"Well, as long as you agree, then all we have to do now is wait for Lady Mito to die."
Danzo's voice was low and calculating.
"If we could persuade her to transfer the Tailed Beast sooner rather than later, that would certainly... expedite the process. What do you think?"
Despite the sinister tone of his suggestion, the logic was simple. They had long known from Uzumaki Mito herself that once a Jinchūriki transferred their Tailed Beast, death would follow swiftly. At the time, this fact had seemed unimportant. Now? It was an opportunity.
The Third Hokage blinked, startled, then rubbed his temples with a sigh.
"You want me to ask her to transfer the Tailed Beast? Are you out of your mind? Do you want her to beat me to death on the spot?"
He exhaled sharply, weary.
"Mito-sama made it clear—she fears we'll go after Tsunade, Nawaki, and Kushina once she's gone. That's probably why she's chosen to ally with the Uchiha: to pave the way for their survival."
"If I push her now, it'll be no different than telling her I want her dead. She'd erupt—and I'd be the first to go."
Danzo fell silent. Clearly, he hadn't considered the emotional and political implications.
"I see now..." he muttered, frowning. "No wonder her demeanor changed so drastically. Even the Uchiha, who always kept their distance, have grown close to her. I thought it was because they saved the Uzumaki clan, but... it runs deeper."
"She's been harboring a grudge ever since we purged the Senju elite. She never forgot. And now, with that damned Uchiha brat, everything's changed."
His eyes gleamed with cold fury.
"If Ren Takashi hadn't shown up, she would've stayed quiet, endured until death. But with him around, she sees a path forward. She's no longer afraid to bare her fangs."
The Third Hokage glanced at Danzo and sighed.
"Regret won't change anything. Look ahead."
"For now, you'll stay in prison—ten days, maybe half a month. Mito-sama and the others are watching us. We can't afford any cracks in the facade. Understood?"
Danzo's jaw clenched.
"Fine. Send someone to take me."
Two ANBU arrived shortly after, escorting Danzo to a secluded prison cell.
Meanwhile, at Uzumaki Mito's estate, the mood was far more relaxed.
"Heh. How long do you think Danzo will stay locked up?" she asked with a smirk, sipping tea.
"Ten days? Two weeks, max," Ren Takashi replied, shrugging. "Let's not overestimate their integrity."
"Third Hokage only convinced him to go because you pressured him, Grandma Mito. He's terrified you'll drag him down with you into the grave."
Mito chuckled.
"Do you think they'll dare sneak him out?"
Ren Takashi grinned.
"He'll probably stick a double in that cell and roam free with a mask. Danzo lives in the shadows anyway—who'd notice?"
"Dad, if you really think he'll sit there obediently, you're bound to suffer later. Those two geezers have no morals. They'd sell their souls for power."
"Indeed," Mito said solemnly. "That was my greatest mistake—underestimating just how twisted they'd become."
"If not for Ren, the Senju would've vanished completely. He gave us a second chance."
Uchiha Nobuhiko nodded gravely.
"I underestimated the corrupting power of authority. They've changed far more than I ever expected."
"But if they're betting on outliving you, Mito-sama... they're in for a surprise. Your life span's no longer an issue, is it?"
Mito smiled.
"Indeed. Thanks to Ren, I might outlive both of them."
"They'll realize it eventually—and by then, it'll be far too late."
Everyone shared a knowing laugh.
"I'm truly grateful, Ren," Mito said warmly.
Ren shook his head with a smile.
"We're helping each other. You've taught me medicine and sealing techniques. You've passed on the Senju legacy. I'm simply returning the favor."
"Besides, your survival stabilizes Konoha."
Mito nodded, her gaze gentle.
"This peace won't last forever, but it's enough for now. Use this time to grow stronger."
"Research delays your training. Strength is your true foundation. Don't forget that."
"I won't."
Ren grinned. "I've got Shadow Clones handling research. I'm still training full-time."
"But I'll need your help with the talismans—medical, ninjutsu, storage. I can't finish them alone. They're essential to Konoha's future."
"No problem," Mito agreed. "I'll assign more clones to assist. I'm curious to see what you create."
Imagination was vital for a ninja—and Ren's ideas were anything but ordinary.
A few days later, in the distant Cloud Shinobi Village...
Boom!
A desk splintered beneath the Third Raikage's furious fist.
"What did you say?! The entire squad was wiped out?!"
His roar echoed through the chamber.
"There were four elite Jōnin teams! What happened to Kangti and the others?!"
Two teams had entered Konoha. The other two had stayed behind, stationed over twenty kilometers away for backup. When Ren Takashi sent Kushina to investigate, her Kagura Shingan detected the nearest ambushers—so she ignored the ones further away.
Unfortunately for them, Konoha's elite ANBU tracked them down soon after.
None survived.
Their disappearance had only been discovered when sleeper agents embedded in Konoha pieced together scattered clues left by the slain squads.
Xi stepped forward, grim-faced.
"This is the full report, Raikage-sama."
He handed over the folder, then spoke:
"Konoha was clearly prepared. We walked into a trap."
"Our intel was accurate—but it was deliberately leaked to lure us in."
"As for the assassins... we don't know who eliminated our teams."
"But one thing is clear—Uzumaki Kushina and Ren Takashi are under extremely tight protection. We won't get another shot at kidnapping them anytime soon."
"In fact, we haven't seen a single Uzumaki outside the village for weeks."
"They've gone to ground, likely under strict orders not to leave Konoha. It's the smart move."
The Third Raikage exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing.
"So we know nothing concrete about Konoha's inner workings?"
"I'm ashamed to say it... but yes."
Xi's voice was low.
"Hmph."
The Raikage sat down heavily, brooding.
"Perhaps we should never have pursued this plan."
He closed his eyes, fists clenched.
"A new war is brewing. All the villages are preparing. Even Hanzo, the so-called demigod, has resurfaced in Rain."
"When the next Ninja World War begins... they won't be able to hide behind their walls forever."
"And when they come out—we'll strike."