Konoha's Genius is a bit Ordinary?

Natsuro watched as Danzō revived yet again, a faint sigh escaping his lips.

"Good thing you have Izanagi. Otherwise, there wouldn't be enough punishments for all your sins," he remarked.

This cutting statement pierced Danzō's fragile psyche. His strength, which once seemed unshakable, was rendered utterly insignificant in the face of Natsuro's overwhelming power. Izanagi, the ultimate jutsu of rewriting reality, was reduced to nothing more than a stalling tactic.

Hearing Natsuro's words, Danzō, teetering on the brink of despair, finally broke. His muddied eyes locked onto Natsuro, his gaze filled with hatred and defeat.

"Do you want to experience true despair?" Natsuro asked, his tone chillingly calm. For the first time since the battle began, he seemed to take Danzō's presence seriously, weaving hand seals with deliberate precision.

Above them, dark storm clouds thickened. Crackling bolts of lightning leaped across the sky, and the oppressive weight of the gathering storm pressed down on everyone present. Even before the technique was unleashed, its overwhelming presence sent shockwaves through the crowd.

"Can Natsuro-sama control the weather itself?" someone whispered in awe.

Among the civilians and weaker shinobi, a mixture of shock and exhilaration rippled through the crowd. This wasn't just power, it was a display of divine might. Where once they might have doubted, Natsuro's unparalleled strength left no room for disbelief.

For the people of Konoha, this wasn't terrifying. It was thrilling. Their Hokage was not only capable but invincible, a shield who would ensure the village's safety. Cheers erupted once again, growing louder with each passing second.

Danzō gazed at the thunderclouds above, his once-calculating expression now blank. The light in his eyes faded entirely. He understood now: he had no hope. This wasn't an opponent he could overcome, not with his abilities, not with his schemes. The gap between their power was insurmountable.

Slowly, Danzō turned to face the Hokage Rock, his gaze fixating on the cliffside where the faces of past Hokage were carved. In his mind's eye, he saw his own face among them, his greatest dream realized. Reaching out, his fingers brushed against the empty air, as though stroking an invisible carving.

"I just wanted to be Hokage," he murmured to himself. "Why… Why was I always denied? Why does fate work against me?"

"Sage Art: Lightning Style—Kirin!"

Natsuro's voice rang out as his technique reached completion. From the stormy skies, a massive, majestic lightning beast took form. It was a Kirin, its crackling frame composed entirely of natural lightning. The crowd gasped as the ethereal creature roared, its presence almost tangible.

Unlike Sasuke's Kirin, Natsuro's could move freely, reacting to his every command. The beast circled the sky, its limbs carrying it gracefully as it surveyed the village below.

The Kirin didn't immediately target Danzō. Instead, it danced above the crowd, its luminous body casting light and shadow over the gathered masses. The civilians erupted into cheers, their voices merging into a single, euphoric roar. For them, the Kirin was a symbol of strength and hope. A testament to their Hokage's might.

Even the clan leaders, who had earlier harbored subtle doubts or ambitions, couldn't help but smile bitterly. As the Kirin hovered directly above them, its electric form humming ominously, they understood the message: Defy me, and this will be your fate.

Finally, the Kirin set its sights on Danzō. Its movements, fluid and deliberate, were like a predator toying with its prey. As it descended, the ground seemed to tremble in anticipation.

Danzō noticed the beast's approach but made no effort to flee. His gaze remained fixed on the Hokage Rock. Stretching out his hand, he caressed the air as though touching the carved stone. For a moment, a serene smile spread across his face, a fragment of joy in a lifetime of bitterness.

And then, with a deafening crack, the Kirin struck.

Its jaws closed around Danzō, reducing his body to ash in an instant. The crowd watched in stunned silence, their breath stolen by the sheer ferocity of the attack. Yet, the Kirin did not vanish. It circled above the tower, awaiting Danzō's inevitable resurrection.

True to form, Danzō reappeared moments later, his expression now utterly lifeless. His Izanagi was running out of chances, this was likely his penultimate life.

Natsuro readied the Kirin once more, preparing to deliver another strike. However, he paused as he noticed Danzō drawing a kunai from his pouch.

For a moment, Natsuro froze, his curiosity piqued. A playful smirk tugged at his lips.

"Ah, are you about to repeat that infamous scene?" Natsuro mused to himself, recalling the iconic moment in the original story where Danzō futilely charged at Sasuke's Susano'o with a kunai.

