Hello, hello! Sorry for the one-day delay. I had no idea how to end this chapter. I wanted to publish it yesterday, but I wasn't quite happy with it yet, so I just kept going until I found the right ending for this chapter. This chapter is a bit longer than usual, but I think that's okay.
Enjoy!
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Samurai Bridge is located in the Land of Iron. It was built out of blue stones and features a large gate at one end, somewhat resembling a torii, emblazoned with the kanji for samurai. On top of the gate was a large stone statue of a sheathed sword, with weights hanging on both ends.
"Sasuke Uchiha, eh..." Danzo called out his name as he and Sakura stood before him, stopping him from returning to the Leaf Village. With Karin's guidance, they had managed to catch up to him this time without any distractions. Recognizing that it was not safe for her, Karin went into hiding—far enough not to get caught in the middle of their fight, but close enough to observe the battle.
"Fu, Torune, back me up," Danzo ordered as he revealed his sealed right arm."I'm going to undo the seal."
"Leave this to me, Sasuke," Sakura said, stepping forward, her eyes fierce with resolve. Prepared for battle, she drew out her katana and took her position.
Torune quickly threw a few kunai toward them, which Sakura easily repelled with a swift motion, her katana gleaming under the setting sun. Using this distraction, Fu sneaked behind them and attempted to use the Mind Body Switch Jutsu on Sakura, but he failed, as she quickly dashed behind him.
Sensing her behind him, he quickly reacted, took out his katana, and spun around to slash at her. However, Sakura stopped him by grabbing his hand. She attempted to use her monstrous strength to punch him, but Torune threw a kunai at her, forcing her to release Fu. She immediately let go of her opponent and flipped out of the way just in time, narrowly avoiding the sharp blade that embedded itself into the earth where she had just stood.
"Sensory ability and that hand sign you just made remind me of an old friend-rival of mine back at the village... You must be of the Yamanaka clan," Sakura declared, her eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. The air around them crackled with intensity, showcasing the fierce determination of all involved.
"That worthless Jutsu won't work on me. Ino used it on me during our chunin exam battle, and I forced her to release it," Sakura continued, her voice steady and filled with conviction. The legacy of her training and battles surged through her, igniting her spirit. She knew who she was, and she wouldn't be so easily taken down.
"It was you?! And the rumor was true?!" Fu gasped in disbelief, his composure faltering for a brief moment. "I heard the story of how a genin had been able to pull something like that off. I didn't want to believe it for a second."
Seeing they shouldn't underestimate Sakura, Torune removed his gloves and whispered a strategy to Fu. It was time for him to use Rinkaichu. They both charged at Sakura with synchronized movements, their experience and intent clear in their eyes. They advanced like two shadows merging into one, but Sakura was ready. With each step, she channeled her resolve, amplifying her chakra.
Sensing their approach, she took a deep breath and focused her energy. As Fu slashed with his kunai, Sakura ducked and wove, her movements mimicking water flowing around rocks in a stream. The blade whizzed past her, narrowly missing.
Determined not to let the moment slip away, Sakura propelled herself into a powerful counterattack. She pivoted smoothly on her heel, channeling her chakra into her legs, and dashed toward Fu with blinding speed.
"Cherry Blossom Impact!" she shouted. Her fist glowed with a bright blue hue, signifying the intensity of her chakra. With pinpoint accuracy, she aimed for Fu's midsection. The force of her blow collided with his stomach, sending him stumbling back, gasping for breath.
Torune, realizing his partner was now slightly incapacitated, reacted swiftly. He charged at her from the other side, determined to touch her with his poisoned fist. Sakura, noticing what he was up to, thrust her katana into the ground, using it as leverage to launch herself into the air. With a swift, fluid motion, she spun in mid-air and used her monstrous strength to throw Fu aside, sending him crashing against the wall of the bridge. The sound echoed, mingling with the rustling leaves in the gentle breeze.
"Torune! She really is no ordinary rogue ninja," Fu wheezed, struggling to regain his balance.
"I have been trained by three extraordinary people. One whom I left behind and two bastards for three years. If you think for a second I wouldn't know what your partner was up to, that means you are really underestimating me. I know he tried to poison me; he must be from the Aburame clan," said Sakura.
