Interweaving of Lives. Part VI.
For some time, chaos reigned in the hall, consisting essentially of the voices of the clan patriarchs and a few people from the Hokage's apparatus. Everyone except: Hiruzen's old team, as well as Hiashi Hyuga, Shibi Aburame, and of course Shikaku Nara, seemed surprised by this turn of events.
With the old leadership, everything was clear, – Ichiro Hyuga analyzed their behavior, – they simply knew. Hiashi Hyuga and Shibi Aburame, for various reasons such as unique clan upbringing, "cold" temperament, mindset, observation of colleagues, etc., were simply waiting. And Shikaku Nara, – who was a pillar of calm right now, – was thoughtfully calculating forecasts, and therefore silent. The rest, … all this strongly resembled a failed Kabuki theater performance.
Finally, when the noise died down a bit, Danzou Shimura tapped his cane on the floor again, drawing attention to himself, and continued the report.
"As I said earlier. According to fact-checking and analysis with forecasts from ANBU NE analysts, during childbirth, a successful attack was carried out on Kushina Uzumaki. Followed by the release of the Kyuubi no Yoko."
"What facts are we talking about?" Choza Akimichi spoke up for the first time, awaiting a response from the head of ANBU NE, after which the others also stared at Shimura, who was clearly preparing to read from a sheet.
"According to the inspection of the previous jinchuriki Kushina Uzumaki's childbirth site, traces of combat were found both in the outer and inner perimeter of the maternity room security."
"Details, please, Danzou Shimura-dono." Shikaku Nara requested.
"Of course." The intelligence chief nodded and flipped the sheet. "A standard ANBU platoon, consisting of three squads, was guarding the maternity room. The first squad, along with Minato Namikaze, Biwako Sarutobi as the attending A-rank iryonin, and the expectant mother Kushina Uzumaki, were in the inner room. The second and third squads, consisting of two jonin commanders, their two tokubetsu-jonin deputies, and personnel totaling sixteen chunin, were on the outer perimeter." Shimura flipped the sheet again and continued. "The outer cordon was circular, closed, and double-layered. The inner cordon, not counting Minato Namikaze, was in scheme number six – open hexagon."
"Source of information?" Fugaku Uchiha clarified.
"Classified." Shimura replied displeasedly.
"Reason?" In the same tone as Danzou, the Uchiha clan patriarch clarified again.
"Disclosure of classified information: Operation site, methods used, composition of participating shinobi groups, ANBU operatives' abilities, and other factors under "Secret" classification. Not subject to disclosure."
"Pfft." Fugaku snorted skeptically, with a slight note of contempt. "Just say it. ANBU, with NE, failed the operation again! And now, through you, is preparing to pin their failure on someone else. This pattern of action," rising and leaning on the table with his palms, the Uchiha clan head said, "both ANBU and ANBU NE, all Konoha clans have already felt, learned, and know! There are no other objective reasons to hide the source of your information, … none visible. And therefore," Fugaku swept his gaze over the entire hall and unexpectedly stated, "I propose we vote to disclose this information to the full Konoha clan council!"
"One moment, please." Hiruzen immediately intervened and pressed with his voice. "Let's let Danzou Shimura-dono finish his report. And your question, Fugaku Uchiha-dono, we'll address in order."
"How convenient to follow the plan." The Uchiha patriarch squinted but sat down anyway. "Please continue, Danzou Shimura-dono. Just don't disappoint the people gathered here by blaming ANBU's mistakes on some Konoha clan again."
And just as the intelligence chief was about to speak, a hand rose again.
"I request the floor." Ino Yamanaka rose after raising his hand. Everyone looked at him in surprise, after which he continued.
"Danzou Shimura-dono, please tell the assembly why Kushina Uzumaki's childbirth was not conducted using the proven method by Uzumaki and Senju clan members?" And this question made everyone around think, … "Indeed, why?" Danzou scowled displeasedly and said.
"Representatives of Konoha's special units, in the person of the Seiki Butai commander and ANBU, as well as myself as head of ANBU NE, requested help from the Uzumaki clan, but they refused."
"More specifically?" Ino Yamanaka clarified.
"They didn't share clan secrets," Unkai Kurama interjected with a straight face, "The Uzumaki had already given them the clan princess and a seal master in one person. Note, with a unique kekkei genkai and a trained jinchuriki! Did the Uzumaki now have to give all secret techniques to ANBU? On every convenient occasion?"
"Unkai Kurama-dono," Hiruzen also intervened and raised his voice, "don't escalate the situation! I'm sure there were special circumstances with the Uzumaki clan, the essence of which, unfortunately, we can no longer learn. After all, to my deepest regret, the Uzumaki clan, …"
But then, unexpectedly, there was a knock at the door, and then, … with a stone expression on his face, a thirty-year-old man entered, wearing a black men's kimono in Hanfu style with a red mon on the chest area in the form of a spiral coiled into itself – the whirlpool symbol. This was Haero Uzumaki – the new patriarch of the Uzumaki clan. And this, to put it mildly, caused quite a dissonance among the people around.
