The dense red lightning, like molten magma, seemed to respond to an unspoken command from its master. It surged violently above Danzo, and in the blink of an eye, a thick lightning barrier formed in midair.
This barrier wasn't a physical shield—it flowed like seawater, intangible and pulsing with violent energy.
As a result, the raging thunder hanging in the sky above Earth passed through it effortlessly, continuing its indiscriminate bombardment.
Danzo gritted his teeth and suddenly opened the iron box attached to his right arm, revealing a cluster of densely packed Sharingan.
The moment he exposed it, Kaito noticed that three of the Sharingan had already closed.
In other words, Danzo had died three times during the battle.
With Shisui's right eye and those three gone, only seven lives remained.
Kaito's lips curled slightly as he gripped the Mangekyō Sharingan tightly in his palm.
Crack! Snap!
In the next instant, the Sharingan was crushed into a bloody pulp in Kaito's hand.
A flash of lightning arced through the sky. The bloody remnants in his palm disintegrated, turning to ash and vanishing completely.
With that, the so-called most powerful illusion—Kotoamatsukami—was forever erased from the ninja world.
Having finished the task, Kaito glanced upward, amused, watching Danzo scramble toward the sky like a cornered rat.
For all his sinister reputation in Konoha, Danzo was undeniably skilled with Wind Style techniques.
Advanced Wind Release jutsu burst from his hands and mouth in quick succession. Each blast cleared away more of the lightning barrier overhead, carving an escape path upward.
He paid for it—two more Sharingan on his arm dimmed and closed. Only five remained.
Kaito stepped forward and vanished.
In the next instant, he reappeared high above the thunder barrier, calmly waiting.
Moments later, Danzo emerged, panting heavily, looking both panicked and enraged.
"Kaito! Just wait!" he snarled, hatred etched across his face. "When I get out of here, I'll make sure you pay for this!"
Before he could finish his threat, a sharp burst of air whistled above.
Bang!
A pitch-black whip kick crashed into Danzo's body, launching him downward like a missile—straight back to the deepest level of Root.
Crack! Zzzzt!
As soon as he hit the ground, arcs of red lightning snaked toward him like venomous serpents.
One. Two.
Two more Sharingan closed. Danzo's expression turned grim, filled with murderous fury.
With only three eyes left, he knew he couldn't escape.
But if he was going to die here—then he'd take Kaito with him.
"Kaito! If I must die—then I'll take you down with me!" he bellowed. "For the sake of Konoha, I'll eliminate anyone who could bring it harm!"
His righteous tone would've been convincing—if Kaito didn't already know the full extent of Danzo's hypocrisy.
Kaito ignored the theatrics. The thunderstorm above was almost spent, and Danzo had to die before it ended.
With a single wave of his hand, the red lightning converged around Danzo once again.
Danzo didn't waste time with more words. His body leapt upward, red lightning coiling around him. His charred skin peeled back as he bared his teeth.
Wood Release: Violent Spear Tree!
A surge of life force poured from Danzo's right arm. A massive tree erupted from the limb, slamming into the lightning-scorched ground like a falling tower.
Danzo had acquired Wood Release from the transplant of Hashirama's cells, courtesy of Orochimaru. He typically avoided using it—prolonged use risked cellular backlash that could turn his entire body into a tree.
But now that death was inevitable, he no longer cared.
He jumped onto the tree's trunk and formed hand seals in rapid succession.
Wind Style: Vacuum Great Ball!
Chakra flooded his lungs, and he exhaled violently.
A massive sphere of compressed wind tore through the air like a cannon shell, speeding toward Kaito.
But even as the attack launched, Danzo and the tree beneath him were swallowed by a wave of crackling red lightning.
Kaito's expression remained calm. With a sweep of his arm, the surrounding red lightning gathered again.
In an instant, a massive serpent of pure electricity—over ten meters tall—formed beside him. Its forked tongue hissed with killing intent.
With a lash of its tail, it collided with the incoming wind sphere.
Snap!
The wind sphere, powerful enough to slice the air, was torn clean in two by the lightning snake's tail.
Boom!
The attack exploded in midair, blasting the surroundings with hurricane-force wind. Razor-like gusts pierced the earth like hundreds of needles.
But the red lightning serpent stood unshaken at the center of it all. It flickered with power as it slithered to Kaito's side, tilting its massive head with almost human curiosity.
Danzo, having just resurrected from another Sharingan, caught sight of this from afar. His face turned deathly pale.
Before he could act, a lightning vine coiled up from the ground and bound his body.
Red lightning morphed into dozens of piercing blades, striking downward in unison.
Now only one Sharingan remained.
A moment later, Danzo revived—one final time.
And without hesitation, he charged toward Kaito in a mad frenzy.
Kaito wasn't surprised. He knew exactly what Danzo was attempting.
"Go!" he commanded, smacking the red serpent on its side.
The once-docile lightning beast transformed in an instant into a raging monster, hissing and snarling like an ancient dragon. With a feral roar, it lunged at Danzo at blinding speed.
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