Chapter 490: The reason for Danzo being favored has been found

Boom~

"Enma!"

Having suffered the painful loss of his "Kun-Kun," Enma retreated from the battle in agony. Before he could even recover his true form, he turned into a puff of white smoke and fled back to Flower Fruit Mountain to seek a way to save his "Kun."

Seeing that his efforts to keep him were in vain, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only slowly raise his hand in a salute, expressing his deepest condolences to this comrade who had shared life and death with him.

A faint glimmer flickered in his eyes, as if he had made a certain resolution.

Enma, rest assured; I shall take care of your wife.

Danzo landed beside Sarutobi Hiruzen, looking at the complex black face paint on Number Six's face with a solemn expression.

"Monkey, what should we do?"

The few of them couldn't even defeat the clone in its ordinary state, let alone in Sage Mode.

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at the intense, massive battle in the distance, knowing full well that no one could assist them right now; they had to rely on themselves.

"Our mission is to buy time for our teacher and the Hokage. We must drag this out as long as we can."

As for winning against the clone, the F6 had never harbored such fantasies from the start. The God of Shinobi was not someone just any Tom, Dick, or Harry could challenge.

All they could do was exhaust every ounce of their strength to hold back the clone before them and reduce the pressure on Senju Tobirama and Uchiha Madara.

"How is Torifu?"

"I'm fine."

After Utatane Koharu's treatment, Akimichi Torifu, who had nearly died of asphyxiation, had recovered, but there was a hint of cowardice on his face.

It seemed the shadow of being taken down by the clone in a single move had not yet dissipated.

"He seems different from the other clones."

Uchiha Kagami had been staring with his Sharingan. After observing Number Six for a long time, he spoke with some uncertainty.

"Kagami, what have you noticed?"

The others immediately perked up, wary of Number Six suddenly erupting, while urging Uchiha Kagami not to keep them in suspense.

"He lacks battle consciousness."

Battle consciousness generally refers to a combatant's keen perception of the goals, situation, and actions during a fight, as well as the corresponding ability to react.

It was clear that this clone fighting them lacked the most basic battle consciousness, and its desire to fight was not strong.

In truth, one couldn't blame Clone Number Six for slacking off; the original intent behind its creation was to collect Tailed Beast chakra.

Although it had been assigned by Number One to deal with the F6, these humans had no traces of Tailed Beast chakra in their bodies, failing to awaken its desire for intelligence.

To put it simply, its body was telling it that it didn't want to work for free.

As for the mission assigned by Number One, it would just bluff its way through; Jigen wouldn't blame it for that anyway.

After hearing Uchiha Kagami's words, the group frowned and pondered, realizing that it was indeed as he said—this clone was highly suspected of slacking off.

"This is very favorable for us."

Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, feeling greatly reassured. If this clone maintained this state, they could delay for even more time.

The others also showed joy, expressing their approval of the ELO matchmaking mechanism.

"Hehe, we're sure to win~"

Unable to restrain himself, Danzo even began celebrating halfway through the match.

"Number Six! Quickly finish off those humans; we need support!"

Just then, a frantic voice rang out across the battlefield. A massive Wood Human was being chased all over the place by a blue Susanoo, and the clone standing on its head looked panicked.

Although Number One was the first clone to awaken intelligence, it had absorbed the One-Tail, so its strength was just "so-so."

Of course, it would be fine if it were dealing with an ordinary Tailed Beast knight.

But this time, it had run into a tough nut to crack. This red-eyed human was even more irritable than the curly-haired one they had encountered before; he wouldn't give it any time to snack on seeds or chat, just hacking away relentlessly.

Helpless, Number One had to urge the two dispatched clones to come and assist, but it couldn't find Number Five, so it had to call out to Number Six, who was slacking off not far away.

Receiving the order again, Number Six was forced to exit its slacking state. It slowly raised its hands, palms together, and a thick Wood Dragon rose from the ground, biting toward the F6.

"Roar!"

The F6's expressions stiffened, the smiles on their faces instantly vanishing, and they immediately leaped away in all directions.

Rumble—

The F6, having dodged to the side, watched the massive trench the Wood Dragon plowed into the ground and subconsciously swallowed their saliva.

"Everyone, stay alert! It's charging over!"

Before they could exchange more words, Kagami, who had been keeping a close eye on the enemy, shouted a warning. He transformed into a streak of red light, heading toward the rushing clone.

【Ninja Art: Dance of the Sun Halo】

He swung the crimson longsword in his hand, unleashing several blade beams condensed from flames.

Facing the scorching slashes, Clone Number Six did not dodge or evade, instead raising its hands in mid-air to block.

