The Long Overdue Three Generations of Naruto
Boom!
Xu Fan punched through the massive roots of the Mokuton: Jukai Kōtan (Tree World Birth) unleashed by Danzo Shimura. Crawling out of the entangled branches, he turned back to glance at the towering giant tree behind him.
The diameter of the entire tree was at least five to six meters, its rapid growth an overwhelming display of power.
"If I hadn't reinforced my body with Chakra, I would've been crushed by that technique," Xu Fan muttered to himself, patting off the dust.
From his vantage point, it was clear—Danzo hadn't had the chance to summon his Baku (Dream Tapir). If he had, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out so badly for him.
Xu Fan had expected Danzo to either beg for mercy or attempt to escape when confronted with overwhelming killing intent. Instead, Danzo had opted for a suicidal counterattack, using Jukai Kōtan to try and take Xu Fan down with him.
"He'd rather die than admit defeat... typical Danzo," Xu Fan scoffed. He closed Shisui Uchiha's stolen eye, feeling no trace of Danzo's Chakra signature. "Looks like he's really dead."
Just as he was about to confirm visually, a powerful presence descended from above. A heavy chakra signature—one that should not be underestimated—washed over the battlefield.
Xu Fan turned instinctively and saw none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, arriving with his squad of Anbu. Among them were familiar faces—Kakashi Hatake and Yamato. Though both wore their standard Anbu masks, Xu Fan recognized them by their hairstyles.
Hiruzen took in the scene, his sharp gaze scanning the destruction before him. A deep sense of foreboding settled in his chest as he realized the scale of what had transpired. The once-proud Senju Clan compound was now in ruins, consumed by the unrestrained force of Mokuton.
"This level of destruction… It must have been Xu Fan's technique," he thought grimly. His eyes fell on the fallen Root operatives trapped within the mangled branches.
He had already warned Danzo once before about attacking Xu Fan. And yet, here he was—engaged in yet another deadly confrontation.
Hiruzen could not comprehend why Danzo harbored such hostility toward Xu Fan.
"Xu Fan possesses the true Mokuton of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju," Hiruzen reflected. "With proper guidance, he could carry on the Will of Fire and become an elite Jōnin. Why, then, does Danzo insist on treating him as an enemy?"
It wasn't just Hiruzen who was shaken—Kakashi, Yamato, and the rest of the Anbu present were equally stunned.
"Such an overwhelming display of power... this kid did all of this?" one Anbu whispered.
"He's like a monster…" another murmured.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he observed Xu Fan. He had seen him use Mokuton before—Jukai Kōtan and even Mokujin no Jutsu (Wooden Golem Technique). But today's battle was different. The scale was smaller, but the intensity and control were far beyond what he had witnessed before.
"Yesterday, he was just demonstrating his abilities," Kakashi realized. "Today… he fought in real combat and overwhelmed Danzo. No wonder he was so confident in proposing war against the Hidden Cloud. He doesn't just understand battle—he has the power to win it."
A single shinobi more powerful than an entire army.
Kakashi swallowed hard, realizing how dangerous Xu Fan would be if he ever turned against Konoha.
Yamato, meanwhile, stood frozen in shock. He had spent his entire life believing he was the only true wielder of Mokuton after Hashirama. Danzo had drilled that belief into him for years.
But now…
Xu Fan's Mokuton was far beyond his own.
Unlike Yamato, Xu Fan did not struggle with chakra exhaustion after using Mokuton on such a massive scale. His control was perfect, his chakra reserves seemingly endless.
"If we're being realistic, his chakra reserves are probably a hundred times that of Kakashi-sempai…" Yamato thought, sneaking a glance at Kakashi.
"Huh? What is it?" Kakashi asked, noticing Yamato's shift in expression.
"Ah, it's nothing," Yamato responded quickly, his mind still reeling.
He turned his attention back to the battlefield, analyzing the fallen Root operatives. Judging from the scene, they were the ones who had attacked Xu Fan.
Root only followed the will of Danzo.
Danzo had attacked Xu Fan.
"Danzo-sama…" Yamato frowned. He had once been ordered by Danzo to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi and steal Kakashi's Sharingan. Now, he had targeted another powerful Konoha ninja.
"Why does Danzo-sama always seek to eliminate his own people?"
Xu Fan took a deep breath and stepped forward, standing before Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama, it was Danzo," Xu Fan stated bluntly. "I woke up this morning, ready to admire my handsome reflection in the mirror before heading to the Academy."
He gestured toward the unconscious Root operatives.
"Next thing I know, this guy breaks in and attacks me, no questions asked. These people," he pointed at the remaining Root ninja, "threw a barrage of shuriken at me the moment they arrived. You know, I haven't even graduated from the Academy yet—what kind of Genin has ever faced a full-fledged ambush?"
Xu Fan sighed dramatically. "I was scared, obviously. My chakra exploded instinctively, and… well, you can see the rest."
Hiruzen's face darkened.
If Xu Fan hadn't mentioned Danzo directly, he might have assumed the Root forces were acting independently. But now…
Danzo had personally led this attack?
Hiruzen immediately activated his chakra sensing ability.
His heart sank. He could sense the chakra of the Root operatives…
But Danzo's chakra was absent.
Xu Fan… had killed Danzo.
Hiruzen's grip on his staff tightened. A moment of silence stretched across the battlefield as the realization settled in.
Danzo Shimura—one of Konoha's most controversial figures—was gone.