Maan hated Danzo and was dissatisfied with Ryo. However, he still had deep attachment to his clan. He did not want to let them fall into an unfavorable situation because of him.
Danzo noticed Maanâs feelings and tired to confuse him: âMaan, youâve been in Root before, so Iâm giving you a second chance. Dig out your eyes and give them to me, and it will be as if I never saw you.â Danzo looked at Maanâs eyes greedily thought the translucent walls of the barrier.
Maan said with a massive grudge: âDanzo, itâs too early for such words! Do you think youâve won?â
He smirked as his eyes flashed, and one of the Kunai thrown on the ground outside the barrier disappeared, just for Maan to get in its place! He was right next to Danzo, slitting his throat on the spot!
âWhat is this? Space-Time Ninjutsu?â White Zetsu asked Black.
âNo it shouldnât that simple. I guess itâs Maanâs second Mangekyo ability. Have you noticed that the Kunai that he teleported to appeared in his initial spot? I guess he can switch places with his Kunai. This is highly valuable nevertheless; even similar to Minatoâs technique.â
âDanzo sama!â All the Root Ninjas were stunned and did not have time to react.
âYouâre next! If none of you leaves, no one will hear of this!â
Just as Maan finished his words, he could hear Danzo behind him: âSo these are your Mangekyo abilities? Fascinating!â
âYouâ¦â Maan was shocked once again. He could clearly feel Danzoâs flesh getting cut against his blade; how come was he alive?
âWell, you have been with me for so long; arenât you being foolish? If I didnât have some hidden cards, would I ever risk my life?â
Danzoâs words pissed Maan off: âThen Iâll just kill again and again, and see how many times you rise again!â
âProtect Danzo sama!â
âHuh⦠just you?â Maan was now a fully fledged Kage Tier Ninja. These Ninjas around him were some of Danzoâs elite, but they were all just Jonins. Facing Maan, it only meant their deathâ¦
However, Danzo wasnât just going to sit still and watch his men getting killed. After Maan killed the first one, and as he was about to end the life of the 2nd, he found Danzo standing in his way.
The two exchanged blows, and Danzo could soon understand that he was no longer a match for Maan. On top of that, his arm by now only had 3 Sharingans, and only two of them was left for Izanagi.
This made him want to retreat, and he began to evade without hitting back. Meanwhile, taking advantage of his edge over Danzo, Maan finished off the other Ninjas around. Obviously, he didnât want to let go of his target, but he wanted no witnesses to remain alive.
Soon, most of the Ninjas in the ambush were finished. Besides Danzo and the two closest to him, only a couple of Root Ninjas were still alive.
Just as the two sides were in deadlock, a young girl, who looked around thirteen or fourteen years old came out of the woods.
As soon as she saw the situation, she frowned and turned around to leave.
âSTOP!â
âLain Yamanaka; HELP ME!â
Danzo and Maan almost shouted at the same time.
Danzo wanted Lain to help him against Maan, while the latter didnât want her to leak the news of his attempt to assassinate Danzo to the village.
Lain helplessly turned around muttering to herself: âThey had the entirety of the Fire Country to fight in; why did I have to be so unlucky that they chose my route back home?â
When Maan heard her name, he remembered that Ryoâs sister had the same name as well, so he tentatively asked: âRyoâs sister?â
âWell you seem to know me; so who are you?â Lain never saw Maan before, she just sensed from his tone that he was familiar with her brother.
Maan felt relieved, and temporarily dismissed the thought of killing her: âWell, Iâm your brothers comrade and⦠former friend!â
Maanâs thoughts about Ryo were still very complicated. On one hand, he couldnât forget the days on which they put their lives on the line together in battle. On the other hand, he was feeling very betrayed by Ryo.
âLain Yamanaka, donât care about that nonsense! Help me stop this madman. Donât forget, you are a Ninja of Konoha!â
âGigi, I am indeed a Ninja of Konoha, but so are you, and so is he. Youâre no Hokage, so why exactly should I listen to you instead of him?â Lain did not like Danzo, and since Maan seemed to be close to Ryo, and was having the upper hand, she did not want to interfere.
âI am the leader of Root, and I belong to the Anbu. An Anbu squad was attacked by the Uchiha; wonât you help your fellow Ninjas of Konoha? Quickly, use your wood release and stop this madman!â
Lain was a monster when it came to strength, but in the end, she was but a little girl! All of this big talk from Danzo began to overwhelm her.
âYou still wonât do it? Arenât you afraid of how the Hokage would think of your brother because of your indifference?â
Indeed, Danzo always knew where to hit. After hesitating for so long, when Lain heard this last sentence, she just made a massive tree sprout of the ground to block the way between the two.
âHey mister, can you let him go today?â She asked cautiously.
Maan felt frustrated, for he didnât not expect Danzo to be able to convince Lain.
âLain, you must let me do this; I must kill him today!â
Reluctantly, the little girl shook her head. Maan on the other hand was starting to have a headache. If Danzo was to be let go, the Uchiha were going to suffer greatly because of his actions.
âIn that case, I am sorry, Lain!â After he finished his words, Maanâs eyes rotated, and a Black and Purple giant skeleton was formed about his body, which was then wrapped with muscles, until it became a full body holding a Fuma Shuriken.
As the giant appeared, Maanâs eyes turned filled with blood and tears.
âThe same technique as my brothers?â Lainâs face turned gloomy, and she made her hand seals, making a massive Wood Human appear underneath her.
â[Wood Human Jutsu]? I never thought Ryoâs sister was such a genius. Since thatâs the case, letâs ee how strong the 1st Hokageâs Wood really is!â After finishing his words, Maan threw his Fuma Shuriken.
Seeing the incoming attack, Lain extended the Wood Humanâs palm hands and braced for impact.