Chapter 106: Danzō's Threat
Konoha. It was now past ten o'clock at night. The streets of the village were peaceful and serene under the dim yellow glow of the streetlights.
Uzumaki Ina emerged from Uzumaki Kushina's house with a bounce in her step, humming an unknown tune as she walked home. She was so happy because she had finally, completely mastered the sealing jutsu, Adamantine Sealing Chains.
Although she still couldn't compare to Kushina, she could at least use the technique proficiently, controlling it with ease. This also meant her own strength had skyrocketed. After all, the Adamantine Sealing Chains was an incredibly versatile, A-rank sealing jutsu that combined long, mid, and short-range attacks with sealing and barrier capabilities. It was a complete package of offense, defense, and sealing.
With this jutsu mastered, Ina felt she could finally go to the Konoha Hospital to learn medical ninjutsu. Once she had a decent grasp of that, she could start going on missions with Kinoshita Genichi.
"It's the end of August now. By next year, I should be ready." Ina pumped her fist. "I have to keep working hard!"
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Suddenly, three figures landed in front of Uzumaki Ina, while a fourth appeared behind her.
Ina stopped in her tracks, looking at the three in front of her with a mixture of confusion and vigilance. They wore masks, so they were definitely Anbu, but she couldn't tell if they were under the Hokage's direct command or from Root.
If they were from Root…
Ina immediately recalled Kinoshita Genichi's prior warnings, and a massive amount of chakra began to flow through her body. Because of Genichi's influence, in her eyes, Root meant "bad guys"—an organization that could absolutely not be trusted.
"Who are you?" Ina asked.
"Uzumaki Ina, we are from Root," one of the ninja said, his tone flat and unyielding. "Lord Danzō wishes to see you. Please come with us."
Ina shook her head decisively. "I don't know any Danzō. I only know Lord Third Hokage. Get out of my way, I'm going home."
The Root ninja frowned beneath his mask. To say you don't know Root is barely believable, but to not know Lord Danzō… that's going too far!
The lead Root ninja reached out a hand. "Uzumaki Ina, it would be best for you to come with us. Rest assured, we will guarantee your safety."
Ina continued to shake her head. "I'm not going. Move!"
Just then, Danzō Shimura stepped out slowly from a dark alley to the side.
The four Root ninja immediately bowed. "Lord Danzō!"
Ina turned, watching the approaching Danzō with caution. Genichi had told her this man was evil, the worst person in Konoha, just like those people from Kusagakure.
Danzō paid no mind to her wary expression. "Uzumaki Ina," he said coolly, "join Root. Only in Root will your talents be properly developed."
Ina refused without hesitation. "I'm not going. Get out of my way, I want to go home."
"Are you not going to consider Kinoshita Genichi?" Danzō said coldly. "And his parents... you wouldn't want anything to happen to them, would you?"
Alarm bells screamed in Ina's mind. So it really is about Lord Genichi!
Danzō continued his threats. "As long as you secretly join Root, I can guarantee the absolute safety of Kinoshita Genichi and his family. Uzumaki Ina, you wouldn't want Kinoshita Genichi to have some sort of... accident... on a mission, would you?"
Rage contorted Ina's face. "You monster! How dare you threaten Lord Genichi!"
She reacted instinctively. With a great clatter, golden chains shot out from her back—five of them in total.
"Lord Danzō, look out!"
A Root ninja flashed in front of Danzō and held up a hand. "Lord Danzō, let's just take her by force!"
Danzō frowned slightly. He hadn't expected Ina to react so fiercely, nor for her to be immune to his threats. This was clearly different from the intelligence he possessed. According to his predictions, Uzumaki Ina should have compromised for the sake of Genichi and his family, secretly joining Root to become one of his pawns on the outside. This method had never failed him before.
But now... it had failed? Was Kinoshita Genichi's family not her weak spot?
Danzō didn't immediately give the order to use force. That was a last resort, and one that was unlikely to succeed here.
However, Ina didn't wait for Danzō to react. She took the initiative, lashing out with her adamantine chains like iron whips, sending all four Root ninja flying. Without engaging them further, she turned and fled.
She knew she was no match for Danzō. Besides, Genichi had instructed her before not to fight head-on, but to simply run. She didn't run back to Genichi's house, because his parents were ordinary people. This was another one of Genichi's instructions.
The four Root ninja scrambled to their feet, somewhat stunned.
Is this woman really that bold? To resist Root right here in Konoha! No, not just resist—she attacked us!
"Lord Danzō, what do we do now?" one of them asked.
Danzō was at a loss. Ina's reaction was completely beyond his expectations. However, he recovered quickly and ordered, "Chase her! Use the charge of threatening the safety of the Jinchuriki and apprehend her."
