Kapitel 113: Lord Danzo Takes Flight
"Mito-sama!"
Uzumaki Mito lowered her eyelids, suddenly entering a meditative state right where she stood.
This unexpected action alarmed both the Third Hokage and Danzo, who quickly formed hand seals in preparation for any sudden developments.
"Relax… It seems the Nine-Tails must have heard us and decided to negotiate with Mito-sama directly," Fuma observed, squinting.
Despite the powerful seal within Uzumaki Mito, his keen senses detected a trace of the tailed beast's chakra.
The Third Hokage and Danzo's expressions softened slightly. At this critical moment, neither Mito nor the Nine-Tails within her could afford any mishaps.
"Ahem… Fuma-kun, I've received intel from the Anbu on your recent mission to Grass Village. It appears the situation was extremely perilous," the Third said, shifting the conversation. "Did you sustain any injuries?"
The Third's words carried a hidden worry, as the intel from the Anbu had unsettled him.
The traces of destruction left from a fierce battle, as well as the dread-inducing Box of Ultimate Bliss capable of consuming countless jounin, filled him with caution.
Getting to the bottom of the changes in Uchiha Fuma was a priority for the Third Hokage. The Uchiha clan's current isolation had already left him in a difficult position.
If he lost track of Fuma's activities as well, his situation would become even more precarious.
Fuma chuckled softly, inwardly marveling, "As expected of the Third, he's as thick-skinned as ever…"
With a serious look, he began to weave a tale. "The Grass Village's Wato attempted to lure in shinobi from various nations, planning to absorb their chakra to open the Box of Ultimate Bliss and thereby achieve dominance over the Shinobi World."
"I engaged him in a fierce battle. Although I successfully killed him, I was caught off guard and ended up trapped inside the Box of Ultimate Bliss, only barely escaping with severe injuries."
The Third Hokage gave a wry smile, observing Fuma's increasingly imposing form. Among shinobi, his sensory abilities were among the best. Yet just by sitting beside Fuma, he felt an intense pressure, akin to facing a tailed beast.
'If this counts as 'severely injured,' then the rest of Konoha's shinobi might as well sell street food in the Land of Fire,' he thought to himself.
He knew that if Fuma, from this close range, suddenly attacked both him and Danzo, he might not even manage to form a hand seal before being reduced to a pulp.
Just then, Danzo slammed his hand on the table, speaking coldly. "According to my sources, Wato of the Grass Village was only as strong as an elite jounin. How could he have fought you to such an extent?"
"Also, the Box of Ultimate Bliss mysteriously disappeared. It's probably in your possession, right? Such a strategic asset, a tool of the Six Paths, should be offered to the village."
"Moreover, the identity of the mysterious powerhouse you fought—who exactly was it? You should report such vital information truthfully to the village."
Fuma couldn't hold back a smirk, feeling exasperated with Danzo's intelligence.
Years spent in Root seemed to have rotted Danzo's brain, turning it into something akin to mush.
Root, led by Danzo, was essentially just a small squad under the Anbu, officially known as the "Anbu Training Department."
Its leader was a jounin, with the other members comprising special jounin and chunin, making their combat power modest at best.
They had some influence over civilian shinobi and minor clans in the village, but the prestigious clans only offered slight deference out of respect for the Third Hokage.
When dealing with someone as strong as Fuma, the Third Hokage would choose to negotiate. Danzo, however, maintained a high-handed attitude, expecting Fuma to follow his orders without question.
Danzo's inability to recognize his own position was precisely why he could never surpass the Third Hokage.
Seeing the look of disdain in Fuma's eyes and the calm expression on the Third's face, Danzo grew angry.
"Are these two bastards looking down on me?!"
Before Fuma's rise to power, he and Danzo had collaborated on certain matters, maintaining at least a civil relationship, nodding in acknowledgment when they met.
But as Fuma's strength grew, Danzo lost his influence. Their conflicts intensified, and with recent tensions, they had openly fallen out.
"Just a few days ago, the Third Mizukage of the Mist Village sent a letter of condemnation, accusing you of murdering three of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. How do you explain this?"
"The village just went through a major battle, and yet you've repeatedly incited conflict. Can you bear such responsibility, Uchiha Fuma?"
