AN: Alright. So, chapter 44 is up too. I know last chapter didn't have Izaya in it. I want to focus on Izaya but I also want to focus on what's happening in the other parts of the world as well. The reason is because Izaya is still in the Naruto universe that we all love and know. And with the GNW coming around the corner a lot of things will be happening simultaneously. I will do my best to focus on one part at a time. As always, thanks for your continued support!
Chapter 44
Rustle. Rustle.
Thud.
Click.
Izaya laid down a scroll on the table before him as he read through its contents in the dimly lit room. Hmm...So the place where all the murderous aura was found is in the Moon country. That's an island where the Village Hidden Under the Moon is located. Using the Fire Country as a reference it'd be to the far southeast waters between the Kanashi Ocean and the Kaijuu Ocean. It's pretty far from here, but should be worth checking out. It seems Danzo had found some interesting information about some sort of weapon that was hidden on that island. I wonder what it could be.
After combing through the rest of Danzo's archives in this room I prepared to leave when I saw an unassuming tattered and worn scroll pushed in the corner under a pile of papers in the room collecting dust. Well, probably isn't anything important but doesn't hurt to check it out. I picked it up and rolled it out on the table as I took a look at its contents.
Not much on here. Looks like this scroll is a remnant from the now lost Uzumaki Clan. It's pretty old and the words are nearly illegible. Without the Sharingan I wouldn't be able to piece together what the words say at all. Something about a relic of the eternal flame and the secrets of the Four Symbols Sealing Jutsu. Interesting, but seems like the relic of this eternal flame was lost when the Whirlpool Country was destroyed. Apparently this relic was a key component to how the Uzumaki clan was able to develop the Fours Symbols Sealing Jutsu. I wonder what this relic of eternal flame is. The relic is some sort of ancient looking lantern. Well, since it has to do with the secrets of the Four Symbols Sealing Jutsu this might be worth looking into more. I'll hold onto this scroll just in case. Taking one last sweep around the room and finding nothing else of interest I headed out the door. Just as I walked out and changed my chakra back into sensing mode I felt a disturbance throughout the entire hideout.
Looks like Sasuke found Danzo I mentally noted as I recognized Sasuke's chakra signature chasing three other signatures. Eh? I then sensed several other figures chasing Sasuke and noted that they were Root Anbu. I thought I told him to be more careful but I guess after he found Danzo he just went for the kill.
BOOM!
A loud sound was heard as all those chakra signatures I was tracking on the lower level all of a sudden rose up to the first level before appearing outside the hideout. Guess they charged outside. I brandished my special kunai in my right hand and flew to Sasuke's location.
FWISH!
Just as I appeared by Sasuke's side three shuriken flew towards us so I quickly deflected them with my special kunai.
Ting Ting Ting!
Danzo widened his eyes in surprise at my sudden appearance by Sasuke's side. "Karasuma Izaya?!"
"Yo." I replied nonchalantly.
"Izaya?" Sasuke questioned noting my presence as he stared at Danzo with hatred.
"I see you found Danzo pretty quickly, but I wish you acted a bit more covertly. All this commotion has attracted the other Root Anbu stationed in this place." I commented.
"Tsk. There was a warning barrier placed on the lower level near his position. It went off before I noticed it." Sasuke replied.
"Then...I guess that leaves us no choice but to take out everyone. You focus on Danzo. I'll keep the others at bay."
"You gonna be alright taking on everyone else like that by yourself?" Sasuke questioned doubtfully.
"Well, I doubt he made the necessary preparations to kill me this time so I shouldn't have a huge problem. At least escaping with my life will be a lot easier this time. And after my experience with the last assassination attempt I'll know what tricks of his to look out for. We'll watch each other's backs while you focus on Danzo and I focus on the other guys."
"Fine." Sasuke assented.
Swish Swish Swish!
At this moment 20 Root Anbu stood around in the vicinity while Fu and Torune stood beside Danzo who began unwrapping the seal around his right arm filled with Sharingan.
"Remember about the Izanagi technique I told you about before we found Danzo's hideout? Be mindful of it." I reminded.
"Got it." Sasuke replied.
Danzo however frowned as he heard our conversation thinking, whatever, even if they know about Izanagi it doesn't mean they'll be able to defeat me.
Bang!
Sasuke and I dashed towards our respective opponents at this moment. I went to face off against the 20 Anbu in the vicinity as Sasuke engaged Fu and Torune while Danzo hurried to unseal and unwrap his right arm.
Swish! Bang! Boom!