Clang!

Clang! Clang!

"Nani!?"

Uchiha Kagami widened his eyes in surprise, looking in disbelief at the clone that had blocked all of his Dance of the Sun Halo just by raising its hands and stomping its feet. A deep sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.

No wonder the opponent had been unscathed under the encirclement of their ninjutsu; it turned out to have such terrifying blocking ability.

"Kagami, don't be discouraged!"

Without Enma's coordination, Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't dare engage in close-quarters combat with the clone like Kagami, but he didn't shy away from the fight either. Instead, he performed the Shadow Clone Technique, creating four clones.

The four clones and the original leaped high, surrounding the clone in mid-air. The five of them performed different hand seals.

"Five Elements: Great Barrage Technique!"

Five distinct types of chakra surged out instantly, transforming into five ninjutsu with astonishing destructive power, smashing toward the clone that couldn't dodge in mid-air.

Rumble!

"Huff, huff..."

Listening to the roaring sound in his ears, Sarutobi Hiruzen revealed a faint smile.

As a composite ninjutsu he had practiced for many years, the Great Barrage Technique had the highest destructive power among conventional ninjutsu. Even Uchiha Gin couldn't help but praise its power, suggesting it could be used when going all out.

Even if the clone was as strong as the Great Teacher, it was ultimately made of flesh and blood. Facing such a powerful composite ninjutsu, it should at least lose a layer of skin if not die.

Kagami, also staring at the explosion, didn't dare to relax in the slightest. His Sharingan's superior vision pierced through layers of smoke, finally seeing the figure standing in the center of the explosion.

Not only that, but the opponent was also leaning forward, knees bent, in a sprinting posture.

Whoosh—

"Hiruzen, look out!"

"?"

Upon hearing the warning, Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned for a moment. Out of trust for Kagami, he immediately leaped backward.

But in the blink of an eye, a figure darted out from the smoke and stood right before him.

The remaining clothing on Clone Number Six was completely shattered, with only a few strips of cloth hanging from its waist, barely covering its exposed parts. Its robust body was covered in various wounds.

There were burns, frostbite, lacerations...

It was evident that Sarutobi Hiruzen's Great Barrage Technique had not been ineffective; it had actually broken the clone's defense.

The next moment, a jaw-dropping scene occurred.

These gruesome wounds were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. After just a few breaths, the skin on the clone's body returned to its newborn state, as if the previous injuries had just been a hallucination.

Move... move quickly!

Overwhelmed by the opponent's terrifying aura, Sarutobi Hiruzen lost control of his body for a moment. He could only look at the clone standing before him in despair, prepared to close his eyes and await death.

Clone Number Six raised its fist, which was glowing with strange strength, without expression. Under the blessing of Sage Art, this punch could even penetrate Susanoo, let alone Sarutobi Hiruzen's fragile body.

In the moment before the clone's fist smashed into his head, a "revolving lantern" of Sarutobi Hiruzen's life flashed through his mind. Bits and pieces of the first half of his life emerged—parents, lovers, comrades...

The surging wind of the punch rushed toward his face, and Sarutobi Hiruzen chose to close his eyes.

Goodbye, everyone.

"Puff!"

However, a few seconds later, the imagined pain did not arrive, and the sharp wind of the punch suddenly vanished. In its place was a warm, fine rain that sprinkled onto his face.

The smell of blood?

Am I already dead?

Thinking that the clone's punch had been so fierce that he hadn't even had time to react to the pain before his soul returned to the Pure Land, Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly opened his eyes. The scene before him left him shaken to the core.

Blocking in front of him was Danzo, whose face was as pale as gold paper. The clone's world-destroying punch had landed on his massive, perky buttocks, smashing the originally firm and bouncy glutes into limp meat, hanging powerlessly to the ground.

Danzo himself had also been injured by the impact, blood and bits of flesh constantly gushing from his mouth. Seeing that his life was coming to an end, he still forced a triumphant smile.

"Cough, cough, cough... Monkey, you owe me one."

With that, the light in his eyes scattered, and his whole body slowly collapsed toward the bewildered Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"No!!!"

Compared to the grieving Hiruzen, Number Six felt no emotion. After expressionlessly pulling its hand out of the soft, ruined buttocks, it locked onto the target that hadn't been hit just now.

"Super Push Hand!"

Just as it raised its fist again, Akimichi Torifu, eyes splitting with rage, attacked in hatred. His massive hand, carrying immense force, pushed out violently.

Caught off guard, Number Six was pushed back dozens of meters by the giant palm, but its posture remained as steady as Mount Tai, leaving only two deep trenches in the ground.

"Run quickly!"

