Danzo stood before the defeated Mangetsu, his gaze assessing every detail. With a wave of his hand, he addressed Kinoe.
"Release him, he can't escape anymore."
Kinoe, without hesitation, performed a single hand seal. The roots began to slowly retract, sliding into the ground as if they had never existed. Mangetsu, though free of the bonds, remained bent over, Shisui's sword still piercing his stomach, the energy of the raiton faintly sparking around the wound.
Mangetsu looked up, his eyes filled with fury and helplessness. "Damn you... do you think you can subdue me so easily? You will pay for this! All of you!"
His voice echoed through the air, but none of those present showed any reaction. Danzo stepped forward towards Mangetsu and, without saying a word, placed his right hand firmly on the swordsman's shoulder.
At that instant, Danzo's chakra flowed like a current, marking Mangetsu's body with a seal invisible to the naked eye. A moment later, the marks began to spread across the swordsman's body, forming dark and complex patterns. Mangetsu felt as if his body was trapped in an invisible prison.
"What... what is this? Damn it!" he growled, trying to move his limbs. But every effort was useless.
The Self-Curse Seal had completely paralyzed him.
Danzo withdrew his hand, his cold gaze fixed on the defeated swordsman. "Your endurance is admirable, but it is useless. You can do nothing now."
The Root leader turned to Shisui, who was waiting nearby. "Retrieve your tantō. There's no need to keep it there anymore."
Shisui calmly approached, taking the hilt of his sword. With a clean, precise movement, he withdrew it. A final flash of electricity illuminated the wound before fading away. Blood began to gush out, but Danzo, with a simple movement of his hand, sealed the bleeding using a basic medical jutsu.
Mangetsu growled in frustration, but his body remained motionless, unable to respond to his will.
Shisui watched silently, his gaze assessing Danzo's every action. "Why not end this now, Danzo-sama? It could become a problem if he manages to break free," he suggested cautiously.
Danzo negotiated with a slight nod. "The Chimera Technique cannot be reused immediately. There is a cooldown period before it can be performed again. We will have to carry it with us for a few days."
Tatsuma stepped forward and lifted Mangetsu up, slinging him over his shoulder with ease. "It won't be a problem. I'll make sure he stays under control," he stated confidently, the swordsman tried to resist, but the seal kept his body completely immobilized.
Danzo then turned his gaze to the Hiramekarei sword, which lay nearby, covered in dust and dirt from the fight.
"A sword such as this must not be left abandoned," Danzo said as he approached.
With a movement, he raised the Hiramekarei. His experience with weapons was extensive, and though the sword responded better to its original wielder, Danzo's chakra connected with it enough to recognize its authority. He noted its weight and balance, appreciating the mastery of its design.
"A valuable artifact," he murmured, settling it on his back and then turning his attention back to the north, his eyes shining with determination. "We will not be leaving yet. There is something else I must obtain before we can consider this mission complete."
"What thing, Danzo-sama?" Kinoe asked, breaking the silence.
"Thanks to Kaizen's memories, I know that there is another with a Kekkei Genkai in this region. A boy, son of the Kaguya patriarch. He inherited the Shikotsumyaku and is locked away in a nearby cave."
Tatsuma, who was carrying Mangetsu, frowned. "And what is the intention with the child? Are we going to eliminate another potential threat?"
Danzo glanced at him "No, I intend to bring him with us, power like that should not be wasted."
Tatsuma nodded slightly. "A logical move, Danzo-sama. He could be a valuable asset if trained properly."
Without another word, Danzo began to move north, his steps guided by Kaizen's memories. Tatsuma, Kinoe, and Shisui followed silently behind him, each with their thoughts focused on the next stage of the mission.
Danzo's group moved silently through the forest, guided by Kaizen's memories. The cave was not far away, and as they approached, the atmosphere seemed to become more oppressive. The entrance, dark and narrow, was hidden behind dense foliage.
Danzo stopped in front of the entrance and raised his hand, motioning for the group to wait. "Tatsuma, stay here. Kinoe and Shisui, follow me. This will require caution."
They entered the cave. Darkness enveloped the place, but as they went deeper, a faint light began to illuminate the way, coming from a small opening in the ceiling. Finally, they arrived at a rustic cell made of makeshift bars and rusty chains.
Inside, a boy of about 3 or 4 years old, white-haired, thin and pale, was huddled in a corner. In his hand he held a sharp bone fragment, with which he was drawing lines on the ground.
"Why?" the boy muttered, sticking the bone into the ground again and again. "Why am I here? What did I do to deserve this? I don't understand..."
Danzo watched silently, noticing the fragility in the boy's words, he paced around the small space, never taking his eyes off Kimimaru.
The boy slowly stood up, his gaze lost, and walked over to a roughly carved face on the cave wall. With a sigh, he raised the bone, as if to vent his frustration against the lifeless face.
"Is there really someone up there watching us? Why are you allowing this? Why did you leave me here?"
Before the bone was nailed into the wall, Danzo's deep voice echoed through the cave.
"I'm watching you today. And I won't let this happen to you anymore."
The boy turned sharply, startled by the interruption. His eyes, large and distrustful, fixed on the man who was slowly approaching.
"Who are you?" Kimimaru asked, clenching the bone in his hand.
"I am Danzo Shimura," he replied calmly. "But who I am is not important. What matters is why I am here."
Kimimaru didn't look away, but he didn't make any aggressive moves either.
"You don't deserve to be here, locked up like an animal," Danzo continued. "Deprived of your freedom. Treated like a disposable tool. You are more than this. You are a child with a unique gift. And that gift deserves to be cherished."
"Why do you say that?" Kimimaru's voice was low.
"Because I see something in you that your clan didn't. A future. A reason to live."
Kimimaru pressed his lips together, slowly lowering the bone. "What is your intention? Why do you come to me?"
Danzo took a step closer, keeping his tone calm but firm. "I want to give you a new life. Away from these chains. Under my tutelage."
The boy remained silent, looking at the bone in his hand, as if pondering Danzo's words.
"My clan... they only wanted me to fight for them and then they would lock me in this place, but I don't want that."
"It will not be like that," Danzo replied. "With me, you will not only be a thoughtless tool, you will serve me, yes, but we are after a greater purpose. For a future where there is peace between all."
Kimimaru looked up, his eyes shining with a small spark of hope. "Peace?"
Danzo nodded calmly. "Yes, once I am Hokage my goal is peace and that no child ever again goes through what you have gone through, and I promise that you will never be alone again."
What Danzo didn't say is that his idea of peace wasn't based on hugs and friendship.
After a moment of silence, Kimimaru dropped the bone fragment to the ground. He stepped towards the bars and extended his hand, as if to confirm that this was not a dream. Danzo took his hand firmly and nodded approvingly.
"Shisui, Kinoe, break the bars," Danzo ordered.
Within seconds, the cell was unlocked. Kinoe helped Kimimaru out, while Shisui watched silently, keeping alert.
"Danzo-sama, my name is Kimimaru"
"Kimimaru," Danzo said, leaning slightly towards him, "This is a new beginning for you."
The boy nodded timidly, his eyes still filled with caution, but for the first time in a long time, hope as well.