In a cave in the Land of Rain, Kato Dan's face was pale.
Since he had mastered the forbidden technique, Spirit Transformation Technique, he had never failed before.
His direct combat strength might not match Jiraiya and others, but his deterrence on the battlefield surpassed even three Jiraiyas combined.
He never expected to suffer a setback at the hands of an Anbu wearing a fox mask.
When he tried to control that squad leader, the squad leader had already been controlled by the Yamanaka clan's secret technique.
He had never encountered this situation before and couldn't overcome the clash of two souls.
This taught him a lesson: be careful when dealing with the Yamanaka clan in the future.
Physical injuries could be treated with medicine, but soul injuries could only heal slowly on their own.
Kato Dan said to the two Senju guards, "Give me another half hour. After half an hour, I'll use the Spirit Transformation Technique to scout the return route. If there's no danger, we'll return to the front-line camp."
Dan was an important elite jōnin of the Senju clan. The Senju guard said, "Dan, don't push yourself. Don't leave any hidden injuries."
Kato Dan nodded, indicating he knew his limits.
Lying in the cave, Kato Dan listened to the sound of rain trickling at the entrance.
Clan Head Senju Hanaki had tasked him with investigating the truth about the Nine-Tails transfer sealing night, and he had probed many Anbu ninja.
Unfortunately, the Anbu's command structure was strict. Low-level members knew nothing, only following their squad leader's orders.
Squad leaders didn't know the real orders either, or didn't know the full orders.
To avoid exposure, any Anbu he investigated had to be killed.
After the Fox Squad escaped, Kato Dan worried they might report to the Anbu.
He hadn't gained any valuable intelligence from the several Anbu squad leaders he probed.
Should he target an Anbu Battalion Commander?
Kato Dan thought about the Anbu Battalion Commanders he knew and felt it would be extremely difficult.
Yellow Dog, a veteran Anbu Battalion Commander, was the Hokage's right-hand man. Yellow Dog had protected him during the Battle of Ushiga Mountain. He was strong in taijutsu and ninjutsu, and had a resilient will.
Black Ant, the Nara clan Anbu Battalion Commander, was the Anbu's strategist, his command authority second only to the Hokage and Danzo.
Which Anbu Battalion Commander should he target?
Who exactly knew why the Armored Susano'o suddenly appeared on the Nine-Tails?
The sound of rain grew slightly louder.
The terrible weather in the Land of Rain... he really didn't know why the people here endured hunger and hardship without relocating.
"Parasitic Destruction Insects!"
A Senju guard suddenly shouted. The Parasitic Destruction Insects had actually used the cover of the heavy rain to crawl into the cave.
The three inside hurried to the cave entrance. Outside, two Anbu were charging towards them.
One Anbu wore a beetle-patterned mask, the other wore a fox mask.
Fox mask?
Kato Dan was stunned. Wasn't that the Anbu squad leader he had fought before?
Had he already been exposed?
Kato Dan said, "The Anbu are here to kill me! Stop them!"
The two Senju guards hesitated for only a brief moment before immediately judging that protecting Kato Dan was more important than anything else.
One Senju ninja rushed out of the cave to intercept the two Anbu.
The other Senju ninja stayed by Kato Dan's side, guarding against enemy sneak attacks.
"Water Release: Water Cutting Wave!"
A high-speed water jet shot from the Senju ninja's mouth, sweeping horizontally, cutting the two Anbu in half.
Even the large trees behind them were neatly severed.
The power of the Water Cutting Wave was immense.
However, the Senju ninja's face changed dramatically.
"Not good!"
The Anbu with the beetle-patterned mask shattered into dense swarms of insects – it was an Insect Clone.
The ninja with the fox mask turned into mud – an Earth Clone.
As expected of elite Anbu capable of finding Dan, they actually mastered such exquisite clone techniques.
"Be careful!"
Inside the cave, the sound of exploding tags suddenly rang out.
The Senju clansman guard, using his back to shield Kato Dan, flew out, taking the blast of the exploding tags head-on to prevent Kato Dan from being injured.
