Mito Uzumaki stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi for a long time. Under her gaze, Hiruzen felt a chill run down his spine.
Mito looked over Hiruzen and the others, then gave her orders:
"You've been running for your lives this whole way, so you must be exhausted. You're injured, too. The Senju Clan has dedicated Medical Ninjas. I'll have them treat your wounds in a moment. Go get some rest first."
"And for the next few days, you'll stay here in the Senju Clan Land. You're not to go anywhere."
"Don't tell anyone about Tobirama's death. If anyone asks, you mustn't say a word. Understood?"
Hiruzen and the others exchanged glances, unsure what Mito was planning.
Was she going to conceal the Hokage's death and then put them under house arrest?
Hiruzen felt bitter. His position as the Hokage's successor had become a real hot potato. If he obediently stayed in the Senju Clan Land as Mito had ordered, what if they made him disappear?
Mito was far more than the First's widow. She had been one of the Uzumaki Clan's top fighters during the Warring States Period, a red rose who had fought her way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
If Hiruzen mistook Mito for a mere flower, he might as well have wasted his life. At that moment, even his life was in her hands.
For all he knew, a dozen elite Senju Ninjas were waiting outside, ready to seize them all at Mito's command.
"Mito-sama, we—"
Danzo fidgeted as he started to speak. He wasn't a fool; if they stayed here, Mito might do something less than friendly, and they wouldn't even get a chance to escape.
"Danzo, Mito-sama has already made arrangements. We'll be fine staying here."
Hiruzen gave Shimura Danzo a meaningful look, then readily agreed to Mito's request.
Hiruzen hadn't interacted with Mito much. He'd only ever seen her when he was with his teacher, Tobirama Senju, but he'd noticed how Tobirama treated her.
With respect.
He might not trust Mito, but he trusted his teacher, Tobirama Senju.
Since his teacher had chosen him to become Hokage, Hiruzen was willing to bet his life that Mito, whom his teacher had always respected, wouldn't go against his wishes and secretly harm him.
At least this Monkey knew what was good for him.
"Then go on. Someone will show you where to rest."
Mito's voice was calm.
After Hiruzen and the others left, Tomoki Senju, who had been standing guard outside, came in. He had a bad feeling about this.
The Shadow Guard Squad had returned, every one of them looking dispirited and battered, like they'd lost a battle. But where was their Clan Head, Tobirama Senju?
Surely Clan Head Tobirama hadn't died.
"Clan Head..."
Uneasy, Tomoki tentatively questioned Mito.
"Go. Set Konoha's barrier seals to wartime status. Take my written order and have the Anbu place the entire village under lockdown."
"Send out every remaining Ninja in the clan to watch the other clans currently in Konoha. If anything unusual happens, report it to me at once—especially anything involving the Uchiha!"
"Also, send someone to notify Toma and have him return from the front immediately."
Mito's string of orders left Tomoki stunned. Had someone attacked Konoha's doorstep, or were the Uchiha planning a rebellion?
She was even recalling Toma Senju, the Senju Clan's heir, from the front.
(He was Hashirama's son, a character who wasn't even given a name in the original work. I made one up. Nawaki hadn't been born yet at this point, so Toma should still be alive.)
"Mito-sama? What exactly happened? Surely the Clan Head..."
"Go already!"
The chill in Mito's voice made Tomoki shudder. He'd said far too much today.
"Yes, Mito-sama!"
Tomoki hurried out to carry out her orders.
Mito was left alone in the room. She sat back down in her chair, and all the spirit seemed to drain from her. She looked nothing like the composed woman she'd been moments earlier.
"Hahaha! Mito, that bastard Hashirama's little brother is dead, too. Looks like the Konoha Hashirama built is not far from destruction!"
A gleeful voice rang out from deep within Mito.
The Sealing Space inside Mito Uzumaki
A gigantic fox sat within, its nine tails firmly bound by chains, leaving it unable to move.
The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox laughed wildly, making the chains ring out with a sharp, jingling sound that echoed through Mito's mind.
"That's karma for you, Mito. You've kept me imprisoned for so many years, and what did it get you? Is the Ninja world at peace now?"
"..."
The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox could sense everything outside, including Mito's emotions at that moment.
Grief, despair, pain—he could feel every one of her negative emotions clearly. But he felt no sympathy, only the urge to mock her without restraint.
"Hmph, you demon fox!"
"Konoha won't be destroyed or disappear, and Hashirama's efforts won't be in vain. I'll protect Konoha."
At Mito's thought, several enormous chains appeared out of thin air, trapping the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's mouth and binding its body into a twisted knot.
"Mm! Mm!"
"Mito, I—!"
"..."
After dealing with the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, Mito felt much better. She regained her earlier composure and murmured,
"As long as I'm here, Konoha won't fall into chaos!"
Konoha's Military Police Force
Uchiha Nan sat in the room reserved for the squad captain. The Military Police Force had three captains, each with a room of his own. The other two captains had rotated to the front lines to stand guard, leaving Uchiha Nan alone at the Uchiha stronghold to look after the entire clan.
After sixteen years of hard work, Uchiha Nan had become one of the Uchiha Clan's senior members. Aside from the Clan Head, Uchiha Tomita, he was now the clan's second-in-command in Konoha.
Uchiha Nan possessed a three-tomoe Sharingan, had mastered Lightning Release, and had developed Lightning Release: Chidori on his own (it came from the prize wheel). He was proficient in all kinds of Fire Release within the clan and was also a skilled swordsman (also from the prize wheel). In a swordsmanship duel with the Hatake Clan's prodigy, Hatake Sakumo, the two had finished in a draw.
Through his own hard work (years of prize-wheel spins), Uchiha Nan had earned tremendous respect within the clan.
"Thump."
Manji pushed open Uchiha Nan's door. With a light hop, he leapt into Nan's arms.
"Nan, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others came back. A little while ago, they headed for the Senju Clan Land. They went in and haven't come back out."
"The entire Senju Clan has mobilized, too. Their Ninjas have spread out in every direction across Konoha. A few of them should be near the Uchiha Clan Land by now."
"The Anbu have mobilized as well, spreading out all over Konoha."
"Some of them are very strong, and the Ninja Cats don't dare get too close in case they give themselves away. Some have withdrawn, while others can only watch from a distance."
"It won't be long before there are Anbu or Senju Ninjas near the Military Police Force, too."
Uchiha Nan expertly stroked Manji, unfazed by Mito's actions.
"Everyone, assemble for a meeting!"
Since Mito had made her move, Uchiha Nan couldn't just sit around either.
Before you continue