"Old man, are you aware that you've been controlled by Kotoamatsukami?"
"Hm?"
The Third Hokage was stunned upon hearing this.
He reflected on everything—from his actions while watching the light screen to what had just transpired—and quickly sensed something off.
After all, it wasn't perfect, and Danzo's use of Kotoamatsukami had significant flaws.
In the original story, during the Five Kage Summit, Danzo used Kotoamatsukami to manipulate Mifune, aiming to have himself elected as the leader of the allied forces. However, this was exposed by Ao from the Hidden Mist Village.
When Danzo uses Kotoamatsukami, he needs to constantly maintain the chakra of the technique to control others.
After Ao discovered this, Danzo had to cut off the chakra supply, and Mifune immediately returned to normal.
Itachi's situation was different.
Although he wasn't the original wielder of Kotoamatsukami, as a member of the Uchiha clan with Mangekyō experience, he used it to break free from Kabuto's control after being released from the Impure World Reincarnation, reversing his own will.
This highlights the major flaw in Danzo's use of Kotoamatsukami.
And it's the same here.
After hearing the Fifth Hokage Jiraiya's words, the Third Hokage realized that his will was being manipulated by Kotoamatsukami, and he quickly became vigilant.
Then, he chuckled, gently pushed the Fifth Hokage Jiraiya aside, and slowly walked toward Danzo.
"Old friend, if you sincerely repent, I believe our teacher will forgive you."
Danzo wasn't sure what the Fifth Hokage Jiraiya had said to the Third Hokage.
But when he saw the Third Hokage approaching him with a smile, he quietly sighed in relief.
"Don't worry, Hiruzen. I won't do something like this again."
"That's the Danzo I know."
As the Third Hokage got closer, he laughed and opened his arms, as if inviting a hug.
Danzo didn't hesitate. He smiled and mirrored the gesture.
As the two embraced tightly, the Third Hokage suddenly exerted force with his hands, turning around and exposing Danzo's back to the Fifth Hokage, Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya, now."
At this moment, Danzo realized that the Third Hokage had somehow broken free from the control of Kotoamatsukami.
However, he also realized that the connection between his right eye and the Third Hokage was still intact, which meant Kotoamatsukami's influence was still active.
Ignoring everything else, Danzo immediately increased the flow of chakra, trying to alter the Third Hokage's will.
In reality, the Third Hokage had not completely escaped Kotoamatsukami's control.
All his actions were consistent with the logic of his manipulated will.
He smiled and walked towards Danzo.
Was there anything wrong with that?
As old friends, was there anything wrong with hugging each other?
Knowing that the other had gone astray and wanting to correct his ways, he felt a bit emotional, tightening the hug and turning halfway around. Was there anything wrong with that?
You see, there was nothing wrong with this.
Thus, when Danzo increased the chakra transmission, it had no effect.
"Rasengan."
Before Danzo could react, Jiraiya's Rasengan, the Fifth Hokage's Rasengan, struck Danzo's back.
After being severely injured by Jiraiya, Danzo's connection with Kotoamatsukami's chakra was finally interrupted.
At this moment, the Third Hokage was finally freed from the powerful illusion.
"Is Danzo dead?"
Seeing Danzo lying on the ground like a discarded puppet, the Third Hokage's face was filled with pity.
"His heart was crushed by Rasengan. He is dead beyond recovery."
"Well, at least his body is intact and he didn't suffer much. Let's leave it at that."
The Third Hokage looked deeply sorrowful.
After all, they had been old friends for decades. Even if there were mistakes, now that he was dead, everything would naturally be reduced to dust.
"Old man, don't be too sad. Danzo's death is not something to grieve over."
The Third Hokage's mood was low, and Fifth Hokage Jiraiya was there to console him.
Orochimaru, who had been sitting by the door, looked somewhat puzzled.
Did Danzo really die just like that?
Wasn't it a bit too easy?
It's not that Danzo couldn't die, but his death felt too abrupt.
The collaboration between the old man and Jiraiya, the Fifth Hokage, seemed too smooth.
But when he thought back on what had just happened, he couldn't find any flaws.
Danzo's body was right there, and his heart was crushed. It seemed that Danzo was truly dead.
Just when Orochimaru was convinced that Danzo was dead, Danzo's body lying on the ground suddenly vanished.
A man wrapped in bandages and using a crutch reappeared in front of them.
"Old man, Jiraiya, Danzo isn't dead yet."
Seeing the resurrected Danzo, Orochimaru quickly warned the others.
Unfortunately, his warning was a bit late.
After being resurrected, Danzo ignored the three of them and immediately ran towards the office's floor-to-ceiling window.
To the astonished gazes of the Third Hokage and Fifth Hokage Jiraiya, Danzo smashed through the floor-to-ceiling window with a loud crash.
"Hahaha, Hiruzen, you think you can kill me? Dream on!"
"Chase him, we must not let Danzo escape."
At the Third Hokage's command, the Fifth Hokage Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and the Third Hokage himself began their relentless pursuit of Danzo.
"Danzo, you can't escape."
Danzo disregarded the three behind him and continued running towards the village entrance.
It seemed he intended to flee Konoha Village.
"This is terrible. If we let him leave the village, who knows when we'll be able to catch him."
Thinking this, the Third Hokage threw a shuriken at Danzo and quickly formed seals with his hands.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique
Ts the shurikens in front rapidly multiplied—one became two, two became four, four became eight, and soon, there were sixty-four shurikens.
Danzo heard the sound of air being sliced behind him and realized a hidden weapon was coming his way.
Without hesitation, he leaped forward with all his strength, then spun around and used Wind Style to counter the shurikens.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough"
The Great Breakthrough is a fundamental wind technique with limited destructive power, but it's effective for disrupting shuriken attacks.
As Danzo anticipated, his wind technique perfectly nullified the shuriken assault.
"Damn it."
Because they were in the village, the three people pursuing Danzo couldn't use powerful ninjutsu. Instead, they were forced to rely on hidden weapons and less potent ninjutsu to try and block Danzo.
Unfortunately, their efforts had minimal impact.
As Danzo approached the village entrance, the density of buildings and the flow of people had already significantly decreased.
The Third Hokage wanted to use a powerful Fire Style technique to stop Danzo.
However, before he could execute his plan, Danzo suddenly used a summoning technique to call forth Baku.
With Baku's interference and obstruction, Danzo easily overpowered the Konoha gate guards, Kamatsuki Izumo and Kotetsu Hagane.
By the time Jiraiya, the Fifth Hokage, and the others dealt with Baku, Danzo had already vanished from their sight.
"Jiraiya, issue a wanted order across the ninja world."
"That's the only way."
"It's not that easy to kill me, Danzo."
Danzo escaped from Konoha Village with a smug smile, as if silently taunting the Third Hokage.
"But where should I go now?"
Perched on a large tree, Danzo was unusually uncertain.
Over the years, he had made many enemies and crossed paths with almost every major ninja village in the world.
Finding a safe refuge was no small feat these days.
"Wait, I could go to the Hidden Rain Village. Hanzo of the Salamander owes me a favor."
"It's time for him to repay that debt."
With this plan in mind, Danzo did not linger but swiftly headed toward the Land of Rain.
If Danzo were to surrender, Nagato would likely wake up laughing in his sleep.
Nagato: Is there such a lucky break?
****
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