Because he had once wielded both the Sharingan and Wood Release, Danzō had long been at ease with powers born of bloodline fusion, fully recognizing their potential.
So, ever since Hiruzen Sarutobi shared the modified Chimera Technique he got from Obito with Danzo, this technique became the heavenly path in Danzo's mind, a path that would allow him to reach the peak.
And now, the victories gained by Hiruko on the battlefields of the Land of Rain only fanned the flames of Danzō's obsession with Chimera Technique ritual to even greater heights!
Yes, Spiritual power was undeniably powerful. But in a future where spiritual power would eventually be spread across the world, even if he were to turn fully to training spiritual power , Danzō knew he would never stand at the pinnacle of the shinobi world.
That peak was already occupied by Yuki Yoru, and countless Shinigami of the Soul Society. Danzō refused to believe that bastard Yoru, after unleashing this new system of power, had not kept hidden contingencies.
Rather than gamble on Yoru's spiritual power, he would rather choose the chakra of the Sage of Six Paths, which had been passed down in the shinobi world for thousands of years. Not to mention, the path to the heavens of chakra was right in front of him, and he absolutely couldn't give it up!
"This time, I got a lot of Sharingan and Uchiha cell tissues. It's not only enough for me to complete the Chimera Technique, but it's also completely enough for you to join me." Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a burning gaze, encouraging and inviting his good friend.
But Hiruzen only shook his head.
"The Chimera Technique requires an enormous amount of chakra. If I perform the ritual with you, it's very likely that if we don't have enough chakra, all our efforts will be wasted."
"Besides…"
His gaze dropped to the intelligence scroll in his hand — news that Tsunade had activated Bankai and crushed Hiruko in battle. His voice lowered. "I also want to see what's so different about the power of spiritual power."
Seeing his good friend reject his kind offer, Danzo frowned slightly and reminded him: "Shinigami are different from ordinary spiritual power users. You should know that, Hiruzen."
"My Root has studied the people who have mastered spiritual power through Ryūchi Cave. They are actually no different from normal shinobi, they've just replaced the chakra in their bodies with spiritual power, and their power has increased."
"But Shinigami are different. Shinigami are truly special existences. They aren't even human anymore!"
"What do you mean?" Hiruzen's brow knit tight.
"It seems that losing the Hokage's seat, along with your clan being restricted, has left you blind." Danzō shook his head. His cane struck the ground with a dull thunk, and a Root shinobi appeared.
"Bring me Classified Scroll Thirty-One."
The agent bowed, vanished, and soon returned with a scroll, handing it to Danzō.
With Root's unique method, Danzō unraveled the seals, then passed it to Hiruzen.
As Hiruzen's eyes scanned its contents, his face twisted like a blooming chrysanthemum in shock.
"Sixth Division Captain — the Second Mizukage, Hōzuki Gengetsu.
Eleventh Division Vice Captain — of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Jūzō Biwa.
Second Division Vice Captain— of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Kurisaki Kushimaru.
All of them were shinobi long dead… yet Yuki Yoru resurrected them as Shinigami!"
"And not only them. My investigation shows that many of the Soul Society's Shinigami are former shinobi, already dead. This means Shinigami are constructs — remade from the souls of the dead by Yoru. Hardly without basis."
"Of course, you might argue that people like Tsunade or Orochimaru weren't killed and remade by him. I can't prove otherwise. But one thing is certain: Shinigami and those wielders of spiritual power whom Yoru calls 'Quincy' are entirely different beings."
"And more than that…"
Danzō's voice dropped as he fixed his gaze on Hiruzen. "Do you know what that man gave me, after I agreed to work with him against the Uchiha?"
"What?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression froze. There was a secret transaction between the two of them that he, the intermediary, didn't know about?
Seeing the confusion in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, Danzo didn't say much.
His good friend, who had lost everything, was still able to help him contact the masked man, which was already a big help. He couldn't ask for anything else.
"Come with me."
Danzō leaned on his cane and led the way deep into Root. Hiruzen followed close behind.
Soon, they reached a secret laboratory at the very depths of the Root base.
The barrier around this place was so intricate that Hiruzen frowned deeply. Even the Hokage's archive hall, housing the Scroll of Seals and countless secrets of Konoha, had weaker wards than this.
Once Danzō undid the layers of sealing, and before they even stepped into the chamber, a strange oppressive force rolled out.
Torchlight flickered, and Hiruzen saw clearly the subject of the research.
A massive, grotesque black monster, bound by countless jet-black chakra rods into a machine. Dozens of researchers worked busily around it.
Even sealed, the creature radiated pressure. Hiruzen felt it at once — this was not chakra's weight. It was spiritual power.
"What is that…?"
"It is called a 'Hollow.' Or rather, that is the name of its entire species," Danzō explained, stepping forward with his cane. "I know you've never seen such a being. Truthfully, neither had I. Because, like the Shinigami and Quincy, it was created by Yuki Yoru."
"They are pure beasts, feeding only on souls. According to the masked man, Yoru keeps them penned on an island in the Land of Water."
"I do not know his true purpose in raising them. But such creatures are mindless — driven only to consume souls and slaughter the living. Other than for experiments on souls, or to be used as biological weapons, I cannot fathom any reason."
"Hollow…" Hiruzen stared dumbly at the monster, struck momentarily speechless.
Danzō turned to the researchers. "Well? Have you made progress in your study of it?"
One replied softly: "Progress is slow, Danzō-sama. Though we can use spiritual power, its spiritual power is far more aggressive. If ours is a normal, stable energy, then what dwells within it is an accumulation of extreme, negative spiritual power."
