

Whether the general or the Daimyo emerged victorious, the outcome would be the same.

Thus, from the nobles to the commoners, everyone in the capital waited silently for the final result.

The former hoped the Daimyo would win, as only then could they break free from Danzo's control and return to their previous lives of privilege and lawlessness.

The latter, however, sided with Danzo. While they didn't know what Danzo's rule would bring, it couldn't possibly be worse than the current state of affairs.

Fortunately, Danzo didn't keep them waiting long.

After dealing with Hiruzen and the others, he confidently appeared at the gates of the castle. Seeing this, the nobles turned pale, knowing exactly what it meant...

Given Danzo's ruthless methods, the conservative nobles were likely in grave danger.

At this thought, some of them could barely stand, nearly collapsing on the spot.

Seeing their reaction, Danzo sneered.


Before he could speak, a large group of soldiers, led by a young noble, rushed out.

"By order of General Danzo, we are now arresting all of you on charges of treason!" the young noble declared.

As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers behind him moved in, capturing the nobles and stuffing pre-prepared cloth into their mouths, giving them no chance to argue.

Once this was done, the young noble knelt before Danzo on one knee. "General, the traitors have been apprehended. Shall I..."

He glanced back at the castle, his meaning clear.

With a single order from Danzo, he would lead his troops into the Daimyo's residence and drag the most revered lord down from his pedestal.

Seeing the fierce determination on the young noble's face, Danzo couldn't help but smile slightly.

This young man was named Shutenda Yoshitaka, a representative of the new generation of nobles in the capital.

He had secretly pledged his allegiance to Danzo when the latter first became general, and with Danzo's help, he had risen to the position of deputy commander of the capital's defense force.

When the Daimyo's assassination plot began, Yoshitaka had killed his superior—the commander of the defense force—with the help of his loyal followers.

Then, under the guise of quelling a rebellion, he led the defense force straight to the castle.

It was an incredibly risky move.

If Danzo had lost, Yoshitaka would have faced the most severe consequences.

Fortunately, he had bet correctly and was now poised to reap unimaginable rewards.

"You've done well," Danzo said, patting Yoshitaka on the shoulder and praising him without hesitation.

"However, I'll handle the Daimyo myself. For now, take your soldiers and maintain order in the city."

Hearing Danzo's instructions, the young noble, whose future now looked incredibly bright, quickly bowed his head. "Yes, sir!"