Everyone present—except the unseen Sima Ming—was stunned by the announcement that the retired Third Hokage would once again take up the mantle of Hokage.
For a brief moment, whispers spread throughout the meeting hall.
However, after thinking it over, everyone reached the same conclusion.
There simply wasn’t another suitable candidate.
Not long ago, Konoha had been overflowing with extraordinary talent.
There had been the White Fang of Konoha, whose name alone terrified the Hidden Sand.
The Legendary Sannin, who had fought the “God of Shinobi,” Hanzo, and survived.
And Minato Namikaze—the Yellow Flash—who had battled both the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki without fear.
Yet now…
The village couldn’t even produce a single successor for the Hokage’s seat.
Many eyes subtly drifted toward Danzo Shimura, whose expression remained as gloomy as ever.
After all, the tragedies surrounding Konoha’s greatest heroes were deeply connected to him.
Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang, had been driven to suicide after the village turned against him.
Orochimaru had descended into forbidden human experimentation.
Even the recent Nine-Tails Incident had become the subject of growing suspicion.
Many believed Danzo had leaked the time and location of Kushina’s childbirth.
Very few people had known that information.
The enemy’s attack had been far too precise to be a coincidence.
Moreover, the Anbu had recently begun monitoring both Danzo and Root.
That alone suggested Hiruzen himself suspected Danzo’s involvement.
Even so…
No one dared voice those accusations aloud.
Then, breaking the silence, Kushina spoke.
“I support Lord Third serving as the interim Hokage.”
The entire meeting hall instantly fell silent.
Only then did everyone remember that Kushina Uzumaki was present.
Her agreement wasn’t made on impulse.
It was a carefully considered decision reached after discussing the situation with Sima Ming.
Although she intended to reform Konoha’s corrupt leadership…
She wasn’t ready yet.
She still needed time.
Time to gather allies.
Time to build influence.
Time to prepare.
The other Hidden Villages would never ignore an opportunity created by Konoha’s lack of leadership.
Without a Hokage, invasion was only a matter of time.
Allowing Hiruzen to return would certainly mean Danzo remained protected.
However…
Hiruzen’s presence would also restrain Danzo.
Instead of acting openly, Danzo would be forced back into the shadows.
That delay alone would buy Kushina and Sima Ming valuable time.
Of course…
That didn’t mean they intended to sit back and watch Hiruzen and Danzo quietly bury the truth behind the Nine-Tails Incident.
In a few days…
Whether those two could continue smiling remained to be seen.
After Kushina voiced her support, several clan heads loyal to Hiruzen quickly followed.
Seeing the overwhelming consensus, the remaining representatives raised no objections.
Just like that…
Hiruzen Sarutobi officially returned as Hokage.
The meeting then shifted to other matters.
Messages had to be sent to the Fire Daimyō.
Compensation needed to be arranged for the families of the shinobi who had died during the Nine-Tails attack.
Kushina had no interest in hearing the rest.
She quietly stood and walked out of the meeting hall.
Outside, she paused and looked back toward Hokage Rock.
Her gaze lingered on Minato’s stone likeness carved into the mountain.
For a long moment…
She simply stood there.
Then, without another word, she turned and headed toward the Uchiha Clan Compound.
“Lady Kushina!”
The two Uchiha guards at the entrance stared at her in shock.
During the Nine-Tails attack, several witnesses had claimed they saw the Sharingan reflected in the beast’s eyes.
That suggested someone from the Uchiha Clan had controlled the Nine-Tails and broken Kushina’s seal.
It wasn’t just outsiders who believed that rumor.
Even many members of the Uchiha feared it might be true.
Recently, both Anbu and Root had kept the clan under constant surveillance.
Because of that, the clan head had ordered everyone to keep a low profile and avoid giving anyone an excuse to target them.
Yet now…
The Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki herself had come to the compound alone.
If the mysterious person responsible for controlling the Nine-Tails struck again here…
The Uchiha would have no way to clear their name.
“I’m here to see Mikoto.”
“Please tell her I’ve come.”
The two guards exchanged uncertain glances.
