Shimura Danzo hadn't been resting that night.
He was stationed at the Root, having dispatched all the Root ninja along with the ANBU to wipe out the Uchiha. Naturally, resting was out of the question.
Therefore, when he sensed the commotion caused by the Daytime Tiger, Danzo rushed over immediately, arriving just in time to save the Third Hokage and temporarily preserve his life.
The Eight Gates, with the seventh gate opened again?
Having previously lost his life to this technique, Danzo couldn't help but curse inwardly as he watched Uchiha Akira activate the seventh gate once more.
He couldn't understand how Akira could be moving so soon after his last use of the technique!
However, Danzo's time in hiding hadn't been without its gains.
Successfully transplanting Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan and possessing the ultimate ace, Kotoamatsukami, Danzo felt confident even when facing the seventh-gate-opened Uchiha Akira.
Uchiha Akira? The greatest genius in the history of the Uchiha clan? Opened the three-tomoe Sharingan at the age of seven?
Very well, thought Danzo. If I can control him with Kotoamatsukami, such a powerful individual would become my most valuable asset.
Thus, despite knowing he wasn't a match for Uchiha Akira, Danzo confidently removed the bandages covering his face, revealing the transplanted Mangekyō Sharingan in his right eye.
But just as he prepared to activate Kotoamatsukami, he was shocked to see Uchiha Akira summon a pitch-black crow.
The crow perched on Akira's shoulder, and in its eye socket was a Mangekyō Sharingan with a four-point shuriken pattern as well!
"Shisui... he left his other Mangekyō to you!?" Danzo's expression changed as he stared at Uchiha Akira in disbelief.
"I'm Shisui-sensei's disciple. Isn't it only natural that he would leave his other Mangekyō to me?" Akira replied, his tone making it clear that he saw nothing unusual about this, as if it were the most logical thing in the world.
Danzo was left speechless.
Indeed, Akira was Shisui's disciple, and his talent was unmatched in the Uchiha's history.
It made perfect sense that Shisui would entrust his Mangekyō Sharingan to Akira.
Danzo realized he had gravely miscalculated.
He had planned to use Kotoamatsukami to control Akira and make him his most powerful pawn.
But now, he realized that Akira also possessed Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, which meant he too could use Kotoamatsukami. How could Danzo hope to control him now?
"Danzo, this is quite a problem for you, isn't it?"
With the crow capable of using Kotoamatsukami perched on his shoulder, Uchiha Akira's lips curled into a slight smile. "Now, Kotoamatsukami won't work on me."
As he spoke, Akira's three-tomoe Sharingan gleamed with a sinister and chilling murderous intent.
Danzo was silent.
"Have you considered how you'll protect yourself from me?"
Akira's question struck right at the heart of Danzo's fears.
Indeed, with Kotoamatsukami rendered ineffective, how was he supposed to defend himself against Akira?
With the seventh gate open, Akira's power was enough to overwhelm even the Third Hokage.
How could Danzo possibly stand against him?
Whoosh!
Knowing there was no time for idle chatter, Akira, moving as fast as lightning, dashed toward Danzo.
Danzo, his face filled with terror, instinctively tried to retreat.
He raised his arm in a defensive posture, but it was no use.
With a single swift strike of his hand, Akira's karate chop severed Danzo's right arm.
Even though it was just a flesh-and-bone arm, under the enormous power of Akira's chakra, it cut through as easily as a divine blade.
As blood splattered and Danzo screamed in agony, his right arm was severed and fell to the ground.
The last time Akira opened the seventh gate, his punch had shattered Danzo's arm.
This time, he had sliced it clean off with a single strike.
It wasn't that Akira couldn't kill Danzo outright, but he had his eye on Danzo's Sharingan.
He wanted to claim Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan as his own, so he delayed killing Danzo immediately.
Who knew if Danzo would use Shisui's Mangekyō to activate Izanagi again after death?
Akira wanted to collect both of Shisui's eyes.
So, after severing Danzo's arm with a single strike, Akira, moving with lightning speed, acted once more.
In the seventh gate state, Akira's speed was unparalleled. His actions were so swift that Danzo couldn't even keep up.