"Don't think for a second this is over," Fu threatened.
"No, this is over. You let your guard down," Sakura smirked, her confidence bolstered by her success."You really shouldn't have let your guard down."
"Wha—" Fu tried to say something, but he was caught off guard when he suddenly sensed Sakura behind him.
"Genjutsu, you stupid fool. I cast it right when you were oh so concerned about your partner," Sakura taunted as she channeled chakra into her fist. With one last, powerful punch, Sakura sent him crashing against the barrier of the bridge, the force of her blow reminiscent of a natural disaster. The loud clash resonated through the air, startling the birds from nearby trees.
"Hmpf, I expected no less from the former disciple of the Fifth Hokage." Danzo observed the battle as he continued to loosen his sealed right arm.
"Tsunade taught me that as a medical ninja, they are not allowed on the front lines and are trained to focus on evasion so that they can live long enough to ensure the survival of their teammates," Sakura confessed. "Besides... I have also been training with two bastards for three years. They were way too strong. Only thing I could do was evade their attacks as much as possible."
"Don't intervene, Sakura," demanded Sasuke, angrily glaring at Danzo.
"I know... I know..." Sakura mumbled as she backed away from them to avoid getting caught between their fight.
"Perfect... I can take your Sharingan!" Danzo declared as he removed the bandage on his arm, revealing numerous grotesque Sharingan implants. Sakura stared in disbelief as the bandages slipped away, uncovering a grotesque sight—a twisted amalgamation of power and deprivation. Each Sharingan served as a testament to the lives he had taken.
"Were they before or after the massacre?" thought Sakura as she clenched her teeth, feeling a mix of anger and sorrow.
Sasuke stood ready, his own Sharingan activated, crimson hues swirling ominously in the dimming light of the setting sun. The intensity between the two men crackled like electricity in the air, each acutely aware that they were on the precipice of a confrontation that could change the fate of the Shinobi world.
"You won't take anything from me, Danzo," Sasuke declared, his voice low but resolute. Memories of his brother, Itachi, flooded through him—the sacrifices made, the pain endured, the bloodshed that had shaped their destinies. It was time for him to confront the darkness that had plagued his life once and for all. He demanded to know how Danzo had obtained those Sharingans but realized that whatever response Danzo gave would only infuriate him further, and ultimately, it didn't matter since he would kill Danzo regardless.
"But there is one thing I want to ask you first," Sasuke's voice was steady yet filled with a tempest of emotions. "Is it true that it was on your and the other Konoha Elders' orders that Itachi Uchiha slaughtered my clan?"
Without answering, Danzo rushed forward in a burst of speed to attack Sasuke, but the strike was blocked by Sasuke's Susanoo. With its skeletal hand, Sasuke trapped Danzo in a tight grip and asked once more whether Danzo had really ordered Itachi to slaughter the Uchiha Clan.
"Answer me!" With those words, Sasuke intensified the grip of Susanoo around Danzo, tightening it to the breaking point. The old man gasped for air as he coughed up some blood.
"I didn't think he was that kind of man..." Danzo gasped, his voice strained but defiant. "Itachi... he told you everything... with his dying breath, didn't he? It seems you alone... really were special."
Meanwhile, Sakura, observing the conflict unfold in front of her, could feel the weight of the air. Why did he need a confirmation from Danzo? Didn't he believe Itachi? Or did he just want Danzo to admit it with his own mouth? Though her heart raced with worry for Sasuke, the sight of Danzo ignited a spark of rage deep within her. The old man was to blame for too many lives lost.
To make matters worse, Danzo insulted Itachi's honor, cursed Itachi for putting so much importance on Sasuke, even going so far as to tell Sasuke the secret he was meant to die with. Sasuke accepted it as an acknowledgment and crushed Danzo in anger.
Sakura sighed in relief, her heart pounding as she inhaled sharply, watching the bloody scene in front of her. At least this way, Sasuke's revenge ended quickly. This way he wouldn't succumb to his rage once more.
"Is it truly over?" she whispered to herself, her gaze lingering on Sasuke.