Ting! Zing! Fwing! Fwoosh!
Clank! Schlick! Skid!
My feet slid across the ground as I steadied my stance while keeping an eye on the enemy. In less than a few minutes of our first engagement in combat I had killed 5 of the Anbu reducing their numbers to 15 instead of 20 which greatly alarmed these Anbu members.
"No wonder he was able to survive against the last assassination attempt. He's a monster." An Anbu said.
"Maybe you guys just suck." I taunted with a smirk. I sidestepped and dodged three kunai and kicked off a tree dodging a Fire Ninjutsu attack before throwing out my special kunai and said, "Kunai Shadow Clone Jutsu!" More than 100 special kunai flew out in the vicinity while the Anbu members blocked, parried, deflected, and dodged to avoid getting seriously injured. I quickly formed the Snake hand sign and said, "Wood Style Silent Strangle Jutsu!" Large wooden vines quickly entangled three Anbu and pulled them next to three of the special kunai lying around. I quickly flew to those three different locations and slit their throats killing them before anyone could react. Four Anbu members jumped out and unleashed a barrage of Wind, Fire, Lightning, and Earth Ninjutsu prompting me to fly to a different kunai. Before they could attack again I flew to another kunai and I continued to fly to several other kunai in quick succession confusing them and preventing them from acting.
I finally stood atop a tree branch at this moment and took a look at my work. Whilst flying to several kunai locations I had arranged five circles made out of five kunai each. I quickly activated my traps by forming the hand sign of Dragon and Tiger before two Anbu members appeared stabbing at my neck and chest with their swords. Dodging one and deflecting the other with a special kunai in my hand I touched the hands of one Anbu teleporting him away into one of the five circles. I then did a quick turn and touched the arm of the second Anbu also sending him into the same circle as the first.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!" They both screamed in agony as they were lit ablaze and incinerated by the flames scorching their bodies.
"What the heck just happened?" An Anbu exclaimed as he watched his two comrades get burnt to crisps for a total of five seconds before dropping dead. I smiled and said, "That is my original technique combining Fuinjutsu and Ninjutsu. I call it the Fire Element Seal Punishing Array Jutsu!" Just as I finished explaining I flew to several other kunai confusing the Anbu again as they couldn't predict where I would appear next out of the hundred kunai surrounding the forest. This allowed me to effectively sneak up on three other Anbu and sending them into three different circles of my unique Jutsu. Once they were sent inside they were either burnt to a crisp from a bombardment of flames or they were electrocuted to death from a storm of lightning.
"What? Lightning as well?" Another Anbu said in shock.
"Of course. That one is my Lightning Element Seal Punishing Array Jutsu!" I said as I disappeared again. I smirked as I continued flying to different locations watching the panicked reactions of these Anbu. Only 10 left I noted to myself while also taking a peek at Sasuke. Seems he's in a stalemate against Fu and Torune and looks like Danzo just finished unsealing his arm. Torune's body is filled with incredibly toxic and poisonous bugs that degrade his opponent's cells. His ability is indeed a bit troublesome to deal with. With Fu being a sensor type he can sense when Sasuke wants to activate his Amaterasu letting Fu and Torune dodge and hide in time before they can be hit.
At this moment Sasuke dodged a palm strike from Torune and did a backflip to create some distance while Fu sneakily appeared behind Sasuke wanting to use his mind transmission technique to take over Sasuke's body. Noticing this I quickly threw a special kunai at Fu forcing him to dodge forward to prevent himself from being hit. This created an opportunity for Sasuke to quickly turn around and slash at Fu's head with his sword. Fu quickly rolled down to the side to dodge Sasuke's sword strike only to end up near one of my special kunai. I quickly flew to that location before anyone could react and placed my hand on Fu teleporting him to the last of the five active arranged circles and said, "Lightning Element Seal Punishing Array Jutsu!"
"GWUUUAAAAHHH!" Fu screamed as he was electrocuted by intense Lightning Ninjutsu for five seconds straight before he dropped dead inside the encirclement of kunai.
"No! Fu!" Torune shouted as he rushed towards Sasuke and I while the 10 remaining Anbu also rushed towards us at the same time. Danzo had also dashed forwards as he weaved the signs of Rat, Snake, Horse, Snake, Dog and shouted, "Wind Style Vacuum Blast Barrage!" He sucked in a deep breath and then let out a powerful torrent of wind blades aimed at Sasuke and I. Sasuke activated his Susanoo effectively blocking Danzo's attack while I formed the signs of Tiger, Snake and said, "Wood Style Deep Forest Emergence!" Before Torune, Danzo, and the 10 remaining Anbu could reach us, giant branches of wood and trees sprouted from the ground tripping 3 Anbu and ensnaring four preventing them from escaping. Torune, Danzo, and the last three Anbu successfully dodged backwards and escaped the entrapment of the forest.
