Two years later, Ninkai, ANBU ROOT base
Shisui Uchiha has just been asked if he will use Kotoamatsukami on Danzo. Before he could even make a reply, a garbled voice rang out…
"Yes, well, I'm not sure I wanna let you make your move, Danzo… You are scum, after all…" Out of nowhere, a masked man, bedecked in pink and silver appeared. The newcomer was masked but the garbled voice really oozed derision. Somehow, Shisui felt safe, but Danzo didn't.
"Danzo Shimura, you have 1 minute to rethink your choices… They are as follows- give up on Shisui's eyes and thus keep your life to change your thoughts, or keep on your path and die a truly gruesome death, after which you will rot in the Shinigami's stomach forever!" he further declared, making Shisui take a defensive stance.
Danzo didn't even think twice… he made to attack Shisui, before he reached his moment of regret… Since the masked man didn't even need to try to take the right arm of the old man off, having cut it off immediately, then stabbing Danzo in the right eye with no delays, making him incapable of using Izanagi, he then burned his right side, to negate the healing he had gained from Hashirama.
In pain, and deliriously thinking that he could do so easily, Danzo released his Killing Intent, to intimidate the enemy. Shisui, who has been ambushed by the members of ROOT, had managed to kill them off, before being hit by the KI. The masked man didn't even flinch… that was a surprise. Shisui decided to worry about assessing threat levels later, he decided that the masked man was an ally for now.
The masked man decided to unleash his KI in response… Even Danzo fell over in his fear-induced paralysis. "You don't have the ability, forget right, to even assume that you can intimidate me. But that's irrelevant… your choice is made. You have chosen death." Saying so, the mask receded at the eye, and as Danzo looked into it, he felt fear. It had a red sclera transitioning in a gradient to purple. It had concentric rings from around the middle of the purple, since that transitioned in a gradient to a cerulean blue. Multiple black lines appeared to swirl into the outermost concentric circle from the sclera's edge with the colors following, while three black tomoe circled the aforementioned circle. The white pupil had a faint yellow sunflower pattern emanating from it, as it overlapped the concentric circles. The tomoe spun on its orbit as the eye looked into Danzo's own eye, promising torture, and one phrase was enough to unleash it.
"Fudō Myōō", and that was it.
Danzo began screaming, as he relived multiple deaths from the perspective of the victim- those not taken in combat, and those that were innocent, the torture he placed on one Naruto Uzumaki, the dehumanization of all of the ANBU ROOT members, and so on. The numerous injustices weighed on the shoulders of the old man, who seemed wholly unprepared for the pain of those who unduly suffered under his hands, whether directly or indirectly.
Shisui was confused. He didn't know how to respond to this scene, Danzo screaming his lungs out with just a statement. He decided to wait till the end of the situation to ask his questions.
Time passed. Danzo's screams stopped, if only because his voice gave out… he still screamed, in silence… nothing he could say would match the pain that he was feeling anyway. He just wanted it all to end, especially with Naruto's perspective, this memories managed to give him a new appreciation for those who survived rape- and gangrape at that. It made him revisit his origins… and he couldn't see anything else. The masked man saw that it was soon ending. He raised his blade, which appeared out of nowhere.
"Your punishment is at an end… Regret for eternity in your next life." Saying thus, he lopped Danzo's head off, and thus, Danzo Shimura, Shinobi no Yami, died, regretting the fact that he walked the path of darkness only to take its twisted fruits for himself. His body and head subsequently was burnt to ashes.
"Shisui Uchiha" the masked man had his attention on Shisui. "I have matters of importance to discuss, however I wish to give you something to grant you some understanding." Saying so, he held out his fist. Shisui, thinking that he was in safe company, bumped fists, resulting in memories returning. He saw the moment he died, the fact that Danzo was almost a traitor in his own right, that he could trust only a precious few. Within seconds, he came to a decision.
"We should head to where Itachi is. He would be an important ally for any future plans you might have. Follow me". Saying nothing else, both of them headed to the Naka River, where Itachi was waiting.
Naka river Cliff
Itachi Uchiha was not normally impatient, but Shisui being late was not exactly normal. He was tense, and then two figures appeared. One was Shisui, and Itachi trusted Shisui more than anyone. So he decided to trust the new masked appearance, though he was appropriately wary.
"Plans have changed" That declaration from Shisui had Itachi reeling. "This man somehow has the ability to reveal what your future would've been without his intervention. Danzo wished for the destruction of the Uchiha, to the point of trying to take my eyes. Had he not intervened" Here, Shisui pointed to the masked man "He would've had one eye, and I would've died, while giving my other eye to you. We cannot afford to use them now."
