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"As you see."
Uchiha Itachi's expression was indifferent.
At this moment, Uchiha Itachi seemed to become another person, standing atop the head of the Three-Tails, coldly surveying the ruins of the clan's land, he opened his mouth to say, "I killed all the Uchihas to test the power I had obtained."
"Ha?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Uchiha Itachi, a smile unexpectedly curving at the corner of his mouth, "You've gone and done what I wanted to do, eh? I've been wanting to kill all the Uchihas..."
"But..."
"You've killed so many people..."
"Did you forget about some that might have slipped through the net?"
"What?"
Uchiha Itachi furrowed his brows.
This night of annihilation did not go very smoothly because, during the killing, he saw that some homes were left with only a grown man, while the elderly and children had hidden away.
Having just controlled the Three-Tails to use the Tailed Beast Bomb, shouldn't it have killed all those who were hiding? After all, the Uchiha clan land is only so big...
Could it be that Akihara Kagura sensed there were still people alive?
While Uchiha Itachi was pondering, Akihara Kagura's gaze fell on Uchiha Itachi, "I'm talking about you, the one that slipped through the net, Uchiha Itachi..."
As his words fell.
Akihara Kagura controlled the Wood Human to charge forward!
Uchiha Itachi controlled the Three-Tails beneath him to meet the attack, only to watch helplessly as the Three-Tails was brutally beaten down by the Wood Human's hand pressing it to the ground!
"..."
For the first time, Uchiha Itachi felt the frailty of the Tailed Beasts.
If the Tailed Beasts had only this much power, even if the Uchiha clan were to rebel and control the Tailed Beasts, they would still be no match for Akihara Kagura's Wood Human technique!
From a distant platform.
Uchiha Obito watched the battle.
White Zetzu's figure slowly emerged, staying beside Uchiha Obito.
White Zetzu watched the scene, seemingly having anticipated this: "The power of the Three-Tails cannot compare with that of the Nine-Tails. It's unlikely to defeat Kagura's Wood Human technique unless Uchiha Itachi uses Susanoo to enhance the Three-Tails..."
"Susanoo: Mighty Dress of the Three-Tails!"
A red armor appeared on the Three-Tails!
Uchiha Itachi could no longer afford to think further, only quickly controlling his Susanoo to cover the Three-Tails, barely donning a layer of scale-like armor on it!
The power of the Three-Tails suddenly changed!
The turtle shell of the Three-Tails was adorned with a shield-patterned armor, and every time the Wood Human's fist smashed down, that shield pattern would bring about a retaliatory force!
It must be said...
Uchiha Itachi's Susanoo and the Three-Tails were quite compatible.
Because both Uchiha Itachi's Susanoo and the Three-Tails are known for their defense, the Three-Tails' body is covered with spikes, and Uchiha Itachi's Susanoo possesses a Yata Mirror, capable of reflecting some physical attacks!
Akihara Kagura could clearly feel the trembling power transmitted from the Wood Human's fist, each punch reflecting the same force back onto the Wood Human's body!
"You and this turtle are really alike..."
Akihara Kagura's palms slowly came together.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Uchiha Itachi didn't wait for Akihara Kagura's next move. The moment he stood his ground in defense, he immediately launched a counterattack, and a bright light suddenly appeared from the mouth of the Three-Tails!
This bright light was mixed with the chakra of the Three-Tails, specifically the power released by the fusion of the Yasakani no Magatama of Susanoo and the Tailed Beast Ball chakra!
This was a power even stronger than the Tailed Beast Ball!
The Wood Human spread its palms, caught the Yasakani no Magatama, pressed its hand onto the Three-Tails, and a violent explosion ensued!
The light was as blinding as the sun!
"Is my hand broken?"
Akihara Kagura frowned, looking at the shield-like patterned armor on the Three-Tails: "Is your defense that strong?"
"…"
Uchiha Itachi seized the opportunity, controlling the armored Three-Tails to pounce on the Wood Human, biting into the Human's broken arm as if it could tear the Wood Human apart!
"Intend to bite off the Wood Human's hand?"
Akihara Kagura's palms slowly formed a cross, and natural energy surged into his body, instantly entering Sage Mode!
"Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands!"
Roots sprang from beneath the Wood Human!
A gigantic wooden statue of Kannon appeared beneath the Wood Human. Compared to this Kannon statue, the already massive Wood Human seemed tiny, only able to sit on the head of the Kannon statue.
Behind this Kannon statue, numerous giant arms stretched out!
"That is…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, leading the Anbu, arrived and tightened his pupils involuntarily upon seeing this: "Is that the True Several Thousand Hands recorded in the scrolls?"
You've got to be kidding!
