Danzo's scheme

"Danzo, you have to understand that every other village has had problems with rampaging tailed beasts. Only Konoha hasn't.

That's because we have Lady Mito.

Kushina Uzumaki has chakra comparable to Lady Mito's and can suppress the Nine-Tails. She's also our best choice." Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his pipe and took a deep puff, speaking earnestly.

"Sarutobi, you have to understand that the Uzumaki Clan's chakra and Sealing Jutsu aren't the only things that can restrain the Nine-Tails. There's also the Sharingan and Wood Release." Shimura Danzō's reminder carried a pointed implication. "Kushina Uzumaki may not truly accept Konoha. She's so gifted—if one day she can control the Nine-Tails' power the way Lady Mito does, what can we do if she decides to leave Konoha?"

Danzo's words silenced everyone present.

Trust Kushina Uzumaki?

None of them trusted this girl. After all, how long had they even known her?

Even though they had rescued Kushina Uzumaki from the destroyed Uzushio Village, and she would have died without them, it was still difficult to make her feel that she belonged.

They had already planned to have Kushina Uzumaki form bonds in Konoha, which could help somewhat. But if she truly mastered the Nine-Tails' power, she would be able to sense good and evil.

None of them could be certain of how they truly felt about Kushina Uzumaki.

As for restricting Kushina Uzumaki's growth, that was almost impossible.

Even setting everything else aside, Lady Mito would do everything she could to train Kushina Uzumaki. That was not something they could obstruct.

So Kushina Uzumaki was not the best choice for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

"The Sharingan is the Uchiha Clan's kekkei genkai, while Wood Release belongs to the Senju Clan. Teacher Tobirama researched Wood Release back then and made some progress. If the First Shinobi World War hadn't broken out, he probably would have succeeded.

I propose that we restart the Wood Release research experiments. Leaving the Sharingan aside, Wood Release is the most effective means of restraining the Nine-Tails." Shimura Danzō stared intently at Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Besides, you must have noticed that every country is building up its military.

A Shinobi World War could break out at any moment.

The destruction of Uzushio Village may well have been those ninja villages' way of testing our stance and our strength.

Presumably, they've also obtained some of the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu. Incidents involving rampaging tailed beasts will likely decrease from now on, and that is certainly not good news for Konoha.

We must also prepare to fight tailed beasts in the future."

By the end, Shimura Danzō's eyes gleamed coldly. As a member of the Hawk Faction, he saw those ninja villages' attack on Uzushio Village as nothing less than a slap in his face.

Uzushio Village's existence brought enormous benefits to Konoha. As long as it remained, they did not have to worry about the Land of Water attacking Konoha from the sea.

It could have served as Konoha's sea fortress!

The Uzumaki Clan was also a considerable fighting force. But now that Uzushio Village had been destroyed, Konoha would have to devote substantial effort to guarding against Kirigakure if war broke out.

Sometimes, Danzo would reflect that the First had been a clever man. He had distributed all eight tailed beasts and received a considerable sum of money in return.

Over the years, those villages had suffered greatly at the hands of their tailed beasts, while Konoha alone could rest easy.

But now, thinking that the other villages might all gain the ability to control their tailed beasts' power, Danzo pictured those beasts attacking Konoha and began to feel that the First might not have been very bright after all.

Why had he given the tailed beasts away in the first place?

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent upon hearing Shimura Danzō's proposal.

Restarting the Wood Release Experiment was not much of a problem. Tobirama Senju had initiated it in the first place, and the cells and experimental data were still there.

Mito Uzumaki had not stepped forward to stop it back then, either.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi could not remain calm as he considered the possibility of a Shinobi World War breaking out at any moment and the prospect of facing tailed beasts.

His gaze deepened as he watched Kushina Uzumaki and Uchiha Yi in the crystal ball. Narrowing his eyes, he took several puffs from his pipe before finally speaking. "In that case, restart the Wood Release Experiment. But until we have sufficient confidence, human trials are forbidden."

"Monkey, once the experiment begins, human experimentation is unavoidable." Danzo had been pleased that Hiruzen Sarutobi supported the Wood Release Experiment, but his expression turned dissatisfied when he learned that human experimentation would not be allowed.

He did not merely want to create a few Wood Release Experiment Subjects. If possible, he wanted to have wood release cells implanted in his own body.

This operation had made him fully aware of his shortcomings. If Kagami had not stayed behind to cover their retreat, he might very well have died too.

And at his current level, improving his strength was already extremely difficult. He could only pin his hopes on the Wood Release Experiment.

"The Wood Release Experiment is too dangerous." Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated. How could he not understand the reasoning? But as Hokage, could he make such a decision?

"We can experiment on criminals and wandering ninja first. Once we have some confidence, we can let Konoha's citizens volunteer for the experiments." Danzo gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a meaningful look. "Although the Senju Clan has now disbanded, if there's hope of obtaining Wood Release, they won't refuse.

Who could be better suited to the Wood Release Experiment than them?"

This time, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell utterly silent.

He understood what Shimura Danzō meant. The Wood Release Experiment could also eliminate some members of the Senju Clan, weakening its influence.

Still, they would not be deliberately targeting the Senju Clan. Whether to participate in the experiment would be their own decision. If they succeeded, they would become inheritors of Wood Release.

It was not that Hiruzen Sarutobi was heartless and ungrateful. He would still take good care of Tsunade and Nawaki, and respect Mito Uzumaki.

It was just that, as Hokage, he needed to take certain steps.

The one who had targeted the Senju Clan most was not Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Tobirama Senju!

When the Senju Clan disbanded, many of its members had taken very few ninjutsu with them. They were forbidden to pass down their surname, or even mention it to their descendants.

By comparison, some of their own methods were hardly worth mentioning.

"Then what about Yi and this Kushina Uzumaki?" Utatane Koharu asked hesitantly as she watched Kushina Uzumaki repeatedly steal glances at Uchiha Yi.

"We don't need to interfere with how things develop between them," Hiruzen Sarutobi said after a moment's hesitation. "What happens to Kushina at school cannot escape Lady Mito's notice. If even Lady Mito has tacitly approved, what more is there for us to say?

Besides, don't forget that although Yi is an Uchiha, he is also an inheritor of the Will of Fire. If staying by Yi's side allows Kushina to be influenced by the Will of Fire, wouldn't that be even better?"