Itachi understood more than Shisui what that meant for him. The masked man now spoke, Itachi approving of the garbled voice. "I would assume you both would agree to assist me?" Itachi, after looking at Shisui, nodded alongside him. "Then I shall give you the same understanding that I gave Shisui. I hope you do not change more than necessary." Itachi bumped fists with the man, and stumbled at the many revelations his future held. That he witnessed Shisui's death (even through the memory) meant that he gained the Mangekyo Sharingan, and he was now committed to helping the masked man.
"What do we call you?"
"Ji-O. That is what you can refer to me as, for now anyway. Time is money, and we need to meet the Hokage."
The two Uchiha nodded and led him to the Hokage tower.
Hokage Tower, 30 minutes later
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the old man known by large to be the Third Hokage, was wondering whether Shisui had succeeded in his mission. He didn't approve of the use of Kotoamatsukami at all, but desperate circumstances called for desperate measures. He didn't know why the young man even offered.
He was shaken out of his thoughts, however, when he saw both Itachi AND Shisui kneeling in front of him, while the masked figure behind them stood with absolutely no respect maybe he should unleash his KI to make the disrespectful brat know his place… or he would've before he felt the subtle KI emanating from the man. Having fought through 3 wars, Hiruzen knew a thing or two about KI. What he felt from the man was simply beautiful. It was restrained, like he genuinely didn't like killing, yet it felt loose, like he would collect bounties if it met his goals. It also scared him, because the amount of KI that was being let off ever so subtly was enough to only feel a pinprick after the death even occurred- being directed at him solely.
Regaining his composure, he asked his two ANBU Uchiha "I take it the mission was a success? And who is your companion?" The look on Itachi's face was enough of an answer. "Why did it fail?" he asked, this time with force.
The masked man spoke. "Danzo has been eliminated- his actions have veered too far off the path he was meant to walk as the root of Konoha." The garbled voice made identification impossible
Shisui spoke up, even as Hiruzen tried to regain his composure. "It seems Danzo was planning to use my Kotoamatsukami for something. He was planning for a massacre though- perhaps he manipulated the people of Konoha to antagonize the Uchiha. In any case, we can use that as a reason to end hostilities, although there is a lot that needs to be done." Itachi spoke up here. "It would seem that Danzo wanted me to kill off the rest of the Uchiha, leaving Sasuke alone and alive. That said, he would've done it even without my co-operation. Under these circumstances, I can't help but question the choice of keeping him alive."
The masked man spoke up here. "For now, you may call me Ji-O. I have abilities that surpass time and space itself, although chakra is also something I can use. To assuage your concerns, I can swear here and now that my intentions are only to protect Konoha. However, to do so, there are many things I need to do. Can I count on your support, Third Hokage of Konoha?"
He was conflicted, to be sure, but that Itachi of all people trusted him meant that he could be trusted. Hiruzen made his decision.
"Would you swear an oath of loyalty to Konoha?" After all, he didn't think that he should blindly trust Ji-O. He may feel familiar due to his air of reassurance, but the paranoia could never leave him.
"No, but that's because I don't intend to just help Konoha. The danger that I have foreseen is much larger than just Konoha can handle, not to mention that there is no way I would swear allegiance to a place other than my hometown. In any case, it's free help, no strings attached, y'know…" While the answer did put Hiruzen in a bind, this was honestly expected by Itachi, who had his memories from being Edo Tensei'd as well. He couldn't believe he would say this, but they badly needed his help. He voiced that thought as well, to lend weight to Ji-O's argument.
Hearing that, he had to think longer, but Itachi had clearly got his trust from somewhere. It honestly didn't take longer to trust that he was being helpful in the end.
"Sigh… What should I do?" The question Hiruzen asked opened a lot of doors for Ji-O at that moment… his maniacal grin could be felt in his reply
"That's the thing- I've identified people of interest that have the potential to surpass everyone else. I'll be having them come back as Blood Clones while the originals train under me. You can call them over "
AN: Here's the thing- This is a set-up for the most part. So think of it as Step 1.
For the name of the technique- Fudō Myōō-read up on Acala on Wikipedia... I'm open to name changes, since I wanted a god of retribution, but Japanese myths didn't have one of them (to my knowledge)... so I compromised, besides, it fits.
Next chapter will be focusing on the people who Naruto (refer chapter 3, I like the suspense of how they react) wants to train... that said, I will probably work on my Arifureta fic next.
Read and Review, I feed off of the flames and compliments (one fuels the drive, the other fuels my motivation)
Seiichi and his brand of Insanity are off to the Races!