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura took the opportunity to leap forward, hoisting the limp Danzo and the ashen-faced Hiruzen, retreating rapidly to put distance between them and the clone.

Seeing this, Number Six slammed a fist into the giant palm that was pushing it. The terrifying strange strength shattered the palm bones, traveling up the meridians.

"Crack!"

Akimichi Torifu felt the pain and hurriedly withdrew his palm. After returning to normal size, his entire arm hung powerlessly to the side.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Uchiha Kagami leaped up, taking a deep breath in mid-air. Enduring the scorching chakra in his throat, he unleashed it fiercely after condensing it to the limit.

The dense fire-attribute chakra transformed into a massive fireball, pressing toward the clone.

Seeing this, Number Six, in order to preserve the last few strips of cloth on its body, immediately brought its hands together. Thick wooden branches rose from the ground, splicing together into a conical arch wall in front of it, wrapping its body inside to defend against the damage of the Great Fireball.

【Wood Style: Wood Locking Wall】

"Boom!"

Upon contact with the target, the Great Fireball with its astonishing destructive power exploded instantly. The scorching aura filled the entire battlefield, and the F6 took the opportunity to retreat to a relatively safe distance to catch their breath.

But Kagami didn't relax in the slightest, raising his hand to perform the same hand seals again. A massive Great Fireball smashed into the crumbling Wood Locking Wall once more, buying more time for his teammates.

"Danzo! Don't sleep!"

Utatane Koharu, kneeling on the ground, had cyan light glowing from her hands. Life force converted from chakra was poured into the dying Danzo as if it were worthless, but the results were minimal.

The rise and fall of his chest became slower and slower. Sarutobi Hiruzen, his face stained with his best friend's blood, looked at all this blankly. A deep sense of powerlessness grew in his heart, his mind filled with scenes of him and Danzo growing up together.

"Thud!"

"Damn it! I should have been the one to block it!"

Akimichi Torifu slammed a fist into the ground, his chubby face full of guilt.

Mitokado Homura stood to the side with his head hanging, his glasses blocking his teary eyes.

The feelings the few of them had for Danzo were no less than Sarutobi Hiruzen's. They were equally filled with grief over the departure of this best friend.

"It's all my fault. If it weren't to save me, he wouldn't have..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the pale Danzo, muttering to himself.

At this moment,

He no longer blamed Danzo for not sharing his lollipop,

Nor did he care about Danzo not lending him five hundred bucks,

And he was no longer annoyed that Danzo didn't share his good magazines with him.

His only wish now was for his best friend to survive.

"Danzo, can you hear me? Danzo! If you survive, I'll forgive you for any mistake you make in the future!"

Helplessly clutching Danzo's limp arm, Sarutobi Hiruzen's trembling voice was like weeping, pushing the already sorrowful atmosphere to its peak.

Utatane Koharu, who had failed to save Danzo, sat slumped on the ground. In despair, she couldn't help but cover her face and sob.

"Wuu... wuuu..."

"The Great Fireball can't hold for long. How is Danzo?"

Just then, Uchiha Kagami, who had bought precious breathing time with his "unburnable" technique, landed before the group. Seeing the grief-stricken expressions of his friends, a sense of foreboding welled up in his heart.

Oh no!

Could Danzo have already died?

He absolutely must not die!

"Kagami, come and see Danzo for the last time."

Akimichi Torifu stepped aside, revealing Danzo lying on the ground behind him. Uchiha Kagami immediately stepped forward to check, touching the other's neck and finding a faint pulse, he let out a long sigh of relief.

"Huff... as long as he's not dead yet!"

"Kagami, what do you mean by that?"

The group, immersed in grief, was stunned upon hearing this, looking at Uchiha Kagami, who showed a look of relief.

He didn't say much, instead rummaging through the backpack behind him, finally pulling out a bottle of crimson unknown liquid.

"Help me lift him up."

Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately pulled up his half-dead best friend, and Kagami then poured the red liquid in his hand fiercely into Danzo's abdomen.

"Gulp, gulp, gulp~"

As the large bottle of liquid disappeared, the group was surprised to find that the originally deathly pale face of Danzo actually flushed with a color symbolizing life force. The rise and fall of his chest stabilized significantly, and the lost vital signs returned.

"He's alive! Danzo is alive!"

After Utatane Koharu checked him, she instantly broke into a smile through her tears.

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his head, his blood-stained face full of gratitude.

"Thank you, Kagami."

"This is what I should do."

Uchiha Kagami waved his hand, his handsome face showing a look of seriousness. He saved Danzo not just because of their bond.

"Danzo still owes me a lot of money; how could I let him go before me?" (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 491 =====