This time, there was no Susanoo. Instead, was Danzō planning to challenge the Kirin itself with nothing but a small blade?

But what happened next took Natsuro by surprise.

On the stage of the Hokage succession ceremony, Danzō stood alone. Tsunade and Sasuke had left earlier during the battle, understanding that the next acts were entirely Natsuro's performance. Their presence would only be a hindrance.

Although the Hokage Building had been reinforced with multiple layers of barriers, enduring Natsuro's and Danzō's attacks would still strain its defenses.

Danzō, clutching a kunai with trembling hands, appeared to wrestle with a monumental decision. Finally, he plunged the kunai into his own heart. Blood gushed from his mouth as he glared at Natsuro with bulging eyes.

"Natsuro! I curse you to die a terrible death!" Danzō roared in his final breath.

Hearing this, Natsuro responded casually, his tone almost amused.

"That's fine, then I just won't die. Relax, no one can kill me. Let me share a secret: I've already achieved immortality."

This revelation was delivered directly into Danzō's ears, bypassing everyone else.

Danzō's eyes widened in disbelief. Immortality? Even with his own transplantation of Hashirama's cells, such a feat was unattainable. How could Natsuro have achieved this? His eyes burned with rage, bitterness, and despair.

As Danzō collapsed backward, his gaze landed on the Hokage Rock. This time, he didn't see his face among the carved figures.

Why? I saw it just now… didn't I?

Struggling to move, Danzō made one last futile attempt to lift himself, but his life finally slipped away.

Danzō was dead.

Natsuro observed the scene, then allowed the thunderous Kirin to dissipate into the air. With a casual wave of his hand, the dark storm clouds above also vanished, revealing the sun once again.

Even Danzō wouldn't have had any tricks left in this scenario. His corpse lay lifeless, showing no signs of revival. Not even the miraculous powers of Izanagi could enable such a prolonged delay in resurrection.

For the first time, true silence settled across the stage.

At that moment, the Third Hokage and the two remaining advisors ascended to the rooftop. They gazed at Danzō's lifeless body, their expressions a mixture of sorrow and resignation.

"Natsuro," Hiruzen spoke after a pause, "now that it's over, may we take Danzō's body to give him a proper burial?"

"Once Sasuke has removed the Sharingan from his arm, the body is yours to handle," Natsuro replied with a nod, showing no further interest in Danzō. The man was dead, and he saw no point in desecrating his remains.

"Understood." Hiruzen gestured for the ANBU to secure Danzō's body.

Natsuro landed atop the Hokage Building and dismissed his spiritual shadow clone, which had been safeguarding the structure all along. Only he himself could counter the power of his own attacks. Without such measures, it would have been impossible for the Hokage Building to survive the relentless barrage of jutsu unscathed.

Looking down at Danzō's lifeless form, Natsuro reflected silently.

Danzō's end had been inevitable. Their paths had only crossed a few times during Natsuro's life.

Early on, Danzō had contemplated targeting him but was dissuaded by the Third Hokage. During the Orochimaru incident, Natsuro sought Danzō's help, only to be coldly rejected. It was then Natsuro realized Danzō and the Root organization no longer had a place in Konoha's future.

Back then, however, Natsuro lacked the authority to act against Danzō. Even if he had taken the matter to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen would have dismissed the issue and refused to punish Danzō.

Later, Danzō actively interfered with Natsuro twice. The first time, he tried to replicate the tragedy of the White Fang by manipulating public sentiment against him, only for Tsunade to turn the tide and bolster Natsuro's reputation instead.

The second attempt was far more sinister. Danzō contacted the Akatsuki and set up an ambush capable of killing even the strongest shinobi. But Natsuro, though inexperienced, had already surpassed such limits of power. That marked the point of no return.

Natsuro had long resolved to kill Danzō, not only to eliminate a threat to his own life but to protect those around him. From what he knew of Danzō's methods, like his manipulation of Kabuto and Yamato, there was no doubt he would resort to targeting Natsuro's loved ones.

Now, with the power and authority to act, Natsuro ensured that no one could save Danzō. Not unless one of the six-path-level beings suddenly appeared out of nowhere, an impossibility.

As Tsunade, Sasuke, and others returned to the rooftop, Natsuro smiled faintly. His voice resonated across the village once more.

"Now, let us continue the Hokage succession ceremony."

Check out the patreon and get 55 chapters in advance -> SaintXI

Currently on Chapter 294 - Natsuro's Strength and the Akatsuki's Movements