Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Danzo Shimura was indeed quite adept at manipulating people.

They all fell to the rank of S-class rogue ninjas, yet they still had loyal ninjas who were willing to follow him wholeheartedly.

Therefore, even when Shimura Danzo was on the run, he put on a grand display, with dozens of ANBU ninjas forming a battle formation to protect him in the center.

At the very end of the long procession were more ANBU ninjas and researchers, carrying all sorts of documents, instruments, weapons, scrolls, and money.

This made it very easy for Xia Zuo to find the trail and catch up with Shimura Danzo.

"Haha, Danzo has been living in high position for too long, he's lost all sense of danger?"

"You're a rogue ninja, you're on the run, not a pioneer leaving Konoha to start anew."

"Since you don't care about being exposed and you're carrying so much wealth, I'll gladly accept a portion of it."

It wasn't that Xia Zuo didn't want to swallow it all, but rather that he lacked spatial abilities and couldn't take too much with just his two hands and the sealed scroll.

However, Xia Zuo was still in a great mood. Standing to the side of the Root team, he clasped his hands together again, and his chakra surged forth as he used the Wood Release technique for the third time.

[Wood Release: Advent of the Tree World]

Under Xia Zuo's control, the giant tree grew in an orderly manner, forming a thick tree wall in rows, surrounding the entire root system and separating the teams transporting goods from the teams on guard duty.

Then Xia Zuo attacked the combat personnel.

The Root ninjas experienced the feeling of fighting Hashirama Senju 55 years ago, surrounded by giant python-like branches and roots.

If you're not careful, your hands and feet will get tangled in tree branches and roots. Once you're restricted in your movements, you'll soon be wrapped in a cocoon and dragged into the layers of branches until you disappear.

Interspersed among the branches and roots are terrifying thorns; once you get pricked by one, you'll instantly turn into a human-shaped bonsai.

This time, without the presence of Konoha ninjas, Xia Zuo had no time to sever the victim's nerves.

The excruciating pain caused these potted plants at the base of their roots to wail in agony, but they were already beyond saving.

As the dense mass of giant trees surged forth, Shimura Danzo went completely mad, roaring, "Genin Natsuzo, how dare you try to wipe me out!"

"Damn it, Hiruzen Sarutobi! You actually couldn't control this madman!"

The creaking and twisting of the wood and the screams of the Root Ninjas echoed through the sky, but the Tree World's attack only intensified.

Danzo Shimura's face contorted as he ripped open his black robe and pulled his right hand out from his white inner robe, revealing his right arm wrapped in dense bandages.

He ordered the last Root ninja guarding him, "Ryuma, find the enemy's trail, then cooperate with me to kill him."

Ryoma Aburame removed his hood, revealing the tattoo on his lip, and respectfully replied, "Yes, Lord Danzo."

Immediately, countless parasitic insects crawled out of his body. The insects spread their wings and flew to all directions of the forest, searching for the location of Xia Zuo who had launched the attack.

Xia Zuo quickly noticed the presence of the parasitic insects and couldn't help but laugh.

"I am not a Senju clan member who relies entirely on the Wood Release bloodline limit. I possess all the chakra natures and have learned many ninjutsu."

"Although they are all spells from the world of cultivation, their power is absolutely satisfactory."

"In the vast forest, there is only one truly terrifying disaster: fire!"

Xia Zuo placed his ten fingers together in front of his mouth, then puffed out his cheeks and suddenly spat out.

Fire Release: Flaming Dragon in Ten Directions

The flames spewing from Xia Zuo's mouth formed a huge, lifelike dragon head, with its whiskers, horns, scales, teeth, and beard clearly visible.

The fiery dragon opened its flaming maw and let out a terrifying roar.

The sound waves formed orange ripples that spread through the air, igniting everything in their path.

Trees, leaves, human bodies, and even elusive parasites—everything was instantly reduced to ashes.

Even the parasitic insects that burrow underground are roasted until they smell delicious.

Losing most of his parasitic insects in an instant was a serious injury for Aburame Ryoma. He could no longer control the restless chakra within his body, resulting in severe internal injuries.

After spitting out a mouthful of blood, Aburame Ryoma finally felt a little better and quickly sounded the alarm: "Lord Danzo, be careful! His fire jutsu is extremely strange."

Shimura Danzo stared blankly at the forest that had instantly turned to charcoal, muttering, "I've already seen it."

Ryoma Aburame, manipulating the parasitic insects to consume his own blood, couldn't help but ask, "Such a powerful fire jutsu... is this guy really from the Senju clan?"

Danzo Shimura gave a desolate laugh: "Heh, you're wrong. This kind of ninja is what a Senju clan ninja should be like, just like my teacher, the Second Hokage."

"I now truly believe that he was a backup plan arranged by the teacher, a backup plan to monitor me and Hiruzen Sarutobi."

He shouted, "Xia Zuo!! Do you really believe that I am a threat to Konoha Village?"

Xia Zuo gave an unexpected answer. His voice was difficult to discern in direction or location, but it was clear enough: "Hmph, is there even a need to ask such a question?"

"With the deaths of Nawaki and Kato, the harm you have done to Konoha Village is very obvious."

He fabricated a lie with righteous indignation: "Back then, you were doing your best to protect Konoha Village, and your merits outweighed your faults, so we didn't bother with you."

"When you forced Sakumo Hatake to commit suicide with fake missions and rumors, your faults outweighed your merits. It was just that your existence was still necessary at the time, so we barely tolerated you."

"On the night of the Nine-Tails, you cowered and refused to come out, even falsely conveying the Hokage's orders to prevent the Uchiha clan from participating in the battle. You deserve to die."

"Unfortunately, at that time, I was too weak to carry out my duties after just taking over the responsibilities, so I could only wait."

"Today, the Uchiha clan massacre was your doing again. Judging from the consequences of the Uchiha clan's extermination, this will be a major blow to Konoha Village, and may even trigger a new war."

"Therefore I conclude that you and the roots should no longer exist."

"Shimura Danzo, do you have any objections to what I've said and my judgment?"

Danzo Shimura chuckled: "No, you're right, absolutely right! I admit it!"

"But why don't you talk about the Uchiha clan's problems? Why don't you talk about Hiruzen Sarutobi's problems?"

Xia Zuo sneered, "The Third Hokage is still useful. He needs to guard the position of Hokage for the Fifth Hokage. When the time comes, I will naturally make him step down."

"As for the Uchiha clan, I know they have problems, but the most serious problem is the reactive response they had to make under pressure from you and the Third Hokage."

Danzo roared, "So what if we have no choice? The evil Uchiha clan is preparing a coup. Aren't they right?"

Xia Zuo smiled slightly: "Of course they were wrong, so the Uchiha clan's patriarch, elders, and Jonin all died. They used their lives to cleanse their sins."

"You should also pay for your sins with your life, shouldn't you?"

When Xia Zuo said, "You should also pay for your sins with your life," Shimura Danzo let out a scream.

Fresh new leaves sprouted from his right arm, from his shoulder to his fingers, and instantly a canopy grew upwards and roots developed downwards.

Danzo Shimura was enveloped by the rapidly growing tree trunk and transformed into a large tree.