~ Every 100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter! Your votes keep this climbing. Thanks!
Qianyu was certain. Orochimaru's time in Konoha was running out.
Kushina Uzumaki spoke urgently, "Then you should go warn Lord Orochimaru right away, Qianyu."
Qianyu shook his head. "No need. He was already planning to leave. That's why he kept experimenting even after Hiruzen Sarutobi's warning." His voice was flat, matter-of-fact. "After he leaves, he'll go to the Land of Rice and start his own hidden village. Continue his research. Train some ninja to work for the Owl Organization. And that village… I plan to make it our headquarters later. So he has to leave. My actions just moved the timeline up a bit. It's fine."
Kushina let out a soft sigh of relief. "Good. Living here in Konoha… it feels more and more unfamiliar every day."
Qianyu took her hand. "Once I finish teaching Neji what he needs to know, and once Naruto's life is more stable… we leave."
Kushina nodded. "Okay."
From the bedroom, Uzumaki Cang M began to cry. Kushina stood and went to him. Qianyu leaned back on the sofa, his mind working.
He'd agreed to Hiruzen's compromise, to spare Koharu's life, for a reason. He wanted to see what would happen now. Now that he'd made contact with Naruto.
Regardless of whether Minato Namikaze ever woke up… what would the boy do? An orphan who believed he had no one, only to find out he had parents. A village he loved, which had secretly persecuted him. Would he still choose to forgive everything? To stand with Konoha? Or would he stand with his mother?
The truth about Miyuki Uzumaki… Qianyu would tell Naruto everything. On the day they left Konoha for good.
The following days saw the entire village on high alert.
The Nine-Tails attack wasn't that long ago. Now, another invasion. The Fourth Hokage's wife, kidnapped. The Hokage Building, destroyed. The impact was severe.
Konoha dispatched multiple ninja teams to "rescue" Miyuki Uzumaki. But Hiruzen Sarutobi knew. It would come to nothing.
Still, he had to make the gesture. Even a futile effort was better than no effort at all. Because in everyone's eyes, she was the Hokage's wife.
Hiruzen gave those teams another order: find the surveillance operatives watching the village from outside, and drive them off. Most were undoubtedly from the other Great Ninja Villages. Hiruzen couldn't afford another conflict now. Expulsion was the only option.
Rumors spread through the streets like wildfire. The boy, Naruto—now officially an orphan—was the one born the night the Nine-Tails rampaged. The villagers' simmering hatred found a new, convenient target.
Danzō Shimura woke on the second day.
A throbbing, hollow ache in his right eye socket. Memory flooded back. Qianyu's hand, ripping out his Sharingan. Danzō's face, still swollen, contorted into something ugly and vicious.
The door opened. Homura Mitokado entered the room.
"You're awake, Danzō."
He took the chair by his bed.
Danzō's voice was a sandpaper rasp, thick with resentment. "What happened after? Did Hiruzen deal with him?"
Homura shook his head slowly. "No, Danzō. It's over. His power… it's beyond anything we imagined. He's practically on the same level as Madara Uchiha in his prime. And we have no Hashirama Senju now."
Danzō's swollen face twitched. "So we just let it go?!"
Homura sighed. "Last night, after he left, Koharu suggested we target his family. He came back. He nearly crushed her windpipe, Danzō. Her throat is so damaged she can barely speak or swallow. If Hiruzen hadn't intervened, she would be dead. And you… if not for Hiruzen, you'd be dead too. You should be grateful. He still considers us his friends. He doesn't want us hurt. So, for once, try to understand him. Stop opposing him at every turn."
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze intense. "We cannot handle Qianyu. Not now. And Konoha needs him. Maintaining the status quo is our only option. Don't even think about revenge. The village is in a precarious state. Do not add to Hiruzen's burdens. His matter will be dealt with later, after Hiruzen handles the current crisis."
Danzō's cheek pulsed. He'd expected this, but the confirmation was a fresh wave of galling impotence. "And the Nine-Tails jinchūriki? Did he really take the boy in?!"
"Of course not," Homura said flatly. "The jinchūriki will live in the village as an orphan. And you, Danzō, are forbidden from making contact. If you approach that boy…"
He didn't finish. He didn't need to.
If he touched Naruto, Qianyu would kill him.
Danzō burned with fury, but it was a cold, helpless rage. Because it was true. He couldn't win against Qianyu.
"Rest now," Homura said, standing. "I'm going to check on Koharu."
He left.
Alone, Danzō raised a trembling hand to the bandaged void where his eye had been. His teeth ground together so hard his jaw ached.
His left eye flicked to the window. His Root operatives were surely waiting outside. He'd have them take him back to his base.
Then he saw it.
On the windowsill. A small black snake watched him, its tongue flicking in and out.
No proof. But Danzō's instincts screamed. This was no wild snake. This was his snake.
Qianyu was watching him.
And he hadn't even sensed it. That was the truly terrifying part.
The snake didn't flee when spotted. It wanted him to see. A warning. Every move you make, I am watching.
The little black serpent gave one last, deliberate flick of its tongue. Then—poof—it vanished in a puff of smoke.
Now Danzō was certain. It was him. A message. A warning.
Danzō's fist clenched so tight the sheets tore. When had he ever been subjected to such humiliation?
A moment later, he forced his hand to relax. He was no match. If he moved against Qianyu now, he wouldn't even need to face the man himself. Hiruzen would shut him down first.
Danzō knew Hiruzen. At this critical juncture, if Danzō did anything that might destabilize Konoha, Hiruzen would eliminate him without a second thought.
His fingers brushed the bandages over the empty socket again. He'd been unconscious. He hadn't seen Qianyu's Susano'o. But as a boy, alongside Hiruzen, he'd witnessed the terrifying might of Madara Uchiha's.
"The power of the Uchiha…" Danzō muttered, his voice a low, venomous whisper. "The Uchiha…"
A cold, calculating light glinted in his one remaining eye.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (100+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/GoldenLong
Happy reading, everyone!