Chapter 132: Danzō, Go to Hell with Me!
[Kurenai Yūhi's shock is beyond words. She has many questions for you, but now is not the time for conversation. She tells you to continue your actions, and that you will talk after everything is over. You nod in agreement. After all, you are just here to make a statement; you can't do anything inappropriate in this environment.]
[You then return to the Chūnin Exam arena and change back into your original attire. You see that Rasa has already been defeated by Guy, who had opened the Seventh Gate, and has lost his ability to fight. The battle within the Four Violet Flames Formation has only just begun.]
[Danzō has shed all his disguises, and the two sides are engaged in a fierce round of trash talk. You release your sensory perception, which allows you to roughly understand what they are saying. Hashirama is questioning Danzō about why he has become this way. Tobirama remarks that Danzō's use of the Sharingan is very novel. Hiruzen Sarutobi is verbally apologizing to the two former Hokage, while Danzō remains silent, simply preparing for battle.]
[As for Orochimaru, he is mocking Hiruzen's Will of Fire, while also complaining to the First and Second, telling them how corrupt the current Konoha is. He claims his reanimation of them is also for the future of the village. You don't know how much of what he says is sincere, but he is definitely doing it to disgust Hiruzen.]
Makoto listened with great interest. It was just a pity he couldn't see clearly through the barrier. Otherwise, he would have definitely sketched the expressions on Danzō's and Hiruzen's faces on the spot. He wondered if, after the simulation was over, he could use the Flying Thunder God to go in and experience it firsthand.
[The pivotal battle then begins, but it does not go as smoothly as Orochimaru had anticipated. It turns out that although Danzō is not good at using Izanagi, in this situation, it is an excellent tool for tanking hits for Hiruzen.]
[In addition, Hashirama and Tobirama maintain an uncooperative attitude. Even though Orochimaru controls them, he cannot bring out their original strength, which gradually puts him at a disadvantage. He then adjusts his strategy and begins to tempt Danzō to cooperate with him, promising to support him in becoming Hokage.]
[On the surface, Danzō is unmoved, but in reality, he is already thinking about how to become Hokage after the war is over. The reason he is so confident is that Hiruzen has already begun the hand seals for the Reaper Death Seal. With their aged bodies, it is still impossible for them to defeat the reanimated Hashirama and Tobirama, who have infinite chakra.]
[In the end, Danzō summons Baku and, in coordination with his summon and his Wood Style, plus Monkey King Enma, he finally manages to trap Orochimaru, Hashirama, and Tobirama at the same time. Hiruzen takes the opportunity to use his Shadow Clones and the Reaper Death Seal to begin sealing the three of them. It seems the scales of war are about to tip completely.]
Seeing this, a bad premonition welled up in Makoto. Don't tell me Danzō is going to build a meritorious service record from this? That wouldn't do. If Danzō didn't die, he would have to do it himself. In any case, there was no one else here now. Even Guy and Kakashi had already gone to support others. He could easily throw the Izanagi-depleted Danzō somewhere and beat him to death with his bare fists.
But then he realized that he had worried for nothing.
[It turns out that Hiruzen had not created three shadow clones, but four. The moment Danzō uses his last Izanagi, the hidden shadow clone ambushes him and uses the Reaper Death Seal on him as well. A shocked and furious Danzō angrily questions him. But Hiruzen, who has already resigned himself to death, simply replies calmly: He will use his own and Danzō's deaths to bury the dark side of Konoha's past. Let the two of them go to hell together.]
Seeing this, Makoto was dumbfounded.
Well, I'll be damned. Truly, I'll be damned.
Was this the Hokage-style of "bonds"?! This bond of going to hell together... seemed no less potent than Naruto and Sasuke's Seal of Reconciliation at the Valley of the End.
He now understood why Hiruzen had always indulged Danzō. Besides the responsibilities he had to fulfill as Hokage, there was probably nothing more important in his eyes than his old friend.
But here was the problem: could Hiruzen handle sealing four people at once?
