"For Konoha?"
Hearing this, Danzo nearly spat blood.
Wasn't that exactly the line he had been repeating a moment ago? Now Kushina was throwing it back at him.
And with her dual status as the Fourth Hokage's widow and the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, Danzo knew Hiruzen would never truly punish her, not even if she actually killed him.
Everyone in Konoha knew of the Third's deep affection for Minato. And as for Kushina herself, she was a deterrent as valuable as any army. Unless the situation became truly dire, Konoha could never afford to lose its Jinchūriki.
Without her, the village's power in the eyes of the other great nations would plummet.
But… would Kushina really dare?
Danzo had no confidence in that answer. Kushina was famously strong-willed, her temper quick to ignite. And what could a woman driven to fury not do?
Hadn't she already injured his Root operatives and just threatened him—the Hokage's own assistant—with a Tailed Beast Ball? If that wasn't madness, what was?
Danzo felt his breath catch. Cornered, he was forced to back down.
"I… will give you an explanation," he said, forcing the words through clenched teeth, humiliation burning in his chest. "But first put away the Tailed Beast Ball."
Kushina snorted coldly. "Hmph. You'd better keep your word. Next time, I won't hesitate."
The purplish-black sphere of destruction dissolved into mist, dispersing back into raw Yin-Yang chakra. The radiant golden cloak peeled away from Kushina's body.
But her caution didn't waver. At once, the Nine-Tails' chakra surged back, forming a crimson shroud. Five burning tails lashed behind her like living whips.
"Now," she said, her voice like ice. "Speak. What's your explanation?"
Danzo's throat tightened. The life-threatening pressure was gone, but what replaced it was no less painful; shame, humiliation, and resentment, all crushing him from within.
His craving for power had never burned hotter.
If only he had Wood Release, if he had Hashirama's strength, he would have crushed Kushina underfoot today. If only he were Hokage already, she would never have dared act so arrogantly in front of him.
"This old man apologizes," he said at last, each word laced with bitterness. "My actions were… inappropriate. As compensation, I'll ensure your clansmen receive financial support."
Kushina's eyes narrowed. After a pause, she said, "That shows at least some sincerity. Fine. Let's leave it at that."
Danzo exhaled, his relief hidden behind the mask of his scowl. Finally, the matter seemed to be diffused.
But Kushina wasn't done.
"Danzo," she said, her tone sharp as a blade. "This is my warning: if you have any dissatisfaction, bring it to me directly. Never...never, target Anna, her daughter, my son, or Gen. If you do, then even if the Hokage himself tries to stop me, I swear I'll tear you apart!"
No sooner had her words fallen than another figure appeared in a blur of smoke and wind.
Hiruzen Sarutobi landed between them, his robes billowing, his eyes immediately narrowing on Kushina's chakra-shrouded form. His voice cut through the clearing like a whip:
"Kushina! Why are you so enraged? What has Danzo done to provoke you?"
Danzo almost collapsed from frustration. Wasn't it he who had been provoked? She had been the one threatening him with annihilation! How could Hiruzen twist this around?
He couldn't stop himself: "Hiruzen, she injured my men! She even threatened me and all of Root with a Tailed Beast Ball! You must..."
He sounded like a child running to complain to his parents.
Hiruzen silenced him with a glance. "Kushina is not an unreasonable woman. She wouldn't threaten you without cause. Danzo, what did you do behind the scenes?"
Danzo's jaw tightened. He almost coughed blood in indignation. Why was the world siding with her?
Kushina answered without hesitation: "Hokage-sama, Danzo secretly defied your orders. He tried to force Gen to hand over two of my clansmen."
Understanding dawned in Hiruzen's eyes. He turned, his expression darkening as he fixed Danzo with a glare.
"Danzo—you've grown bold indeed! How dare you disobey my command?"
Danzo tried to defend himself, his voice faltering even as he spoke. "Only Root can maximize their potential. I did it… for Konoha."
"Hmph. Enough excuses!" Hiruzen barked. "You will apologize properly, and you will compensate Kushina's clansmen generously. Otherwise, I will strip you of your position!"
Danzo bristled. "I already apologized just now."
"Then apologize again."
Danzo: "…"
The humiliation was unbearable, but he could do nothing. Grinding his teeth until they nearly cracked, he bowed his head and muttered another apology.
In truth, the punishment was light; just an apology and compensation.
Any other subordinate who defied orders as often as Danzo had would have been destroyed long ago. But Hiruzen's tolerance for his old comrade seemed endless.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama, for standing up for me," Kushina said respectfully, finally letting the red chakra dissolve away.
Hiruzen's voice softened. "Kushina, if you face injustice in the future, come directly to me. I will handle it. But Danzo is still the Hokage's assistant. What you did today broke the rules. That cannot happen again."
Kushina gave an awkward smile, bowing her head. "I was too impulsive this time. I'll be more careful in the future."
"Good. Then this matter ends here. Go home, Kushina. Naruto needs you."
"Yes, Hokage-sama. I'll take my leave."
Hiruzen nodded. "Mm."
Kushina vanished into the forest. Hiruzen offered Danzo a final, quiet "take care of yourself" before departing as well.
Danzo was left trembling with rage, his subordinates kneeling in silence around him. "Repair the base. Erase every trace of what happened here," he growled before storming away.
Meanwhile, back at the Uchiha compound, Uchiha Gen was enjoying a quiet afternoon with food and drink.
Though he wasn't physically present, his Soul Perception allowed him to sense the entire clash at Root. He couldn't catch every detail, but from Kushina's safe departure it was obvious, Danzo had been forced to back down.
That knowledge filled Gen with deep satisfaction.
After the meal, Mokui and Mokuna tidied the dishes. Gen used a Summoning Technique to pass a message to Shisui and Kakashi, then fetched an interesting book from his study, set out some fruit and sake, and settled comfortably onto the sofa.
After so much work, he deserved a few days of leisure.
The afternoon passed lazily.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, Gen had finished his book. He stood, stretched, and the crisp cracking of his joints echoed through the room.
He replaced the book in his study, then headed toward the Ninja Academy.
When the school day ended, a flood of children burst out of the gates, chattering and jostling to be first. Many cast glances at Gen as they passed not at him, exactly, but at the Konoha forehead protector he wore. Their young eyes sparkled with admiration.
Gen could only shake his head. They longed to become shinobi, but they didn't understand. These days at the Academy were the happiest of their lives.
Beyond graduation lay only endless missions, crushing pressure, and constant danger. Even in peacetime, the casualty rate was never low.
Soon, Uchiha Itachi appeared trailing a gaggle of giggling girls. His face was as stoic as ever, but Gen caught the faintest flicker of impatience in his eyes.
Gen sighed inwardly. The boy didn't realize how fortunate he was. This moment surrounded by adoring girls might well be the peak of his life's popularity. A scene other boys dreamed of and never reached.
Back in Gen's own Academy days, most girls had fawned over Kakashi. Gen had been just as handsome, but the old him had carried the Uchiha clan's arrogance like a shield, making him difficult to approach.
"Itachi," Gen called out.
At once, Itachi's cold mask melted into a bright smile. He excused himself politely from the girls and ran straight toward Gen.