I then formed the signs of Dragon, Bird, Snake and said, "Wood Style Killing Spear Jutsu!" Four long and sharp wooden stakes sprung out from the ground and shot forth with incredible speed impaling the four Anbu that had been caught in the Deep Forest Emergence and died. At this moment Torune sneakily appeared from our left side and struck out with his poisonous right palm. Sasuke noticing him with his Mangekyo Sharingan used his Susanoo to grab Torune and crushed his body before saying, "Amaterasu!" Torune died and was completely incinerated not leaving a trace of his poisonous body behind.
"Fuck! How the hell are we supposed to fight these two?" One of the remaining 6 Anbu exclaimed.
"Shit! One has the Mangekyo Sharingan and the other uses the Wood Style. It's like fighting against the founders of Konoha, Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju!" Another Anbu exclaimed.
Danzo frowned as he appeared above the trees and weaved the signs of Rat, Hare, Dog and said, "Wind Style Vacuum Bullets Jutsu!" A blast of small and powerful air bullets shot towards Sasuke and I at this moment. Sasuke raised the arm of his Susanoo to defend himself while I flew to a kunai off in the distance to avoid being hit. Sasuke took this opportunity to grab Danzo with one of his Susanoo's hands and crushed Danzo killing him prompting Danzo to release one of his ten Sharingan eyes leaving him with only nine. Due to the Deep Forest Emergence creating a bunch of thick branches and trees it had picked up many of my special kunai that were spread out in the forest, hence, when I teleported away to avoid Danzo's air bullets I had appeared behind two of the remaining six Anbu without them noticing and said, "Taiyougan!" Two golden spheres appeared in my left hand and right hand as I struck out and pierced the body's of both Anbu turning them into nothing but ashes in a few seconds.
"What? How?!" The remaining four Anbu exclaimed as they hadn't noticed my presence. They quickly got in formation and encircled me as two Anbu rushed in with their blades while the other two weaved hand signs and unleashed a barrage of Wind Ninjutsu and Lightning Ninjutsu. I quickly utilized the Body Flicker technique to move incredibly fast in the air and hung upside down on a tree branch created from the Deep Forest Emergence technique effectively dodging their formation attack. Deja Vu eh. Nearly a similar tactic used against me last time I mentally noted. I quickly formed the Snake hand sign and said, "Wood Style Silent Strangle Jutsu!" Four thick wooden vines emerged beneath the feet of all four remaining Anbu members effectively ensnaring and trapping two of them whilst the other two successfully escaped. Forming the hand signs of Dragon, Bird, Snake I said, "Wood Style Killing Spear Jutsu!" Two wooden stakes pierced through the body's of the trapped Anbu killing them as I also weaved the signs of Bird, Boar, Ox, Rat, Dog, and Snake causing a slight ripple in the surrounding air before dissipating just as quickly as it appeared. Preparations done I said to myself.
At this moment one of the remaining Anbu dashed out from the side swinging with his sword at my neck while the other Anbu threw five shuriken from below. Just before the sword and shuriken could hit their mark I flew back to Sasuke's location who had just managed to pierce Danzo's body with an arrow from his Susanoo. Danzo once again faded into illusion as his body reappeared in the distance, leaving him with only 5 Sharingan left on his arm. The two remaining Anbu also appeared by his side at this moment. Danzo looked on at both Sasuke and Izaya with a look of anger, frustration, and fury as he shouted, "You bastards! Konoha should have never let you both live! Itachi! Do you see this younger brother of yours? He is a disgrace to the Leaf! He is your one and only mistake! And you Izaya! Who the hell are you? Why can you use Wood Style! You have ruined everything I ever had! If you had just been obedient and joined me from the start we could have done many great things together! Don't you know that all I ever wanted was to protect the Hidden Leaf? With your power by my side we could have done so much more! Instead you both force me into this kind of situation. If I had known this was how you both were going to turn out I would have disposed of you both from the very beginning!"
