Yuto had already bid farewell and left. Danzo sat on the elevated platform, propping his cheek with one hand, facing the empty hall. His eyelids remained half-lowered, the dim yellow light casting shadows over the wrinkles and crevices on his face. The flickering silhouette behind him looked like a snarling demon, sending chills down anyone's spine.
"Tatsu," Danzo suddenly spoke, his lips barely moving.
"Yes," replied a man wearing a monkey mask, stepping out from the shadows behind Danzo. He had medium-length hair and was tall.
"When the academy's grade competition is over. You'll go to the Land of Waves with Hayashi Yuto," Danzo said flatly.
"Yes, Lord Danzo," Tatsu knelt on one knee, his tone respectful.
"How are things in the research lab?" Danzo asked softly.
"Your prediction was correct," Tatsu reported, head still lowered. "The duration each ninja can withstand the energy corrosion varies by rank. Among the six test subjects, one jonin hasn't completely lost his sanity yet."
"Good," Danzo nodded in satisfaction, sighing. "I thought that old fool Hanzo had lost his ambition in his twilight years. Turns out I underestimated him! To create something this extraordinary at his age—I'll admit, he's surpassed me in this regard."
"But Lord Danzo has something he lacks," Tatsu praised. (bootlicker)
"Oh? And what's that?"
"Superior luck."
"Ha! Quite right!" Danzo chuckled. "Indeed, it's my sheer luck that allowed me to stumble upon his little scheme! Now, aside from ensuring Hayashi Yuto eliminates "Grey feather" in the Land of Waves, you know your other mission, correct?"
"To secure more of that special energy substance from Hanzo the Salamander," Tatsu replied dutifully.
"Good. No need for me to spell it out then," Danzo slowly stood up, his gaze fixed ahead, eyes gleaming with ambition. "Once I perfect the super-ninja enhancement, the Hokage seat will be mine for the taking!"
In Underground Hideout Beneath Konoha "So, sis?" Yuto smirked. "Told you Danzo wouldn't make a move against Umbrella Corp. Your worries were totally unfounded."
The urgent message in Danzo's hands had been drafted by Yuto, passed to Lady Greyfeather, and then delivered to Danzo through her channels. When Kushina first saw the draft, she'd been terrified, convinced Yuto was playing with fire.
If Danzo actually followed the suggestion and reported Umbrella Corp's activities to Hiruzen Sarutobi, it could've sparked a full-blown conflict—or even war! That would've ruined the Land of Waves' hard-earned progress.
But reality took a sharp left turn from Kushina's fears, leaving her questioning her sanity. "I just don't get it! Is Danzo mentally deficient? Not only does he not move against the Umbrella Corp, but he's also planning to "off" his own loyal subordinate?"
"Lady Greyfeather isn't just a Root spy—she's also Konoha's informant," Yuto explained lightly. "If she accidentally blabs to the Hokage, how's Danzo supposed to keep dreaming about that fancy hat?"
Grey feather had already defected to the Land of Waves, but Danzo had no clue. Yet he still ordered Yuto to execute her for "treason"—all in the name of keeping secrets.
"That's his reason? That's it?" Kushina looked baffled.
"Yep. That's the whole tragicomedy," Yuto sighed. "When Shisui Uchiha was driven to suicide, it was pretty much the same deal."
"Back then, most of the clan thought Itachi did it," Mikoto added wistfully. "Even Fugaku believed it deep down."
"The Uchiha tragedy was a perfect storm," Yuto mused, tapping his chair armrest. "The village's distrust, the radicals' recklessness, and your husband's... indecisive leadership."
That last bit was putting it very politely. In truth, Fugaku's wishy-washy governance—neither reining in his clan's extremists nor fully opposing the village—sealed the Uchiha's fate.
And let's not even get into his stellar parenting skills, which basically outsourced Itachi's moral compass to Shisui. But hey, no need to rub salt in old wounds—Fugaku already paid the ultimate price.
"Enough gloom," Yuto clapped, grinning. "Ladies, wanna see something fun?"
"Huh?"
"What is it?"
Under the two women's puzzled stares, he snapped his fingers—
*Crack.*
The air split open like a zipper, revealing a yawning black void.
"Is that—?!" Mikoto gasped.
"A Garganta?!" Kushina, who'd inherited some Shinigami knowledge, recognized it instantly. "Since when did you develop this?!"
"Didn't develop it, per se," Yuto shrugged. "The technique was always in my head—just needed to recalibrate for the ninja world's spatial physics."
"Well, this'll make travel way easier," Kushina peered into the abyss, seeing only darkness.
"Care to join me for a little interdimensional joyride, ladies?" Yuto extended a gentlemanly hand.
After a glance at each other, Kushina and Mikoto whooshed into Yuto's body as chakra manifestations.
Stepping into the void, he vanished—
—and the rift sealed itself shut.
*Land of Waves, Central Plaza*
After a long day's work, Zabuza, Haku, Raiga, Choka, and Maruyama trudged past the plaza's giant statue, hoes slung over their shoulders.
"Ah, if it isn't the hero of the Land of Waves," Kurosiki Raiga snickered, eyeing the statue.
"Shut it, Milk Tank," Zabuza shot back.
"Y-You—!" Raiga's ample chest heaved in rage. "How many times do I have to say it?! STOP. CALLING. ME. THAT!"
"Hey, Lord Raiga," Choka rubbed his hands sheepishly. "What if I, uh, traded two work shifts for a, y'know… hands-on experience?"
"YOU WHAT—?!"
Raiga's face turned green.
'I'M A DUDE! SINCE WHEN IS THIS A THING?!'
"PFFT—HAHAHA!" Zabuza nearly tumbled over. "Two shifts, Lord Raiga! That's a steal!"
"SCREW YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE BLOODLINE!" Raiga screeched.
*Crack.*
A black rift tore open in the plaza's center—
—and out stepped Yuto, pristine in white.
"Long time no see, inmates," he smiled sweetly.