Lockdown (Please Recommend and Bookmark)

Mito Uzumaki stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi for a long while. Feeling her gaze, Hiruzen's scalp tingled.

Mito Uzumaki swept her eyes over Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, then gave her orders.

"You fled for your lives all the way here. You must be exhausted, and you're injured as well. The Senju Clan has dedicated Medical Ninjas. I'll have them treat your wounds shortly. Go rest first."

"For the next few days, stay in the Senju Clan Compound. You are not permitted to go anywhere."

"Tobirama's death is not to be revealed. No matter who asks, you are not to say anything. Understood?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others exchanged glances, unable to understand what Mito Uzumaki intended to do.

Conceal the Hokage's death, then place them under house arrest?

Hiruzen felt bitter. His status as the Hokage's successor had truly become a hot potato. If he obediently stayed in the Senju Clan Compound as Mito Uzumaki instructed, what if he was simply made to disappear?

Mito Uzumaki was far more than the First Hokage's widow. During the Warring States period, she had been one of the Uzumaki clan's top fighters, a Red Rose who had fought her way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi truly regarded Mito Uzumaki as a mere ornament, then he would have lived his whole life in vain. At this moment, even his own life was in her hands.

Perhaps more than a dozen Senju elite ninja were hidden outside the door. At a single command from Mito Uzumaki, they could capture all of them.

"Mito-sama, we..."

Danzo hesitated as he prepared to speak. He was no fool either. If they continued staying here and Mito Uzumaki did something unfriendly to them, they would not even have a chance to escape.

"Danzo, Mito-sama has already made arrangements. We can stay here without worry."

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Shimura Danzō a look and readily agreed to Mito Uzumaki's demands.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had not interacted much with Mito Uzumaki. He had only seen her when he was beside his teacher, Tobirama Senju. Still, Hiruzen could see Tobirama Senju's attitude toward her.

It was one of respect.

He might not trust Mito Uzumaki, but Hiruzen Sarutobi trusted his teacher, Tobirama Senju.

Since his teacher had chosen him to become Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi dared to wager his life that Mito Uzumaki, whom his teacher had greatly respected, would not go against his teacher's wishes and harm him.

This monkey was fairly sensible.

"Then go. Someone will take you to your resting place after you leave."

Mito Uzumaki spoke indifferently.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others left, Senju Momoki, who had been guarding the door, walked inside. A bad suspicion had formed in his heart.

The Shadow Guard had all returned, each of them listless and dressed in tattered clothes, looking as though they had suffered a crushing defeat. But where was his Clan Head, Tobirama Senju?

Clan Head Tobirama couldn't possibly be dead, could he?

"Clan Head..."

Uneasy, Senju Momoki cautiously questioned Mito Uzumaki.

"Go. Set Konoha's Barrier Seal to wartime status. Take my authorization and have the Anbu place the entire village under lockdown."

"Send every remaining ninja in the clan out. Watch the ninja clans currently in Konoha. Report any unusual movements to me immediately, especially the Uchiha!"

"Also, send someone to inform Touma. Have him return from the front lines immediately."

The string of orders left Senju Momoki's mind blank. Had someone attacked Konoha's doorstep, or were the Uchiha planning a rebellion?

Even Senju Touma, the Young Clan Head, was being recalled from the front lines.

(Hashirama's son. He was never even given a name in the original work, so I made one up. Nawaki had not been born yet during this period, so he should still be alive.)

"Mito-sama? What exactly happened? Surely the Clan Head..."

"Go now!!"

Mito Uzumaki's voice was filled with icy coldness, making Senju Momoki shudder. He had said far too much today.

"Yes, Mito-sama!"

Senju Momoki hurried out to carry out Mito Uzumaki's orders.

Mito Uzumaki was left alone in the room. She returned to her chair, and all the energy seemed to drain from her at once. She no longer looked as calm and composed as before.

"Hahaha, Mito, Hashirama's bastard little brother is dead too. Looks like the Konoha Hashirama built won't be far from destruction!"

A gleeful voice rang out from the depths of Mito Uzumaki's heart.

Inside the Seal Space within Mito Uzumaki's body.

A gigantic fox sat within it, its nine tails tightly bound by chains, unable to move.

The Nine-Tails laughed wildly, making the chains jingle. The piercing sound echoed through Mito Uzumaki's mind.

"This is karma, Mito. You imprisoned me for so many years, but what did it get you? Has Ninja World Peace been achieved?"

"..."

The Nine-Tails could sense everything outside, including Mito Uzumaki's current emotions.

Sorrow, despair, pain—every negative emotion was crystal clear to the Nine-Tails. But it would not sympathize. It would only mock her without restraint.

"Hmph, Demon Fox!"

"Konoha will not perish or disappear. Hashirama's efforts will not be wasted. I will protect Konoha now."

With a thought from Mito Uzumaki, several enormous chains appeared out of thin air, binding the Nine-Tails' mouth shut and twisting its body into a knot.

"Mmph, mmph!"

"Mito, I****"

"..."

After dealing with the Nine-Tails, Mito felt much better. She regained her earlier calm and muttered under her breath.

"As long as I'm here, Konoha won't be thrown into chaos!"

Konoha Military Police Force

Uchiha Nan sat in the room reserved for captains. The Security Force had three captains, each with his own room. The other two had rotated to the front lines, leaving Uchiha Nan alone to guard the Uchiha stronghold and watch over the entire Uchiha Clan.

After sixteen years of hard work, Uchiha Nan had become one of the Uchiha Clan's upper ranks. Other than Clan Head Uchiha Tomita, Uchiha Nan was now the Uchiha Clan's second-in-command in Konoha.

Uchiha Nan possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and his Lightning Release had reached an extraordinary level. He had independently developed Lightning Release: Chidori (drawn from the Gacha Wheel), mastered all kinds of Fire Release within the clan, and was also skilled in Kenjutsu (drawn from the Gacha Wheel). His duel with Hatake Sakumo, the genius of the Hatake Clan, had ended in a draw.

Through his own efforts (the fruits of more than a decade of lottery draws), Uchiha Nan had gained tremendous prestige within the Uchiha Clan.

Smack.

Manji pushed open Uchiha Nan's door. With a light leap, Manji jumped into Uchiha Nan's arms.

"Nan, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others have returned. Not long ago, they headed for the Senju Clan Compound. They have not come out since entering it."

"Also, the entire Senju Clan has mobilized. Senju ninja are spreading throughout Konoha in every direction. A few of them should be near the Uchiha Compound by now."

"The Anbu have mobilized as well, scattering throughout Konoha."

"Some of them are very strong. The Ninja Cats did not dare get too close, afraid of alerting them. Some have withdrawn, while others can only observe from afar."

"Before long, there will probably be Anbu or Senju Clan ninja even near the Security Force."

Uchiha Nan skillfully stroked Manji, showing no concern over Mito Uzumaki's actions.

"Someone, call a meeting!"

Since Mito Uzumaki had made her move, Uchiha Nan naturally could not just sit here doing nothing.