Even Kotoamatsukami Fails
Night blanketed Konoha.
A battle that raged for nearly half an hour within the Shimura clan compound sank into silence, like a stone dropped into the ocean—without stirring the slightest ripple.
Howling winds.
Explosions.
The clash of kunai ringing endlessly.
And yet—
no one came.
The entire compound felt like a stage, deliberately prepared for two actors:
Kamizuki Gen and Shimura Danzō.
As if guided by some unseen force, no one would interfere tonight.
After forcing Gen back briefly—
"Haa…"
Danzō panted heavily, suspicion gnawing at his mind.
His single eye scanned the surroundings.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
His black robe had already been shredded by wind blades, riddled with holes—he looked thoroughly battered.
He had noticed it.
Aside from the aftermath of their battle—
there was nothing.
Under normal circumstances, even the slightest disturbance in the Shimura compound would have drawn ANBU like hounds catching scent.
But tonight—
it was unnaturally quiet.
"…That damned monkey. He set this up."
Danzō cursed under his breath.
Only the Hokage could seal off this area so completely.
As for Hiruzen's intentions—
he couldn't tell.
But what truly enraged him—
was the brat in front of him.
At first, he dismissed Kamizuki Gen entirely. Even after witnessing his strange abilities, he hadn't taken him seriously.
But after several exchanges—
he was forced to reassess.
Kamizuki Gen…
was a true Wind Release genius.
That was Danzō's conclusion.
The reason was simple—
At this age, the boy could already wield Wind Release: Shinkūha with terrifying destructive power.
His control over chakra shape and nature—
his sheer chakra reserves—
even Danzō found himself forced to evade.
Gen's Wind Release reminded Danzō of himself.
A boy who could casually perform techniques he had spent years mastering—
If that wasn't genius, what was?
Given time…
Konoha would face a monster.
He must not be allowed to leave alive.
Danzō clenched his teeth, thoughts racing—but he was increasingly powerless.
Because beyond Wind Release—
what truly shocked him was this:
Whether it was taijutsu, ninjutsu, or even genjutsu—
Kamizuki Gen was no weaker than him.
The only saving grace—
was that Gen wasn't stronger either.
They were evenly matched.
And that alone—
was terrifying.
The boy was still young.
The future belonged to him.
Just like Namikaze Minato before him—
Konoha had produced another civilian genius.
"I have to stall… break the deadlock… wait for reinforcements."
Danzō made his decision.
Even if Hiruzen intended to sacrifice him—
the rest of Konoha's leadership wouldn't sit by and watch him die.
And if it came to that—
Danzō's expression twitched slightly.
Beneath the white bandages, his right eye shifted faintly.
He still had that option.
Controlling a genius on par with Itachi—
making him submit, serve him for life—
that would be a worthy outcome.
"Danzō-sama, spacing out in the middle of a fight isn't a good habit."
Gen's voice cut in.
"I'm guessing… you're planning to use Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan—Kotoamatsukami."
He spoke each word clearly.
Kunai in hand, he charged forward again, fast as an arrow loosed from a bow.
"You—!"
Danzō's eye widened, shock crashing through him.
How does he know?!
Did he witness me taking Shisui's eye that day?!
There was no time to think.
Gen was already upon him.
His kunai flashed like lightning, striking from a vicious angle straight for Danzō's throat.
Clang—!
Steel met steel.
Sparks flew.
At the last second, Danzō raised a chakra-infused blade—Wind Release: Wind Release: Shinkūken—barely blocking the strike.
The two collided head-on.
The battle locked once more.
"Hahaha! Danzō-sama, hurry up and use Kotoamatsukami!" Gen laughed wildly. "Let me experience its power!"
"You lunatic…"
Danzō's thoughts spiraled.
In this boy—
he saw something disturbingly familiar.
A madness belonging to the Uchiha.
The fight raged on.
…
Under the night sky—
Hokage Building.
Rooftop.
At the railing, Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed toward the Shimura compound.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu stood half a step behind him.
The atmosphere was heavy.
The Uchiha massacre had kept Konoha's leadership occupied from day to night.
They had only just caught their breath—
when the disturbance erupted.
"Is it Itachi? Taking revenge on Danzō?" Koharu asked, her expression grim.
After all, while they had approved the massacre—
it was Danzō who had guided everything behind the scenes.
Now that Itachi had lost everything, no one could be sure he wouldn't retaliate.
Homura frowned. "That shouldn't be possible. Wouldn't he fear for his brother—"
"Relax," Hiruzen said, shaking his head. "It's not Itachi. No need to speculate."
"Danzō will be fine."
"…Should we send someone to check?" Koharu pressed.
"No."
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment.
Then, inwardly, he added:
Let this serve as a lesson.
Let him remember—
who the Hokage truly is.
To establish Kamizuki Gen as a high-value rogue ninja, Hiruzen had agreed to his plan—
letting him attack Danzō.
Afterward, he would spread word in secret:
That Root had been destroyed by Kamizuki Gen.
In that way—
crippling Root and severely injuring a high-ranking Konoha official—
would be enough to brand him as an S-rank rogue ninja.
…
Shimura Compound.
Another fifteen minutes passed.
Nearly an hour of battle.
"Hahaha! That was exhilarating!"
Gen threw his head back, laughing.
"Danzō-sama, what a satisfying fight!"
Under "Equality for All"—
Gen was thriving.
His body was strong, his energy abundant—he reveled in the rush of combat, the flood of adrenaline.
But for Danzō—
an old man whose body was already declining—
his chakra was nearly depleted.
His stamina was fading.
This drawn-out battle was torture.
"Haa…"
"If you're so eager to see it—then I'll grant your wish!"
Danzō's voice turned cold.
He stopped holding back.
Slowly, he reached up—
and removed the bandages over his right eye.
Under the moonlight—
a crimson glow emerged.
His pupil bore a black, shuriken-like pattern, radiating a chilling, sinister aura.
"Kotoamatsukami!"
Danzō focused, pouring the last of his chakra into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
His gaze locked onto Gen.
Buzz—
Yin Release chakra surged like a tide, pouring out from the eye and enveloping him.
"Submit to me," Danzō murmured coldly. "I'll grant you a new life."
He began to manipulate the chakra—
to rewrite Gen's will.
But the next second—
something felt wrong.
Danzō froze.
Then his expression twisted in disbelief.
"…Impossible."
"Kotoamatsukami… has no effect on you?!"
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