The four Root ninja acknowledged the order and gave chase.
Danzō didn't move, his mind already racing to figure out how to handle the aftermath. The plan had failed, and Hiruzen Sarutobi would certainly intervene. The reason he had just concocted was plausible enough, merely a way to save face. Danzō was confident that, since no real damage had been done, Hiruzen would let the matter slide.
But this only fueled his anger and resentment.
The Hokage, the Hokage… If I were the Hokage, I wouldn't need to use such methods to recruit talent.
Under the moonlight, Danzō looked up toward the Hokage Rock, the ambition in his heart surging like a wild tide.
Meanwhile, Uzumaki Ina sprinted at full power. She was so fast that the Root ninja couldn't catch up. She ran straight to Minato Namikaze's house and yelled, "Sister Kushina!" Her voice was filled with panic. This wasn't an act; she was genuinely frightened.
She knew about Root, and she knew about Danzō. He was a contemporary of the Third Hokage, the current Hokage's aide, and a former member of the Second Hokage's personal guard. Danzō's strength was certainly immense. Ina didn't want to be captured by Root, giving Danzō leverage to threaten and manipulate Genichi.
At that moment, Kushina had just gotten into bed. Hearing Ina's panicked cry, she shot up, burst through her window still in her pajamas, and landed in a shower of shattered glass in front of Ina.
"Ina, what's wrong?" Kushina asked urgently.
Just as she spoke, several figures landed in front of them.
Kushina frowned. "Root ninja!" She was very familiar with both Anbu and Root and could easily tell them apart.
Ina quickly explained, "Sister Kushina, they want to take me to Root to threaten Genichi!"
Danzō? Threatening Genichi?
A flood of bad memories washed over Kushina. An furious expression appeared on her face as she bellowed, "Do you have an order from the Hokage?"
A Root ninja replied coldly, "We follow Lord Danzō's orders."
Kushina's anger boiled over. She was no longer the little girl she once was. She could guess with her eyes closed what Danzō's intentions were for taking Ina. In the past, she herself had been under the dual protection—and surveillance—of both Anbu and Root. If it hadn't been for Minato, she wouldn't be who she was today.
Moreover, Root's actions tonight reminded her of her own abduction by Cloud ninja years ago. That was a time when she had felt most desperate and helpless. It was Minato's appearance that had brought her hope and light. From that day on, Minato became her family.
And now, she considered Ina family as well. She refused to let Ina experience the same things she had.
BOOM!
Her chakra erupted, and her long, unbound red hair flew wildly. The ground beneath her cracked open, and adamantine chains shot out, wrapping around the four Root ninja, binding them, and hoisting them into the air.
"What?" The Root ninja never expected the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to attack so explosively. Bound by the chains, they couldn't even mold their chakra.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
More figures appeared, also masked, landing behind Kushina.
"Lady Kushina, what happened?" The newcomers were from the Hokage's direct Anbu, Kushina's personal protection squad. In the past, such a squad would have guarded her house in shifts, 24/7. There was even a time when she was restricted from leaving her residential area. But as Kushina grew stronger, this was no longer necessary, and the squad was simply stationed nearby for emergencies.
They had started moving the moment they heard the commotion but had held back when they saw it was Root. But seeing Kushina attack directly changed everything.
CRASH!
Kushina slammed the four Root ninja into the ground. "These bastards tried to take Ina!" she said coldly. "And they did it without Lord Hokage's orders! Arrest them and hand them over to the Hokage for judgment."
The four Anbu exchanged glances, but then stepped forward and apprehended the four helpless Root members. Two of the Anbu left with the prisoners, while the other two remained to guard Kushina.
Kushina patted Ina's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, Ina," she said with absolute confidence. "I won't let anyone touch you. Hmph, that Danzō... I'll be sure to teach him a lesson one day."
The Anbu behind them looked at each other and couldn't help but smile. They didn't like Root either. They were too arrogant. Or rather, they were becoming more and more arrogant by the day.
Ina said softly, "Sister Kushina, let's go to Lady Tsunade's place."
"Why?" Kushina asked, confused. "Don't worry, with me here, Danzō wouldn't dare try anything funny."
Ina shook her head. "Genichi said Lady Tsunade can help us. Besides, Big Brother Minato isn't home right now."
Kushina thought for a moment and immediately understood. It wasn't that Ina didn't trust her or her abilities, but rather that she understood her status.
"That Genichi..." Kushina pouted. "Hmph, when he gets back, I'm definitely going to teach him a lesson!" Then she smiled. "Alright, let's go. I'll take you to Lady Tsunade's place!"
Ina smiled and nodded. "Okay!"
And so, the four of them leaped away, heading for Tsunade's home.
(End of Chapter)
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