Mito stared at Hiruzen for a long time.
Feeling Mito's gaze on him, Hiruzen's scalp went numb.
Mito swept her eyes across Hiruzen and the others before issuing her orders.
"You've been fleeing for your lives this whole way. You must be exhausted, and you're all injured as well. The Senju Clan has dedicated medical ninjas. I'll have them treat your wounds shortly, so go and rest first."
"And for the next few days, you'll remain in the Senju Clan district. You are not allowed to go anywhere."
"Tobirama's death is not to be revealed for now. No matter who asks you, you are not to say a word. Understood?"
Hiruzen and the others looked at each other, unable to understand what Mito was trying to do.
Hide the Hokage's death, then place them under house arrest?
Hiruzen felt bitter inside. His status as the Hokage's successor had truly become a burning-hot burden. If he obediently stayed in the Senju Clan district as Mito ordered, what if he ended up being quietly eliminated?
Mito's identity was far more than just the First Hokage's widow.
She was one of the upper combat forces of the Uzumaki Clan from the Warring States Era, a crimson rose that had clawed her way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
If anyone truly treated Mito like some decorative vase, then Hiruzen might as well have lived his whole life in vain.
At this moment, even his own life was in Mito's hands.
There might even be more than a dozen elite Senju ninja hidden outside the door right now, ready to take them all down the moment Mito gave the order.
"Mito-sama, we..."
Danzo hesitantly began to speak. He was not an idiot either. If they stayed here any longer and Mito decided to do something unfriendly to them, they might not even get a chance to escape.
"Danzo, Mito-sama has already made the arrangements. We'll stay here without worry."
Hiruzen shot Danzo a look and immediately agreed to Mito's demands.
Hiruzen had not had much contact with Mito. The only times he had seen her were when he was beside his teacher, Tobirama.
But Hiruzen could tell very clearly what Tobirama's attitude toward Mito had been.
Respect.
He might not trust Mito himself, but he trusted his teacher, Tobirama.
Since his teacher had chosen him to become Hokage, then Hiruzen was willing to bet his life that Mito, a woman Tobirama had always respected deeply, would not go against Tobirama's wishes and strike at him from the shadows.
This monkey is at least tactful.
"Then leave. Once you're outside, someone will take you to where you'll be staying."
Mito spoke calmly.
After Hiruzen and the others left, Senju Motoki, who had been guarding outside, walked in. By now, he already had a bad suspicion in his heart.
The entire escort squad had returned. Every single one of them looked completely drained, and their clothes were torn to pieces, as if they had suffered a crushing defeat.
So where was Clan Head Tobirama?
Surely... Tobirama-sama had not died?
"Mito-sama..."
Senju Motoki felt deeply uneasy as he carefully asked Mito.
"Go. Set Konoha's barrier seals to wartime status. Take my written order and have the Anbu place the entire village under martial control."
"Also, send out every remaining ninja in the clan. Have them watch all the ninja clans currently in Konoha. If there is any unusual movement, report it to me immediately. Especially the Uchiha!"
"And send someone to notify Toma. Tell him to return from the front lines immediately."
Mito's rapid series of commands left Senju Motoki's mind completely blank.
Had someone already attacked Konoha's gates?
Or were the Uchiha about to rebel?
Even the young Senju heir, Senju Toma, was being recalled from the front lines.
"Mito-sama? What exactly happened? Could it be that Clan Head Tobirama..."
"Then why are you still standing here?!"
Mito's voice was filled with icy fury, making Senju Motoki shudder.
He had spoken too much today.
"Yes, Mito-sama!"
Senju Motoki quickly rushed out to carry out Mito's orders.
Only Mito remained in the room.
She sat back down in her chair, and the moment no one else was around, all of her spirit collapsed. None of the calm composure she had shown earlier remained.
"Hahaha! Mito, even that bastard Hashirama's little brother is dead now. Looks like the Konoha Hashirama built isn't far from destruction!"
A gleeful voice rang out from deep within Mito's heart.
Inside Mito's sealed mental space.
An enormous fox sat there, its nine tails tightly bound by chains, unable to move at all.
The Nine-Tails laughed wildly, making the chains clatter with sharp ringing sounds that echoed through Mito's mind.
"This is karma, Mito. You've imprisoned me for so many years, but what did it change? Did the shinobi world ever find peace..."
"..."
The Nine-Tails could sense everything happening outside, including Mito's emotions at this moment.
Sadness. Despair. Pain.
The Nine-Tails felt every bit of her negative emotions with perfect clarity.
But it did not sympathize.
It only mocked her without restraint.
"Hmph, demon fox!"
"Konoha will not be destroyed, and Hashirama's efforts will not be in vain. As long as I am here, I will protect Konoha."
With a thought from Mito, several massive chains appeared out of nowhere. They bound the Nine-Tails' mouth shut and twisted its entire body into a knot.
"Mmph mmph mmph..."
"Mito, I ****"
"..."
After dealing with the Nine-Tails, Mito's mood improved considerably. She regained the same calm composure as before, muttering under her breath,
"As long as I'm here, no one will turn Konoha upside down!"
...
Konoha Military Police Force.
Haru sat inside a room reserved exclusively for captains. The Military Police had three captain positions, and each captain had their own room. The other two captains had already rotated to the front lines, leaving Haru alone in the Uchiha stronghold to oversee the entire clan.
After sixteen years of struggle, Haru had already become one of the Uchiha Clan's upper ranks. Aside from Clan Head Uchiha Tomita, Haru was now effectively the number two figure of the Uchiha in Konoha.
Haru possessed the three-tomoe Sharingan. His Lightning Release was masterful, and he had personally developed Chidori through a draw from the wheel. He was also proficient in all kinds of the clan's Fire Release techniques, and his swordsmanship was excellent as well, also obtained through the wheel. In a sword duel against the genius Sakumo of Konoha's Hatake Clan, Haru had fought him to a draw.
Through his own effort, or rather, the blood and sweat of more than ten years of lottery draws, Haru had gained tremendous prestige within the Uchiha Clan.
Bang.
Haru's door was pushed open by Manji. With a light leap, the ninja cat jumped into Haru's arms.
"Haru, Hiruzen and the others are back. Not long ago, they headed toward the Senju Clan district. After entering, they never came back out."
"And the entire Senju Clan is moving now. Senju ninja are spreading out through Konoha in every direction. A few of them should already be near the Uchiha district."
"The Anbu have also moved out. They're scattered all across Konoha."
"Some of them are very strong. The ninja cats didn't dare get too close, in case they alerted them. Some have already withdrawn, and others can only observe from a distance."
"It won't be long before there are Anbu or Senju ninja even near the Military Police headquarters."
Haru casually stroked Manji's fur, showing no concern over Mito's actions.
"Someone!"
"Call a meeting!"
Since Mito had started moving, there was no way Haru was going to sit here and do nothing.
(End of Chapter)
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