Meanwhile, Haero Uzumaki went to his seat, bowed respectfully to the assembly, and turning his head toward Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzou Shimura, said.
"Please continue, Hiruzen Sarutobi-dono." The redhead glanced at the bulletin on the table with one eye, nodded affirmatively to it, thereby showing the others that he had already familiarized himself with this information, and looking intently and lingering his gaze on Danzou Shimura, smiled at him along with the former Third Hokage. "Like all the others gathered here, I'm listening carefully! And yes, please forgive my lateness, clan matters!" The man bowed again and sat in his chair next to the representative of the white-eyed shinobi clan – Hiashi Hyuga.
"Ahem." Sarutobi cleared his throat. "So, due to some nuances, ANBU representatives couldn't find common ground on this issue. And therefore, …" Hiruzen began to gloss over the events and try to drop the topic.
Meanwhile, Haero quietly addressed the man sitting next to him, specifically Fugaku Uchiha, and quickly got up to speed on the current situation, then, continuing to bore into Shimura with his gaze, waited for Sarutobi to finish and asked the head of ANBU NE a question.
"So that's how it is, Danzou Shimura-dono?!" The redhead rose again and demonstratively swept the hall with his gaze. "Fugaku Uchiha-dono told me that citing internal regulations, some vague excuses, and alleged secrecy, you refused to explain the reason for the tragedy in Konohagakure no Sato – October 10th this year?" Seeing bewilderment and clear interest from the people around him, Haero, with a slight smile, explained to the assembly.
"Esteemed assembly! You see! From July 1st to August 3rd this year, … three times, totaling, not counting Kushina Uzumaki herself, heads of the following structures approached my clan: ANBU and ANBU NE, and the Fourth Hokage himself – Minato Namikaze."
"The essence of their request was as follows." Haero began to explain, … but was unexpectedly interrupted by Hamura Mitokado.
"I object."
"Shut up!!!" Haero sharply raised his voice, and then angrily continued under surprised and puzzled gazes. "The essence of the request from ANBU and ANBU NE power structures, as well as the Fourth Hokage, was as follows… All of them, time after time, first asked, and then, after the first two refusals, insistently demanded that the Uzumaki clan hand over secret "Absolute Barrier" techniques, as well as instructions for their study and training of appropriate masters. However!" The redhead raised his hand and swept the entire hall again, showing that the real juicy part was coming now. "Let it be known to you all, to the entire clan assembly, that by agreement between Uzushio in the person of representative Mito Uzumaki-sama as the first jinchuriki of the Kyuubi no Yoko, and the great village of Konohagakure no Sato, an "Eternal" treaty was concluded and signed on the training and transfer of the jinchuriki! And the first and foremost two points of this treaty are the transfer of the vessel – jinchuriki from the ruling, most suitable branch of the Uzumaki clan, for the following reasons."
"Ahem." The Uzumaki patriarch cleared his throat. "They are as follows. First. For the strongest tailed beast, only certain Senju people are suitable. This is due to the specifics of their kekkei genkai, the special physique of certain representatives of this clan, and the power of their specific chakra. And in the best case, Uzumaki clan representatives are suitable for creating a jinchuriki! Precisely from the ruling line! Due to the extremely strong Yang component of chakra, and even better than the Senju, due to the uniqueness of the Uzumaki kekkei genkai, predisposition to spatial sealing. Including into their own bodies. Mito Uzumaki-sama is the example, who at an advanced age – seventy-three years old, survived the extraction of the nine-tailed demon fox without fatal consequences, resealed it, and then trained Kushina Uzumaki for several years, which is the best proof."
"Second." Haero Uzumaki continued. "The previous jinchuriki, or the head of the Uzumaki clan, to whom by agreement between Konoha and Uzushio in the person of the Uzumaki clan, … the Kyuubi no Yoko belongs! Yes-yes! You didn't mishear! Here's that very treaty!" And Haero pulled out copies, asking the ANBU representative to distribute them to the assembly. "The Kyuubi no Yoko belongs to the Uzumaki clan! And as head of the Uzumaki clan, he must train the Uzumaki jinchuriki to A-rank fuinjutsu master. This is done for the best suppression and use of the Kyuubi by the jinchuriki. So. Kushina Uzumaki was such a master, since she was personally trained by Mito Uzumaki-sama – Wife of Hashirama Senju. I hope no one in the assembly doubts the competence of this great woman?" The redhead swept the hall with a questioning gaze and, receiving approving nods from the clan heads, as well as a strong squint from Danzou Shimura, continued. "And therefore, as you see in the treaty you're holding, the Uzumaki clan fully and unconditionally fulfilled its obligations. As evidenced by the signatures of Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen-dono and Mito Uzumaki-sama."
