Hokage Tower.
Danzo felt a surge of anger with nowhere to vent after Chinya dismissed him so casually.
He never expected Chinya would show such blatant disrespect in front of Minato and Hiruzen.
In the end, though, Danzo could only leave in frustration.
When Chinya returned home, he saw that Kushina had already finished eating. Smiling, he asked, "Full already? Want more?"
Kushina shook her head. "No way, I'm stuffed! So how was the meeting?"
At the mention of the meeting, Chinya couldn't help but grumble, "I was just there as an observer — my presence or absence made zero difference. They're just sitting around doing nothing anyway."
Kushina burst into laughter, then comforted him. "Alright alright, you went through the trouble. So Miyuki's situation is settled now, right?"
Chinya nodded. "Yes. When she gives birth, it'll be done outside the village under strict security. Don't worry about Miyuki, Kushina. I've implanted the Wanju Transcribed Seal within her eyes. And I also made a deal with the Nine-Tails back then. As for Miyuki's safety, there shouldn't be any major issues."
Kushina looked surprised. "You made a deal with the Nine-Tails? Can you actually communicate with it?"
"Of course," Chinya replied. "If summoned beasts can talk, why not tailed beasts? It's just that nearly all tailed beasts hate humans, which makes communication tough."
Kushina sighed in relief. "Good. As long as Miyuki stays safe."
Chinya smiled. "Don't worry. I'll do my best."
The next day.
Chinya originally had no intention of seeking out Danzo at all. Right now, he'd rather stick by Kushina's side every second of the day.
But after thinking it over, he still believed a visit was necessary.
Since Danzo clearly no longer trusted him, they needed to clear a few things up face-to-face, to prevent Danzo from acting recklessly later.
"Kushina, I need to step out for a bit. I'll be right back. Behave yourself at home, okay?"
Without taking her eyes off the TV, Kushina muttered, "Fine fine, go already — don't worry about me."
Chinya left and headed to the Root Base.
Previously, Root allowed him free access. But today, guards stopped him at the entrance, saying they needed to report to Danzo before letting him in.
Chinya gave a slight smile — that bitter old man really was narrow-minded, already suspecting and watching him this soon.
Thinking further, he should stop by the Konoha Defense Unit later to collect his share of the profits from Kakashi.
It was possible Danzo might fly into a rage and try to take control of the unit from him.
Not much longer now — after the Nine-Tails' Rampage, the Konoha Defense Unit will become obsolete.
By that time, the entire Uchiha Clan will be isolated. Danzo will turn his full attention to them, making the Uchiha wary and shut down. After that, it'll be hard for the Defense Unit to profit from the Uchiha anymore.
A Root ninja entered Danzo's office to report that Chinya had come looking for him at the Root Division.
Danzo let out a cold snort. "Bring him here to meet me!"
Chinya followed a Root ninja into the familiar Root Base and arrived at Danzo's office.
Danzo glared at Chinya, his face dark with anger. "I'm deeply disappointed in you, Chinya! You've been gone for months, and the Konoha Defense Unit's efficiency in capturing Uchiha Clan members has dropped significantly. Now that you're back, you remain so negligent. What's even more unforgivable is that you've openly ignored my orders. Chinya, are you planning to betray me?!"
Chinya smiled indifferently. "Disappointed? I think I did just fine. And as for betrayal, I'm still a ninja of Konoha, still working for Konoha. Besides, I told you yesterday, Lord Danzo, that I would come explain things to you.
But now, I can't even step through the gates of Root. If we're being technical, wasn't it Lord Danzo who betrayed me first?"
Danzo slammed his fist on the table, roaring, "Are you trying to defy your superior?!"
"Defy my superior?"
Chinya stuck out his tongue. In front of Danzo's very eyes, the Curse Seal of Absolute Silence—an empty seal—slowly faded away.
"I'm no longer a member of Root, nor your subordinate, Lord Danzo. So technically speaking, this isn't defiance anymore, right?"
Danzo's pupils sharply contracted.
The Curse Seal of Absolute Silence was something no one had ever managed to break free from—and yet, Chinya had done just that.
Danzo's gaze toward Chinya was now filled with killing intent. "So, you came here today to confront me head-on?"
Chinya shrugged. "If you had wanted to keep things as they were, I wouldn't have forced a confrontation either. After all, our goals regarding the Uchiha clan are aligned. But since you acted this way today, it seems you've already decided not to work with me anymore. If cooperation is off the table, then there's no need for polite pretenses anymore, is there?
And don't give me that look. All these years under my watch—you've profited more than enough. Yet you seem to have lost touch with reality.
It's not that I need Root or you—it's you and Root who need me. It seems you got that backwards."
Danzo said coldly, "You seem to misunderstand the situation. In Konoha, my authority is greater than yours! No matter how powerful you may be, you're still a ninja who must obey orders!"
Chinya gave Danzo an odd look. "Greater authority? Since your strength falls short of mine, you plan to intimidate me with authority instead? Oh, brilliant move. Go ahead and try using your authority to intimidate me—I'd love to see how scared I get."
Chinya mocked, "Lord Danzo, you know I went to Ryuchi Cave for training, but do you know exactly what I trained there?"
When Danzo heard Chinya asking what he had trained in Ryuchi Cave, his pupils suddenly trembled slightly.
Ryuchi Cave—the legendary sacred ground renowned alongside Mount Myoboku and Shikkotsu Forest.
What made it most famous was its Sage Art.
Jiraiya mastered an incomplete form of Sage Mode at Mount Myoboku, greatly enhancing his power.
Orochimaru once went to Ryuchi Cave to cultivate Sage Art, but failed.
And the most well-known user of Sage Mode was Hashirama Senju.
It could be said that Hashirama Senju earned the title "Ninja God" largely thanks to his Sage Mode.
Chinya instantly entered Sage Mode. A dragon horn sprouted from his forehead, scales spread across his body, and a shimmering layer of blue Sage Chakra encircled him.
At the same time, Chinya activated the Mangekyo Sharingan. The center of his Mangekyo contained a vertically oriented pupil.
The immense presence forced Danzo to leap to his feet, instinctively shifting into a defensive stance.
Chinya coldly warned, "Danzo, I hope you can recognize reality. If you cross my limit, I might lose control—and a lot of people could die. Tell me, would you happen to be one of them?"
With those words, Chinya shot Danzo a mocking smirk, then dispersed his Sage Mode, let the Mangekyo Sharingan vanish, and strode out of the Root Base.
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