48 Chapter 48

Since the last thing he wanted was to end up crying after Naruto talked to him, Kuzo put his fingers on his ears, covering them with a spider web. You know, it would be embarrassing if he and Naruto talked, and Naruto ended up saying something like, 'I once was a loser ninja like you.'

Noticing that the noise got less, Kuzo nodded and looked around.

Naruto crossed his fingers, creating around ten shadow clones around him.

They attacked him from every direction. Being the sensory shinobi he was, Kuzo didn't even need to look to dodge.

'Let's try this.'

Kuzo chose not to use Ninjutsu or Taijutsu, but a plain genjutsu.

<<Yin release: Imagination transfer>>

What Naruto would be experiencing now is a battle in his imagination where he would be the victor. Kuzo never relied on Genjutsu in his life, for it would be almost useless against advanced shinobi like the Uchiha and those who can detect it. But he had plenty of genjutsu in his memory, so he didn't mind using some.

The shadow clones and Naruto started attacking the air around them.

If there was something to learn from Itachi, the best Genjutsu to use was the one that made your opponent think they were winners. People always believe what they want to believe. If the Genjutsu was unrealistic, then people won't believe it, and they would break out of it.

Kuzo took out the spider webs from his ears, and he turned to the referee, asking, "What did I miss?"

"Some shouts," replied the referee.

Naruto and his shadow clones stopped attacking. Naruto walked to the middle and pointed with his finger in thin air, aiming at what was an imaginary version of Kuzo.

"Listen, I understand how frustrating it's like to be a loser and then gain power. But to treat your Sakura like trash and bully everyone because you are slightly powerful isn't the right way. People like you end up lonely. I once was lonely…"

Kuzo felt he needed to play the world's smallest violin… no, the world's smallest flute.

The crowd ended up laughing. When he turned his head to Kakashi and his team, he found Kakashi looking at the other side. Sakura's face was red. Ino, who was next to her, was laughing her heart out.

"Now, I'll teach you a lesson in humility," Naruto said.

Kuzo shook his head and stood behind the original Naruto, forming a hand seal.

"Release," he said, releasing the genjutsu.

Naruto woke up, and he looked in front of him. "Where are you?" he looked left and right. He looked at the ground confused. There were no battle marks, nor kunais or shurikens.

Kuzo put a kunai on Naruto's neck.

The referee raised his hand, announcing Kuzo as the winner.

Kuzo retracted his kunai and walked back to the seats.

Now, it would be time to deal with Danzo and his guards.

"Hey! Where are you going!" Naruto pointed with his hands toward Kuzo. "I'm not done talking to you."

Naruto glared at Kuzo with furious eyes. "You may have won the test, but I have a talk with you!"

Not finding another choice, Kuzo weaved the hand signs for the same genjutsu from earlier.

He turned, only to see Naruto was talking.

Kuzo slowly walked to the side. Naruto didn't follow him with his eyes. Good, it meant that the genjutsu worked. Kuzo then ran away to the audience, leaving Naruto there.

-x-X-x-

Kuzo walked to the Hokage when the latter called him. He now stood facing Hiruzen, Danzo, and the Kazekage with a few black Anbu behind him.

"Congratulations on your winning," said the Hokage.

"You've got potentials to become a Jonin, don't you think so, Danzo sama?" added the Kazekage.

Kuzo exchanged glances with Danzo.

Danzo replied, "he would be good if he joined the Root."

"I think so," Hiruzen nodded.

Poor Danzo. He seriously was thinking of forcing him to join.

"Anyway, Kuzo san. We'll give you your promotion in the ceremony later. For now, we've something important to talk about," said the Hokage, "will you follow us, Danzo san?"

"I will," replied Danzo. Truth to be told. Kuzo had contacted Danzo while pretending to be Orochimaru who was pretending to be the Kazekage. He had agreed to guide the Hokage into an isolated place and kill him, which would eventually give Danzo a chance to become the Hokage.

That was the bait they had set for him, and that's why Danzo was following them.

-x-X-x-

The Kazekage, the Hokage, and Danzo looked at each other.

Danzo hit with his staff on the ground, saying, "My guards around the place. What do you want to talk about?"

He looked at the Kazekage and the Hokage.

"Yes," the Hokage put his hand on his head. "We're here to discuss your treason to Konoha when you were participating in Orochimaru's experiments. Moreover, you have been in contact with him to destroy Konoha and take over my place."

Danzo opened his eyes widely. "What's the meaning of this."

He looked at the Kazekage, who was Orochimaru in disguise.

Did Orochimaru betray him and decide to turn the table on him.

In that case, any explanation would be enough.

"What would the public say if they knew that it was the Kazekage who killed the Hokage, and it was me who killed the Kazekage?" Danzo said. Now, he had the advantage that his guards were around them. He reached the bandannas that covered his eye, bringing them down and revealing his Sharingan.

"That's a very interesting theory. What would they say indeed," replied the Kazekage. "But I'm certain that you've confidence in your guards."

At that moment, Danzo felt something off and turned his head.

Who appeared was Kuzo, with shadow clones. Each clone holding a body of a dead Anbu.

Those members had unique jutsus and powers, and they had taken too long time to raise.

Well. If Konoha's weapon got stronger, he wouldn't consider it a loss.

However, the problem here was that Kuzo was using shadow clones.

If he decided to cast mind-controlling jutsu, it would be a waste. The odds were against him.

"What's the matter?" asked Hiruzen, "You are not able to use Shisui Uchiha's jutsu."

Hiruzen threw his hat away, revealing himself in battle armor.

Meanwhile, Kuzo took a step forward and weaved a series of hand signs.

"Sorry Danzo, but I borrowed one guy from the Anbu."

From the ground, a coffin appeared. From that coffin, someone appeared. Danzo opened his eyes widely and looked at the Kazekage, and then at the coffin.

It was Orochimaru.

-x-X-x-

After he had defeated Orochimaru, Kuzo had a genius idea to control the Edo Tensei that Orochimaru had. He could revive Orochimaru, and he could even use him to send the undead shinobi back. But Kuzo had preserved them to turn them into a future meal.

Anyway, Kuzo approached the reanimated Orochimaru and put a talisman on the back of his head.

"Don't worry, Danzo sama. If you're willing to give up, I'll give you a fair trial. And don't worry if the witnesses are dead. We could bring them back."

Kuzo then formed a hand seal. Orochimaru was under his control. Thanks to Orochimaru and Kabuto's talents, Kuzo could understand dealing with the undead better.

Better yet, since he was more powerful than Orochimaru, Kuzo's control was better.

Orochimaru, in a daze, approached Danzo. This would turn the odds in their direction.

The Hokage gave Kuzo a side glance, but didn't say anything.

Danzo took a deep breath and removed the bandannas around his arms, revealing a white arm full of red Sharingan eyes attached to it.

Danzo then looked at Hiruzen. The Sharingan on his face changed its shape, turning into Mangekyo.

"You left me no choice, my old friend," Danzo said, smirking.

Hiruzen opened his eyes widely.