Chapter 34

Uzumaki Mito nodded with certainty. "I made a deal with Uchiha Chisato. She helped me recover some vitality, enough to let me live a few more years."

"In exchange, she took the Flying Thunder God Technique, Tobirama's Water Release Ninjutsu, and some low- and mid-level Sealing Arts."

"And she had her son, Uchiha Xunjing, take Tsunade as his master."

These matters could not be concealed, nor was there any need to conceal them.

Uzumaki Mito laid everything out directly.

As for whether the Third Hokage had objections?

He could keep them to himself.

"What?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed at once. "You gave her the Flying Thunder God Technique, Sensei's Water Release Ninjutsu, and even Sealing Arts?"

"She also had her son become Tsunade's disciple? What exactly is she trying to do?"

"Is she still setting her sights on the Hokage's seat?"

"I remember her son was born weak. It should be difficult for him to even become a ninja, shouldn't it?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that the situation was slipping somewhat out of control.

The feeling was awful.

"He has already fully recovered."

Uzumaki Mito shook her head. "Even a severe condition like Uchiha Chisato's could be completely cured, so why do you think Uchiha Xunjing's condition could not be treated?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. "So Uchiha Chisato truly has fully recovered?"

"That's right."

Uzumaki Mito nodded firmly. "Not only has her body recovered, but the ocular power in her remaining Sharingan has been fully restored as well."

"So don't provoke her. Even I might not be able to defeat her now."

That was merely meant to mislead him.

With her vitality completely restored, she was evenly matched with Uchiha Chisato.

But for now, she had only revealed slight signs of recovery. She could not let anyone see her full hand.

Utatane Koharu had confronted Danzo directly and left him thoroughly stifled.

"Is she really that strong?"

After hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows twisted tightly together.

Uzumaki Mito glanced at him. "Don't you know that already? Back then, she alone suppressed the Uchiha unrest. The entire clan was held in check by her. Could she have done that without real strength?"

"As for Uchiha Xunjing becoming Tsunade's disciple, don't overthink it."

"She simply wanted to give that child more paths to choose from, to make his growth go more smoothly, so that certain things lurking in the shadows would not reach out recklessly."

"Could the position of Hokage really be snatched away just because he is Tsunade's disciple and the Hokage's grand-disciple?"

"You people aren't dead, are you?"

If Xunjing could truly become Hokage under those circumstances, then he would deserve it.

If they lacked ability themselves, they could not blame anyone else.

At this critical juncture, Uzumaki Mito would rather see Xunjing become Hokage than let Hiruzen Sarutobi keep that seat.

With Xunjing's master-disciple relationship with Tsunade, the Uchiha alliance, and the future marriage arrangements—

Even if Xunjing took office, it would only benefit the Senju and Uzumaki Clan families more than the current situation, not less.

At the very least, the Uchiha Clan would not need to seize power and establish authority by suppressing major clans.

Only a smaller clan like the Sarutobi Clan, one lacking both strength and confidence, would do such a thing.

Well, the Sarutobi Clan could not really be called a small clan.

It was a medium-sized clan.

Its main advantage was simply that it had many members.

But its clansmen had no particularly outstanding abilities or strengths.

Relatively speaking, they were quite ordinary.

They had simply always known how to conduct themselves and win people over.

They also always presented themselves to outsiders as obedient, dependable good people.

That was why the First Hokage and Second Hokage had valued them.

But after the Third Hokage took office, everything changed.

The Third Hokage did not realize that Uzumaki Mito's thoughts had changed completely.

Hearing the implication in her words, he immediately understood that she was referring to Danzo.

"You are right. I will remember that."

"I will keep Danzo in check and have him be more cautious regarding the Uchiha."

"If you have no further instructions, I will take my leave."

After pondering for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi answered respectfully.

That was right. If the Uchiha Clan thought they could obtain the Hokage's position just because of the status of being Tsunade's disciple, they were dreaming.