The Third Hokage and Fuma exchanged glances, both falling silent.
Danzo, mistaking their silence for guilt, let out a triumphant scoff, his voice frosty as he continued, "You have the three ninja swords and the Box of Ultimate Bliss in your possession, correct?"
"As compensation, you should hand them over to the village in exchange for Konoha bearing the pressure from the Mist Village."
Fuma finally let out a laugh, looking around and realizing the situation.
"If I were to punch Danzo into the wall right now, I might damage Mito-sama's precious photos…"
"No choice—I really can't hold back…"
*BANG!*
In a flash, Fuma's hand seized Danzo by the back of his head, slamming it through the tea table and pinning him to the floor.
Danzo let out a muffled roar, struggling in shame and rage, but under Fuma's strength, he was as helpless as a child, unable to resist at all.
*BANG!* *BANG!* *BANG!*
Fuma lifted Danzo's head, smashing it into the floor repeatedly, pressing down with force each time.
Danzo's teeth scattered, his bandages tore, and splinters mixed with blood covered his face, leaving him utterly humiliated.
"Hokage Advisor, regardless of your title, remember that your primary duty is as a shinobi."
"You are weak, exceedingly so. With strength like yours, how can the village possibly trust you with the Nine-Tails? In my view, the Second Hokage made the right choice in choosing the Third Hokage over you…"
"Whether it's in power or vision, you fall far, far short…"
With one final slam, Fuma knocked Danzo unconscious and kicked him outside.
He then calmly dusted off his hands, pulling out a sealing scroll to tidy up the shattered debris in the room, and replaced the table with a fine piece of redwood.
The scroll contained all the necessities for daily life—Fuma's essential gear for camping trips with Tsunade.
This was, after all, Uzumaki Mito's home. As a guest, Fuma wanted to show proper respect.
The Third Hokage shook his head, glancing at the still-sleeping Mito, and let out a long sigh. Rising slowly, he picked up a broom and began to help sweep the slightly disordered floor.
Danzo's recent behavior had greatly dissatisfied the Third. He had disregarded Hokage orders multiple times, acting on his own accord.
First, he prematurely concluded that Fuma had died in the Box of Ultimate Bliss and hastily mobilized Root to provoke the Uchiha, nearly causing a street battle in Konoha with serious repercussions.
Then, when the jinchuriki candidate had not been finalized, he showed an intense desire for the Nine-Tails, attempting to scheme his way to the Hokage's seat through dubious means.
If the Third's allies within the village hadn't dwindled recently, he would have removed Danzo from his advisory position long ago.
All the Third could think now was, "For someone as oblivious as Danzo, a beating was long overdue."
........
"Oh…?"
In her mental space, Mito observed the Nine-Tails with amusement, surprised at this sudden encounter.
It had been years since the fox had approached her directly.
Ever since Hashirama's death, the Nine-Tails had shown no respect, silently protesting through its silence.
As for why it hadn't tried to tempt Mito like it once did Naruto, or resorted to violence, the Nine-Tails simply couldn't tolerate any more attempts at rebellion against the descendants of the Sage of Six Paths.
After numerous, brutally suppressed attempts, there were three shinobi clans the Nine-Tails deeply resented and believed should be wiped out entirely: "The vile Senju, Uzumaki, and Uchiha…"
With a faint, knowing smile, Mito gazed at the fox. "Given your age, shouldn't you show some respect, rather than calling me an old lady?"
The Nine-Tails lifted a paw, glaring at her with malice. "Your old, decrepit self is pitiful, Uzumaki Mito. You're going to die soon!"
"This is the justice you humans deserve…"
Mito shook her head, chuckling softly. Decades had passed, and yet the fox remained as proud and petulant as ever, with words as hollow as before.
"Be honest, Nine-Tails. You must have something to discuss with me, rather than just giving commentary on my lifespan."
"Hmph…"
"You stole my ability to sense malice and possess the bloodline of the Uzumaki. You should've detected something strange by now, right?"
"That Uchiha Fuma… the deep-rooted malice within his flesh and that repulsive chakra…"
"Don't you… have something to say about it?"
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