314. The Fear of Domination

As Kakashi and Ryoma finished their preparations, Danzo finally spoke in a calm tone:

"Let's begin."

With that, he turned to Minato beside him:

"The safety of the perimeter is in your hands."

Minato nodded naturally, replying, "That's what I should do!"

Soon, under the orders of Minato and Danzo, ANBU and Root ninja took control of the entire Forest of Death.

All nearby villagers and shinobi were forcibly evacuated to prevent potential damage from a Tailed Beast rampage.

To ensure nothing went wrong, Danzo also temporarily summoned the Earth Branch Squad, including figures like Kakuzu and Pakura, who were observing from the shadows.

Additionally, Minato, who had already placed Flying Thunder God seals on both Tailed Beasts, was ready to teleport them out of the village at any moment.

With such thorough preparations, it seemed unlikely that anything could go wrong.

Once everything was set, Danzo moved.

In an instant, he appeared before Ryoma.

As his Mangekyō Sharingan activated, tadpole-like seals emerged from beneath his feet, spreading out like a spider's web and forming a massive array.

Similar to when he had sealed the Five-Tails before, Danzo had preemptively set up a sealing technique to restrain the Tailed Beast.

Wooden stakes rose from the edges of the array, with flames flickering atop them, resembling candles in some kind of ritual. Ryoma lay at the center of this "ceremony."

Next, Danzo raised two rough fingers and gently pressed them against the seal on Ryoma's abdomen.

In the next moment, a surge of blue chakra erupted from his fingertips, melting the seal on Aburame Ryoma like fire!

The once-dark seal quickly dissolved into a pool of black liquid, and a cold, terrifying aura burst forth.

Within Ryoma's mental space, a pair of crimson eyes lit up through the mist as the imprisoned Five-Tails suddenly awoke.

It looked at the loosening seal, which was now completely undone, and a look of deep confusion crossed its face.

The seal…

Why did it open on its own?

As a Tailed Beast, known as a natural disaster, its power was synonymous with threat and chaos.

Even a jinchūriki could only barely suppress it with the help of a seal.

Yet now, the jinchūriki had voluntarily released the seal?

This was a truly baffling situation for the Five-Tails.

But faced with such a rare opportunity, it wasn't about to waste time pondering.


Whatever the reason, it was time to act!

With this thought, the moment the seal was fully released, the Five-Tails erupted with an astonishing surge of chakra!

The chakra transformed into a raging steam, blasting open the prison door like a sudden storm.

Externally, all anyone saw was Danzo pressing a finger against Ryoma's body.

In the next second, a flood of cold, malevolent chakra surged from within him.

The crimson chakra enveloped his entire body in an instant, transforming into a massive red pillar of light that shot into the sky with an overwhelming aura!

If Danzo hadn't ordered the setup of a barrier beforehand, the entire village of Konoha would have been thrown into chaos.

Since Danzo had completely released the seal, Ryoma's transformation into a Tailed Beast was incredibly fast.

As the chakra pillar shot into the sky, a pale skeletal structure began to form within it.

Seeing this, Danzo, enduring the burning pain in his hand, activated another jutsu.

"Seal Release Technique!"

This was a technique Danzo had found in the Scroll of Seals, reportedly recorded by Mito Uzumaki.

It was essentially the reverse of a Tailed Beast sealing technique, designed to separate the Tailed Beast from its jinchūriki.

The reason for using this technique was that during the release process, the Tailed Beast would assimilate and consume the jinchūriki, turning their body and soul into nourishment for the beast.

Therefore, Danzo had to separate Ryoma and the Five-Tails before the latter was fully released.

Under Danzo's Seal Release Technique, a large amount of chakra began to separate from Ryoma's body.

As a terrifying steam storm descended, the Five-Tails, Kokuō, finally made its grand appearance!

The moment the seal was fully released, the Five-Tails immediately assessed the situation.

When its gaze fell on Danzo, it made an instant decision:

Run!

Unlike other headstrong Tailed Beasts, Kokuō was well aware of its own limitations.

While it could handle most opponents, facing Danzo was a different story.

After all, the last time they met, Danzo had sliced off one of its horns…

Thus, after a mere second of its dramatic appearance, the Five-Tails erupted with a burst of steam.

Just as everyone instinctively prepared for its attack, it instead stomped its hooves into the ground and bolted without looking back!

Unfortunately, Danzo had anticipated this.

The moment the Five-Tails moved, the numerous seals on the ground latched onto its body.

These seals, like iron chains, tightly bound it, effectively neutralizing its speed advantage.

Seeing this, Danzo formed hand signs.

The wooden stakes around the array flared with bright flames.

Under Danzo's control, they rapidly grew, transforming into massive wooden dragons that coiled around the Five-Tails!

Despite the Five-Tails' struggles, releasing bursts of high-temperature steam to break free, its efforts proved futile against the combination of sealing techniques and Wood Release.

Seizing the opportunity, Danzo's Mangekyō Sharingan flared with crimson light.

Without hesitation, he activated the ocular power of his left eye.

"Divine Severance!"

In an instant, a pale lightning blade erupted, cutting across the entire battlefield.

Everyone saw a blinding flash of light, and when they opened their eyes again, the Five-Tails had been sent flying like a broken kite, slashed by Danzo's blade!

Its massive body skidded across the ground like an out-of-control steam train, obliterating all trees in its path until it crashed into the barrier set up by the Barrier Team, finally coming to a stop…

This scene left the Konoha shinobi present utterly speechless.


While many had witnessed Danzo's feat of slashing the Nine-Tails that night, this was still a Tailed Beast—a strategic-level force for any village!

Yet Danzo had sent it flying with a single strike.

No matter how many times they saw it, the sheer awe of such power never faded.

