You Regret, I Shadow

"Could be worth a try."

Sarutobi Hiruzen lightly tapped his fingers against the desk. After thinking for a while, he nodded. "You handle this matter."

"That child may be powerful, but her nature does not seem particularly malicious. She is even more clearheaded than most Uchiha clan members. If we arrange things properly and help her form bonds with the people of Konoha, we may be able to put this powerful force to use for Konoha... You know the situation inside and outside the village has not been stable lately. Hidden Cloud is also looking for an opportunity. At a time like this, nothing must go wrong."

"Yes."

Sarutobi Shinnosuke accepted the order and left.

As he opened the office door, another gloomy-looking man, wrapped in bandages with even half his face covered, appeared outside at just that moment.

"...Lord Danzo."

Shinnosuke frowned almost imperceptibly and lowered his head slightly.

Shimura Danzō, leader of Root.

Although Root was nominally a branch of the Anbu, the two had no direct superior-subordinate relationship. Danzo also held the position of Hokage advisor, placing him half a rank above Shinnosuke, the head of the Anbu. Thus, Sarutobi Shinnosuke still had to bow and greet him upon meeting him.

"Shinnosuke."

The gloomy Shimura Danzō nodded. He stopped at the door and waited until Sarutobi Shinnosuke had left before entering the room.

Sarutobi Hiruzen swiftly closed the report in his hand, clasped his hands beneath his chin, and looked up. "What is it, Danzo?"

"Heh."

Shimura Danzō sneered. "An Uchiha clansman from the Warring States period awakened within the village. On the very day she broke free of her seal, she killed an Anbu squad and came into contact with the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki... Monkey, such a major matter, and you actually kept it from us without leaking a single word!"

"...You already knew?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "Root's intelligence network seems quite efficient."

"Hmph. I have already asked Koharu and En. They knew nothing about this either."

"If I had not received intelligence in time, you probably would not have intended to tell us even now, would you?"

Danzo snorted, his tone full of dissatisfaction. "Hiruzen, as the Hokage of Konoha, you are allowing such a dangerous person to move freely through the village and even tacitly permitting her to live with the Jinchuriki. What exactly are you thinking? Were the casualties from the Nine Tails Riot four years ago not tragic enough for you? Do you want history to repeat itself?!"

Hearing Danzo's aggressive questioning, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened as well.

"Of course I understand what you are saying, but this situation is different. I have met Miss Uchiha Hikari. For now, she can be considered trustworthy. If we rashly come into conflict with her, Konoha will truly be plunged into danger..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had not failed to consider the options of killing or controlling Uchiha Hikari.

But even under the best possible projection, they would need to sacrifice more than ten elite Jonin—or the life of the Third Hokage himself—to accomplish it. That was already a loss Konoha could not bear. If anything went wrong and Naruto became involved, then the Nine Tails Riot from four years ago would happen again, and the consequences would likely be even worse than last time.

Therefore, as long as Uchiha Hikari had not clearly displayed hostility, this peaceful arrangement was the best option.

As for the Jinchuriki...

They could find a way to make contact later.

After all, in such a short time, Uchiha Hikari could not possibly gain Naruto's complete trust.

That was what Sarutobi Hiruzen thought.

But Danzo clearly did not see things the same way.

"Monkey, do you hear yourself? Do you not know what the Uchiha are like? Yet you dare trust a stranger you have met only once or twice instead of us old comrades who have fought through life and death together?!"

Danzo took a deep breath, then changed the subject. "Fine. Since you believe this Uchiha clansman is trustworthy, then... hand her over to me. I will make her truly loyal to Konoha and turn her into a sharp blade for Konoha!"

"?"

"That is impossible!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's response was absolute.

"Monkey, you will regret this!"

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

Bang!

As the Hokage's office door slammed shut, the meeting between the two Konoha higher-ups ended on bad terms.

After leaving the building, Danzo's expression became extremely grim.

The wind rose and fell.

A subordinate silently appeared beside Danzo and spoke in a low voice. "Lord Danzo, there is already news from Hidden Leaf Hospital. Morino Ibiki has awakened and described the battle between them and the girl called Uchiha Hikari. Based on the information we have so far, that girl may possess a Mangekyō Sharingan like Uchiha Shisui's..."

"I understand."

Danzo glanced back toward the Hokage Building and spoke in a deep voice. "Continue monitoring that female Uchiha clansman and the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki. Report to me immediately if there is any change!"

"Yes!"

Uchiha Hikari had no idea that undercurrents were moving through Konoha beyond her sight.

For the past two days, she had been busy preparing for her trip to the Dragon Ball World.

Since she was unsure whether her Sharingan genjutsu would work on people from the Dragon Ball World, Uchiha Hikari purchased plenty of ninja tools and Soldier Pills besides essential changes of clothes, stuffing a backpack to the brim.

—Of course, she had used Minato Namikaze's money. She had already informed Forever with Sis in the group.

Uchiha Hikari had originally wanted to buy a batch of Exploding Tags as well, but they seemed to be controlled items sold only to ninja. Ordinary shops did not carry them at all.

Naturally, these actions did not escape the Anbu's notice.

That evening, Uzuki Yugao came to visit and indirectly asked whether she had run into any trouble.

"No trouble. I just want to leave the village for a while."

Uchiha Hikari had been considering whether to tell the Third Hokage's side anyway, so she simply revealed some details. "Probably tomorrow or the day after. I should be back in around half a month."

"Leave the village?"

Uzuki Yugao froze for a moment, then hurriedly said, "Ninja need to submit an application to the Third Hokage before leaving the village. Only after it has been approved can they..."

"But I am not a Konoha ninja."

Uchiha Hikari interrupted without hesitation. "And I do not belong to any ninja village or faction. If I had to put it another way... I suppose I count as a civilian. A civilian who knows a little ninjutsu."

As she spoke, Uchiha Hikari gestured with her hand to indicate "just a tiny bit."

"?"

Uzuki Yugao's expression became somewhat strange.

On the first day after waking up, she had wiped out an Anbu squad, leaving Morino Ibiki hospitalized to this day. Rumor had it that she had even clashed with the Third Hokage himself in genjutsu. Not only had she not been held accountable afterward, she had been allowed to become the Jinchuriki's temporary guardian...

And you call that a civilian?