The Kannon statue of the True Several Thousand Hands was larger than any statue built in Konoha, making the armored Three-Tails controlled by Uchiha Itachi look like a toy!
Compared to the size of ninjas and Tailed Beasts, which are like toys, the size of the True Several Thousand Hands' Kannon statue makes the Tailed Beasts look like toys!
Frankly speaking…
Sarutobi Hiruzen would never doubt that if the True Several Thousand Hands were to collapse, it could cause a catastrophic impact on Konoha, not to mention that the technique hadn't even unleashed its power!
Why was this technique, which could almost destroy heaven and earth, recorded in the scrolls as a technique to counter the Nine-Tails? Although the Nine-Tails also has the power to destroy Konoha, its size seems incomparable to that of the True Several Thousand Hands.
The First Hokage...
Did he record his technique too modestly?
"Kagura!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen could only shout loudly, hoping to remind Akihara Kagura, who was controlling the True Several Thousand Hands: "Do not harm Konoha, take the battle outside the village!"
"Don't worry, Third Hokage."
Akihara Kagura's voice echoed down, not caring about the trouble: "It will only take a few seconds to resolve this battle..."
(For reference: Fully Susanoo Cloaked Nine Tails vs True Several Thousand Hands)

After Akihara Kagura finished speaking, an arm from the Kannon statue behind the True Several Thousand Hands reached out, directly grabbed the armored Three-Tails on the ground, holding the body of the Three-Tails in its hand as if holding a small doll!
The sense of weightlessness under Uchiha Itachi's feet made his heart flutter, and he looked incredulously at the Kannon statue in front of him!
At this moment...
Uchiha Itachi felt as if he had returned to the past!
Three years ago, during the Chunin Exam, that was when he met Akihara Kagura, but he was defeated by a massive wooden dragon in the exam!
Now, even though he had obtained the Mangekyo Sharingan, he hadn't expected Akihara Kagura to possess an even more powerful Wood Release technique!
The Kannon statue of the True Several Thousand Hands...
Merely seeing it involuntarily gives one a sense of oppression!
Perhaps not many in the current ninja world have seen a technique of this level. Even seeing the size of Susanoo would amaze them, let alone seeing the incomparably larger True Several Thousand Hands Kannon statue!
This Kannon statue could subdue the Three-Tails with just one hand!
"How is this possible…"
White Zetzu appeared even more alarmed than Uchiha Obito, feeling as if it had perhaps misremembered the time: "How is it possible to achieve this extent!"
Akihara Kagura, this guy...
Seems like he truly possesses the body of a sage!
Otherwise, how could he possibly use this level of technique, a technique that only the First Hokage Senju Hashirama could perform!
Even if one of the Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Sasuke brothers activated their Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, they couldn't possibly be a match for Akihara Kagura!
This Akihara Kagura...
How could this Akihara Kagura...
How could this Akihara Kagura be so powerful to this extent!
White Zetzu immediately began calculating darkly about the matter it had long been focused on. It still felt something was amiss. No matter how it calculated, Akihara Kagura's age didn't add up. Could this kid really be the chakra reincarnation of Ashura, the son of the Sage of Six Paths?
After all...
Akihara Kagura's actions are so extreme, it doesn't seem like those of the simple, stubborn, and foolish Ashura chakra holders, nor does his temperament match!
However...
Without a doubt...
Akihara Kagura is a more suitable Rinnegan vessel than Nagato, and might even be more suited than Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Madara to be the leader of the Eye of the Moon Plan...
"Is this Wood Release?"
Uchiha Obito felt his eyes were about to bulge out!
No...
Is Wood Release really this powerful?
How exactly did that guy Uchiha Madara survive?
Akihara Kagura, this kid is a bit too strong!
If it weren't for my unique space-time ninjutsu of the Mangekyō Sharingan, I would have been hammered to death by this kid long ago!
"I'm going to save Itachi."
Uchiha Obito's eyes flashed with a space-time vortex, moving his body to instantaneously disappear from the spot, appearing above the Three-Tails.
"Let's go!"
Uchiha Obito placed his hand on Uchiha Itachi's shoulder, looking at the hand that grasped the Three-Tails like a Kannon figure, and said in a deep voice, "You're not a match for Akihara Kagura now..."
"Every technique has its weaknesses..."
Uchiha Itachi observed the Kannon figure for a while and eventually determined that the figure's weakness must be Akihara Kagura, who was controlling it from above...
However...
No matter what, he was unable to break through the opponent's defense.
"There's no need to continue fighting."
Uchiha Obito shook his head, moving Uchiha Itachi to instantly disappear from the spot: "Even if you have a method to break through, the people of Konoha will be surrounding us soon..."