We both just let Danzo's words go through one ear and out the other as we looked at him with indifference which infuriated Danzo even more. Danzo turned to the two remaining Anbu and said, "You two back me up. We will get rid of Sasuke first. Izaya's current speed is too great to contend against for the time being. Once we are rid of Sasuke we will set up a barrier to deal with Izaya." Just as Danzo stepped forward he felt two sharp pains in his chest. As he looked down he saw that there were two blades pierced in his chest. "What?" Danzo exclaimed in confusion as he looked at the two Anbu by his side who had stabbed him. Danzo faded from existence and reappeared in the distance as another Sharingan closed its eye leaving only four remaining whilst he stared in disbelief at his own Anbu.
"What did you do to them?" Danzo asked as he stared at me. Danzo widened his eyes at what happened next as his remaining two Anbu had turned to each other and stabbed one another effectively committing double suicide. At this moment both Anbu had finally snapped out of their daze and realized that something was wrong, however, it was already too late as they had both pierced the other's heart. With their dying breath they said, "Wh-What the hell did you do to us?"
I smirked and said, "Demonic Illusion Bewildering Jutsu."
Both Anbu had a look of disbelief as they coughed up blood struggling to remember when they had fallen prey to Genjutsu. As they both closed their eyes forever the last thing that flashed past their minds was the memory of Izaya performing some hand signs and them feeling a ripple in the air that was too small and slight for one to be concerned about it at all. "So that...was when…" They both whispered as they lay dead on the ground. Before Danzo even had a chance to react Sasuke took a look at him and said, "Amaterasu!"
"AHHHH!" Danzo screamed as his body was lit ablaze before his existence faded once more and he reappeared in the distance. He quickly bit his thumb to create some blood and formed the hand signs of Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram and said, "Summoning Jutsu!" A large poof of smoke appeared and revealed a giant Baku, a creature that looked like a giant elephant chimera. It opened its mouth and a terrifying suction force was generated as it began to suck everything in the surrounding into its mouth.
"Kuh!" Sasuke groaned as he struggled to remain grounded whilst protected inside his Susanoo. I placed his hands together in the Snake hand sign creating a thick and strong wooden vine to tie around my waist keeping me grounded. Danzo began to run around as he attempted to get behind us whilst Sasuke formed the hand signs of Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger and said, "Fire Style FireBall Jutsu!" The powerful suction force of the Baku enhanced the FireBall Sasuke spewed out from his mouth. The heat of the flames quickly engulfed the mouth of the Baku forcing it to stop its ferocious inhalation of the surrounding area and scream in agony before disappearing in a puff of smoke. Danzo widened his eyes in surprise that Sasuke was able to deal with his Baku so fast. Before Danzo could make a move I kept my hands in the Snake hand sign and caused a wooden vine to entangle Danzo's feet and body rooting him in place. Sasuke turned towards Danzo at this moment and created a Chidori in his hand before saying, "Chidori Sharp Spear!" His Chidori changed shape into a long spear of lightning and pierced Danzo's heart killing him causing Danzo to fade from existence once more as he appeared off to the side while panting heavily. Another one of his Sharingan closed its eyes as he was left with only two.
Huff. Huff. Huff. "You...Huff...Bastards!" Danzo cursed as he fought to steady his breath assessing his body as he mentally noted, how low his chakra was. He quickly tried to formulate what options he had left as he thought, I only have two minutes left maximum in order to kill these two brats. I only have one shot, if I can't kill Izaya then I need to at least take out Sasuke. Danzo steadied his breath as he dashed towards us.
I narrowed my eyes as I took note of Danzo's sorry state and thought, Danzo is on his last legs. He knows he won't be able to escape now and he knows that with only two Sharingans left he can't hope to do much else in this fight. He'll probably do everything he can to get as close to us as possible and try to take us out with him using the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Jutsu.
Just as Danzo jumped to his left, Sasuke had his Susanoo fire an arrow and pierce Danzo's body prompting him to lose another Sharingan which left him with only one. He continued to dash forward as fast as he could towards us as he weaved the signs of Rat, Hare, Dog and said, "Wind Style Vacuum Bullets Jutsu!" Small and powerful compressed bullets of air shot forth towards Sasuke and I prompting Sasuke to place the hand of his Susanoo in front of him while I formed the signs of Tiger, Hare, Boar, Dog and said, "Earth Style Earth Wall Jutsu!" A thick wall of earth appeared and successfully intercepted the bullets of air. It was at this moment that Danzo arrived before both of us. Sasuke quickly used his Susanoo to grab Danzo's body and crushed his frame killing him. Once again Danzo's body faded from existence as his last Sharingan closed its eye and another Danzo appeared.
