“Danzo, you’d better think carefully before you speak!”
“You’re going against Lord Tobirama’s teachings by trusting the Uchiha! Hiruzen, you’ll regret this!”
“Return to Root. And remember, Danzo—I am the Hokage. I don’t need you telling me how to do my job.”
The office door suffered yet another violent slam as Danzo stormed out.
If the poor door had known what awaited it, it would have preferred never to have been installed.
Once Danzo was gone, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly fell into thought.
Although it was unrealistic to expect the Uchiha forces to capture Kumogakure’s Jinchūriki, the fact that so many Uchiha had been deployed while the battlefield remained completely unchanged didn’t sit right with him.
Unlike Danzo, Hiruzen wasn’t openly hostile toward the Uchiha.
But neither did he trust them completely.
The Hyūga Clan could also be difficult to manage, yet Hiruzen had never suppressed them the way he had the Uchiha.
The reason was simple.
The Uchiha had a troubled history.
Not every member of the clan was another Uchiha Kagami.
Furthermore, one undeniable fact remained.
The Nine-Tails had been controlled by the Sharingan.
Could there be an unknown Uchiha hiding somewhere in the shadows?
A cold glint flashed through Hiruzen’s eyes.
“Someone.”
“Bring me the Uchiha Clan’s population records from the past several years, along with all the intelligence gathered by the ANBU.”
He suspected the Uchiha might have secretly raised a gifted shinobi outside the village’s knowledge.
For a clan that specialized in Genjutsu, altering hospital records wouldn’t be difficult.
Twins could easily be registered as a single child.
A few children could quietly disappear from official records without attracting attention.
After carefully comparing the population records with the ANBU’s reports, Hiruzen finally relaxed slightly.
There was no evidence supporting his suspicions.
But that only raised another question.
If no unknown Uchiha existed…
Where had the Sharingan that controlled the Nine-Tails come from?
The Sharingan of fallen Uchiha had always been recovered from the battlefield.
Or had they?
Suddenly, Hiruzen remembered something.
Not every recovered Sharingan had been returned to the Uchiha Clan.
Years ago, Danzo and Orochimaru had requested several pairs for “research.”
Once again…
Everything led back to Danzo.
Hiruzen’s expression darkened.
Meanwhile, the war on the front lines remained locked in a stalemate.
With neither side making significant progress, some shinobi were granted temporary leave to return to Konoha and rest before rotating back to the battlefield.
One of those returning was Minato’s former student…
Kakashi Hatake.
The first thing Kakashi did after entering the village was visit the Konoha Cemetery to pay his respects to his two fallen teammates.
Afterward, he headed directly to Kushina’s home to visit his teacher’s widow…
And baby Naruto.
Before arriving, Kakashi had worried that Kushina was still consumed by grief over Minato’s sacrifice.
Instead…
He found her in much better spirits than he had expected.
“The Uchiha Clan has been keeping Kumogakure’s Jinchūriki occupied.”
“So for the time being, the Hidden Cloud Village shouldn’t pose too much of a threat.”
As Kakashi explained the current situation on the battlefield, he cautiously watched Kushina’s expression when mentioning the Uchiha.
Although he hadn’t participated directly in the Nine-Tails Incident, he had later heard that the Nine-Tails’ eyes had displayed the distinctive tomoe of the Sharingan.
That meant someone with the Sharingan had controlled it.
To his surprise, Kushina showed almost no emotional reaction.
Instead, she sighed softly.
“The Uchiha possess tremendous combat power.”
“Unfortunately, the village restricts them far too much.”
“If they were allowed to fight without so many restraints, even if they couldn’t completely repel Kumogakure, they should at least have gained the upper hand by now.”
She quickly changed the subject.
“Kakashi.”
“You’ve only just returned.”
“Go home and get some proper rest.”
She herself still planned to continue her weighted training that afternoon.
She wanted to master the Nine-Tails’ chakra as quickly as possible and become a Perfect Jinchūriki.
Only then would she possess the strength needed to change Konoha from within.
Kakashi nodded.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
“I’ll come visit you and Naruto again tomorrow.”
After Kakashi left, Sima Ming stepped closer.
“There was something I never mentioned before.”
“Back then, you didn’t have anyone trustworthy to help you.”
“But now that Kakashi has returned…”
“Perhaps he can.”
Kushina looked at him curiously.
“What is it?”
“As far as I know…”
“There is still a member of the Uzumaki Clan living in Kusagakure.”
“And even among the Uzumaki…”
“She possesses an extremely rare constitution.”
The moment those words left his mouth…
Kushina’s expression changed dramatically.
Her long crimson hair floated gently despite the complete absence of wind.
She immediately understood what he meant.
Besides their legendary Sealing Jutsu and extraordinary vitality…
A few members of the Uzumaki Clan possessed an even rarer ability.
Their blood and flesh could heal others.
Even fatal wounds could recover simply by biting one of these rare Uzumaki.
Once such an ability became known…
The consequences were unimaginable.
“How dare Kusagakure do something like this!”
Kushina’s anger erupted instantly.
She was ready to leave at once and rescue her clanswoman.
Sima Ming had expected exactly that reaction.
It was the reason he hadn’t mentioned her sooner.
“Calm down.”
“We can’t change what’s already happened.”
“But it’s not too late.”
“Perhaps Kakashi can rescue her.”
“I doubt Kusagakure has anyone capable of stopping him.”
Although Kakashi was only fourteen or fifteen years old…
He had already become a jōnin years earlier.
With his self-created A-rank Lightning Release technique, Chidori…
Combined with the Sharingan Obito had entrusted to him…
Very few ordinary jōnin could stand against him.
As for Kusagakure…
Its so-called jōnin couldn’t even compare to those of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Even if Kakashi fought openly, victory would be all but guaranteed.
Rescuing a single person would be even easier.
Sima Ming’s reasoning gradually calmed Kushina.
She knew he was right.
Leaving Konoha herself wasn’t practical right now.
Although no one could truly stop her if she insisted…
There were still better ways to handle the situation.
The following day, Kushina brought Kakashi with her to the Hokage’s office.
Their unexpected arrival caused Hiruzen to look up in surprise.
“Kushina.”
“Kakashi.”
“What brings you here together?”
Kushina had already prepared an explanation.
“Lord Third.”
“While organizing Lady Mito’s belongings, I discovered that some members of the Uzumaki Clan left valuables hidden outside the village.”
“I would like Kakashi to retrieve them.”
Every hidden village kept strict control over its shinobi.
Leaving the village without permission was considered desertion.
Moreover, Konoha was still at war with Kumogakure.
A jōnin like Kakashi was expected to rest briefly before returning to the battlefield.
There was no way Hiruzen would approve his departure without a proper reason.
So Kushina had personally come to request permission, using the excuse of recovering valuable relics left behind by the Uzumaki Clan.
The moment Hiruzen heard that, his eyes brightened.
“What exactly are these items?”
Kushina shook her head.
“I’m not certain.”
“I’ll only know once they’re recovered.”
Hiruzen considered her words for a moment before nodding.
“Very well.”
“I’ll leave the mission to Kakashi.”
“Do you need me to assign a squad of ANBU to assist him?”