"The treaty is fulfilled! And sealed! And therefore, we move to the third and final point! Note," optional, but highly desirable, point! Titled: "Childbirth location for female jinchuriki representatives."
"Please clarify this point." The representative of Iryo Han and head of the central hospital, Hiroshi Akihiro, spoke up. "We all know that the female body is much more resistant to chakra intoxications, both external and innate predisposition – internal."
"Of course, Hiroshi Akihiro-dono. So." Haero Uzumaki continued. "As many present here probably know, Mito Uzumaki-sama had three biological children. All were born completely healthy, and accordingly, all three births went without any complications or consequences! And therefore!" Here, Haero raised his voice. "This shows, very clearly, that preparing and conducting jinchuriki births is a reliable process proven multiple times by time! Before the tragedy of October 10th, this process happened three times! And everything always went perfectly! Without the slightest slip-ups. Therefore, the Uzumaki clan always insisted on complying with the third treaty point. Namely! Conducting jinchuriki births in a specially prepared location beforehand and according to a ritual developed specifically for this! A ritual that gave full control over both the Kyuubi and the childbirth site. Thus, guarantees, responsibility, and as a consequence, the treaty on the Kyuubi no Yoko belonging to the Uzumaki clan were observed!"
"Ahem." The redhead cleared his throat. "Esteemed assembly! By this, I'm trying to convey to you that the jinchuriki themselves, by the said treaty, belong to Konohagakure no Sato. Fully and unconditionally. However!" Haero raised his index finger, emphasizing the importance of the moment. "Precisely the Kyuubi belongs to the Uzumaki clan! And the guarantee of our clan's preservation, and therefore Konoha's safety, from any possible destabilization or destruction, lies in conducting jinchuriki births according to the treaty, very DESIRABLY," the Uzumaki clan head emphasized the last words, "in the Uzumaki clan, following all specified safety rules. As you can read right now in the provided treaty samples!"
"And now, I draw your attention to the fact that representatives of both ANBU and ANBU NE, as well as the Fourth Hokage himself, voluntarily and without any inducements, unilaterally from their side, refused to comply with the last point number three of the above treaty. As you see, … it's documented! And therefore, they took full further responsibility upon themselves!" The Uzumaki clan head stated ironically, then threw in even more "screaming" details. "All negotiations on this topic were recorded on a visual memory fuin-sphere." At the latest news, Hiruzen suddenly quickly recalled his telescope-sphere, with which he often liked to peep on young and sexy kunoichi in the onsen, and therefore quickly figured out where Second Hokage Tobirama Senju got the idea for that crystal telescope-sphere. Although he was unaware of such "side" artifacts, … let alone that someone else had something similar right under his nose! He suspected their theoretical existence in Uzushio. But no more. However, in reality, it turned out differently. And that was very alarming! Meanwhile, the Uzumaki continued laying out his facts. "Also, in our clan's defensive barrier complex, there are chakra samples, time of stay, and movement routes of all visitors to our clan."
"We have EVERYTHING RECORDED! And the evidence is in my hands!" Haero Uzumaki slowly, safely, and for show, unsealed the aforementioned materials from the inside of his palm in the form of that very sphere and three metal fuin-rods – standard chakra registrars, … the very ones that the Uzumaki clan provided to Konoha when creating this village (understandably, in the "Barrier Sensory Center" of Konohagakure no Sato there were many more such rods) for monitoring the chakra barrier inside and around the entire Konoha perimeter.
As soon as the assembly saw THIS, many people thought the Uzumaki clan were the most notorious paranoids they knew. And also, that their own clans could use similar surveillance and recording devices and artifacts. At this point, Danzou Shimura squinted especially hard. For various reasons.
While many read, absorbed, and analyzed the essence of the provided data, Unkai Kurama politely bowed to the redhead and said.
"Please continue, Haero Uzumaki-dono. Unlike our ANBU NE representative with his absurd secrecy right now and in this situation, you are the true voice of reason today. And you've shared many interesting facts." The redhead nodded and read from the sheet.
"As you all clearly see. From the provided and confirmed facts. ANBU NE representatives in the person of Danzou Shimura and ANBU in the person of Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze, at their own risk, without notifying the clan assembly," here the redhead made a special emphasis, "refused to conduct the jinchuriki childbirth operation according to Point Three of the above treaty. The jinchuriki Kushina Uzumaki's childbirth, they conducted completely independently and in full secrecy from everyone! They didn't trust the professionals, in the person of the Uzumaki clan, and did everything at their own risk. The results of this decision," Haero demonstratively swept the entire hall with his hand, "unfortunately, we observed on October 10th. And its consequences to this day. That's all from me!"
***
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: patreon.com/Granulan