"Don't speak further of Itachi, "Sasuke growled, his voice heavy with the weight of vengeance and grief.
"Sure. Next, let's battle with our eyes instead. "Danzo suddenly appeared behind Sasuke, despite his apparent death, and attempted to stab Sasuke with a kunai, only for the Susanoo to shield Sasuke once more.
"H-huh?" Both Karin and Sakura gasped in unison, their eyes widening in disbelief.
'Is it Genjutsu? No, that can't be; I would have detected it. Hell, even Karin would have said something,' thought Sakura.
"Karin?" Sakura called out to her as she glanced over her shoulder.
Karin, with her keen eyes and understanding of chakra, hesitated before speaking. "I can only sense one chakra with Danzo's signature, so that's definitely not a shadow clone."
"Just as I thought. The Susanoo is splendid armor..." Danzo admired, his voice a raspy echo filled with remnants of malice. He smirked in a way that made Sakura's skin crawl. Sasuke tried attacking Danzo with Susanoo again, but Danzo once again appeared to die, only to reappear elsewhere unharmed.
"What the hell is going on?!" Sakura shouted in frustration, gripping her katana tightly as her eyes darted back and forth, trying to grasp the surreal turn of events unfolding before her. She could feel beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she struggled to adjust to the bizarre scenario.
This wasn't just a battle of strength anymore; it was a twisted game where Danzo seemed to defy reality itself.
"Enough of your tricks, Danzo!" Sasuke bellowed, his Sharingan blazing with determination. With his Susanoo, Sasuke slammed the pillar Danzo was standing on. The pillar broke and splintered, sending debris flying into the air. Just below it were Sakura and Karin. Sakura instinctively pulled Karin away from the falling debris.
"Aiee!" Karin exclaimed. Breathing heavily, she looked up at Sakura and said, "Don't expect me to say thank yo-"
"Whatever, just don't lose your focus on Danzo," Sakura replied without breaking contact with the battle that was happening in front of them.
"Something is bothering me, and I need you to confirm something for me," Sakura said, pointing towards Danzo as he jumped high into the air. Sasuke ascended into the Susanoo's head and incinerated Danzo with his Amaterasu.
"Behind you!" Karin shouted. Despite being burned to ashes, Danzo appeared unscathed behind Sasuke and used Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere. He took a deep breath and exhaled several small blasts of wind chakra that scattered in different directions, making it very difficult for Sasuke to avoid them without injury.
Sasuke's flesh was slightly pierced as he jumped up to evade being mortally wounded by the attack, although he ended up too close to the edge of the bridge. Sakura quickly dashed forward and used her body to stop him from falling off. They collided together with a crunch.
"Are you okay?" she asked breathlessly, her face mere inches from his. The proximity sent a jolt through her heart, but there was no time to dwell on emotions.
"I told you to stay out of it!" he barked, pulling away just enough to regain his balance.
"Geez... thank you, Sakura. If it weren't for you, I would have fallen off the bridge... not that I needed saving, but it did buy me some time to continue this battle before Danzo used another weird trick..." Sakura mumbled to herself while retreating back to where Karin was standing.
"The Amaterasu... It's been a long time since I've seen it. You truly are Itachi's younger brother," Danzo taunted. "Two brothers... whose abilities are identical... how could what their eyes perceive be so different?"
"I told you, DO NOT SPEAK OF ITACHI!" Sasuke fumed, his anger boiling over as he readied himself once more.
Observing the struggle between the two foes, Sakura felt a swell of frustration. "Danzo is just trying to provoke you, Sasuke!"
"The truth about Itachi isn't important to you," Danzo taunted. As he continued to provoke Sasuke, the Uchiha felt a profound weight on his shoulders. It was never merely about power; it was about the legacy of his family, the love of his brother, and all the pain that had brought him to this moment. "You just want to destroy everything with your hatred. You are laying waste to the Uchiha Clan's sacrifice!"
"Sasuke, don't!" Sakura's mind raced as she watched Sasuke lunge towards Danzo. Angered by his words and blinded by his rage, Danzo managed to clutch Sasuke's throat. At that moment, Sasuke sliced off Danzo's Sharingan-embedded arm and stabbed him.
