Chapter 80: Danzo flees.

Zenkichi's sword had gravely wounded Akimichi Torifu. Surrounded and under pressure, Torifu realized there was no hope for a safe retreat. Gritting his teeth, he retrieved his clan's secret medicine and swallowed it. The red pill—the Akimichi Clan's ultimate medicine—could forcefully unlock latent power, massively increasing his strength at the cost of his life. "Partial Expansion Jutsu!" Chakra erupted violently from his body. His strength surged. Torifu's arms thickened and extended as he roared and launched a punch at Zenkichi. Zenkichi glanced at him coldly. The golden lightsaber in his hand stabbed forward. Torifu's body trembled, his earlier wounds detonated at once. Blood burst from his mouth as he was hurled backward, limbs flailing. The clash between fist and blade exploded in a shockwave that rippled outward in all directions. "Even drug-fueled strength isn't enough to bridge the gap," Zenkichi said calmly. A golden glow radiated from his raised finger—Condensed Light Arrow. With a flash, the arrow streaked toward Torifu. Boom! A fiery explosion swallowed Torifu's figure. "Gotcha!" A deep voice rang out. Shimura Danzo appeared behind Zenkichi and struck his back with an open palm. "You thought Torifu was trying to kill you? He was just a feint." "I'm the real threat. Now you're finished." Dark ink-like lines spread from Danzo's hand, crawling over Zenkichi's body. Reaper Curse Mark Binding Technique. One of Danzo's signature jutsu—it immobilized the target through direct touch, sealing their movements with cursed inscriptions. Danzo once used it against Uchiha Sasuke. "Sealing jutsu, huh?" Zenkichi muttered, allowing the marks to spread across his body. "Not bad." Hiruzen sighed nearby. "Torifu... was a true Hokage. A flame of the Will of Fire." Zenkichi suddenly shouted, mockingly, "Oi oi oi! You already giving a eulogy? Sounds like you think the battle's over!" "Let me offer a tip—strategy means nothing without power." "Sealing techniques are one of the few methods that can threaten me. But let's be clear—not just any seal will work." His body erupted in golden light. Radiance poured out, shattering the curse marks crawling over him. Even Sasuke had broken this technique using an incomplete Susanoo. For Zenkichi, breaking free was effortless. After gaining access to the remains of an ancient civilization and splitting the Tailed Beasts, Zenkichi's synchronization with the Kizaru template had reached 73%. Now, he faced the Third Hokage and the others with amused detachment. "Zenkichi!" A deep voice echoed. Zenkichi recognized it by Haki alone. He smirked. Burubi appeared, pulling out the Amber Purification Bottle from a sealing scroll. Zenkichi knew its power well—he didn't respond. Instead, he casually countered with a backhand laser beam. Burubi dodged swiftly, weaving through the air with the bottle in hand. "Sealing Jutsu!" This time, Ebizō emerged with a different sealing tool—a great cauldron, once used to suppress Shukaku. He formed hand seals as golden runes erupted from the cauldron. Glowing chains shot toward Zenkichi. "Pathetic." Zenkichi lazily raised his lightsaber and slashed. The air howled with sword energy as the incoming chains were obliterated. "Zenkichi!!" Hiruzen roared, charging in with the Adamantine Staff—his summon Enma transformed. He wanted to create an opening for Burubi to activate the bottle. Zenkichi recognized the object for what it was—the Amber Purification Bottle, a relic of the Sage of Six Paths. Said to seal anything that responds to its call, it was once wielded by Ginkaku and Kinkaku of the Hidden Cloud. Though they turned rogue, the Third Raikage recovered the bottle and returned it to Kumogakure. Its sealing power was immense—capable of imprisoning even the Eight-Tails. But it only worked if the target responded when called by name. If Zenkichi answered, the artifact would unleash the power of the Six Paths and drag him in. Without voice activation, it couldn't seal someone of his caliber. Ebizō had just proven that with his failed attempt. Even though the bottle surpassed the cauldron in strength, it still wasn't enough to contain Arakawa Zenkichi. "Again?" Zenkichi's expression didn't change as Hiruzen rushed him. He moved in a flash, brushing past the aged Hokage. A golden arc of sword light exploded from his weapon. The Adamantine Staff was cleaved in two. The severed staff reverted to the unconscious form of Enma, the Monkey King. Blood burst from Hiruzen's body as he collapsed lifelessly. "...You..." Zenkichi turned to Danzo and the remaining elders, his eyes full of scorn. Compared to Sarutobi Hiruzen and Akimichi Torifu, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu weren't even worth the effort. When they saw Hiruzen fall, they fled without hesitation. "Your second grandfather died to protect these cowards." "Don't you think that's... beneath him?" Zenkichi spoke indifferently, glancing toward the shadows. From them, Tsunade stepped forward. Her gaze met his, eyes filled with complicated emotions. She looked at the fleeing silhouettes of Danzo and the others, then sighed softly. --- Patreon.com/Zphyr_ Support or Join to get access to chapters in advance.