Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 372 Hiruzen and Danzo, Brothers in Misfortune
At the same time, the lights in Konoha gradually went out, and silence descended.

However, deep within the village, far from all human activity and noise, lies underground.

Inside a heavily guarded laboratory, the atmosphere was so tense it felt almost frozen.

Danzo Shimura sat on the cold operating table in the dimly lit room. The operating light cast a shadow on his wrinkled face, making him appear both dark and gloomy, adding to his sinister and eerie aura.

He slowly raised his right arm, the layers of bandages had been removed, revealing pale, loose skin with red lines spreading across it.

At this moment, only one last sealing shackle remains on this arm, imprisoning the two restless forces within it.

"Finally, only this last seal remains!"

In his emotional state, three tomoe appeared in Danzo's right eye, flashing with fervor, excitement, and anticipation.

The forced fusion experiment in the second phase has already achieved "success" far exceeding expectations.

After forcibly absorbing the power of the second Hollow and unlocking the corresponding second shackle, he achieved a new level of control over the Hashirama cells within his body.

Now, he can use powerful Wood Release ninjutsu like "Wood Release: Silent Killing Binding Technique" at will, just like Yamato.

At the same time, the three-tomoe Sharingan transplanted into his right eye finally freed him from the predicament of constantly consuming large amounts of chakra, just like Kakashi Hatake did in his early years.

He can now freely control the Sharingan to open and close, only summoning it when its power is needed, greatly reducing the burden on his body.

The increase in power was significant, but Danzo knew that it was far from reaching its limit.

That's why he's been like a venomous snake lately, having sheathed all his claws.

Even when humiliated by Hinata Kumokawa, he showed no intention of retaliating, playing the role of a defeated, down-on-his-luck, and submissive old dog.

He is waiting.

He was holding back.

This is the moment he has been waiting for.

When I possess the power of Wood Release, Hollow, Sharingan, and Byakugan simultaneously!

He wanted to completely overwhelm Hinata Kumokawa, sweep away all obstacles, and ascend to that coveted position!
And now, the experiment has finally reached its final stage!

Danzo's eyes gleamed with an almost fanatical light as his gaze first swept greedily over a huge cylindrical transparent container beside him.

Inside the container, a 'Void' was sealed and imprisoned, falling into a deep slumber.

Then his gaze shifted to another, slightly smaller container.

The container was filled with a pale green nutrient solution, and a pure, flawless white eye was quietly suspended within it.

"Lord Danzo."

A woman's voice clearly reached Danzo's ears through the laboratory's sound transmission device.

Danzo tilted his head slightly and looked through the thick, specially made glass window at the woman in the control room outside, who was wearing a white lab coat and glasses.

"Are you ready?" 'Mink's' voice was devoid of any emotion.

"Let's begin." Danzo's voice was hoarse. Without further hesitation, he slowly leaned back and lay flat on the cold, hard operating table.

“Give all power to me,” he said.

Click... Buzz...

Several tubes of varying thicknesses and made of special materials were placed around the operating table, with sharp needles at the ends, which were inserted into acupoints on Danzo's arms, chest, and other areas.

The other end of the interface is connected to the container that seals the 'Void' and the container that stores the 'Byakugan'.

Gulu!
The pale green nutrient solution and black spiritual energy began to slowly flow into Danzo's arm and body through the channels!
A wave of immense pain washed over Danzo, causing him to groan as his body tensed instantly, veins bulging like dragons beneath his aged skin.

But he stared intently at his reflection in the ceiling, his eyes burning with an almost insane obsession.

Hinata Kumokawa!

I will make you kneel before me like a dog!

— Meanwhile, at Konoha Hospital.

The corridor was filled with the pungent smell of disinfectant, and the pale, cold light from the ceiling lamps made everyone's faces look somewhat haggard.

The red "Operating" indicator light above the operating room door was incredibly glaring.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood motionless in front of the closed operating room door, like a withered old tree, his back casting a long shadow under the light.

He wasn't even wearing his divine robes, just a dark nightgown, clearly having rushed over after receiving the news.

Behind him stood Jiraiya, Kakashi Hatake, Kurenai Yuhi, Aoba Yamashiro, and others, all of whom were sent to explore the underground palace in the Land of Hot Springs.

Almost all of them were wounded, their clothes were torn, their bodies were wrapped in blood-soaked bandages, and their faces showed undisguised exhaustion and signs of travel, clearly having gone through a fierce battle.

"Cough! Cough cough cough..."

A sudden, uncontrollable fit of violent coughing shattered the silence of the corridor.

With a face as pale as paper and breathless, Moonlight Gale covered his mouth tightly with his hand, his thin body trembling with each cough, seemingly unable to even stand.

His old ailment seems to have worsened.

Jiraiya frowned and gave Genma Shiranui a wink.

Genma Shiranui nodded in understanding, quickly stepped forward, helped Hayate Gekko up, and whispered, "Hayate, let me take you to your ward to rest first."

Immediately, the Moonlight Gale carried away this oppressive area.

The corridor fell silent again, with only the faint ticking sound and the heavy breathing of the people.

Looking at the once straight back in front of him, which now appeared somewhat hunched, Jiraiya took a deep breath.

“Old man…” He stepped forward, his voice low and apologetic, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t protect Asuma…”

"No need to say anything more, Jiraiya."

Before he could finish speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi, with his back to him, gently shook his head, interrupting him.

"Your opponent this time was the Akatsuki organization. It's already quite an achievement that you managed to bring most of them back safely."

"How could I blame you..."

His tone sounded very calm, but Kakashi Hatake, who was standing a little further back, noticed it keenly.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi uttered these words, his hands, hanging at his sides, were clenched tightly, his knuckles turning bluish-white from the excessive force, and trembling slightly.

How could I not resent it?

Kakashi sighed silently in his heart, "Asuma is the Third Hokage's only son now..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's wife, Biwako Sarutobi, died during the Nine-Tails' attack. Konohamaru's father, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eldest son, has also died.

If Asma dies, he will truly only have one grandson left.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi is still Hiruzen Sarutobi.

He knew better than anyone that the mission had resulted in heavy casualties, and Asma was not the only one who had fallen.

He cannot let personal matters interfere with public duty and vent his personal emotions on others who have also fought bravely and returned wounded.

Jiraiya, in particular, had done his best.

Hiruzen Sarutobi kept telling himself this, forcibly suppressing the resentment that gnawed at him like a venomous snake.

"call……"

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, turned around, and his face had returned to its usual calm, only the deep weariness in his eyes remained.

"You said before that you brought back a few scrolls from the second level of the underground palace."

His gaze fell on Jiraiya, and he calmly said, "Also, Hayate's chakra blade, like the ninja tools we got from the dungeon, has also changed?"

(End of this chapter)