Chapter 226: Rescue
Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its characters belong to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I create.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 226: Rescue
"The Sharingan?! How do you have that?" Ino asked in shock.
Danzo didn't answer her, but she felt a terrible sense of dread from the look he was giving her.
The moment she saw the Sharingan begin to move and change shape, Ino didn't hesitate any longer...she injected her chakra into the formula inscribed on her belly to call for Naruto's help.
Danzo noticed the strange way her chakra moved, but he couldn't stop what he was doing midway.
"Kotoamatsukami…" he whispered as the ability of his Mangekyō Sharingan activated.
A connection between his mind and Ino's began to form, it would only take a second, and then...she would be completely on his side.
"No…" As an expert in the mind arts, Ino immediately realized the exact purpose of Danzo's technique.
Once he linked his mind to hers, he would be able to manipulate her thoughts and memories in ways she couldn't predict.
Her mental defenses were strong, but they were not enough to stop the most powerful technique of the most dangerous eyes...the Mangekyō Sharingan.
She dreaded the idea of Naruto arriving just in time, only to find her brainwashed and changed.
Nothing could stop the power of Kotoamatsukami… or so Danzo thought.
Right as Ino's mental defenses were about to collapse, something incredible happened.
A 'Golden Page' manifested inside her mind palace, standing between her and Danzo, preventing the connection from being established.
Ino recognized this page. It was the same one that, three years ago, had produced her cultivation method.
She had been certain the page had vanished afterward, but unbeknownst to her, remnants of the 'Divine Energy' that formed every page of the 'Golden Scripture' had remained inside her… deep within her very soul, waiting for the moment she would need its protection.
Danzo had chosen Ino over Hinata, believing her to be an easier target due to Hinata's political protection as the heir of the Hyūga Clan… never realizing the grave mistake he had made.
Divine Energy was not something for mortals to be trifled with. Even the mere remnants of a lost page were enough to serve as a life-saving artifact against a single attack from a 'True God'.
An usurped eye from a dead Uchiha, even in its most powerful form, was nothing in comparison.
In the real world, everything transpired in a single instant.
The moment Danzo uttered the words to activate his most dangerous technique, a golden shield manifested in front of Ino.
A loud 'gong' sound echoed through the chamber, immediately followed by a wave of golden energy that surged from the shield.
Danzo had no time to react, no time to scream, before his body, along with those of the two Root members standing beside him, were reduced to a bloody mist.
The sixteen remaining Root operatives, whom Danzo had strategically positioned around the chamber, were left in shock as they witnessed their leader's demise, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Then, a sound like a lightning bolt cracked through the air, and a figure appeared right next to Ino.
"Naruto!" she gasped, flinging herself into his arms.
Naruto caught her trembling body, his mind racing as he tried to make sense of the situation.
They were in a large, dimly lit chamber, surrounded by black-cloaked individuals wearing masks that reminded him of the ANBU.
The stench of blood filled the air.
He glanced down at Ino. She was wearing her pajamas, barefoot on the cold, dirty stone floor, and shaking in fear, but at least she didn't appear to be seriously injured.
What surprised him the most, however, was that he could sense traces of Divine Energy around her.
Now that he had reached the 'Nascent Stage', his senses had sharpened to the point where he could detect even the faintest traces of energy in his surroundings.
That was also how he knew they were currently underground, beneath the commercial district of Konoha. He could feel the chakra signatures of familiar citizens above...Tenouichi and his daughter, or even Tenten's father.
"Hold on, I'll get you out in a minute."
Noticing Ino's bare feet on the cold floor, Naruto effortlessly picked her up, and she clung to him even tighter.
'Whatever happened… it truly terrified her.'
Naruto knew he wasn't going to get any answers from her now. He would have to deal with that later.
His blue eyes burned with fury as he scanned the room.
"So…" His voice was low, laced with dangerous intent. "Who's in charge here?"
His gaze darkened.
"Who is responsible for this girl's fear?" He cracked his knuckles. "I'd like to kill that one first."
There were sixteen operatives surrounding him. Judging by the density of their chakra, they were all at Jōnin-level.
But there was one more signature in the room, right in front of him.
It had been faint when he arrived, but it was getting stronger by the second.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the figure of Danzo Shimura returned to the realm of the living.
"I thought that presence felt familiar…" Naruto watched as the man reappeared next to the large pool of blood left behind by his dead subordinates.
Danzo's expression first twisted with anger and frustration, realizing he had just lost one of his 'lives' in such a careless manner.
But then, his face shifted into shock, his eyes locking onto Naruto, standing just a few feet away, holding Ino in his arms.
"What… how…" Danzo wasn't sure what to ask first, What was Naruto doing here? Or how had he arrived so fast?
Naruto's voice sounded cold. "Elder Shimura… so, it is you who will die first then."
He snapped his fingers.
"Uzum—"
Danzo never finished his sentence.
His head exploded, obliterated by the highly pressurized gust of wind that Naruto sent his way.
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