While the battle seemed momentarily won, Danzo and his severed arm faded out of existence and rematerialized on top of a pillar. Sasuke wanted to lunge once more, but he was paralyzed by a cursed seal. It began to spread throughout his body, and Sakura realized that Danzo must have applied it when he grabbed Sasuke's throat earlier.
Seeing no other way, Sakura jumped in front of Sasuke in a defensive stance, her katana in hand.
"Step aside, Sakura! This isn't your fight!" Sasuke shouted, his voice tinged with desperation as he struggled against the cursed seal's grip.
"Tell me that after you manage to free yourself from that cursed seal!" Sakura shouted back as she took a firm stance, her heart racing and adrenaline coursing through her veins. The ferocity in her eyes could rival a raging storm; she wouldn't let anything happen to Sasuke—not now, when they were so close to ending Danzo once and for all.
"Foolish girl. Do you truly believe he is worth saving?" Danzo sneered, his eyes glimmering with malice. "First Itachi and now you."
"Shut up!" Sakura interrupted, her voice fierce and unwavering. "You're nothing but a coward hiding behind your tricks! You take lives and manipulate others for your gain, all while pretending to be a leader."
Continuing his taunt, Danzo mused that leaving Sasuke alive was Itachi's greatest mistake and questioned why Itachi would have done such a thing. Insulting Itachi's honor and recalling how Itachi had been unable to kill him because he believed Sasuke's life was precious, Sasuke forced his incomplete Susanoo into completion, the resulting chakra eradicating the cursed seal.
Sakura watched as a complete Susanoo surrounded her and Sasuke. The purple light radiated around them, illuminating the darkness of Samurai Bridge with a terrifying yet majestic presence. It was as if the very essence of the Uchiha clan's legacy had manifested, both protecting and empowering Sasuke.
"Finally," Sasuke hissed through gritted teeth, feeling the weight of the cursed seal slowly melt away. The glory of the Susanoo surged through him, providing clarity amidst the chaos—a rebirth from the ashes of pain and anger. "Don't make me repeat myself. Stay out of this, Sakura!"
"If you stop letting him provoke you! He sees how easy it is to provoke you, and you walk right into it!" Sakura argued back, her voice unwavering. "Don't let him cloud your judgment! Then I will stop intervening."
Sasuke met her gaze, his eyes flickering with a mix of gratitude and annoyance. He couldn't deny that her fiery spirit grounded him amidst the storm of emotions he faced. The Susanoo looming above them offered surreal comfort amidst the darkness in his heart.
Seeing Danzo was distracted, Karin wanted to use this opportunity to attack him from behind. Danzo, however, saw right through it and easily turned around, high-kicking Karin in the stomach and sending her tumbling to the edge of the bridge. She barely managed to catch herself, gripping the edge with her fingers to avoid falling into the abyss below.
"Karin!"Sakura called out, her heart racing as she turned her attention from Sasuke to Karin."What the hell was she thinking?!"
Infuriated by their exchange, Danzo unleashed a furious gust of wind directed at Sakura, attempting to sweep her away. But the mighty presence of the Susanoo enveloped them, dispelling the attack as if it were leaves blown away by a gentle breeze.
Pissed off by the failed attack intended for Sakura, Sasuke fashioned a bow out of his Susanoo and fired an arrow at Danzo, nearly killing him. However, the attack was redirected by a tree Danzo sprouted using his Wood Style, which he gained from the implanted DNA of Hashirama, allowing him to avoid the attack.
"I didn't trust that bastard, but it seems he wasn't lying. Orochimaru once told me he did an experiment on Danzo. One of the Elders of the Leaf Village," Sakura snarled. "Danzo had the First Hokage's cells implanted inside him to enhance his physical energy."
"Sakura—"
"I already told you, Sasuke. Don't let him cloud your judgment! Then I will stop intervening." Sakura interrupted him, her voice laden with conviction. It was a promise and a challenge wrapped into one. Observing him closely, Sakura noticed how exhausted Sasuke was becoming. First Susanoo, then Amaterasu...it was way too much.
