Chapter 132: The Death of Danzo (Bonus Chapter for Blue Porthole 20190325)

The ANBU sent out to search were struggling through the depths of the forest, where the silence was so complete that only their faint footsteps and occasional whispers could be heard.

Just as they were proceeding with extreme caution, a soft voice suddenly called out:

“Wait.”

The ANBU instantly went on alert, glancing in every direction. Only then did they notice Hinata standing not far away.

She was in the middle of laying traps. Had she not revealed herself and stopped them, they would almost certainly have stepped right into them. The girl had already prepared herself to fight the Iron Monster to the death.

After identifying themselves and exchanging information, the ANBU still decided to bring Hinata with them on their return journey. They would regroup with the main force and return to the Leaf Village together, their pace unconsciously quickening.

Yet the moment they all came face-to-face with Hiruzen Sarutobi, the situation changed abruptly.

At that instant, the Iron Monster’s cold body detected the arrival of additional reinforcements, and it began to undergo a strange transformation.

“Battlefield conditions have changed once again.”

The Iron Monster’s mechanical voice rang out coldly, its emotionless tone echoing through the air.

“Decision: launch final attack. Seize the opportunity.”

As the announcement sounded, the Iron Monster slowly raised both arms. The patterns etched across its mechanical body began to flicker with an eerie, sickly green light. From every part of its frame, countless tiny metal tubes extended like demonic tentacles, emitting sharp, hissing cries.

“Get out of the way! Quickly!”

At the sight of this, Hiruzen’s expression changed dramatically. He shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice filled with panic and concern:

“Everyone, protect yourselves by any means necessary!”

But it was already too late.

The Iron Monster flung its arms wide. Countless beams of ghastly green energy poured forth like a torrential downpour.

Wherever the beams passed, the air itself seemed to freeze, giving off a terrifying sizzling sound.

The earth was instantly torn apart. Trees were severed at the waist and erupted into roaring flames that danced wildly in the wind.

Rocks were pulverized by the overwhelming force, filling the sky with clouds of dust.

“Hiruzen!”

As the beams were about to strike Sarutobi, Danzo hesitated for a moment.

At that critical instant, countless thoughts flashed through his mind: his past with Hiruzen, the conflicts and cooperation between them, their responsibility toward the village…

In the end, he still threw himself forward without hesitation, covering Hiruzen with his own body.

Several beams pierced through Danzo’s body, passing on through and tearing into Hiruzen as well.

“Ahhh—!”

Hiruzen had never felt pain so terrible. Even someone as strong-willed as he was cried out in agony.

Danzo, however, could no longer cry out. Every vital point in his body had been pierced by the beams, while his chest and abdomen had been scorched black. His internal organs appeared to have been completely burned away.

The energy beams continued firing without pause, shrouding the entire battlefield in a miserable sea of sickly green. The light was cold and merciless, as though it intended to devour everything.

Everything around the Iron Monster was annihilated beneath the assault, leaving behind nothing but a desolate wasteland of ruins, like the aftermath of the apocalypse.

The ANBU assigned to protect Hinata were reduced to ash on the spot, vanishing without a trace. Only Hinata reacted quickly enough. In that infinitesimal instant, she activated the power of the White Eye: Echo.

There was only one thought in her heart:

Survive—for everyone’s sake, and for the village.

Hinata absorbed a vast amount of energy and redirected it elsewhere, barely managing to preserve her life.

After unleashing that attack, the Iron Monster itself underwent a brutal ordeal.

Most of its body began to pour out thick black smoke. The heavy fumes rose slowly over the silent battlefield like the breath of a demon.

Large numbers of scorched and molten components fell from its frame with sharp clattering sounds, each impact dull yet unsettling.

Its transformation module had sustained severe damage, leaving it unable to disguise itself any longer.

Its mechanical eyes could no longer flash with their former cold light, but they remained fixed intently upon Hinata without the slightest wavering.

With only its tracking, locomotion, and weapon-drawing functions still operational, the Iron Monster advanced toward Hinata step by step. Its heavy footsteps sounded especially sinister and terrifying across the silent battlefield.

Danzo had died in battle, his body lying motionless where he had fallen.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had also suffered grave injuries, his breath as faint as the dying flame of a candle flickering in the wind.

Without the slightest hesitation, Hinata hoisted both Hiruzen and Danzo’s corpse onto her shoulders and ran.

On this day, after enduring so many brutal events, Hinata had undergone a complete transformation.

There was now only one belief in her heart:

She would destroy the Iron Monster.

She would bring the dead home.

Although the Iron Monster had been severely damaged, its condition was still far better than Hiruzen’s. It continued to pursue Hinata relentlessly. Its program had been set that way: it would not stop until its objective had been achieved.

“Child, don’t waste your strength. Put the two of us old men down and save yourself.”

Hiruzen spoke weakly, his voice filled with helplessness and concern. He looked at Hinata, deep remorse and reluctance in his eyes. Within his heart, he sighed silently:

“How can two old fools like us allow a young child like her to be placed in danger because of us?”

Hinata shook her head.

“Lord Hokage, I won’t abandon you. We can break through together.”

Hiruzen gazed at her in silence for a long while before finally speaking slowly:

“Child, I’ve already discovered the Iron Monster’s weakness. It is the fusion of extreme Lightning Release and extreme Fire Release.”

His voice was weak, yet he still retained his composure. Even so, it sounded almost like a final farewell.

Hinata hurriedly tried to reassure him.

“Lord Hokage, please don’t lose the will to fight. My White Eye: Echo can absorb chakra, circulate it through my body, and release it again. I can definitely get you and Elder Danzo out of here.”

“Is that so?”

After a long silence, Hiruzen said to Hinata:

“Show me what your ability can do.”

Green light began to shine from Hinata’s hand. At that very moment, Hiruzen suddenly seized her wrist.

Hinata instantly felt immense quantities of Lightning Release and Fire Release chakra surge into her chakra pathways like raging waves.

“Lord Hokage, what are you—”

Hinata’s eyes widened in shock.

“This is the last of my chakra.”

Hiruzen’s voice was desolate.

“Use it well. Stay alive. Put us down and go!”

It turned out that Hiruzen had condensed the last of his chakra into powerful Fire Release and Lightning Release chakra and transferred it to Hinata.

Hinata said nothing. In silence, she placed Hiruzen and Danzo side by side, then turned resolutely and walked toward another part of the forest.

Hiruzen watched her back disappear among the trees and gently shook his head, his heart filled with emotion.

He sat quietly beside Danzo’s corpse. Suddenly, memories surged through him like a tide. He recalled a scene from countless years ago, when he and Danzo had bid farewell to their teacher, the Second Hokage.

Back then, they had been young and full of fighting spirit, their hearts filled with hope for the future.

Now, the years had passed, and everything had changed.

“Let me die here with a clear conscience. I have lived long enough and given everything I had to the village. Now it is time for me to make one final contribution to the village’s future.”

Hiruzen thought silently.

But to his surprise, the Iron Monster did not pay them the slightest attention. It went straight after Hinata instead.

Only then did Hiruzen understand. Hinata had known all along that the Iron Monster’s target was her.

She had left in the opposite direction to draw the Iron Monster away and protect him.

When he realized the truth, tears of age streamed down Hiruzen’s face.

“Where the leaves of the Leaf Village dance, fire continues to burn… The one who should be kindling that fire ought to be an old man like me…”

Hiruzen lowered his head and murmured, his voice filled with regret and emotion.

Just then, a golden light appeared within his field of vision.

“Old Man Third!”

A familiar voice rang out.