Facing Danzō, who was leaning on his cane and still hadn't grasped the current situation, Hiruzen spoke sternly.
"Danzō, your actions this time have seriously damaged the village's interests. From today onward, all Root operatives will be incorporated into Konoha's Anbu under the Hokage's command."
Hearing Hiruzen show absolutely no mercy, Danzō's expression darkened.
"Hiruzen, must you go this far? Everything I've done has been for the sake of the village!"
He really shouldn't have said that. The moment those words came out, Hiruzen—whose mood had only just eased a little thanks to Mitsuki arriving in time to rescue the Kirigakure delegation—immediately flared up again.
Hiruzen snapped angrily, "Silence, Danzō! Don't think this matter will just blow over. From now on, you will return to the Shimura compound and reflect on your mistakes. Without my express permission, you will not take a single step outside!"
He waved for two elite Anbu, who moved to escort Danzō away.
"Hiruzen, you will regret this!"
Bang!
The door slammed shut behind Danzō. Hiruzen stared at it for a moment, then lit his pipe and took a few long drags. After a long silence, he turned to Mitsuki and asked quietly:
"Do you think I was too lenient with Danzō?"
Mitsuki answered without hesitation.
"Yeah, far too lenient. Considering the severity, what he did is basically on the level of treason."
"Cough! Cough!"
Hiruzen nearly choked on his own smoke — he hadn't expected Mitsuki to be this brutally straightforward.
After all the achievements Mitsuki had shown on the battlefield, and with his connection to Tsunade, he was unquestionably someone within the Hokage faction. Hiruzen didn't feel the need to speak in circles with him anymore.
"Hokage-sama," Mitsuki continued, "the very existence of Root is fundamentally flawed. During wartime, sure, it's tolerable. But once the war ends and Captain Minato becomes the Fourth Hokage, this organization will only become a thorn in Konoha's side. Roots that rot underground don't nourish the tree—they poison it."
Hiruzen was visibly surprised. It was rare to see Mitsuki speak so earnestly. Even when reporting something as shocking as encountering Madara in the Land of Water, Mitsuki had been unfazed.
Hiruzen grew solemn and nodded. "You're right, Mitsuki. Remarkable… you already possess the mindset of a Hokage."
Mitsuki made a face like he had just swallowed bitter melon.
He had finally decided to have a serious discussion with Hiruzen, and this was the praise he received? Did Hiruzen think he was some easily manipulated kid like Itachi?
"I will handle Danzō's matter seriously. But tell me, Mitsuki… do you also think Minato is more suitable than Orochimaru to be the next Hokage?"
Hiruzen already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear Mitsuki's perspective on Konoha's top geniuses.
"I don't know much about Orochimaru" Mitsuki replied, "but in front of Captain Minato, anyone would seem lacking."
He didn't want to go too deep into the topic — acting like he had some influence on the Hokage succession was troublesome.
Hiruzen laughed. "You and Minato really get along well. He's always praising your talent, saying that compared to you, any genius seems ordinary."
To Hiruzen, nothing was more comforting than seeing bonds form among Konoha's younger generation.
After a bit of light talk, it was time for the real reason he had summoned Mitsuki.
Hiruzen cleared his throat. "Mitsuki… the Uchiha who used Susano'o. Was it Ruri?"
Among the Uchiha currently in the village, she was unquestionably the strongest. Shisui and Fugaku were still stationed at the frontlines on the Fire Country coast.
And the reports from the Land of Rivers and the Kirigakure front indicated that Ruri's rapid growth bordered on monstrous.
Very un–ninja-like. But extremely Uchiha-like.
Everyone knew the Uchiha's progression was generally reflected in the evolution of their Sharingan. Each stage of their eye brought a full enhancement—body, chakra, and spiritual power all rising in tandem.
Ruri had already awakened the Three Tomoe in the Land of Rivers. And now her strength had surged again, naturally making Hiruzen suspicious.
A similar suspicion had once been directed at Shisui, though without the definitive proof that Susano'o provided here.
Facing Hiruzen's question, Mitsuki answered truthfully.
"It was her."
"Then… do you know what her Mangekyō Sharingan ability is?"
This was what Hiruzen feared most. According to Tobirama's research, each Mangekyō housed a unique jutsu that reflected its wielder's inner self.
If Ruri's ability was too dangerous, Hiruzen would need to prepare countermeasures.
Mitsuki immediately understood the worry: the never-ending anxiety that the Uchiha might one day threaten Konoha again.
"Relax. Ruri's Mangekyō ability isn't dangerous. And besides—Konoha still has me, doesn't it?"
Confidence born from true power. With so many strong shinobi in Konoha now, there was no need to fear the Uchiha.
Hiruzen, heavily influenced by Tobirama's teachings, practically had PTSD at the mention of Mangekyō Sharingan. The last person to awaken it had been Uchiha Madara, after all.
And because of that battle, Hashirama had died young, which eventually ignited the First Great Ninja War.
Hiruzen had been a child then; the trauma of seeing the world plunged into unprecedented war lingered even decades later.
…
By the time Mitsuki left the Hokage Building, it was already late afternoon. The setting sun painted the Hokage Rock in shades of brilliant orange and red.
Elsewhere, Mei was with Kisame and the others, discussing how to use Konoha's mistake to gain leverage in the upcoming negotiations.
Suddenly, she felt a slight weight in her hand — something had appeared there silently.
She masked her reaction, finished the meeting, then returned to her room. Only then did she open her hand.
A slip of paper.
"Tonight at eight, I'll come find you to discuss removing the coordinate seal."