Knowing how stubborn Sasuke was, Sakura stepped away with a heavy heart and rushed to Karin's side, grabbing her hand and helping her pull herself back up from the edge of the bridge.
"You need to be more careful!" she exclaimed, concern etched across her features, though there was a tinge of irritation in her tone.
"I know! I just thought I could surprise him," Karin gasped, still trying to catch her breath. Her eyes flicked back to the ongoing battle."Why did Danzo dodge Susanoo's attack, especially at such a cost? I thought he was immortal?"
"Now that you mention it..." Sakura murmured, glancing back at Danzo.
"No! He can die! If he hadn't dodged that attack, he would have died! That's why he did what he did!"Karin cried out, her eyes widening with realization. "Sasuke! That's Danzo! The real deal! He's killable right now!"
Sasuke, assuming Danzo was now vulnerable and despite blood streaming from his eye, strained to fire another arrow, only for Danzo to survive the attack once again after seeming to die.
"He weaved those signs..." Sakura thought aloud.
"As soon as he weaved those signs, the feel of his chakra shifted just slightly! Sasuke wasn't in time...gah!" Karin shouted, frustration spilling from her lips as she watched.
"So he recast that Jutsu and returned to the previous Danzo...but those three eyes stayed shut," Sakura concluded.
"Danzo's chakra has dropped again!" Karin exclaimed as soon as one of the Sharingan eyes sealed shut.
"Seems this Jutsu does take quite a toll. He needed to undo the Jutsu temporarily to preserve his chakra," Sakura replied.
"That, and one more thing...those Sharingan on that right arm are linked to his Jutsu. There's some secret to those eyes that keep closing!"Karin interjected, her eyes narrowing in determination.
"Cough!" Sasuke coughed up blood as he strained his body to maintain Susanoo's defense while reeling from the intense fight against Danzo. The battle had pushed him to his limits, but giving up now was not an option—not when he had come so far.
"Sasuke!" Karin shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos that surrounded them.
"Karin! Stay focused on Danzo!" Sakura demanded, clenching her fist as she struggled to maintain composure amidst the chaos."I want to help him just as much as you, but right now we need to figure out Danzo's trick."
Thinking Sasuke was weakened and exhausted, Danzo attempted to strike him from behind. His attack caused a weak point in Susanoo's rear armor. Sasuke turned around and had the Susanoo punch Danzo, who once more survived unharmed.
Karin observed that another Sharingan eye had shut itself on Danzo's right arm. She counted the ten eyes and noticed that there were only five left, realizing that once the remaining four were sealed shut, Danzo would not be able to evade fatal injuries anymore.
"Sasuke! I think I'm starting to understand his Jutsu! Listen up, alright?!" Karin shouted, urgency pulsing in her words.
"When all ten of those eyes on your right arm shut, your Jutsu will be undone," Sasuke stated.
"You...knew about Izanagi?" Danzo replied, shocked at the sudden realization of what was being discussed. Sasuke had already caught on earlier and had thus been forcing Danzo the entire time to continue relying on Izanagi until he used up all ten eyes.
Izanagi, an illusion to reality itself, gives the user control over what is and is not real for as long as Izanagi is active. They usually do this to protect themselves, negating any injuries they receive or even their death. When this happens, their injured self fades away as an illusion, and their non-injured self immediately materializes. They can only keep Izanagi active for a few seconds, depending on how strong that person is. The only significant side effect of using such a Jutsu is that the eye that used Izanagi loses its sight forever.
"Fool! Why are you engaging him? You should just retreat right now! Prolong the battle!" Karin shouted angrily as she watched Sasuke dash towards Danzo instead of listening to her.
"Hmpf! Leave it to Sasuke...looks like we wasted our time racking our brains for nothing on what Danzo had been doing this whole time," Sakura mumbled slightly annoyed. "Then again, he is an Uchiha. Of course he would figure out what kind of Jutsu Danzo was using."
Infuriated, Danzo used Wind Waves to attack the oncoming Susanoo; he waved his hand and created a large blade of wind capable of being launched at the opponent. It was powerful enough to briefly stop the movements of Sasuke's Susanoo. As a counterattack, Sasuke punched Danzo with the Susanoo once more, and Danzo used Izanagi again.