When Uchiha Itachi disappeared, the majestic Susanoo on the Three-Tails also vanished. The hand of the Kannon figure grasping the Three-Tails almost instantly absorbed all of the Three-Tails' chakra, with the Fourth Mizukage Yagura falling unconscious in the palm of the True Thousand Hands.
Akihara Kagura waved his hand, dissipating the true thousand-armed Kannon figure.
The next moment.
A group of people surrounded Akihara Kagura!
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed in relief, his greatest concern was that the Uchiha clan's affair would cause too much damage to Konoha. The turmoil of the Three Tails tonight had indeed worried the old man deeply, but fortunately, he had taught Akihara Kagura the jutsu of the First Hokage ahead of time.
"Well done."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the ruins of the Uchiha clan's land and the corpses scattered everywhere, and commanded in a stern voice: "Seal this place immediately, recover all the bodies, and do not allow a single Sharingan to be lost!"
"Understood!"
A group of ANBU immediately dispersed!
"It was all done by Uchiha Itachi."
Akihara Kagura glanced at the ruins and then at the shadows within the ruins, murmuring softly: "It seems this guy took the initiative to strike hard, exterminating the Uchiha clan…"
"What exactly happened?"
"I had a talk with him."
Shimura Danzo approached, speaking slowly: "It seems Uchiha Itachi made the right choice by standing with us. I've already sent people from the Root to recover the bodies at the Konoha Police Force…"
"Danzo!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened, looking at the devastated Uchiha clan's land, he rebuked loudly: "It's all because I was too indulgent with you, leading to today's outcome. From today onwards, your position as the Hokage's advisor is revoked, and your Root division is disbanded…"
"Lord Hokage!"
Akihara Kagura stopped Sarutobi Hiruzen, softly saying: "Lord Danzo was, after all, acting for the sake of Konoha. Moreover, Lord Danzo's strategy indeed led the Uchiha to annihilate each other today, resolving the trouble with the Uchiha clan and preventing the village from suffering greater losses…"
Shimura Danzo felt a slight affection for Akihara Kagura.
Although this young one had deceived him, at least he had been taught by him, and his actions and style were still highly regarded…
However…
When Akihara Kagura said this, he suddenly changed the topic: "Despite Lord Danzo's mistake, the Root has made many contributions to Konoha. There's no need to disband it, right? I've always wanted to become the leader of the Root, to use my own strength to protect Konoha from the shadows…"
"You little brat!"
Anger flashed in Shimura Danzo's eyes!
This young one really coveted his Root. If I don't give it to you, you can't just take it! But this brat shouldn't think that by becoming the leader of the Root, he can lead the Root, right?
Shimura Danzo then realized he could let Akihara Kagura become the leader of the Root, thereby continuing to control the Root in secret and even influence Akihara Kagura through the Root…
After all…
Shimura Danzo had witnessed Akihara Kagura's power and again entertained the thought of using Akihara Kagura, a power that could easily annihilate a country!
"The Root cannot be disbanded!"
Shimura Danzo looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and argued convincingly: "I can step back and serve as a consultant, letting Akihara Kagura take over the position of the leader of the Root… After all, I am already old, and the village has resolved the Uchiha issue…"
"I want to try."
Akihara Kagura looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, volunteering: "Third Hokage, this has always been my ideal, to protect Konoha from the shadows…"
"There's no need for that, right?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not fully agree, glanced at the unconscious Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, and said softly, "Today, you solved the trouble brought by the Three-Tails, you are a hero in the village…"
"But…"
"The Root still needs to exist."
Akihara Kagura looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and made his request: "I just want to... correct the mistakes left by Lord Danzo, to prevent incidents like those involving Yakushi Kabuto and the head of Yakushi Nono from happening in the village again."
"..."
Danzo Shimura's fingers trembled with anger.
This brat wants to take over the Root to prevent incidents like those involving Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nono from happening again? Can Root ninjas still serve as tools if they develop feelings?
"..."
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Akihara Kagura with approval, thinking that it was rare for Kagura to come up with a not so extreme and even excellent idea: "If that's the case, then the Root will be entrusted to you during the time Danzo is dismissed."
Bonds.
That is the eternal topic of the ninja world.
Akihara Kagura mentioned the incidents involving Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nono, obviously aiming to eradicate the stubborn diseases within the Root and allow its members to also possess bonds.
Once such an idea is conceived, it already embodies a bit of the Hokage's thinking.
Sarutobi Hiruzen greatly appreciated Akihara Kagura's attitude towards bonds, and took the initiative to say, "Kagura, don't disappoint me in the future, but also continue to stay by my side on a regular basis, continue to serve as my assistant, discussing the village's affairs together in place of Danzo…"
"..."
Danzo Shimura clenched his walking stick tightly.
This brat...
Has taken over my position?
The brat I brought into Konoha...
Has just like that taken over my position in Konoha?