He would never agree to it.

"Fine, go."

Uzumaki Mito had nothing more to say. She casually waved her hand, signaling for the Third Hokage to leave quickly.

The Third Hokage did not linger and turned to depart.

When he returned to the Hokage's office, Danzo and the other two immediately gathered around him and asked impatiently, "How did it go? What did those two discuss? Has Uchiha Chisato really recovered?"

"Yes."

The Third Hokage nodded and relayed Uzumaki Mito's words exactly as she had said them.

"What?"

"**!"

Danzo exploded on the spot. Raising his voice, he roared, "How could Lady Mito do something like this? Trading the Flying Thunder God Technique, Sensei's Water Release, and Sealing Arts to the Uchiha?"

"Isn't this giving wings to a tiger?"

"What right does she have to decide that?"

Danzo was so furious that his face turned green.

Once the Uchiha obtained those things, their strength would surely rise sharply.

Especially the Sealing Arts.

Once they set up a Sealing Formation within their clan grounds, it would be impossible to ** their internal movements again.

The Flying Thunder God was even more of a strategic-level technique.

If the Uchiha learned it, dealing with them in the future would become even harder.

With that technique, exterminating the Uchiha Clan would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

"Uh... Lady Mito naturally has that right."

Utatane Koharu looked at Danzo helplessly. "Those ninjutsu originally belonged to Sensei. They are part of the Senju family's foundation."

"Although Sensei recorded them all in the Book of Seals and opened them to the village's ninjutsu archive, the Senju must certainly have kept a backup copy."

She paused, then asked, "Tell me, what exactly is wrong with that?"

"You..."

Danzo was choked speechless, his whole face flushing red. "Koharu, whose side are you on?"

Was she deliberately trying to anger him?

What did this have to do with qualifications?

This was feeding the enemy!

Had the Senju forgotten that the Uchiha were their mortal enemies of a thousand years?

"Tch."

Utatane Koharu curled her lip disdainfully. "I'm simply stating the facts."

"Besides, Lady Mito has already completed the transaction. What good is all your jumping around now?"

"You..."

Danzo was so angry his liver hurt.

Koharu's mouth was like it had been smeared with ** today. The more he looked at her, the more irritating she seemed!

"Enough, Danzo."

The Third Hokage spoke up in time, cutting off their argument with a warning in his tone. "In any case, the matter has been settled."

"Lady Mito has also recovered quite a bit of vitality through this transaction. I feel that she can hold on for several more years."

"For the time being, we should rein in our measures against the Senju and even the Uchiha."

Danzo had just been about to say something when the Third Hokage directly cut him off.

"If you dare touch Uchiha Xunjing, the consequences will be severe."

The Third Hokage stared into Danzo's eyes, his voice low. "That boy is now Tsunade's **, and he is also the key figure in Uzumaki Mito and Uchiha Chisato's transaction. If you touch him, both women will come after you. When that happens, even I will not be able to protect you."

Danzo narrowed his eyes, a trace of displeasure flashing across his face. "Is that really necessary?"

"It is."

The Third Hokage took a drag from his pipe and slowly exhaled smoke. "Xunjing is the thread connecting Lady Mito and Chisato's deal. Touching him means touching both of their bottom lines. If they join forces against you, don't blame me for not warning you."

Danzo fell silent for several seconds before finally nodding. "Fine. I won't touch that kid for now."

He agreed verbally, but inwardly he was extremely frustrated.

Ever since hearing that Uchiha Chisato might have regained her strength, he had been plotting how to suppress her. After thinking it over, the most direct breakthrough point had been Uchiha Xunjing. Yet before he could make a move, they had already blocked every path.

It felt as though someone had seen through everything he was thinking, leaving him burning with resentment.

Danzo gritted his teeth. That woman Uchiha Chisato really is no simple matter. To keep the Uchiha Clan in her grasp for so many years, she truly has some skill.