With a sharp motion, Akira plucked the Mangekyō Sharingan from Danzo's right eye socket.
Another scream of agony echoed as the transplanted Mangekyō Sharingan fell into Akira's hand.
The bloodied Mangekyō Sharingan was carefully placed into the other eye socket of the crow perched on Akira's shoulder, securing Shisui's pair of eyes.
With the pair of Mangekyō Sharingan in hand, their true power could be fully realized!
"Danzo..."
Seeing Danzo's severed arm and missing Sharingan, the Third Hokage finally managed to stand, his voice filled with concern as he called out to his old comrade.
Despite the many differences and disagreements between them, Danzo had taken on all the dirty and dark tasks, allowing the Third Hokage to maintain his image as a virtuous leader.
Moreover, they had been partners since childhood, a relationship that could be described as both love and hate.
Otherwise, Danzo wouldn't have risked his life to save the Hokage earlier.
Now, seeing Danzo in such a wretched state, the Third Hokage's heart was filled with worry.
Who would have thought that two seasoned Kage-level fighters, joining forces, would be unable to defeat a mere seven-year-old child?
It only proved how terrifyingly powerful the Eight Gates were!
No wonder Might Duy, a mere genin, had been able to single-handedly crush the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist by opening all eight gates!
As these thoughts raced through his mind, the Third Hokage's eyes grew resolute.
Gazing at Uchiha Akira, his expression turned deadly serious.
"Uchiha Akira, your strength far surpasses my expectations," the Third Hokage began. "If we were to continue this fight, perhaps neither Danzo nor I could defeat you."
"But as the Hokage of Konoha, killing me won't be as easy as you think!"
It was as if he had made up his mind, and his tone carried a finality that chilled the air.
The Third Hokage began forming hand seals with a gravity that made Akira's skin crawl.
Even though Akira had opened the seventh gate, making him one of the most powerful fighters in the world, the sight of the Third Hokage's determined seal-weaving sent shivers down his spine.
A sense of unprecedented danger sounded alarm bells in Akira's mind.
Just as Akira was about to strike to interrupt the Hokage's jutsu, the Third Hokage finished his hand seals.
With a final, resounding shout, he declared, "Sealing Jutsu: Reaper Death Seal!"
As the Third Hokage spoke, Akira saw something terrifying materialize behind him.
A spectral figure, like a demon, appeared behind the Third Hokage.
With a ghastly, menacing face, holding a knife in its mouth, the figure exuded an aura of pure terror. As this spectral figure loomed behind the Hokage, Akira felt the temperature around him plummet.
Reaper Death Seal—Akira knew this sealing jutsu, one of the most powerful in the ninja world.
The jutsu called upon the power of the Death God to sever the souls of both the caster and the target, sealing them within the Death God's stomach, where they would battle for eternity.
Moreover, the jutsu was so potent that it could bypass any defense or power to tear a soul from its body.
Even with the seventh gate open? Akira thought, Even if I opened the eighth gate, or even used my Mangekyō Sharingan, if the Death God seizes my soul and slices it from my body, I'll be dead for sure!
The Reaper Death Seal was a forbidden jutsu that ignored all defenses.
"I didn't expect that the Third Hokage had already learned the Reaper Death Seal at this point," Akira thought, his heart heavy with unease.
Indeed, as a veteran Kage-level ninja, if you don't kill them quickly, unexpected complications can arise.
The power of the Life Simulator was extraordinary, allowing Akira to simulate life and grow stronger.
But life-risking jutsus were always terrifying.
For example, the Rinne Tensei, a life-risking jutsu that could revive others, even thousands at a time.
For example, the Eight Gates' final gate, Death Gate, which allowed Might Guy, a mere jonin, to overpower even the Six Paths Madara!
And now, standing before him was the Reaper Death Seal, another life-risking forbidden jutsu that could seal anyone's soul, no matter their power.
Whoosh!
Having invoked the Reaper Death Seal, the Third Hokage was now fully committed, his heart set on sacrificing himself. He charged straight toward Uchiha Akira.
As the Third Hokage moved, the terrifying Shinigami figure behind him followed, moving toward Akira with the intent to claim his soul.
P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 123 at patreon.com/Emik01.