"Call it what you will."
The Third Hokage exhaled deeply, wearing a bitter smile. "I admit my fault. How about we disband Root?"
"Not enough," Uzumaki Mito replied coldly, her gaze as icy as a winter wind.
She, Uchiha Nobuhiko, and the others knew exactly what such a disbandment meant. Root had always operated in the shadows, and even if disbanded on paper, its core would remain intact—just under a different name, perhaps masked under the Anbu. Symbolic at best. Meaningless at worst.
So what difference did disbanding it make?
None.
She had expected this—knew that the Third would never truly give them what they wanted. But this wasn't just a performance. This time, there had to be real consequences.
"And what do you want then?" the Hokage asked, frowning. This wasn't going the way he anticipated. Weren't they supposed to show restraint? Now they were pushing for open confrontation?
If only he knew that Uzumaki Mito and the others had long abandoned the illusion of harmony.
"I want more than promises," Mito declared. "Danzo must be imprisoned—permanently."
The Hokage's face tightened.
"And the Mission Department," she continued, "must grant real authority to members of the Senju, Uzumaki, and Uchiha clans."
"If that's not acceptable, then I don't mind sparking a civil war in Konoha. We'll settle this with fire and blood."
"I'm old. My time is limited. But I'll die with peace in my heart only if I know that Tsunade, Nawaki, and Ren Takashi are protected. Because if you dared collude with enemies and plot against them while I still draw breath… then I can only imagine the vile acts you'll commit once I'm gone."
Her demands weren't just political—they were a matter of legacy and survival. The power granted to the clans would serve as insurance, a check against the Third's quiet executions and sabotage.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen looked aghast. Forever imprison Danzo? Hand power to the Uchiha?
"That's impossible!" he snapped. "I can agree to giving positions in the Mission Department to the Senju and Uzumaki… but the Uchiha? Never. The Second Hokage made that decision for a reason. Isn't the security force enough for them? Extending their influence beyond that is too much."
Uchiha Nobuhiko laughed darkly.
"Times have changed, Hiruzen. And you know full well why Tobirama made that decision—it was never written law, just quiet prejudice."
"Konoha was built by both the Senju and the Uchiha. Why are we shackled to one corner of its system like dogs on a leash?"
"And you speak of greed?" Nobuhiko spat. "Was it not your Sarutobi clan that absorbed all the power after the Senju declined? Was it not you who inherited the village's departments when the Senju faded?"
"You're the one who grew fat on Konoha's power. Don't lecture us on ambition."
"We even reformed the Security Department, opened it to the whole village. And yet you say we're too 'greedy' to want a role in real governance?"
He leaned forward, eyes sharp as blades. "Agree to our terms, or we'll tear the lid off this scandal. Let's see how the village reacts when they learn how you conspired against Kushina and Ren Takashi. Let's see whose side they take."
"You're not the only one fit to be Hokage, Hiruzen."
The Hokage paled, his eyes drifting to Mito. Her expression had gone glacial. He cursed silently—damn Uchiha, dragging the Senju into this.
It was clear. If he pushed further, Mito might really burn everything down… and she was still a living Jinchuriki, despite her age.
"I see…" Hiruzen finally relented, his voice low. "You'll get what you want. The Senju will even receive a deputy minister seat in the Mission Department."
"As for Danzo… he'll be detained—for three years."
"But not permanently," he insisted. "He's my right hand. Konoha needs him, especially in times like these."
Of course, Hiruzen never intended to keep Danzo locked up that long. Three years was just enough for tempers to cool—and for Mito, hopefully, to pass away.
He considered pushing another term: forcing Ren Takashi and his peers to graduate early. But no… that would be too obvious. If they were killed on a mission afterward, he'd take the blame.
Better to wait.
Meanwhile, Mito, Nobuhiko, and the others exchanged telepathic thoughts.
Mito's voice rang out in their minds: "These terms… they're as good as we'll get from the monkey. What do you think?"
"It's fair," Nobuhiko replied. "We shouldn't push too far now. We still have our long game."
Ren Takashi added calmly: "Kushina and I are still too young. We need more time to grow. This isn't the moment for direct war. We'll bide our time. We have the evidence. And when the Second Shinobi War comes... then we strike."
He paused before adding with a glint of mischief: "And while Danzo is imprisoned, we should search Root's headquarters. I might just find something useful."
Mito and Nobuhiko blinked in surprise. "You're bold… but if you can pull it off, do it."
With the decision reached, Nobuhiko turned to the Hokage. "We accept your terms."
"Then let it be so," Hiruzen sighed. "But none of this comes back to haunt us in the future."
Mito and Nobuhiko nodded, but their silence held a dangerous promise.
Hiruzen handed them blank letters of appointment—ready to be filled with the names of trusted clan members.
"Don't forget to lock up Danzo," Mito warned coolly. "Do it before we do."
She turned to leave, but the Hokage raised a hand.
"Wait. Ren Takashi."
The young prodigy turned.
"I didn't realize just how powerful you and your companions had become. Surely, with your skills, you no longer need school. Why not graduate now?"
"You're geniuses. But staying in the village will only stunt your growth. I can assign Tsunade as your instructor. Minato, Mikoto—they could graduate too. And Shikaku's team can be led by my son Shinnosuke…"
But before Hiruzen could continue, Ren cut him off politely.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage. But Minato and I are still young. We're growing fast. There's no rush."
"We train with one another daily. We fight beasts in the wild. We spar with veteran clansmen. We don't need missions right now. They'd only slow us down."
"We'll graduate when we hit our plateau. Not a moment sooner."
Nobuhiko nodded in agreement. "Tian—I mean, Ren—is right. They're still in the growth phase. Pushing them into missions would only harm their progress."
Mito added with finality, "Konoha doesn't need children risking their lives for glory. Let them grow."
And with that, they turned and left the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood alone, his face darkening by the second.