"Oh?"
The Third Hokage's eyes lit up the moment he heard the suggestion. He leisurely packed his pipe with tobacco, took two calm puffs, and exhaled a faint cloud of smoke.
"This... is an excellent idea."
He tapped his pipe gently against the desk, a contemplative gleam in his eyes.
"When Mito-sama and the others come to press us, I'll bring this up. We mustn't allow Uchiha Ren to join the Uchiha Guard. Perhaps Tsunade can take charge of him instead."
At the mention of Tsunade, a flicker of coldness flashed across his face.
Their relationship had soured in recent months, growing more distant by the day. With Tsunade and Uzumaki Mito's combined efforts—and the backing of both the Uchiha and Uzumaki clans—the Senju had quietly rekindled ties with their scattered kin within Konoha. Whispers of the Senju clan's revival had begun to stir.
It was a future the Hokage could not allow.
He needed the Senju buried in memory, not rising to challenge the Sarutobi's grasp on the village. Only then could he reshape Konoha in the image of the Sarutobi—Sarutobi Village.
Tsunade's defiance crossed a line. Apprentice or not, the Third had begun to view her as an obstacle that needed removing.
"But... isn't that risky?"
Danzo's brow furrowed at the idea. "Tsunade's no weakling. She's likely at quasi-Kage level—maybe even full Kage-level. With her guarding Ren Takashi, no one will lay a finger on him."
"You'd only be making our job harder."
He truly couldn't fathom why the Hokage would choose this path.
"No," the Hokage replied coolly, narrowing his eyes.
"This is precisely how we ensure the elders buy in—Mizuhiro Shiranui and Uchiha Shinsho will be far more willing if Tsunade leads the team."
"And let's be realistic. Ren Takashi's strength has likely already reached quasi-Kage level. He's too powerful to deal with through underlings."
"Instead of risking half-measures and drawing attention, it's better to draw the eyes of the other villages—force them to send a force capable of taking down both Tsunade and Ren."
"Only then can we finish the job."
A single failure would make Ren's protectors double their vigilance. Nobuhiko and Mito might never let the boy leave the village again. That couldn't be allowed.
Danzo gasped. "You're seriously planning to kill Tsunade?"
The Hokage's gaze hardened. "She's been plotting with Mito to rebuild the Senju. I won't tolerate that."
"She must die."
Danzo broke into a chuckle, a glint of admiration in his eyes. "That's the Hiruzen I know."
The outside world called Danzo ruthless, but he knew the truth. The Third was just as cold—perhaps colder. He simply hid behind a façade of benevolence.
"Now that you're thinking straight, I've nothing more to say. I'm leaving before I run into Mito."
With that, Danzo made a swift exit. Whether Mito appeared or not, he wouldn't take the chance. Until the dust settled, he would stay out of sight.
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage leaned back, smoke curling around him as he fell into thought. He wouldn't act rashly. For now, he would stay in the office—and wait.
Elsewhere
After eliminating the Root ambushers, Ren Takashi teleported home with his father.
"Ren, you're back!" Kushina and Mikoto rushed to him, eyes wide with worry.
"Are you hurt? What happened?!" they asked simultaneously.
Catching sight of Uchiha Nobuhiko beside him, the girls quickly restrained themselves and offered respectful bows.
Shikaku, Minato, and the others gathered around.
"Are you okay, Ren?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Ren replied with a relaxed smile. "Everything's taken care of."
"But you all should take the rest of the day off. No training at the base. I'll have Father send the Elite Guard to sweep the outskirts and ensure there are no lingering threats. We'll resume tomorrow."
There was no need to change bases—just increase vigilance. He would also ask Xuanwo Luming to inspect and reinforce the barrier.
"Got it," Shikaku nodded, fully understanding Ren's intentions.
Once everyone had dispersed, Ren turned to his father and Kushina.
"Let's go see Mito-sama. After that, we're paying the Third and Danzo a visit."
"They owe us answers."
Nobuhiko nodded firmly. "Agreed."
Uchiha was no longer the weak and divided clan it had been six months ago. Reforms and new contracts had strengthened the clan rapidly. The Security Department's restructuring had improved their public image. No longer seen as enforcers of trivial disputes, Uchiha now held respect among the villagers.
The Third had attempted to smear their name through rumors and slander—but Nobuhiko had crushed those efforts, exposing the manipulation and turning the public's distrust against the Hokage and his allies.
"Come with us, Kushina," Ren said, extending a hand.
"Okay!" she beamed, taking it without hesitation.
Ren nodded to Mikoto and teleported the trio to Mito's residence.
There, a servant led them inside.
"Ren? Nobuhiko? What brings you here so suddenly?" Mito asked, waving for tea to be served.
Ren's smile faded. He told her everything.
Mito's expression darkened.
"Danzo, you treacherous dog..."
"You used Cloud Shinobi to target Ren and Kushina, even sent Root assassins?"
"If he were here right now, I'd kill him myself!"
She calmed after a breath.
"So, what do you intend to do?"
"I'll say this upfront. Given Sarutobi's ties to Danzo, at most, he'll give him a public slap on the wrist."
"He won't actually cut him off—not for our sake."
Ren nodded. "I expected that."
"But doing nothing sends the wrong message."
"They'll think we're weak."
"So, even if it's just to disgust the old man and his lapdog, I want you to come with us to confront him."
"Gladly," Mito said, rising. "Let's go now."
"Wait—do you have evidence?"
Ren nodded. "I kept the bodies of the Cloud Shinobi and Root operatives. Their memories are intact."
"I can extract everything with the Yamanaka clan's help. There's no room for denial."
"Excellent. Let's make them sweat."
Mito summoned her guards and joined the Uchiha father and son as they made for the Hokage Tower.
Kushina tried to follow, only for Mito to stop her.
"Stay home."
"You're the target, Kushina. Cloud Shinobi won't give up so easily."
"You need to train harder—get stronger. No more spectating!"
"Yes..." Kushina pouted, but accepted the scolding.
Still, in her heart, she vowed to become strong enough to never be a burden again.
At the Hokage Tower
A few minutes later, the group reached the Third's office.
The old man stood as they entered, feigning surprise.
"Mito-sama? Ren? Nobuhiko? What's the occasion?"
Mito didn't bother with pleasantries.
"Spare us the act, Monkey."
"You know why we're here."
"Danzo leaked information about Konoha's barrier, allowed Cloud Shinobi to attack Kushina and Ren, and even positioned Root teams to clean up afterward."
"That's betrayal."
"We have the bodies. We can extract the memories. So don't deny it."
"Unless you want this public."
The Third's expression chilled, then softened into helplessness.
He knew she was right.
Still, he had to try.
"I won't hide it, Ren," he said with a sigh. "I just found out through the Anbu. Danzo acted alone."
"I've removed him from his Hokage Council position and placed him under house confinement for a month."
"Surely that's—"
"That's it?" Nobuhiko cut in, his voice sharp with mockery.
"Third, are you joking? This is treason. You think confinement is enough?"
The Hokage's eyes narrowed.
He looked to Mito.
"Not enough," she said coldly.
"You forget—Kushina was the real target."
"If you won't punish Danzo seriously, do you expect me to lie down and take it?"
Her presence flared—Crack! The floor beneath them fractured under the weight of her Chakra.
The Third buckled, gasping as the pressure bore down on him.
Then, just as suddenly, it vanished.
Mito's aged body sagged again, but her point had been made.
And the message was clear:
She may be old—but she was far from dead.