At the same time, deep within Konoha Prison, in the leader's office of the Root organization, Danzo studied a piece of information just delivered by his subordinates. Though his face remained expressionless, inwardly, he cursed vehemently: "Still alive? That old woman clearly lost the Nine-Tails. Why isn't she dead?"
Danzo couldn't shake off his perplexity. As a Jinchuuriki, Uzumaki Mito should have perished upon the extraction of the tailed beast from her body.
This was a fact witnessed by many other ninja villages who extracted tailed beasts before.
Why did Mito seem to defy this fate?
If Danzo hadn't trusted the reliability of the information provided by his loyal subordinates, he wouldn't have believed that Uzumaki Mito had survived the loss of the Nine-Tails.
He stewed in frustration. Was the vitality of the Uzumaki clan truly so formidable? Could they survive even the extraction of a tailed beast?
Tsk. Such a shame.
Danzo cursed silently. His face clouded with contemplation.
He had bided his time in the depths of this infernal prison, all in the hope that Uzumaki Mito, whose days were supposedly numbered, would meet her end soon. His aim was to seize an opportunity to extract himself from captivity under the Sandaime's watch.
The successful conclusion of the Nine-Tails Inheritance Operation should have spelled the end for Uzumaki Mito, the former Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Yet, she persisted, and reports suggested her condition had even improved since relinquishing the Nine-Tails.
It seemed Mito might survive a while longer.
This was intolerable.
If Uzumaki Mito survived another day, Danzo's hopes for freedom dwindled. He had endured enough of this wretched state of existence, particularly after the Sandaime released the Uchiha Clan, that cursed beast.
Danzo resolved to break free as soon as possible. He couldn't bear to witness the downfall of Konoha under Sandaime's leadership, a legacy he held dear to his heart.
As Danzo mulled over the Uchiha clan's newfound recognition on the battlefield under the Sandaime's command, his desire to break free from his cage intensified. He yearned to swiftly mobilize the Root's power and enact vengeance upon the Uchiha clan, wishing for their demise.
Yet, despite his fervent longing to leave, Danzo understood that without the Sandaime's order, his escape remained impossible. Furthermore, Uzumaki Mito's continued survival made it implausible for the Sandaime to overtly extract him from prison. It was a conundrum that could only be resolved with Mito's demise.
"Should I eliminate her while she's weak and unconscious?" Danzo contemplated, considering the most common method employed by the Root to achieve their objectives. However, he promptly dismissed the idea. Uzumaki Mito remained formidable, even without the Nine-Tails, and eliminating her would be no easy feat. Moreover, she was guarded by the formidable Momoka, and elite Senju clan ninjas, making it nearly impossible for his Root operatives to approach her undetected.
Danzo grappled with his predicament. "Is there no other way to escape this damned place?" he pondered anxiously.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed in his mind: "Master Danzo, I have important information to report to you."
Recognizing the voice as Rai Yamanaka, the Yamanaka clan subordinate tasked with covertly communicating with him, Danzo swiftly engaged in a clandestine exchange with his subordinate.
"Speak," Danzo commanded coldly.
"Our agents at the border have reported that Jiraiya returned from the Land of Rain accompanied by four individuals, one of whom is affiliated with our Root. They left behind crucial information for us, along with the password," Rai Yamanaka responded respectfully.
Danzo's interest piqued at this unexpected development.
"Is it the information that Jiraiya personally brought back? It seems that the level of this information is not simple. Have you figured out what it is?"
When Danzo heard that the information was brought back by Jiraiya himself, he immediately became interested. He was keenly aware that the information was not simple, and immediately asked about the content of the information.
"Sorry, our people have no chance to get access to that information, but he knows that the person who made the information transaction with Jiraiya is Hattori Masanari. Therefore, we speculate that this information is likely to involve our war with Sunagakure." Rai Yamanaka replied truthfully.
"That's right, that's true, those two sand hidden elite puppet masters are still in the hands of that Hattori Masanari, that guy may have obtained a lot of useful information from the two of them, and is going to use it to ask us Konoha for huge benefits."
Danzo agreed. At the same time, a gleam flashed in his eyes.
He seems to have found a way out of here.
As long as he gets the information in Hattori Masanari's hands first, then he can use it to make a deal with the Sandaime. Given the importance of this information, it is not impossible for Sandaime to agree to let him out secretly.
And as long as he can leave this damned place, even if he can't go out openly, he can still continue to protect Konoha better.
"Master Danzo, what shall we do?" At this time, Rai Yamanaka asked a question very flatteringly.
"Of course, we must get the information at any cost. We Konohas must not be blackmailed by the little Amegakure trash. A mere Hattori Masanari, Those Sunagakure's trash can't even deal with him. Our Konoha ninjas are different. Pass the order, let all members of the Skull Squad be dispatched, and be sure to bring back the complete information." Danzo immediately issued an order.
When Rai Yamanaka heard Danzo's words, his heart trembled and he quickly responded: "Hai~"
The Skull Squad is the most powerful assassination team in the Root. Although there are only five members, each of them is an elite Jounin who has mastered a powerful secret technique. If five members work together, even a shadow-level powerhouse can be contended for a short time.
Usually, the five of them would guard Danzo-sama as his personal guards. He didn't expect that Danzo-sama would send all five of them out to perform tasks at the same time in order to deal with Hattori Masanari this time.
