Hokage Office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was handling official business, his pipe clenched between his teeth. Before his brush could touch the paper, there was a loud bang as someone suddenly kicked open the door to the Hokage Office.
He frowned.
"Danzo, that's already the third door this month."
Before he could finish, a large, rough hand slammed down on the Hokage's desk.
"Hiruzen, Namikaze Mirai went to the Uchiha Clan Compound. Don't tell me you didn't know?"
Danzo was panting anxiously, spittle flying from his mouth.
"I knew. So what?"
The Anbu had been monitoring the Uchiha Clan Compound all along. There was no way Namikaze Mirai's visit could have been concealed from him.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen did not think it was a big deal.
Shaking his head, he picked up his brush and continued with his unfinished paperwork.
Bang! The desk jolted violently, and the brush in his hand flew away.
"Danzo, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened as he stared at his old friend, a trace of anger entering his voice.
Danzo's behavior today seemed far too excessive.
"Namikaze Mirai going to the Uchiha Clan Compound can't be that simple. There may be some kind of conspiracy!"
Danzo narrowed his eyes slightly.
Prompted by his old friend's reminder, Sarutobi Hiruzen calmed down as well.
"Then what conspiracy do you think it could be?"
"I don't know."
Danzo spoke with absolute certainty.
How could he possibly know? It was not as if he were a parasite living in those Uchiha's stomachs.
How could he know what those Uchiha were plotting?
The only reason he had reacted so strongly was his instinctive disgust toward the Uchiha.
In any case, getting involved with those Uchiha could never lead to anything good! The evil Uchiha—better to kill the wrong ones than let any of them go.
"Perhaps he merely wanted to find out what happened that night. After all, the Nine-Tails had Sharingan tomoe in its eyes. Namikaze Mirai couldn't possibly be unaware of that."
After thinking for a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen offered what he believed was a reasonable explanation.
His elder brother and sister-in-law had died, and the Uchiha were suspected of being connected to it. Even for that reason alone, Namikaze Mirai had to visit the Uchiha Clan Compound.
"But what if that isn't it?"
Danzo watched his old friend with a sinister gaze.
"Hiruzen, you must have noticed the Uchiha's restlessness too. Have you forgotten the Second Hokage's teachings? The Uchiha are an innately evil clan. They have always coveted the village's power and are eager to make a move."
"The Blue Flash is evil as well. Have you forgotten what he did to us when Minato became Hokage?"
"Now that these two evil forces have come together, Hiruzen, I don't even dare imagine what Konoha's future will become."
Listening to Danzo's indignant words, Sarutobi Hiruzen's grayish-brown eyes gradually grew solemn.
"We still can't confirm their intentions. The Uchiha cannot be absolved of Minato and Kushina's deaths, but the chance of Namikaze Mirai joining forces with the Uchiha is very low."
"Are we just going to let that guy do whatever he wants?"
Before he could finish, Danzo interrupted him roughly. His left palm pressed against the desk as he leaned forward, closing in with an imposing posture.
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent.
The Hokage Office suddenly became quiet.
Indeed, he had worried about that as well.
Before Namikaze Mirai returned to the village, Konoha had only one unstable factor: the Uchiha Clan.
And after Namikaze Mirai returned, Konoha gained another unstable factor.
Now, these two unstable forces had begun making contact...
No matter how Sarutobi Hiruzen tried to convince himself, a trace of unease still rose from the depths of his heart.
What if it really...
"But don't worry. I've already made preparations."
A cold smile lingered at the corner of Danzo's grim eyes.
"Danzo, what are you planning to do?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen had a faintly bad feeling.
Could it be that Danzo had once again done something behind his back without telling him?!
"Since Namikaze Mirai is the root of the problem, then we just need to eliminate the root!"
Danzo laughed confidently.
It was as if he could already see Namikaze Mirai being executed before his eyes.
"Danzo! Have you lost your mind?"
A surge of rage rushed to his head, and Sarutobi Hiruzen glared furiously at Danzo.
"Don't you know he's Naruto's uncle—his biological uncle! If Naruto loses control emotionally because of this, do you want what happened three years ago to happen again?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt his blood pressure soaring.
Danzo had done something foolish behind his back again!
Did he not want to get rid of Namikaze Mirai too?
He had disappeared for three years, then caused a scene in the Hokage Office the moment he returned. Where was the Hokage supposed to put his dignity? But he could not act! Naruto was a Jinchuriki, and his capacity had not yet been tested!
At only three years old, he absolutely could not suppress a rampaging Nine-Tails.
If anything truly happened to Namikaze Mirai and Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, lost control, allowing the Nine-Tails to break free from its seal, the consequences would be disastrous!
Konoha absolutely could not endure another Nine-Tails Attack! "Hmph! Hiruzen, you're still as weak as ever."
Danzo was unconcerned.
"Relax, I've made foolproof preparations. Root will handle it cleanly, and even if it truly comes to that, don't we still have the Sealing Squad?"
After taking a deep breath, Sarutobi Hiruzen gradually calmed down.
"Don't forget, his strength is no less than Minato's."
"So what?" Danzo grinned coldly. "I've studied every one of his abilities. It's nothing more than a special Magnet Release. The Root elites I carefully prepared were selected specifically to counter his abilities!"
"No matter what, this time, he won't escape even if he grows wings."
"By my calculations, it should be starting about now."
The sun was setting, and the lingering glow was as red as blood.
Namikaze Mirai held Naruto's hand as they walked back. Under the evening light, their shadows stretched long behind them.
"Naruto, you can head home on your own from here. Uncle has something to take care of."
Namikaze Mirai crouched down halfway, gently stroking Naruto's hair with a soft smile.
"Huh? Why? Didn't Uncle say he was going home to make dinner for Naruto?"
Naruto tilted his head, looking confused.
They had clearly just agreed to have dinner together.
Why had he suddenly changed his mind?
"Because Uncle suddenly has something to deal with!"
"But..."
Naruto hesitated as he looked at the empty street. There did not seem to be anything around here that needed dealing with.
A large hand ruffled Naruto's hair, and Namikaze Mirai's eyes curved into crescents as he smiled.
"Don't worry. Your uncle is very strong!"
Naruto finally felt at ease. He nodded and broke into a brilliant smile.
"Then after Uncle finishes dealing with it, you have to remember to come back and make dinner for Naruto!"
"Of course. Uncle will definitely keep his promises to Naruto. Pinky swear!"
"Mm, pinky swear!"
Naruto left happily, walking toward the end of the street beneath Namikaze Mirai's gaze until he disappeared from sight.
"Come out!"
Before you continue