Kill!
The battle between shinobi is not just a contest of ninjutsu, but also a clash of intelligence.
Especially in the early stages of Naruto, when most ninja have relatively equal power levels, intelligence gathering can determine the outcome of a mission.
To defeat Kakashi's Team 7, even Zabuza resorted to faking his death to gather information. Though ultimately defeated, the attempt demonstrated how critical intel is.
For Xu Fan—someone who has seen the entire Naruto story—his knowledge of others' abilities is a decisive advantage.
"How did you determine the exact duration of Izanagi's effect?" Uchiha Itachi asked, voice calm but eyes sharp.
When Danzo revealed the Sharingan embedded in his right arm, Xu Fan didn't even flinch.
As if he had expected it.
"I've killed Danzo once before," Xu Fan said bluntly. To him, it wasn't a secret worth hiding.
"And now, it's just a matter of repeating that process… several times."
With that, Xu Fan strode toward Danzo.
Root shinobi tried to intercept him, but their efforts were meaningless. With the Byakugan's 360-degree vision, Xu Fan clearly saw every movement—every kunai throw, every jutsu hand sign.
Most of their tactics were standard: shuriken shadow clones, elemental B-rank techniques, or direct taijutsu assaults.
Only a few attempted to close in with kenjutsu.
Danzo's breathing became labored as he watched Xu Fan approach. Despite wielding Izanagi—a forbidden technique of the Uchiha clan—it consumed tremendous chakra and had strict time limits.
"Can I still use it ten times…?" Danzo muttered, glancing at the Sharingan implanted in his right arm.
Then, without hesitation, he performed a summoning jutsu.
Boom!
A loud crash echoed as smoke billowed across the battlefield.
Taking advantage of the cover, Danzo inhaled sharply. "Fūton: Shinkū Renpa!" (Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!)
Multiple slicing wind blades cut through the mist, aimed at Xu Fan's vital points.
Xu Fan's Byakugan immediately registered Danzo's summon—Baku, a mythical dream-eating tapir that inhales enemies using wind pressure and can even disrupt a Susanoo with Danzo's coordination.
Whoosh!
As Danzo launched his wind jutsu, Baku emerged fully and opened its maw, sucking in massive volumes of air. The resulting vortex pulled everything toward its gaping mouth—including Xu Fan.
But Xu Fan remained calm.
He brought his hands together with a sharp clap.
"Mokuton: Mokujin no Jutsu!" (Wood Release: Wood Golem Technique!)
Channeling chakra into the earth beneath him, trees erupted upward and quickly morphed into a massive wooden golem.
Xu Fan leapt onto the golem's shoulder, focusing chakra to his feet for balance.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Danzo's vacuum blades struck the golem, but they only left minor cracks on its surface.
The attacks of the Root ninja couldn't pierce the Mokujin's defenses.
Uchiha Itachi observed intently. The golem was larger than what Xu Fan had summoned before.
"Its defensive power is comparable to Susanoo..." he muttered.
Though Itachi and Xu Fan were cooperating to defeat Danzo, Itachi was also analyzing Xu Fan's true strength.
Previously, Xu Fan had used the golem only as a deterrent—not in direct combat. Now, its durability and presence were undeniable.
Even Danzo—a veteran shinobi with deep knowledge of the Uchiha—seemed rattled.
He had once resisted Shisui Uchiha's Kotoamatsukami.
Using genjutsu against him would be no easy feat.
As Itachi compared their abilities, the wooden golem charged forward. The Root ninja gasped.
Even Aburame Torune, rarely surprised, was stunned.
Was this really a shinobi battle?
Danzo's wind jutsu had no effect on the golem, and the creature's power and speed rivaled any elite jonin.
Facing both Xu Fan and the golem felt like suicide.
"Damn it…" Danzo grit his teeth. He thought the summoned Baku would give him the upper hand.
But Xu Fan felt like he could see right through him.
"Does he know all my techniques…?"
The wooden golem ignored the vortex entirely, raised one massive hand, and clamped it over Baku's mouth.
Boom!
With a deafening crash, the golem slammed Baku to the ground, pinning it with sheer brute force.
Mokujin could hold back even a tailed beast's Bijūdama. Against a summon like Baku, this was overkill.
With the wind pressure neutralized, Xu Fan dashed forward, closing the distance between him and Danzo.
He reached out—
Snap!
—and snapped Danzo's neck cleanly.
One of the Sharingan on Danzo's arm instantly closed.
"You're strong," Danzo muttered as his body staggered back, head somehow intact again.
"I once tried to recreate the power of Hashirama Senju through human experimentation."
"What I got… was a failure like Yamato."
"All my work, all my ambition… was stolen by Sarutobi Hiruzen."
"But you're walking the wrong path. Hiruzen's softness will lead Konoha to ruin—just like Hashirama's ideals once did."
"Even Shisui… He had the power to reshape the shinobi world, yet chose to remain bound to a single village. A single clan."
"The so-called peace Hashirama built only lasted until his death."
Danzo's voice grew hysterical, his resentment boiling over.
Xu Fan simply nodded.
"I understand."
But understanding did not mean he would spare Danzo.
Thud!
Xu Fan drove a kunai through Danzo's chest—clean through.
"Let me count... I think that's two deaths now. Eight more to go."
He turned slightly to glance at Itachi behind him.
"You want to take a couple of them?"
Uchiha Itachi: "???"