It seems that Danzo-sama is determined to obtain the information in Hattori Masanari's hands this time.
---
After the conclusion of the Nine-Tails Legacy operation, a large number of ninjas quietly returned to the village.
With their return, news of the successful sealing of the Nine Tails also quietly spread.
This news couldn't be concealed, as the commotion caused by Kyuubi breaking free from the seal was too significant. Its roar reverberated from the death forest to Konoha, and the intense chakra fluctuations alerted many ninjas.
Therefore, the third generation did not attempt to hide the news. Instead, he emphasized the importance of keeping the sealing process confidential. The information regarding Kirito and Kushina was elevated to top-secret level, warning that anyone leaking their information would be charged with treason against the village.
No one who participated in the operation disputed this directive.
For most people in Konoha, knowing that Kyuubi was successfully sealed was enough. They could resume their daily lives without fear of Nine Tails attacks.
When Kyuubi's roar reached Konoha, panic ensued. Many believed Kyuubi was going to attack, prompting them to hastily flee the village with their families. Now, upon their return, they felt too ashamed to lift their heads.
Spies from various ninja villages hidden in Konoha became active, quickly relaying this critical news back to their respective villages.
Meanwhile, a special guest arrived at the Uchiha compound.
Momoka escorted two elite Senju Clan ninjas into the Uchiha Clan territory. She sensed the surrounding hostility, surprise, and vigilance from the Uchiha Clan, but she remained composed.
If given the choice, she would be among the last to set foot on the Uchiha clan's family land.
Several times she accompanied the first generation of leaders to this place. However, since the first generation's passing, she had avoided returning here, never expecting to set foot again.
But circumstances left her no choice.
During the Kyuubi sealing process, Chizuru rescued Kirito, making a significant contribution. Such kindness demanded acknowledgement, and as the highest-ranking member of the Senju clan in attendance until Mito's awakening, she had her own words to convey.
It is a matter of basic etiquette to express gratitude in person.
While most of the Uchiha clan's ninjas were deployed to frontline battlefields and various borders, there were still many formidable ninjas remaining within the clan.
Not long after Momoka and her companions entered the Uchiha clan territory, Uchiha Homura received word of their arrival.
Standing by the courtyard pond in front of his home, Uchiha Homura couldn't hide his surprise upon hearing the report from Uchiha Kari. Immediately, he spoke with seriousness, "Go, have someone invite our distinguished guest over. No one from our tribe is to offend her; anyone who does will face severe consequences."
"Understood," replied Uchiha Kari promptly.
With a swift seal formation, he transformed into white smoke and vanished from the spot.
"I didn't expect the elder to come and thank me personally. Kirito is truly remarkable," Homura Uchiha remarked with a smile.
He was already aware of Momoka's role in the Nine-Tails inheritance operation.
Homura was deeply satisfied with Momoka's actions. Her successful protection of Kirito from spy attacks during the operation was a significant contribution by the Uchiha clan. Any criticism was overshadowed by their decisive action.
Momoka's actions also cleared the Uchiha clan of any lingering suspicion from past incidents, which would undoubtedly aid in their integration into Konoha in the future.
"What an impressive young man. I must express my gratitude to him," Homura reflected, increasingly pleased with Kirito.
Before long, a Uchiha ninja appeared before Homura to report that Momoka was approaching the main gate.
Homura Uchiha swiftly received the news and made his way to the main gate to personally welcome Momoka's arrival.
With the passing of Senju Hashirama, relations between the Uchiha and Senju clans had been strained. Momoka's personal visit was an important step towards reconciliation between the two clans.
"Advisor Momoka, welcome," Homura greeted warmly as Momoka approached.
Inside the Uchiha patriarch's residence, Homura Uchiha personally welcomed Momoka, offering her a warm smile.
"A sudden visit, please don't be offended, Advisor Momoka. These are some fine snacks from Qiwei tea, a small gift. Please accept it," Homura expressed with courtesy as he presented a box of delicacies.
Momoka, appreciating the warm welcome, responded with a polite smile, "Some delicacies from Qiwei Tea. It happens to be my favorite. Advisor Momoka, you have a generous heart. Please come in, and let's talk."
Homura, pleased with Momoka's positive response, handed the snack box to a servant and guided her into the house.
This scene did not go unnoticed by the Uchiha clansmen who had been discreetly observing. The sight of Momoka, a prominent figure in the Senju clan, being personally welcomed by the Uchiha patriarch stirred shock and discussions among the onlookers.
Word spread quickly throughout the Uchiha clan, giving rise to various rumors and speculations. Despite the different versions, a common consensus emerged—the relationship between the Uchiha and Senju clans seemed to be improving. This realization fueled anticipation and hope among the Uchiha clan members.
In Konoha, where various ninja clans coexisted, the Uchiha clan held the Senju clan in high regard. Faced with the Thousand Hands Clan, the Uchiha did not display arrogance but instead harbored a slight inferiority complex. After all, the one worshiped as the God of Ninja hailed from the Senju clan, and the Senju had defeated the Uchiha in the past. If not for hashirama decision to collaborate with the Uchiha, the Uchiha might have faced extinction long ago.
Therefore, despite the lingering hostility among many Uchiha clan members towards the Senju clan, they secretly welcomed the prospect of easing tensions between the two clans.