"Danzo, you cannot touch this child."
The Third Hokage unhesitatingly spoke his catchphrase… The person Danzo specifically wanted was often untouchable.
Danzo's face darkened: "He is involved in too much; if the Hyuga or Uchiha discover him, it will definitely cause a huge uproar!"
"After he joins Anbu, I will try my best to assign him missions outside the Village, and once he is strong enough, he can even perform spy missions," the Third Hokage seemed to have thought it through, "This way, he will have less contact with other Ninja."
Danzo frowned, turning to the two Advisors: "What do you think?"
Utatane Koharu pondered for a moment: "It doesn't matter which Anbu he joins, but his youthful mind is not yet mature. If he exposes himself during a Ninja School combat exercise, it will be troublesome."
The Third Hokage thought for a moment and said: "Then arrange for him to challenge older students and apply for early graduation."
"That works," Homura Mitokado nodded.
Danzo snorted softly… Hiruzen, you intend to train him into your personal tool!
Such a good pawn, whether impersonating the Hyuga or the Uchiha in the future, there's a lot of room for maneuver. He cannot be given up easily.
"Hiruzen…"
Just then, Uzumaki Mito looked over, taking in their varied expressions, and sighed inwardly.
"Grandma Mito, I'm here. Do you have any further instructions?"
The Third Hokage immediately knelt beside Uzumaki Mito… He knew this old woman was at the end of her life.
Danzo and the other two quickly followed, kneeling halfway: "Grandma Mito, please instruct us."
"A Ninja's life… is not determined by… what they did in life…"
"But by how… they choose their death…"
Uzumaki Mito looked at the hollow rock ceiling, mumbling.
"I could have waited until Kushina came of age to transfer the Nine-Tailed… That way… I might have lingered for a few more years…"
"But what would be the point? Kushina has already found a home to fill the void in her heart…"
"Dragging it out… would just be an old woman's… last attachment… to living…"
The Third Hokage and the others couldn't help but show sadness… The pioneers who founded the Village were passing away one by one, like the pillars in their hearts disappearing, leaving them feeling lost.
"Hyuga Arima… has no evil thoughts… he is the most suitable person to accompany Kushina as she grows up…"
Kushina, hearing her words, suddenly looked up in surprise… Yesterday, she clearly said he also had evil thoughts in his heart.
At this moment, Uzumaki Mito quietly winked at her, looking like a mischievous old child.
The Third Hokage and the four others had their heads bowed and didn't see this scene.
Kushina couldn't help but want to laugh, yet her nose tingled, and tears streamed down her face… She knew this was Grandma Mito's final gift.
"Hiruzen… I've decided to transfer the Nine-Tailed early… and successfully leave a key for Kushina…"
"This is to preserve the possibility… of Konoha having a perfect Jinchuriki in the future…"
"And Hyuga Arima… is the most crucial existence in this…"
"You… must not make things difficult for him…"
Uzumaki Mito gasped.
The Third Hokage immediately promised: "We have all witnessed his bond with Kushina. I will arrange for him to join Anbu later and will no longer prevent him from interacting with Kushina."
"Hiruzen…"
Uzumaki Mito's speech became slower and slower.
"If he doesn't follow your ideas… have a little more tolerance and trust…"
"Just like… Hashirama and Tobirama… trusted you all…"
"The same…"
Life gradually drained from her body.
"Goodbye… little ones…"
"Goodbye…"
"…Konoha."
Her soul departed, taking with it all the memories and attachments of this life.
"Grandma!—"
Kushina suddenly collapsed beside her, tears streaming down her face, unable to control herself.
"Grandma Mito… have a safe… journey…"
The Third Hokage spoke in a low voice, his eyes filled with grief.
Danzo and the other two remained silent, quietly seeing the old woman off on her final journey.
…
"Where Konoha dances, fire will burn eternally…"
"The shadow of the fire illuminates the Village…"
"And new leaves will sprout."
"… …"
Black-clad figures densely filled his vision. Hyuga Arima couldn't see the Third Hokage's back at the very front, only hearing his solemn eulogy reverberate throughout the venue.
It was three days later, and most Ninja had returned to the Village to attend the memorial, including the elusive Hyuga Clan Head.
Arima's mother was a guardian branch family member of this Clan Head, always following her on missions outside.
It was strange that the Hyuga Clan Head didn't stay in the Village but was out for years on end.
But Hyuga Arima had no desire to investigate; he hadn't even met this person. All he cared about was whether his mother had returned this time.
That gentle… yet always absent… mother…
"Didn't she come back?"
Returning home after the memorial, Hyuga Arima shook his head, unsure of his feelings.
So many chaotic things had happened, yet there was no one to care about him. He felt a little disappointed.
"Hyuga Arima, what have you decided?"
At that moment, a figure with a bandaged right eye appeared abruptly beside him.
"Lord Danzo, this is the Hyuga Clan, after all…" Arima had a bit of a headache.
For the past three days, he had been endlessly bothered.
Not just Danzo, but also the Third Hokage, kept urging him to challenge older students and apply for early graduation after gaining fame.
And Danzo's methods were nothing but threats and inducements, his usual tricks.
"The Hyuga Clan doesn't value you as much as I do," Danzo's eyes were sharp, yet his expression seemed gentle, "If you join Root, one day the Hyuga Clan will look at you with new respect."
"But I have already promised Hokage-sama that I will apply for early graduation and join the Hokage's direct Anbu," Hyuga Arima said.
"As long as you are willing, I guarantee Hiruzen won't make things difficult," Danzo said indifferently, "Root is also part of Anbu. Here you can receive more comprehensive training. There are many things Hiruzen won't give you, but I can, for example…"
He lowered his voice: "Records and experiences of the Uchiha Sharingan's awakening, the Whirlpool Clan's Sealing Technique, and even the Hyuga Clan's taijutsu secrets. These things cannot see the light of day. Hiruzen cannot produce them, and even if he could, he couldn't, but I can."
Seeing this guy's shifty appearance, Hyuga Arima became even more wary.
As for Danzo's character… he was truly the only one in the Hokage series who couldn't be whitewashed.
If he said such things and showed such an expression, truly believing him would lead to unimaginable misery in the future.
Just the Cursed Seal of Tongue Control was something Hyuga Arima absolutely did not want to be subjected to.
"Lord Danzo, I know you mean well, but if I go against Hokage-sama, I will be…"
Hyuga Arima put on a distressed face.
Danzo snorted coldly: "To gain benefits, one naturally has to pay a price. You awakened the Sharingan at 7 and learned Whirlpool secret techniques with a single glance. You are extraordinarily gifted, and surpassing Hiruzen in the future is not impossible. But if you truly become Hiruzen's subordinate, he may not wholeheartedly train you, after all…"
"A subordinate who can be controlled is a good subordinate, not to mention the factor of Uzumaki Kushina involved."
"Only I will not restrict you, nor fear you surpassing me. I just need you to do a few things for me before that."
This guy was sparing no effort to deceive a child… if Hyuga Arima could truly be considered a child.
A few things? Heh heh… who knows if it's framing the Hyuga Clan? Or harming the Uchiha Clan?
Anyway, it wouldn't be anything good, and he might even end up taking the blame…
"Lord Danzo, I will seriously consider it. Please give me a little more time," Hyuga Arima said sincerely.
"You should know that the Root I lead always handles clandestine affairs," Danzo suddenly revealed a sinister smile, "If you refuse me…"
Before he finished speaking, his figure had already vanished.