One remained with Kushina while the other hurried toward the clan head’s residence.
Moments later…
Uchiha Mikoto rushed out, breathing heavily.
Even she had been startled by Kushina’s sudden appearance.
Otherwise, a veteran Jonin would never have looked so flustered.
After leaving the compound together, Mikoto noticed several unconscious Anbu hidden in the surrounding shadows.
Her face immediately turned pale.
Her legs nearly gave out beneath her.
“K-Kushina…”
“What have you done?”
Earlier, she’d wondered why none of the Anbu had stopped Kushina from entering.
Now she understood.
It wasn’t that they hadn’t tried.
They had already been knocked unconscious.
She couldn’t imagine what Kushina intended to do.
If all she wanted was to talk, she could have simply sent a message.
Why force her way through the surveillance?
Kushina smiled faintly.
“Don’t worry.”
“I’m just in a bad mood.”
“I wanted to go shopping with you.”
Naturally…
That explanation had been suggested by Sima Ming.
As long as Kushina didn’t openly betray Konoha, there was very little the village leadership could do to restrict her.
Unlike the previous Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Mito, Kushina’s personality was well known throughout Konoha.
Mito had always been calm, graceful, and dignified.
Kushina, on the other hand…
Was famous as the Red-Hot Habanero.
Her fiery temper was legendary.
Her husband had only recently died.
The village had barely begun mourning him before discussing his successor.
If Kushina had remained perfectly calm, pretending nothing had happened…
That would have been far more suspicious.
Instead, forcing her way past the Anbu and deliberately breaking the unspoken rule that a Jinchūriki should avoid contact with the Uchiha fit perfectly with her established personality.
Everything unfolded exactly as Sima Ming had predicted.
After receiving the Anbu’s report, Hiruzen simply used the Telescope Technique to observe Kushina and Mikoto shopping together.
Seeing nothing alarming, he dismissed the matter.
He couldn’t…
And more importantly, he didn’t dare…
Interfere with Kushina’s normal social interactions at a time like this.
Inside the Hokage’s Office…
Danzo frowned deeply.
“Hiruzen.”
“The Jinchūriki has become far too reckless.”
“I believe she should be placed under strict surveillance.”
“If she continues approaching the Uchiha so openly and someone controls the Nine-Tails again…”
“The consequences will be unimaginable.”
Hiruzen calmly replied,
“I’ll decide how to handle Kushina.”
“You should concern yourself with managing your own people.”
Danzo narrowed his eye.
“…You still suspect me?”
Hiruzen looked directly at him.
“I’m willing to trust you.”
Those words only darkened Danzo’s expression.
Hiruzen hadn’t said…
“I believe you.”
He had said…
“I’m willing to trust you.”
The difference was enormous.
It meant suspicion still remained.
Ironically…
Danzo truly had nothing to do with the Nine-Tails Incident.
He had never leaked the location of Kushina’s childbirth.
For perhaps the first time in his life…
Danzo experienced what it felt like to become someone else’s scapegoat.
After a long silence, he spoke coldly.
“Hiruzen…”
“You’ll regret indulging the Jinchūriki.”
Hiruzen’s expression hardened.
“Danzo.”
“I am the Hokage.”
“I don’t need you telling me how to govern the village.”
Danzo slammed the office door shut as he left.
The more he thought about Kushina’s recent actions, the more uneasy he became.
Only moments after publicly supporting Hiruzen’s return…
She had openly violated the unspoken agreement between Konoha’s leadership by approaching the Uchiha.
During such a sensitive period…
That couldn’t be a coincidence.
Could she be plotting something?
Adding to his concerns, Root had already reported that Kushina had recently made contact with one of their retired agents.
Danzo couldn’t shake the feeling that Kushina believed he was responsible for leaking the information about her childbirth.
If she intended to retaliate…
Even someone as confident as Danzo wasn’t eager to face the Nine-Tails head-on.
After returning to Root Headquarters, he immediately strengthened security throughout the underground base.
More patrols were assigned.
Additional guards were posted.
He was determined not to overlook even the slightest sign of trouble.