Yōkō regretfully emerged from the ground inside the cave. The Senju clan guards were very strong; even a sneak attack couldn't secure a victory.
Only after the heat from the exploding tags at the cave entrance dissipated did he slowly walk outside.
When he reached the outside of the cave, he saw the two Senju guards escorting Kato Dan, fleeing quickly northward, with "B" in pursuit behind them.
Yōkō hurried to follow. Danzo was still hiding nearby; it wouldn't be good if Danzo caught him slacking off.
After running for a few minutes, one Senju guard, seeing they were at a speed disadvantage, stopped to cover the retreat of the other two.
"Go quickly! Don't worry about me!"
He jumped up, charging towards "B" in mid-air, but was intercepted mid-air by the Fox Anbu.
Such fast Body Flicker Technique!
Yōkō's ninjato left its sheath, clashing with the Senju guard's kunai.
"B" continued the pursuit, while Yōkō engaged the Senju guard in one-on-one combat.
The Senju guard grew more and more frustrated as they fought. He felt the Fox Anbu opposite him was almost like his mirror image.
Similarly skilled in Earth and Water Release, similarly possessing a powerful physique. Yōkō had a slight advantage, but couldn't achieve a quick victory.
The Fox Anbu primarily defended using Water Release: Water Formation Wall, showing little offensive desire, acting as if delay alone meant victory.
The Senju guard suddenly realized: the Fox Anbu's delaying tactics proved there weren't just two Anbu; other enemies were hidden in the shadows!
The decisive factor wasn't between the two of them, but in the sneak attack of the hidden enemy.
The Senju guard turned his head and saw the Beetle-masked Anbu also locked in combat with the other guard.
The Beetle Anbu's movements were more extreme, almost trading injuries for hits, only wanting to get close to Kato Dan as quickly as possible.
Kato Dan had already sat on the ground, preparing to use the forbidden technique.
"No!"
Once Kato Dan used the Spirit Transformation Technique, his main body would be completely defenseless.
At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared behind Kato Dan.
Danzo held a kunai, coated with the sharp Wind Release chakra forming a Vacuum Blade.
The Vacuum Blade swung, slicing the raindrops in the air one by one.
Danzo stared at Kato Dan's neck. If he could kill Kato Dan, the trouble would be eliminated.
However, the Vacuum Blade stopped abruptly, three centimeters from Kato Dan's ear.
Kato Dan's soul was even faster!
Truly worthy of the universally praised Kato Dan, his forbidden technique activation speed was so rapid.
Danzo's expression changed, his entire aura transforming.
Danzo spoke:
"Lord Danzo, I didn't expect it to be you. Since you've found me, there's no need to hide it anymore.
I have been investigating one thing. On the night of the Nine-Tails transfer seal, whose Sharingan created the Armored Susano'o on the Nine-Tails, causing Lady Mito to die prematurely?"
Danzo's eyelid kept twitching, struggling constantly.
"Then let me ask you, why have you suddenly started wearing an eyepatch?"
As he spoke, Danzo's left hand reached up and lifted the eyepatch.
Beneath the eyepatch, a new Mangekyō Sharingan emitted a crimson glow in the rainy night.
"So it is you!"
The Vacuum Blade in Danzo's right hand suddenly thrust upwards, piercing into Danzo's own throat.
The Vacuum Blade was exceptionally sharp, capable of cutting through giant rocks and even steel armor effortlessly, let alone Danzo's flesh-and-blood throat, which was like clay.
Danzo's throat was instantly pierced.
The Vacuum Blade, lacking Danzo's chakra support, instantly vanished.
Blood gushed forth, momentarily even drowning out the sound of the rain, splattering noisily onto the muddy ground.
Danzo's corpse fell forward, stiffly landing in a puddle of rainwater.
Danzo died again?
Twice in one night?
Even Yōkō, with his resurrection system, wouldn't dare to die like that.
Blood spread in the puddle.
"B" shouted, "Lord Danzo!"
Yōkō felt no joy in his heart, his gaze fixed intently on Danzo's figure!
Could it be...?
(End of Chapter)