"When our spiritual power touches its, we risk corruption. Our minds cloud, our energy erodes, and we risk becoming Hollows ourselves."
"Furthermore, when we use its spiritual power to forcefully replace chakra, the subject goes berserk — mind lost, devoured by madness. Even with Sharingan to suppress the corruption, the success rate is very low."
As he spoke, he led Danzō and Hiruzen deeper into the lab. At the far end stood nutrient tanks — each holding humanoid forms of Hollows!
"What a terrifying power…"
Danzō sneered. "See for yourself, Hiruzen. If Yoru can raise such creatures, it means he can fully control them."
"If he can master such twisted negative entities, then what of other spiritual power users?"
"You mean—!"
Hiruzen's eyes went wide.
Spiritual power had already spread across the shinobi world, promoted even by Ryūchi Cave, one of the Three Great Sage Lands.
If Yuki Yoru could control spiritual power itself, then seven or eight of every ten shinobi across the world would be…!
"Impossible. That's unthinkable!"
"There is nothing impossible about it. If you were Yuki Yoru — possessing a force surpassing chakra — would you truly share it freely, instead of keeping it for yourself?"
"But didn't the Sage of Six Paths once—"
"You dare compare Yoru to the Sage of Six Paths?" Danzō laughed bitterly. "Very well. Compare them if you wish. But the Sage is long dead. And Yoru…?"
"A dead god is the only true god, Hiruzen — the only kind worthy of worship!"
"Of course, you can take this as my persecution complex, or you can take it as my advice to you. But no matter what, I still hope that you can join me in performing the Chimera Technique instead of dabbling in spiritual power."
Hiruzen fell silent.
Spiritual power was far too alluring. Its strength rivaled senjutsu chakra, standing above normal chakra entirely. Its spread across the world was already unstoppable.
But if Danzō's suspicions were true… the consequences would be catastrophic. The entire shinobi world could fall. And those who still held chakra alone would be the last surviving seed of resistance.
"I understand. Although that possibility is pitifully small and even a little ridiculous." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and nodded heavily: "But I choose to believe you. However, the previous problem still exists. The ritual requires a massive amount of chakra. Are you prepared?"
"Don't worry. I've been in charge of Root for so many years, not for nothing."
Seeing his good friend change his mind, a smile appeared on Danzo's old face.
He looked Hiruzen over, then added bluntly: "Although it might be a bit rude to say this, you are indeed old, Hiruzen."
As the Third Hokage's closest comrade, Danzo was increasingly feeling the physical weakening of Hiruzen Sarutobi. This was especially obvious with his chakra levels.
"Your failing body can't handle the power of the ritual. How about I first perform a modification on you?"
"Sensei's cells, then…" Hiruzen reflexively tried to refuse — to preserve his image as the upright former Hokage who would never rely on forbidden grafts.
But the words caught in his throat.
Did he still need to uphold such pretenses? Especially when the ritual itself required Hashirama Senju's cells as a core component?
A wry smile appeared on his face, and Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly, feeling a sense of relief.
"So be it. We'll do as you planned."
"Good. Everything will soon be better."
With the plan settled, Hiruzen did not linger in Root.
Now that Fugaku had returned, even buried under the Uchiha clan's troubles, he would not neglect the former Hokage. To avoid needless complications, Hiruzen returned to his clan compound.
Watching his old friend leave, Danzo let out a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat at ease.
"If I were you, I would have chosen his child, who is only a teenager, instead of him." A sudden voice sounded behind him. A figure emerged from the shadows and said calmly: "Stagnant mindset, a decrepit and old body... Of course, since this is your choice, I won't stop you."
"If I were you, I would have chosen his child, who is only a teenager, instead of him." A sudden voice sounded behind him. A figure emerged from the shadows and said calmly: "Stagnant mindset, a decrepit and old body... Of course, since this is your choice, I won't stop you."
"You don't understand. Hiruzen is not like others."
Danzo snorted and looked at the monk in front of him: "Did you come here because you've prepared the sacrifices I need?"
"Of course."
Jigen waved his hand casually, and several unconscious figures, who were originally prepared for Nagato, were thrown out of the black space.
"Dark Release. Swift Release. Steel Release. Combined with your Wood Release and Sharingan, it should suffice."
Dark, Swift, and Steel Release?
Seeing the bodies, Danzō's eyes lit up. They were perfect.
Hiruko's rampage on the Rain battlefield had been fueled by exactly those three bloodlines!
With Wood Release — more suited to fusion with Uchiha powers than Magnet Release — Danzō was confident his own Chimera ritual would outstrip Hiruko's entirely.
Thunk!
His cane struck the floor, and Root operatives appeared to carry the unconscious sacrifices away.
"Rest assured, I have not neglected what you entrusted to me."
Meeting Jigen's calm gaze, Danzō snorted, then led him deeper into Root. At a darkened corner, Danzō formed seals, summoning forth a concealed barrier.
They entered.
Inside lay a sealed chamber, lined with intricate wards. At its center stood a humanoid thing, woven from gnarled tree roots and branches, writhing like a grotesque puppet.
It looked like Wood Release… yet pulsed like a living body. Its leaves and tendrils stirred as though sensing their presence.
"On the night of the Uchiha massacre, I seized many corpses. And while Fugaku was absent, I also took several from the Kazematsuri clan," Danzō said grimly. Then, unable to restrain himself, he asked, "What exactly is this creature of yours, that devours their flesh and grows stronger?"