Danzo stared at Ishiki Kujo, who stood atop the massive tortoise, Leo. Even he had to admit—he was impressed.
Thirteen years old. And this brat not only lasted through Danzo's assault, but was now gaining the upper hand? That went far beyond "genius"—this was monstrous talent.
Especially that chakra pool. Vast. Far beyond a standard jōnin's.
And yet, instead of calming him, Danzo's bloodlust surged again. His hands flew into another seal formation, chakra charging—
But before he could complete it, a thunderous roar cracked overhead.
"EVERYONE—STOP!"
The voice was explosive. And the owner descended like a missile.
Danzo instinctively aborted the jutsu. His right eye slammed shut, left eye wide as he leapt backward. The jagged earthspikes still came for him—Leo's Stone Style didn't care about commands.
Ishiki, meanwhile, launched forward, vaulting off Leo's shell—aimed directly at Danzo like a bullet.
But before he reached his target—
BANG!
A wall of earth surged from the ground, slamming up between them.
Ishiki didn't stop. He screamed through it like a berserker, fists smashing the wall with raw Yang-infused chakra.
But Danzo had already finished a new seal, unleashing another vacuum-laced Wind Release.
Before it reached Ishiki, more earth walls shot up from beneath. This time, they weren't to protect Danzo—but to trap both of them.
The walls hadn't even closed yet when Leo charged in, breaking through the stone like wet paper, scooping Ishiki back onto his shell with a practiced roll.
"Still want to keep fighting?! You trying to defect, brat?!"
Leo had seen who just landed. That old man in the robes—the one who stopped the jutsu.
Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Third Hokage.
Even Leo, hard-headed as he was, knew not to test that one.
Ishiki didn't answer. He was already weaving hand seals, prepping another jutsu atop Leo's shell.
But two ANBU flashed into view, appearing on Leo's back. Their hands moved in eerie synchronicity—forming a square-shaped seal formation that hovered in their palms.
The moment it descended toward Ishiki, two Earthen Hands exploded from the ground, clamping onto Ishiki's legs, halting his movement.
Just a moment of stillness.
But it was enough.
The Sealing Barrier snapped shut around him.
Ishiki's jutsu dissipated instantly. His fists flared with chakra and pounded against the barrier. The shock made the entire structure groan—cracks spidered through it.
The ANBU stared, wide-eyed. The raw force behind that punch nearly shattered the seal in a single blow.
Leo snarled, ready to help, but—
"Shall I personally send you home?" came a calm, utterly cold voice.
Sarutobi was beside him.
It was a whisper. But in Leo's ears, it hit like thunder.
"…No need. I'll go."
Leo glanced apologetically at Ishiki—then vanished in a puff of smoke.
Hiruzen had already finished weaving his own jutsu. He gave a slight nod. The ANBU stepped back.
Lightning Dragon Bullet.
The moment Ishiki shattered the weakened barrier, the jutsu struck him full-on.
Arcs of lightning surged across his body, searing skin and scorching chakra pathways.
But then—Yang Chakra flared. His flesh began to heal almost instantly.
He staggered forward a few steps… then stopped.
He could keep fighting. He wanted to keep fighting.
But now… it was over.
Hiruzen didn't even glance at him. His eyes locked on Danzo.
Two more ANBU stepped beside Ishiki.
"Kujo Ishiki," one said. "Calm yourself. Come with us. The Hokage will investigate the Root incident personally."
Ishiki gave a small nod. His face was unreadable. He didn't say a word. Just exhaled—and followed them.
Meanwhile, Danzo was still on a rampage.
Even surrounded by ANBU, he lashed out—striking at them like they were enemies.
His Sharingan, which had closed earlier, was now fully open again, spinning wildly.
But with Hiruzen stepping in—and ANBU backing him—Danzo's fury didn't last long.
The Third unleashed another Lightning Dragon, blasting Danzo off his feet.
This time, the jutsu didn't just hurt his body.
It seemed to crack the rage inside him, snuffing it out.
He collapsed. Still conscious—but finally subdued.
His expression twisted with shame and rage. Defeated.
"Take him away," Hiruzen ordered, voice heavy.
"And no one speaks of this incident. Not a word."
He turned to Danzo. His eyes brimmed with quiet, raw disappointment.
Because during the battle, he'd seen it. In Danzo's right eye.
A Sharingan.
He turned away.
There were still survivors to rescue, Root personnel to stabilize, injuries to mend.
But most of all—he needed time to think.
How had Danzo gotten that eye?
Hiruzen's mind raced. He had two theories.
He didn't want to believe either.
This was Danzo—his comrade. His shadow. His oldest friend.
Had the darkness finally consumed him?
Had Hiruzen walked in the shadows for too long… and lost his way?
When the explosion erupted from Root HQ and smoke began to rise, Hiruzen had moved immediately with the ANBU.
But entry had proven difficult.
Everyone who stepped inside Root was consumed by frenzy—driven into a state of pure aggression, like rabid animals.
It was as if some kind of virus—some psychological parasite—was spreading through the base.
Only after deploying the Medical Corps and Barrier Team did they begin to analyze the situation.
In the end, it was the Hyūga Clan who spotted the truth.
Scattered across the wet floors were small, golden, disk-shaped creatures—biological constructs, or something like them.
Each one emitted a faint but continuous electrical pulse.
Anyone touched by that current was overcome by primal rage—the need to fight, to dominate, to destroy.
Once they identified the cause, Sarutobi coordinated lightning-style jutsu strikes.
It worked. The electricity reset affected minds, disrupting the compulsion.
Finally, they could move.
Inside? Hell.
Root had turned on itself. Bodies everywhere.
Elite after elite—dead. Missing limbs. Shattered masks. Burned corpses.
Even the registered Root shinobi—those trained from childhood—had suffered massive casualties.
And every loss hurt.
Every name on that list was a blow to Konoha's strength.
The worst part?
Some Root agents fought with such blind fury that they didn't stop until they collapsed—bones shattered, teeth embedded into walls, eyes bulging from overexertion.
Madness.
Hyūga operatives moved quickly, identifying and destroying the golden creatures before they could pulse again. Some were vaporized mid-charge.
The Intelligence Division had hoped to capture one for study.
But even their best containment techniques failed.
Beyond their pulse, the creatures were useless. They crumbled after a few minutes, offering nothing but faint chakra residue.
Another Stand. Gone. Without a trace.