In just three months, the entire shinobi world had undergone drastic changes.
Kirigakure, as always, remained independent and indifferent to political diplomacy. By the time Konoha realized what was happening, the Mist's forces had already quietly withdrawn from the Land of Waves, returning to the Land of Water without a trace.
On the other hand, the envoys Konoha had sent to Kumogakure for peace talks were completely ignored. Everything about the Raikage's stance made it clear—he had no intention of negotiating a ceasefire. However, it was evident that the internal affairs of Kumogakure were not dictated by the Raikage alone.
After he and the Eight-Tails were intercepted by Namikaze Minato, many within Kumogakure had begun advocating for an end to the war. Over time, this sentiment became the dominant voice within the village. Despite holding out for two months, the Raikage, A, was eventually forced to compromise.
Kumogakure withdrew most of its forces back to the Land of Lightning, and Konoha did the same. However, no official peace treaty was signed, and politically, the two villages remained at war. In reality, though, both had shifted their focus inward.
Between the two nations, all that remained was scorched earth. Whatever small country had once stood there had long since vanished, erased from existence—its destruction so complete that no one even cared to remember its name.
As wave after wave of shinobi returned to Konoha, the village erupted in celebration, marking the war's unofficial end. Among the cheers and festivities, the biggest topic of discussion was the selection of the Fourth Hokage.
During a previous council meeting, Danzo had withdrawn from the race following Tsunade's decision to do the same. Jiraiya, upon his return from the front lines, also declined the nomination.
Their decisions came as a relief to many, including both the Konoha Council and the Uchiha Clan. This left only three candidates for the position of Hokage—Orochimaru, Namikaze Minato, and Uchiha Fugaku.
With the war over, Danzo's thirst for power only grew stronger. His aging body had reached its limits, and the forbidden drugs he had relied on had only accelerated his decline, causing his strength to deteriorate even further. He spent his days secluded in the depths of the Root headquarters, conducting research in pursuit of a solution.
He had no interest in the celebrations or the political race for Hokage.
But today, Root's headquarters received an unexpected visitor.
"You actually came to see me?" Danzo muttered, gazing at the woman standing before him—Tsunade, accompanied by a young Shizune.
"I'm leaving Konoha," Tsunade stated bluntly. "The old man approved it. I came to tell you so you don't send anyone to cause trouble for me." Her tone was impatient.
For an ordinary shinobi, leaving the village would mean being labeled a rogue ninja. But for someone like Tsunade, as long as the higher-ups didn't object, there was no issue.
After bidding farewell to Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and others, she had originally planned to leave right away. But for some reason, she decided she wanted to inform Danzo as well. However, two months had passed without a single sighting of him.
After some hesitation, she finally made her way to the depths of Root before her departure.
Now, standing in the dimly lit, oppressive underground chamber, she regretted the decision. The atmosphere was suffocating—irritating, even.
And thus, this brief exchange took place.
Danzo, however, was genuinely pleased. Their battles together on the front lines had shifted Tsunade's perception of him, and the fact that she had come to say goodbye was proof of that. He paid no mind to her impatient tone.
"Alright, I'm leaving. This damn place is suffocating." Not waiting for Danzo to respond, Tsunade turned on her heel and walked away, taking Shizune with her.
[ Ding! You have gained the recognition of an important story character: Tsunade. ]
[ Establishing Fate Connection... ]
[ ...Copying in progress... ]
[ Acquired: Pure Yang Chakra ] (A little more might lead to unexpected changes...)
Danzo remained silent until Tsunade's figure had nearly vanished into the darkness. Then, with a flick of his wrist, a small metal token shot through the air. Tsunade instinctively caught it.
It bore the insignia of the Higashikawa Trade Association.
"If you ever need help, take this and find me," Danzo said.
He had no way of knowing that, in the future, he would come to regret this gesture deeply.
Tsunade glanced at the token before shoving it into her pocket.
"Got it. Stay alive, will you? I'd rather our next meeting not be at your grave."
With that parting remark, she and Shizune disappeared into the darkness.
Danzo finally closed his eyes and focused inward.
The moment the mission had been completed, he had felt an unmistakable warmth surge through his body. His very cells seemed to spring to life, as if an endless fountain of chakra had begun to flow within him.
The vitality coursing through him rejuvenated his aging cells, while his chakra reserves swelled rapidly. In mere moments, he had surpassed his former peak.
At the same time, he sensed an unprecedented change within himself—his soul had grown stronger. His mental faculties and perception had sharpened noticeably, confirming a long-standing suspicion.
Every system reward, whether it was [Absolute Comprehension] or [Pure Yang Chakra], was merely what was displayed on the surface.
In reality, each reward subtly strengthened his soul. Though the changes weren't outwardly obvious, Danzo could clearly feel the benefits.
His perception, mental strength, physical control, and chakra mastery had all improved. Even his thought process felt clearer than ever before.
For the first time, he had the eerie sensation that his soul could exist independently of his body. His physical form almost felt like a burden.
"Zzz…"
As his chakra surged, Danzo suddenly felt a sharp pain in his right eye. His Sharingan twitched rhythmically, as if reacting to the transformation.
"This is…?"
Was it because of the Senju bloodline? Or rather… the bloodline of Asura himself?
Pure Yang Chakra—an immense source of life force.
He attempted to activate Wood Release, but to his disappointment, he was still unable to use it.
Then he recalled the system's cryptic message—[A little more might lead to unexpected changes.]
Was it referring to Wood Release?
After three days, the rapid increase in chakra finally slowed. Through rigorous testing, Danzo confirmed that his combat ability had increased significantly—far beyond his previous self.
The rewards he had obtained from Tsunade had exceeded all his expectations.
Even against Chiyo, the Fourth Kazekage, or Pakura, Danzo was now confident that he could not only defeat them—but kill them outright.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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