[Hiruzen strains with all his might and finally succeeds in sealing the First and Second Hokage. The sealing of Orochimaru and Danzō is halfway complete. At this critical moment, the Sound Four remove the barrier and begin to rescue Orochimaru.]
[They are strong and dedicated to saving their master, while the Anbu members responsible for guarding the Hokage are more concerned with Hiruzen's condition. Only when Hiruzen orders them to stop Orochimaru does the conflict begin.]
[Seeing the situation is bad, the Sound Four release their Cursed Seal Level 2. With their power boosted, they suppress the few remaining Anbu. At this time, Hiruzen is exhausted. He must choose between Orochimaru and Danzō.]
[Danzō sees this and shouts hoarsely for Hiruzen to trust him, that he will take care of Konoha. Seeing Hiruzen is unmoved, a terrified Danzō changes his tune, promising he will find Tsunade and let her inherit the position, and that he will serve her well.]
[But Hiruzen suddenly rallies. In a final burst of life, he makes his last decision. He lets go of Orochimaru and instead focuses all his remaining strength on pulling Danzō's soul. Danzō's pleas gradually turn into curses. And as Hiruzen is dying, he says the words Danzō least wants to hear: "I am the Hokage!"]
[The Konoha Crush plot basically ends here. Orochimaru escapes again, heavily injured. Rasa becomes a prisoner of Konoha. And the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, becomes the hero who fought Orochimaru to the death to protect the village. As for Danzō, he dies silently, as if everyone has forgotten him.]
Seeing this, Makoto sighed. Although he was generally disdainful of the "bond" between Hiruzen and Danzō, he had to admit that Hiruzen's mind was clear in the end. He knew what kind of man Danzō truly was. But didn't this just further prove that all of Konoha's past darkness was the result of his indulgence?
He shook his head. Konoha's most difficult trial was over. What changes would happen next?
He knew that the fact he could use the Flying Thunder God Technique probably couldn't be hidden, but he was a civilian. He could serve whomever he wanted. Even when Danzō was alive, he couldn't force him, let alone now that he was gone.
Hmph. Beef? I'm not eating it! (A reference to a stubborn refusal)
[Hiruzen's funeral is simple, because Konoha has no time to celebrate victory. The once-peaceful border situation has become unstable again. To your surprise, Konoha begins to widely publicize your deeds, giving you the title of "Iron-Arm Flash" and declaring you the direct disciple of the Fourth Hokage.]
Reading this, Makoto almost choked. Iron-Arm Flash? Why not "Flash Sett"? Even "Grey Flash" or "Divine Fist Flash" would have been better. And Konoha was clearly at its wit's end, even using him, whose allegiance was unclear, to boost their morale. If he were to side with someone else at this moment, wouldn't Konoha just explode?
[At the same time, a frantic investigation into your identity begins within Konoha. The several girls who know you gather at Kurenai's house, asking where your strength came from. They are also curious about your relationship with the Fourth Hokage.]
[You tell them that because of your previous injury, you awakened an ability to speak with someone. The Fourth Hokage's spirit personally taught you the Flying Thunder God, and the price was his hope that you would help Konoha in its time of need.]
[Your reason is not very convincing, but faced with you, who has now entered a period of defiance, no one questions you. Especially since you have mastered the Flying Thunder God and the intel that you threw Kimimaro into the Land of Earth has reached Konoha, Koharu and Homura tacitly agree that you are someone they cannot control.]
[The girls take your answer back to their respective parents. Kurenai and Anko stay behind, each with their own questions. Anko asks you, since you are so strong, why did that incident between you two still happen.]
[You tell her that at the time, you were bitten by a snake she had summoned and were completely paralyzed, but she has forgotten this. Anko is shocked and quickly apologizes, but you magnanimously tell her you forgive her. Then it is Kurenai's turn. Anko tactfully leaves the space to the two of you.]
Makoto also looked forward to Kurenai's performance. If she still refused, then he would just have to have Anko set a snake on someone.
Fortunately, this time Kurenai did not disappoint. She slowly let down her guard and opened her heart.