Nine-Tails Is Stunned! What Exactly Is Godzilla?

"From what I know of Hiashi's character, he isn't the kind of person who would resort to such a method."

"Hiashi chose to feign illness and turn away visitors. Something must have happened to him in the Uchiha Clan Compound."

Mitokado Homura said gravely.

"The key issue is what happened to Hiashi in the Uchiha Clan Compound that made him choose to respond this way."

Danzo's expression darkened and shifted.

He considered every possibility.

"That is precisely what worries me."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head with a sigh.

"What happened within the Uchiha Clan that made the always steady Hiashi choose to deal with it this way?"

"Or rather, flee from it?"

Hiashi Hyuga's behavior after returning to his clan did indeed seem like avoidance, as though he no longer wanted to be dragged into this.

No matter which possibility it was, neither boded well.

"Hiruzen, we can't hesitate any longer!"

Danzo fixed his old friend with a cold gaze.

"Danzo, what are you planning to do?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned.

"Whether the Hyuga and Uchiha have joined forces or not, the root of the problem lies with one person."

Danzo bared his teeth in a chilling smile. "Uchiha Mirai. As long as we get rid of Uchiha Mirai, all our problems will resolve themselves."

"Danzo, you've lost your mind!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen shouted angrily.

How could he not want to get rid of Uchiha Mirai?

If something like a Death Note existed in this world, and it happened to fall into his hands—

Then from the title page to the very last page, it would surely be filled with Uchiha Mirai's name.

Calamity Uchiha had already been the thorn in his side three years ago.

Three years later, the moment he emerged, he stirred up raging waves throughout Konoha.

But the crucial question was—was Uchiha Mirai someone they could deal with so easily?

The tribunal at the Hokage Building had been carefully arranged by him and Danzo, intended to use the opportunity to eliminate Uchiha Mirai.

Yet Uchiha Mirai had forcefully turned the tables, shifting the target of the trial onto him instead.

After that meeting, even his reputation in Konoha had taken a considerable hit.

Uchiha Mirai was like a nightmare Sarutobi Hiruzen could never overcome.

Every time he tried to deal with him, he would always be struck back with even greater brutality.

"Danzo, it's true that Uchiha Mirai is the root of the problem, but he isn't so easily dealt with. Even the mighty Cloud Hidden Village had no choice but to compromise after suffering such humiliation."

"Uchiha Mirai is a powder keg packed with explosives. Lighting the fuse will do us no good."

Utatane Koharu stared seriously at Danzo.

She did not want Danzo's emotions to take control.

That would only make the situation even more complicated.

"We only need to pin the right crime on him."

Danzo sneered.

Then he slowly laid out his plan.

Utatane Koharu was stunned.

"Isn't this too risky?"

Mitokado Homura remained silent.

Sarutobi Hiruzen wore a grave expression.

"Danzo, you need to consider the consequences. What happened last time was already a lesson. This time..."

"This time, there will be only one outcome."

Danzo sneered.

"The choice is in his hands, but no matter what he chooses—"

"There will be only one outcome."

Ichiraku Ramen.

"Your tonkotsu ramen. Enjoy!"

Ayame smiled as she set a bowl of ramen in front of Naruto.

"Wow! Time to dig in!"

The aroma of the ramen made Naruto's mouth water uncontrollably.

He snapped apart his chopsticks and began devouring it.

Ramen broth splashed across half the table.

Across from him, Uchiha Mirai watched the scene with a smile.

Since he had chosen to get close to Naruto, he naturally had to see it through.

Although his goal had already been achieved.

He had stolen the Hashirama Cells stored in Root and successfully pinned the blame on Obito.

But if he stopped approaching Naruto now, it would inevitably arouse Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen's suspicions.

After Root was robbed, Uchiha Mirai had immediately stopped contacting the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki.

Anyone could see that there was a problem with that.

The safest course was to see it through and make it a part of his daily routine.

Who knew? There might even be some unexpected gains.

There seemed to be more ninja watching them today?

Uchiha Mirai cast a calm glance around.

Normally, whenever he brought Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen, there would be roughly three to five ANBU watching nearby.

The number might fluctuate, but it usually stayed within that range.

But today, there were seven ANBU watching them.

No, more precisely...

They were Root.

The extra ninja had a colder presence than the ANBU.

They were clearly Danzo's Root.

What was that old bastard trying to stir up now?

Without giving anything away, Uchiha Mirai's lips curled faintly.

Before long, Naruto finished his ramen.

He leaned back in his chair, cradling his round belly with a thoroughly satisfied expression.

"That hit the spot!"

It was plain to see that, under Uchiha Mirai's uninterrupted feeding over this period, Naruto had grown quite a bit larger.

Inside the sealing space.

The Nine-Tails lay on the ground, staring at Uchiha Mirai outside with suspicion in its eyes.

Was this guy a jinchuriki too?

There was also a power within him that did not lose to its own.

What exactly was that?

The Nine-Tails could not figure it out.

The first time it had seen Uchiha Mirai, it had vaguely sensed a terrifying power residing within him.

Calamity, misfortune, terror...

That power seemed not to belong to this world.

At least in the Nine-Tails' long life, it had never encountered such a horrifying creature.

Instinctively, the Nine-Tails felt awe and dread.

Fortunately, Uchiha Mirai seemed to harbor no ill will toward Naruto.

It had no desire to face something like that.

The Nine-Tails shrank back, afraid that thing would notice its existence.

"Naruto, I'm heading back!"

Outside Ichiraku Ramen, Uchiha Mirai stood at the fork where they would part ways and waved to Naruto beside him.

"Bye, big brother!"

Naruto waved back with a laugh.

The two parted at the intersection.

Uchiha Mirai headed toward the clan compound.

The chill in his eyes deepened.

The Root operatives watching nearby had not decreased. Instead, they were growing more numerous.

In just a few minutes, ten Root operatives had already stationed themselves around him, monitoring his movements.

"Looks like Danzo finally couldn't hold himself back."

Uchiha Mirai sneered inwardly.

No rush. He would play along with him for a while.