Danzo's upper body was completely covered in pitch-black sealing scripts. His face twisted with madness.
He believed that Jiraiya, like Hiruzen Sarutobi, was unfit to be the Hokage or to lead Konohagakure. Jiraiya had inherited Sarutobi's unwavering adherence to the Will of Fire, perpetuating the late Hokage's ideals.
While Sarutobi and Jiraiya were undeniably powerful, strength alone didn't make a good leader. Sarutobi clung too tightly to peace, even to the point of sacrificing the village's interests to avoid war. This kind of leadership, Danzo thought, lacked the bloodlust necessary to survive.
Under such leadership, Konohagakure's shinobi would gradually lose their fighting spirit, making concessions for the sake of peace. While it might avoid war temporarily, over time, the village would inevitably decline.
Danzo now knew there was no escape from Jiraiya. With no other option, he resolved to use his final card—the Four Symbols Sealing Technique—to drag Jiraiya to the grave with him.
His hatred burned not because Jiraiya was strong, but because Jiraiya was the heir to Sarutobi's ideals. If Jiraiya hadn't embodied Sarutobi's beliefs, Danzo might have hesitated to use such a desperate measure.
However, war had already broken out. If Danzo died alongside Jiraiya, the village would lose two significant forces, weakening Konohagakure in the coming battles. Yet Danzo felt he had no other choice.
Forming hand seals with blinding speed, the symbols across Danzo's body glowed fiercely. A black void appeared at his chest, spraying blood as a terrifying force erupted. A powerful suction engulfed everything around him.
Dust clouds kicked up by Wind Release techniques were immediately consumed by Danzo's body. Jiraiya and the two Great Toad Sages were also caught in the gravitational pull.
The moment Danzo tore off his shirt, Jiraiya had already begun retreating with the toad sages. The effective range of the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique was just over two hundred meters, and Jiraiya was close to escaping that limit.
Although the suction reached him, it wasn't strong enough to stop him.
The Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique had major drawbacks—it immobilized the user and covered only a limited area. To seal an enemy successfully, one would first need to restrain them.
Since Jiraiya was neither restrained nor within close range, it would be extremely difficult for Danzo to seal him.
Jiraiya's quick retreat was due to his knowledge of Danzo's technique. Had he not known Danzo's capabilities, he might have been sealed before he could react.
"Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Walls!"
Jiraiya rapidly formed seals, erecting a series of earthen barriers to block the suction. While the walls were quickly uprooted and pulled into Danzo's body, they bought Jiraiya just enough time.
In a flash, Jiraiya completed a Reverse Summoning and returned to Mount Myoboku with the two Great Toad Sages.
The Reverse Summoning technique was a lifesaver in emergencies, allowing shinobi to escape overwhelming enemies by retreating to Mount Myoboku.
Danzo, seeing Jiraiya vanish, closed his eyes in frustration. His body was consumed by the black void, leaving nothing behind—not even a corpse.
Danzo's final act sealed only a few patches of dirt and trees, a pathetic result compared to the bridge he sealed in the original timeline.
Back at Mount Myoboku, Jiraiya turned to the two Great Toad Sages.
"Thank you. Without your help, I couldn't have taken down Danzo so easily."
"Jiraiya-boy, it was nothing. But Danzo was a high-ranking figure in your village. Killing him will have serious consequences. I suggest you don't report this to the village—keep it hidden," Fukasaku advised.
"Indeed," Shima nodded. "Danzo is dead, but if you reveal what happened, the village's leadership may not believe your story."
They both understood that Danzo had made the first move, but such matters were rarely simple.
"I'll handle it," Jiraiya assured them. He had no intention of informing Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Isamu and Kakuzu wouldn't spill the truth, and the two Great Toad Sages certainly wouldn't either. Since the battle took place in the Land of Rain, any news of Danzo's disappearance would likely lead the village to assume he was killed by the Land of Rain or another great nation—not Jiraiya.
"The seal should have worn off by now. I'll head back," Jiraiya said.
The sages nodded as Jiraiya formed seals and returned to the Land of Rain.
Reverse Summoning had its own drawback—shinobi could only return to the exact location they'd used the technique.
Upon returning to the battlefield, Jiraiya found a massive crater where Danzo had stood. The surrounding earth had been completely sealed.
"What a shame. No heart or soul left to claim," Jiraiya muttered.
With Danzo's body gone, there was no way for Jiraiya to extract his heart or soul.
Releasing Sage Mode, Jiraiya turned his gaze toward the other battlefields.
The fighting elsewhere had reached its conclusion. Upon realizing Danzo's death, the Root shinobi lost all will to fight. Their despair made them easy prey for Isamu and Kakuzu.
Isamu and Kakuzu's gazes were filled with awe and respect when they looked at Jiraiya.
Even while fighting the Root forces, they had kept an eye on Jiraiya's battle with Danzo, ready to intervene if necessary. But to their shock, Jiraiya had defeated Danzo—who wielded both Uchiha and Wood Release powers—without sustaining a single injury.
Jiraiya's strength was far beyond their expectations. Even now, they were still reeling from the sight.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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