Danzo quickly removed his upper body clothes as black patterns appeared on his chest as he shouted, "Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Jutsu!" Black inky liquid quickly poured out of his chest and pooled on the ground at this moment as Danzo's last thoughts flashed past his mind. He remembered the time when he was with Hiruzen and the Second Hokage Tobirama. They had been surrounded by an elite group of shinobi from Kumogakure. In order to survive, someone had to act as the decoy while the other members in their team escaped. Although he wanted to volunteer himself he couldn't bring himself to offer his hand. He shook in uncontrollable fear at the thought of dying and being unable to fulfill his duties. It was at this moment that Hiruzen volunteered himself to be the sacrifice. Before he knew it Lord Second declared Hiruzen as the Third Hokage and remained behind as the decoy. Coward... He knew that he was a coward in the face of actual death. He had always lost to Hiruzen in everything he did. To this day he always wanted to be the one recognized for having accomplished amazing feats for the village.
Why did it have to be Hiruzen who was named Hokage? Why did it have to be Hiruzen who had more courage? Why did it have to be Hiruzen who was so skilled in Jutsu? Why did it have to be Hiruzen who gained everyone's public acknowledgement? Why was it Hiruzen who was able to train such impressive and skilled shinobi like the Legendary Sannin? Why did Yamato choose to remain by Hiruzen's side instead of his? Why did Izaya choose Hiruzen instead of him? Why? Why? Why? WHY did he always compare himself to Hiruzen in everything he did? Why couldn't he just accept that Hiruzen was a capable man and shinobi and the things he had were things he deserved? Why did he have to feel so inferior to Hiruzen? Danzo sighed lamenting to himself as his eyes darkened as his one last thought crossed his mind...Hiruzen...In the end...Was I nothing but a failure? For once I had just wanted you to be the one looking at my back as I stood there proudly and tell you not to worry and that I will be the one to shoulder the responsibility of the village. But I realize now that I was never deserving of such a position. In the end, I wasn't able to become a Hokage.
As Danzo's final thought passed in silence a large black sphere spread outwards and engulfed the surroundings in a 20 meter radius before collapsing in on itself and leaving a seal on Danzo's lifeless corpse. Sasuke and I stood off in the distance near my special kunai as we watched everything play out in safety. We stood unmoving in silence for a while as we just looked at Danzo's lifeless corpse and the destruction he created around him with his last kamikaze attack.
"He's finally dead." Sasuke said almost inaudibly as he stared with a look of sadness. I glanced at Sasuke knowing that he was thinking about Itachi. It wasn't until the sun began setting in the sky that we returned to Danzo's corpse.
"Ugh." Sasuke groaned as he clutched his eyes.
"Side effects of using the Mangekyou Sharingan." I commented. Sasuke nodded his head and said, "You told me before that Itachi wanted you to protect his body and have me transplant his eyes. That would allow me to awaken the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and also prevent the side effects of going blind correct?"
I nodded my head. "Mn. That's right."
"I've decided. With Itachi's eyes, I'll take a look at what the world looks like through his eyes. With Itachi's power I'll see what it is he wanted to protect so much. A village. A Clan. Bonds. I'm ready to transplant Itachi's eyes." Sasuke said as he had a look of sadness on his face. There was a moment of silence between us before I said, "Alright. Then...I'll let you be the one to take care of presenting Danzo's body to the Leaf. If you ask Lord Third Hokage he'll help you with the process of transplanting Itachi's eyes."
"You aren't returning to the Leaf with me?" Sasuke asked.
I shook my head seeing the look of confusion on Sasuke's face. "No. After you transplant Itachi's eyes I reckon you'll leave in search of your companions Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo. I advise you to at least travel with one other person to help you out just in case. After all, that masked Akatsuki member is still out there and who knows what tricks he has up his sleeves. As for me, I also have something I'd like to do before returning. For me, I can get around a lot faster and leave a lot faster in tough situations on my own. Plus, I'm not sure what hidden dangers I might face where I'm going so the more people I bring the riskier it might get for all of us to make it out alive. At least for me, I'm quite confident in my survival skills, I can't say about others nor for my ability to make it in time to save others."
"I see." Sasuke replied.
"Then, I'll send you off near Konoha."
"Mn." Sasuke nodded.
Just before I was going to send them off Sasuke said, "Izaya. It sounds like you'll be going somewhere pretty dangerous. Be careful."
I smiled and nodded saying, "I will."
I then sent Sasuke and Danzo's body off teleporting them near Konoha as I took a look around one more time and destroyed Danzo's hidden base before dashing off.