Even the Seven-Tails, which had just recovered from the effects of the secret medicine, felt a chill run down its spine.

Is this guy even human?

Danzo's display reminded both Tailed Beasts of two figures from the past—a time when Tailed Beasts were as insignificant as ants.

Who would have thought that feeling would return after so many years?

And this man wielded both the Sharingan and Wood Release!

In any case, after that earth-shattering slash, the Five-Tails was left severely injured.

Danzo, the "Darkness of the Shinobi," naturally wouldn't let such a golden opportunity slip by.

When your enemy is down, you step on them a few more times.

Thus, he immediately appeared before the Five-Tails.

After restraining it with Wood Dragon Technique, he placed his hand on it and activated the power of the Preta Path—Chakra Absorption!

The Five-Tails wanted to resist, but it was powerless.

It could only watch as Danzo ruthlessly drained its chakra, leaving its already injured body even more weakened.

Seeing this terrifying scene, the Seven-Tails immediately prepared to release its scales and use its flight ability to make a quick escape.

However, a figure suddenly darted out from the side.

It was Kushina, her red hair flowing, wearing Konoha's standard green vest!

After a long period of recovery, her health had improved significantly.

She had come specifically to assist her husband and Danzo in dealing with the Tailed Beasts.

As a member of the Uzumaki clan, Kushina had plenty of experience dealing with Tailed Beasts.

The moment she appeared, she unleashed her clan's signature sealing technique—Adamantine Sealing Chains!

Golden chains shot out from her body, tightly binding the Seven-Tails as it tried to take off.

Not only that, but the sealing power of the chains also effectively suppressed the Seven-Tails' chakra.

At this point, all three powers capable of suppressing Tailed Beasts—Sharingan, Wood Release, and sealing techniques—had made their appearance!

Seeing the Seven-Tails' movements, Danzo quickened his pace.

According to the plan, he needed to seal the Five-Tails first, then use the power of the Hell Path to fully heal Ryoma before resealing the Seven-Tails.

Until then, Tsunade would be responsible for maintaining Ryoma's life.

While she couldn't fully heal him, as the world's greatest medical ninja, she could at least keep him alive for a while.

Thus, after reducing the Five-Tails' chakra to a manageable level, Kakashi stepped forward as planned.

At the same time, Danzo's feet once again glowed with numerous seals.

These tadpole-like symbols rapidly spread, forming a massive array—a sealing technique specifically designed for Tailed Beasts by the Uzumaki clan!

As Kakashi took his place at the center of the array, Danzo activated the sealing technique.

Soon, the weakened Five-Tails felt a terrifying pulling force from below.

Under this force, its chakra began to rapidly drain, flowing into the silver-haired youth at the center of the array!

The Five-Tails naturally resisted fiercely, but its struggles were nothing before Danzo's power.

In just over ten minutes, its massive chakra was completely sealed within Kakashi's body.

As a wisp of smoke rose from Danzo's fingertips, the sealing of the Five-Tails was finally complete.

"How do you feel?" Danzo asked Kakashi, who had successfully become a jinchūriki.

The latter clutched his head, his expression slightly strained as he replied, "There's a new voice in my mind. It's a bit unsettling."

But Kakashi quickly suppressed his discomfort, knowing Danzo still had much to do.

"I'll adapt. Please, Lord Danzo, go check on Ryoma."

Nodding slightly at Kakashi's words, Danzo appeared before Ryoma.

"I'll take it from here," he said to Tsunade, who was keeping Ryoma alive.

With that, he activated the power of the Hell Path, summoning the imposing, giant figure of the King of Hell.


Without hesitation, the King of Hell opened its mouth, its tongue—complete with a hand—grabbing Ryoma's ankle and dragging him inside, where it began to chew vigorously.

The grotesque scene made many onlookers shudder.

Kushina, who was still grappling with the Seven-Tails, couldn't help but tremble.

After all, she had personally experienced this technique before!

Only Tsunade, the world's greatest medical ninja, could truly understand the depth of skill involved.

When a jinchūriki loses their Tailed Beast, most of their life force is drained along with it.

This was an unsolvable problem for any medical ninja, and even Tsunade could only barely keep Ryoma alive.

Yet Danzo could revive him completely—such a feat was unimaginable!

If Danzo knew how highly Tsunade now regarded him, he would humbly attribute it all to the Rinnegan's power.

Thanks to the Uzumaki constitution Kushina had bestowed upon him, Danzo's vitality had greatly increased, indirectly enhancing the Hell Path's healing abilities.

Thus, after just a few minutes, the King of Hell stopped chewing. It opened its mouth, using its tongue to lift Ryoma out and place him on the ground.

Though Ryoma was covered in sticky fluid, drenched, and looked somewhat disoriented and nauseated…

There was no doubt that his mental and physical states had returned to normal.

After a brief moment of adjustment, Aburame Ryoma quickly recalled the situation.

Ignoring the slime on his body, he stood up and approached Danzo, saying:

"Lord Danzo, I'm ready."

Ryoma's gaze fell on the massive creature before him, his eyes filled with eagerness.

Though he was impatient to become the Seven-Tails' jinchūriki, Danzo, for safety's sake, had Tsunade examine him first.

"His body… is in stable condition," Tsunade said after a quick check, her tone complex.

Danzo's medical skills seemed even more impressive than she had imagined!

Not only had he successfully revived a jinchūriki who had lost their Tailed Beast, but there also appeared to be no side effects!

With Tsunade's confirmation, Danzo felt reassured.

He slowly drew the tanto from his waist and walked toward the Seven-Tails. With each step he took, the atmosphere grew more tense.

In this nearly suffocating atmosphere, he finally stood before the Seven-Tails.

"Now, it's your turn…"

"Seven-Tails, Chōmei!"