Sima Ming noticed Kaorui’s embarrassment, but after only a brief glance, his attention returned to Kushina.
Leaning against her shoulder, he quietly watched as she gently coaxed Naruto and Karin to sleep.
From that day onward, Kaorui also joined Kushina’s training regimen.
Although the intensity of her training was much lower, she could clearly feel the changes in her body.
Only then did she realize that the Uzumaki Clan’s naturally powerful physique didn’t just improve with age.
It could also be strengthened much more rapidly by repeatedly pushing the body to its absolute limit.
If only the Uzumaki Clan had discovered this method earlier…
If they had replaced their moderate training with this kind of high-intensity exercise…
Would anyone have dared attack the Land of Whirlpools so easily?
Unfortunately…
Reality had no “what ifs.”
The Land of Whirlpools was already gone.
Perhaps this was another example of a great clan falling because it had grown too complacent.
With their exceptional Sealing Jutsu, extraordinary vitality, and the protection of a powerful ally like Konoha, the Uzumaki Clan had gradually lost their sense of crisis.
When disaster finally struck…
They were unable to mount an effective resistance.
After two and a half months without being used as a living healing tool…
Combined with proper nutrition and intense physical training…
Kaorui’s depleted life force finally recovered completely.
It even became stronger than before.
Karin benefited as well.
So did Naruto, who was nursing alongside her.
The two babies became noticeably healthier and more energetic with each passing day.
That morning, Kushina was teaching Kaorui various Sealing Jutsu.
Although both belonged to the Uzumaki Clan, Kaorui had originally come from a common branch of the family.
She had never possessed many advanced sealing techniques.
In truth…
Whether it was Ninjutsu or Sealing Jutsu, powerful techniques throughout the ninja world were tightly controlled by their respective villages.
Civilian shinobi could only obtain them by earning enough merit and exchanging it for access.
Now, however…
Kushina was the sole inheritor of the Uzumaki Clan’s complete legacy.
She could teach whomever she wished.
Kaorui treasured the opportunity deeply.
She studied with unwavering diligence.
Around ten o’clock that morning…
Uchiha Mikoto arrived for her usual visit, carrying little Sasuke in her arms.
During their conversation, she casually mentioned something.
Several members of the Konoha Military Police Force had seen Danzo leaving the village with a group of Root shinobi.
The Konoha Military Police Force had been established by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
Every member belonged to the Uchiha Clan.
On the surface, its creation carried a clear message.
“The village entrusts its security to the Uchiha.”
“Surely no one can claim the village doesn’t value them.”
But Tobirama had another purpose.
The Military Police constantly dealt with thefts, disputes, assaults, and countless trivial conflicts.
No matter how fairly they enforced the law…
Someone would always be dissatisfied.
Over time, the Uchiha would inevitably become unpopular among the villagers.
As a result, it would be nearly impossible for an Uchiha to build the widespread public support necessary to become Hokage.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi succeeded Tobirama, however…
His attitude toward the Military Police gradually changed.
Whether intentionally or unconsciously…
Both he and Danzo focused only on Tobirama’s second objective.
They wanted the Uchiha to continuously offend ordinary villagers through law enforcement.
By damaging the clan’s reputation…
They could more easily suppress and control them.
What they never considered…
Was rewarding the Uchiha afterward.
There was only the stick.
Never the carrot.
As time passed…
The relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha deteriorated further and further.
Of course…
The Uchiha themselves weren’t blameless.
The Sharingan was an incredibly powerful Kekkei Genkai.
Once awakened, an Uchiha could often defeat three to five shinobi of the same rank.
That overwhelming strength gradually nurtured a sense of pride.
Eventually…
That pride became arrogance.
Even when members of the Military Police enforced the law fairly…
Their habit of treating everyone with cold superiority made it difficult for anyone to truly appreciate them.
Whenever villagers misunderstood them…
The Uchiha rarely bothered explaining themselves.
Instead…
They responded with even greater indifference.
Their arrogance only deepened the growing divide between themselves and the village.
In truth…
If either the Uchiha Clan or Konoha’s leadership had handled things more wisely…
The Uchiha Massacre would never have happened.
It was the perfect example of turning a winning hand into a complete disaster.
“Wasn’t Danzo supposed to remain under surveillance?”
“If he’s openly leaving the village…”
“Then Lord Third must have approved it.”
Kushina sighed in disappointment.
Whatever little hope she still had in Hiruzen had almost completely vanished.
When it came to Danzo…
He was so soft-hearted that he hardly seemed like a Hokage at all.
Sima Ming, however, saw something entirely different.
To him…
This was an opportunity.
As long as Danzo remained inside Konoha, he had to be extremely careful whenever he spread information about Danzo’s crimes.
He couldn’t risk Danzo tracing everything back to Kushina.
Although Kushina now had both Sima Ming and the Nine-Tails supporting her…
She still wasn’t powerful enough to completely ignore Danzo’s schemes.
But now…
Danzo had left the village.
That meant Sima Ming could finally act more freely.
Previously, he had only taken advantage of Kushina and Mikoto’s shopping trips to secretly use his spiritual power.
Rather than spreading rumors directly…
He quietly planted memories of Danzo’s countless crimes deep within the villagers’ subconscious.
Naturally…
Danzo would never discover the source.
After all…
There wasn’t one.
From the very beginning…
Dozens of seemingly unrelated “insiders” began discussing the same stories at the same time.
There was no chain of rumors.
No first speaker.
No trail to follow.
Now that Danzo had taken most of Root with him…
Even if some Root members remained inside Konoha…
Their surveillance network would inevitably become weaker.
“Mikoto.”
“When you return…”
“Tell Fugaku I’d like to meet him.”
Mikoto blinked in surprise.
Just moments ago, they had been happily chatting about their children.
Why did Kushina suddenly want to meet Fugaku?
And judging by her expression…
She intended for it to remain a private meeting.
Unlike many noblewomen, Mikoto wasn’t naïve.
As the wife of the Uchiha Clan Head, she immediately connected Kushina’s request with Danzo’s departure.
A bold…
Almost unbelievable…
Possibility formed in her mind.
She simply nodded.
“I understand.”
“I’ll tell him as soon as I return.”
Meanwhile…
After leaving Konoha, Danzo didn’t head directly toward the Fire Daimyō’s residence.
Instead…
He made a detour to one of Orochimaru’s hidden underground laboratories.
“Orochimaru.”
“Where is the thing I asked for?”
Orochimaru calmly led him deeper into the laboratory before stopping beside a large petri dish.
“The experiment is still unstable.”
Danzo frowned.
“What is the current success rate?”
“Less than ten percent.”
“So much time has passed…”
“And that’s all you’ve accomplished?”
Ignoring Danzo’s icy stare, Orochimaru answered calmly.
“I have neither sufficient funding nor adequate research materials.”
“Without them…”
“How can the experiments progress?”
Then he smiled faintly.
“Lord Danzo.”
“Provide me with enough money and materials…”
“And within two years…”
“I guarantee you’ll receive exactly what you want.”
“Two years?”
Danzo’s face twitched violently.
“That’s far too long.”
Supporting Orochimaru’s research had already drained enormous amounts of money over the years.
To keep the experiments running…
Danzo had cut expenses everywhere he possibly could.
He had even embezzled the already pitiful funding allocated to the Konoha Orphanage.
Outside the village…
Root shinobi frequently disguised themselves as bandits, robbing wealthy merchants to secretly finance Orochimaru’s research.
Even then…
Money was always in short supply.
And now…
Orochimaru wanted another two full years of funding.
Did he really think money simply grew on trees?