Manifesting himself behind Sasuke, whose Susanoo had faded away from exhaustion, Danzo threw kunai towards him. Sasuke quickly used his bracelets to produce shuriken, which he threw back.
Once down to his last Sharingan, Danzo used his Wood Style: Vacuum Blade to transform his kunai into a sword, while Sasuke formed his Chidori Sharp Spear. Danzo clashed blades with Sasuke in a final attempt to finish each other off, resulting in both of them stabbing each other.
"Ugh!" Sasuke grunted, feeling the piercing pain shoot through his abdomen. Danzo remarked that Sasuke was foolish to think he could win and attempted to use his Izanagi to reverse his injuries. However, to his shock, he was unable to use it and noticed that all ten Sharingan eyes on his right arm had been sealed shut.
Sasuke managed to trick Danzo into believing he hadn't used all of his Sharingan eyes to severely injure him. Pulling away from the Chidori Sharp Spear, Danzo grunted in pain as he dropped down to his knees, feeling the weight of his own arrogance crush him.
"Ugh!" Sasuke, panting heavily, staggered back, his thoughts swirling.
"Sasuke!" Sakura called out to him as she and Karin rushed over to his side, her eyes wide with worry. "Hurry, open your shirt! Let me heal you!"
Sasuke opened his shirt, revealing the gash in his side, blood staining the fabric. Sakura quickly placed her hands over the wound, channeling her chakra into him. She focused intently, feeling the warmth of her chakra flowing through her fingers and into Sasuke's body.
"Now that's battling with your eyes. Do not mock the Uchiha, Danzo," Sasuke declared between heavy breaths.
Danzo, struggling to stand but ultimately crumpling back down, looked up at Sasuke with a mix of rage and fear."You... you think you've won? You think this is the end for me?" His voice trembled, showing a hint of vulnerability that was uncharacteristic of the man who had wielded power with an iron fist.
Danzo's right shoulder suddenly began to grow uncontrollably. Unable to control Hashirama Senju's cells or manage the Wood Style with his chakra level being so low, a tree began to merge from his shoulder. Seeing no other way out of his situation, Danzo was forced to slice off his right arm completely.
"Not yet! This is where we battle with our eyes!" Danzo desperately shouted as he removed the bandages around his head to reveal another Sharingan eye in his right eye socket.
'Finally,' Sakura thought as she nervously watched the events unfold, slowly reaching for something inside her bag.
Seeing it was time to finish this battle once and for all, Sasuke charged forward with his Chidori in hand. Danzo, however, determined not to lose, kicked Karin away from standing in his way and took Sakura hostage, using her as a human shield.
"Sakura!" Karin screamed.
"You, who extolled self-sacrifice... would take a hostage?" Sasuke growled, feeling his blood boil as he faced the desperate old man holding Sakura. It was a low blow, but in Danzo's eyes, it was a strategic move, his last gambit to regain control of a situation spiraling out of his reach.
Sakura felt the cold steel of Danzo's kunai pressing against her throat, his breath on her ear as he whispered,"It's not... that I consider my life too precious. For the Leaf's sake, and for the sake of the Shinobi world, I cannot afford to die here."
'Sasuke... we both know this is a pathetic move and I can easily free myself from him... but why are your eyes saying something else? Like you don't care?'Sakura thought as she felt the tension in the air tighten around them, an invisible noose as Danzo's ruthless grip tightened around her throat. Her heart pounded like a drum in her ears, fear mingling with fierce determination.
"Now-"
It was a moment suspended in time. As the realization hit, the world seemed to flicker back into focus. Danzo's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked down and saw a blade through him, striking one of his vital spots. The blade had pierced not only Danzo's flesh but also that of his supposedly hostage.
"W-what?" Danzo gasped in horror, blood dripping from his mouth.
~To Be Continued~
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Next chapter: December 19, 2024.
Sorry for such a huge gap, but my nephew's birthday, my birthday, and also my son's birthday are coming up. So I won't be able to work on my next chapter as much during those weeks.
I might publish it earlier than the expected date, but no promises. I do promise that it won't be later than the 19th.