Chapter 73

Chapter 73

Chapter 73: The Clash between the Senju, Uchiha, and the Konoha Higher-ups

*Konoha.*

"Hiruzen, you're the Hokage, but the Senju have gone too far!"

In the Hokage's office, after hearing the report from the returning Anbu, Koharu Utatane hesitated before voicing her raspy concerns.

Homura Mitokado, standing nearby, frowned slightly and let out a sigh. Clearly, this was going to be a difficult matter.

Danzo Shimura, however, let out a cold laugh and said sharply, "Hiruzen! I have three backup candidates in my Root division. It’s time to make a decision!"

As the current head of Konoha, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, exhaled a puff of smoke, raised his head to look at Danzo, and said calmly, "Danzo, move those three candidates from Root to the Anbu."

Hiruzen paused here, then added in a firm voice, "This is an order!"

His gaze held a warning, as if to say, "Don’t try any tricks."

"You, Hiruzen!" Danzo glared, seething. This was his hard work—three assets he had carefully cultivated—yet Hiruzen was casually taking it from him as if it was nothing?

As Danzo prepared to respond, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane exchanged glances, each sighing in relief.

"Danzo, Hiruzen is the Hokage," Koharu noted.

"Yes, and Root was created for the village, after all. Danzo, you're doing this for Hiruzen," Homura added.

With their coordinated words, they framed all of Danzo’s actions as being in service of Hiruzen.

Hiruzen himself remained calm, as if everything was under his control, while Danzo stood there, visibly frustrated. All this time, Hiruzen had been allowing him to groom those operatives, only to take them away the moment they were ready.

Seeing Danzo’s resentment, Hiruzen simply adjusted his Hokage hat and said with a hint of a smile, "Danzo, do you have an objection? Shall we go see Lord Mito together?"

This simple statement silenced Danzo. He couldn’t possibly face Lady Mito. As ruthless as he was, much of his sealing knowledge came from her, and he still wanted the Senju’s support. After all, being Hokage was his true dream; Root was only a stepping stone.

Homura and Koharu’s faces grew solemn. With Kushina now beyond their control, would they soon have to face Lady Mito and the Senju clan?

"Hiruzen, think of the greater good!"

They didn’t intend to let the powerful Nine-Tails remain under one family’s control, but they had to tread carefully in dealing with the Senju and Mito.

"Hehe, it seems some people want to see this old lady," came a familiar chuckle from outside the Hokage’s office, and the room’s occupants—Hiruzen included—immediately tensed up.

The doors opened, revealing the elderly figure of Mito Uzumaki.

"Lady Mito!"

"Please, Lady Mito!"

"Grandma, take it slow."

Everyone in the room stood respectfully, including Hiruzen. Uchiha Kenji, head of the Uchiha clan, followed Mito into the room, supporting her.

Finally! Since the fall of Uchiha Kagami, the Uchiha clan had not stepped foot in the Hokage’s office, the center of Konoha’s power. Today, Uchiha Yosuke entered with his head held high.

Seeing him, Danzo’s eyes narrowed with malice, while Homura and Koharu’s expressions turned tense.

The Senju and Uchiha—this was the last thing they wanted.

Hiruzen, though, stepped forward, respectfully helping Mito to a seat with the same deference as in days past.

Tsunade, ignoring the others, helped her grandmother sit. But this time, Mito settled herself into the Hokage's chair, a subtle discomfort flashing across Hiruzen’s face.

"How long has it been? This chair has been as uncomfortable as ever since Hashirama and Tobirama’s time—haven't you changed it yet?" Mito asked lightly, seeming almost to chat.

Hiruzen replied with a smile, "This was my teacher’s chair; how could I dare to change it?"

But Mito’s question carried a deeper meaning that the gathered Konoha elites all sensed.

Mito continued, turning her gaze toward the portraits of the First and Second Hokages. "I believe in that child’s love for this village, and I also believe in the love that the Uchiha have."

Danzo and the others couldn’t mask their displeasure, but Uchiha Keji flushed with excitement.

With the Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki united, who could dare call the Tailed Beast a danger?

It was clear to everyone that bringing this to the open was a step too far, and no one could deny Mito’s words.