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"..."
Danzo's head buzzed, left bewildered by the First Hokage's words, his mind filled with confused questions.
Wha...what?!
Who's strong?
What's going on?
A preemptive strike?
The First Hokage wants to strike me?
Danzo's mouth twitched as he found himself completely restrained by the vines that had sprouted around him before he could even react.
Even so, Danzo was still in a daze.
Am I really so strong that the First Hokage needs to sanction me?
This is the highest recognition I've ever received in my life!
But...
Why does this recognition feel so ridiculous?
"Fir...First...First Hokage... Sir... Could you be... mistaken?"
Danzo didn't resist or struggle.
It was useless.
Just from what he knew about Tenzo, or rather Yamato, he already understood what it meant to be bound by Wood Release.
"No mistake! It's you!"
Hashirama glared at Danzo, not moving himself, but a half-formed body emerged from the vines binding Danzo.
This half-body took on the appearance of the First Hokage.
It was a Wood Clone.
The Wood Clone raised its hands, reaching toward Danzo.
"First Hokage!"
Danzo's voice suddenly grew high-pitched, his exposed eye wide with tension.
"Don't be afraid! I'm very gentle!"
Hashirama grinned, trying to calm Danzo, knowing anyone would be nervous in such a situation. But the clothes had to come off; they were in the way.
"First Hokage, give me a chance. Let me do it myself."
Danzo's heart was pounding wildly; he hadn't been this nervous in years. His heart felt like it was about to leap out of his chest.
"That's not possible! You're too strong! I'm scared!"
Hashirama shook his head decisively. He had worked hard to lower Danzo's guard through a series of probing questions, achieving the restraining effect. There was no way he'd let Danzo go now.
"I…"
Danzo's vision darkened, feeling as if he might spit blood. Why was it always this line? He didn't even know what made him so strong.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were utterly bewildered, not understanding what was happening.
Why had they started fighting suddenly?
No, that wasn't it!
They hadn't even reached the point of disagreement!
The situation could only be described as baffling.
But...
They dared not say anything.
Because the First Hokage had acted first!
"Danzo, stay still and leave the rest to me. I'll try to minimize your pain," Hashirama said with a cheerful smile.
As he said, Danzo was too dangerous.
This wasn't just talk.
For others, Danzo's strength might not be that impressive. After all, Sasuke had bested him.
But to Hashirama right now, Danzo was very dangerous.
Danzo possessed Shisui's Sharingan and retained the potential to activate Kotoamatsukami!
To him, this held a lot of uncertainties!
Additionally, Danzo is an expert in sealing techniques. He has mastered many sealing jutsu. The simplest example is the Four Black Fogs Formation seal on Danzo's body!
Whether it's Kotoamatsukami or sealing jutsu, both pose a significant threat to reanimated bodies.
Hashirama wasn't sure if Danzo knew how to counter these specific methods, but he wasn't willing to take that risk.
He absolutely couldn't be caught off guard!
The Wood Clone, growing from the vines entangling Danzo, positioned itself directly between Danzo and Hashirama.
Now, Danzo's view was limited to the Wood Clone's half-body.
"First, let's remove this eye!"
The Wood Clone swiftly reached for Danzo's right eye. The speed was tremendous, and the restrained Danzo had no way to evade.
Not good!
Danzo's heart screamed in alarm.
He turned his head immediately.
But it was too late.
He felt a sharp, piercing pain.
Squelch!
With a line of blood splattering on the ground, the Wood Clone held a blood-soaked eyeball in its hand—Shisui's Sharingan.
Almost simultaneously, another Wood Clone emerged from the vines.
This Wood Clone took Shisui's Sharingan and handed it to Hashirama.
"First Hokage!"
Danzo's voice turned hoarse, filled with urgency and pain. Blood poured from his right eye socket, staining his bandages red.
"So this is Shisui's eye!"
Hashirama took the Sharingan, examining it carefully before a cold smile appeared on his lips.
"Danzo."
"To some extent, I agree with your actions."
"An eye capable of such powerful genjutsu shouldn't be in the hands of an enemy."
"Otherwise, it poses a significant threat!"
"Your preemptive strike on Shisui is understandable, just as my actions toward you are now."
Hashirama spoke slowly, his words shocking the three present individuals.
Each was stunned for different reasons.
Danzo was shocked that the First Hokage recognized Shisui Uchiha's eye.
Had the First Hokage ever met Shisui Uchiha?
No!
Shisui wasn't born when the First Hokage died, and Shisui was dead before the First Hokage was reanimated.
How could two people who never overlapped in time communicate?
Was it through the Pure Land?
Danzo was completely stunned!
The Mangekyo Sharingan capable of casting Kotoamatsukami was his ultimate trump card. Before he could even use it, it was taken away, leaving him feeling like all his years of careful planning had crumbled in an instant.
It's over!
It's all gone!
As for Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, their pupils contracted sharply, their faces thoughtful.
How did Shisui's eye end up with Danzo?
Despite being village advisors with access to many confidential pieces of information, they realized they still had significant knowledge gaps.
And how did the First Hokage know about it?
"But…"
The First Hokage's voice interrupted, pulling the three of them out of their shock.
"I am not like you."
"I don't want such an eye to be in anyone's possession, including my own."
"I don't need this kind of power."
As Hashirama spoke, he suddenly clenched his right hand, which held Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan.
Squelch!
With a crisp sound of crushing, blood splattered on the ground.
Hashirama had crushed Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan right in front of the three of them.
"First Hokage, that eye can cast Kotoamatsukami!" Danzo's left eye widened with regret, filled with a deep sense of loss. Even he was reluctant to use its genjutsu, having intended to keep it as a last resort.
"That's the difference between us."
"I don't need Kotoamatsukami."
"There's no one in this world worth controlling for me!"
Hashirama's voice was extremely cold. He had no need to control others' wills with Kotoamatsukami. In his view, the most effective way to deal with different intentions was through overwhelming power.
It doesn't matter if you disagree with me.
You can't beat me!
Might makes right!
This was a much simpler and more effective solution than Kotoamatsukami!
(End of Chapter)