"I already have a way. Just like that..."
"Wait a moment," Kageyama Kogetsu interrupted again.
Meeting Danzō's questioning gaze, Kageyama Kogetsu smiled, "I don't know anything. I only look at the results."
Bastard! This guy's style is so much like Hiruzen's.
No, Hiruzen is indeed relatively naive, indecisive, and soft-hearted. He truly doesn't know about some of the things I've done.
This guy, he clearly could know but deliberately chooses not to. He lets me do all the bad things, while he acts like a pure white lotus!
But for the sake of the Hokage position, I can only endure it!
Once I successfully become Hokage, this guy will have no choice but to obey my orders. I'll work him to the bone then!
"Hmph... I know. You just wait to enjoy the results," Danzō said, letting out a long breath, his expression becoming calm.
"I just don't understand, why do you have a thing for widows? This makes two."
Kageyama Kogetsu smiled, "I don't have a thing for widows. Aren't Nonō and Kurenai normal?"
"No, I only think Kurenai is normal. Nonō is much older than you," Danzō said with a serious expression.
"My tastes are broad and eclectic. I want to try all types."
"Forget it. You wouldn't understand, Elder Danzō. Is there anything else?"
"If not, I'm going back."
Danzō shook his head. Kageyama Kogetsu nodded and then vanished...
Leaning on his cane, Danzō slowly walked through the Forest of Death, his steps steady, his posture relaxed, treating the dense darkness around him as nothing, pondering and perfecting his plan...
Uzumaki Kushina was not to be trifled with. In the past, it was one thing.
Since Lady Mito's death, Uzumaki Kushina had been a mere Jinchuriki, in other words, a human Tailed Beast weapon, her status not high.
But after becoming the Fourth Hokage's wife, the situation changed. She had both a respectable status and formidable strength, a weaker version of Lady Mito.
Although she was the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, as the First Hokage's wife, if she got serious, not just him, but even Hiruzen would be scolded into submission!
Whatever she wanted, the entire village of Konoha had to comply!
Against such a person, the methods used on Uchiha Mikoto would not work. Or rather, threats alone were not enough. He had to get serious!
However, he couldn't get serious with her personally. If a Jinchuriki got angry, he and his entire Root might not be able to subdue her.
He had to find another way, to target Uzumaki Kushina's weak spot, the little Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—Uzumaki Naruto!
The specific plan must have its details worked out, with no flaws, and the information must not be leaked. Otherwise, the consequences would be extremely severe!
He might not even be able to bear them...
Danzō was indeed a master of conspiracies. He hadn't walked far in the darkness before a rather complete plan had formed in his mind.
...
Two days later, Naruto ran out to play with Sasuke, Karin, and his other friends, and was late coming home for dinner.
Kushina thought Naruto was having so much fun that he had forgotten the time and went out angrily to the places they usually played to look for him.
After searching around and not finding him, she asked some acquaintances. Kushina was relieved to hear that Naruto had left with Uzumaki Karin.
Soon, she became a little angry again, angry that Naruto had gone to Aunt Karin's for dinner without telling her.
Of course, she couldn't help but complain a little about Uzumaki Karin.
It was one thing for a child to be thoughtless, but how could an adult not know to say something?
Kushina, following a familiar path, arrived at Uzumaki Karin's door and knocked.
Uzumaki Karin had been in Konoha for many years. Her status at the Konoha Hospital had been rising, and her income was also increasing. Two years ago, she had moved to a better house.
"Hey? Kushina, what are you doing here?"
"We're having dinner. Come on in and join us," Uzumaki Karin said with a broad smile, warmly inviting her in.
"No, I've already made dinner at home. I'm here to drag Naruto back."
"That little brat, going to your house for dinner without even telling me," Kushina said, her hands on her hips, fuming.
"Huh?" Uzumaki Karin's expression changed. "Naruto isn't here."
"How is that possible? Several acquaintances said they saw you walking with Naruto, holding his hand."
"Don't cover for him. You're spoiling him."
As the only remaining male of the Uzumaki clan, Uzumaki Karin usually doted on Naruto. She might not grant his every wish, but she wasn't far from it.
As Kushina spoke, she stormed into the house.
"Kushina, Naruto really isn't here," Uzumaki Karin said, closing the door and hurrying after her.
"Hello, Aunt Kushina," Uzumaki Karin, who was eating, put down her chopsticks and greeted her sweetly.
But Kushina was in no mood to respond to Karin right now because there were indeed only two sets of chopsticks on the table, not a third.
A sense of foreboding rose in Kushina's heart. She quickly turned around, her face full of anxiety. "Are you sure you didn't go to pick up Naruto? Is Naruto really not here?"
"Don't lie to me just because you don't want him to get scolded and beaten."
"Really, he's not. Karin came back on her own."
"We're both parents. How could I make such an inappropriate and cruel joke?" Uzumaki Karin said, also with a look of anxiety.
"That's right, Aunt Kushina. We all went home separately, just like usual."
"Damn it, could Naruto have been kidnapped by human traffickers?" Karin's eyes were worried, her face full of anxiety.
"No, I have to go to Lord Third immediately," Kushina, her heart burning with anxiety, turned to leave.
"And Lord Kogetsu. The Police Force has people everywhere. Maybe they've found something," Uzumaki Karin added, following her.
Naruto, as the son of the Fourth Hokage and the half-Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, being taken away by unknown persons was a major event for the entire village of Konoha!
Knock, knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock sounded on the door. Kushina's eyes lit up, and she hurried to open it, only to be disappointed soon after.
"What can I do for you, little boy?" Kushina barely managed to compose herself and forced a smile.
"Someone asked me to give this to you."
A little boy handed an envelope to Kushina and then turned to leave.
Kushina took the envelope, opened it, and her body went limp, almost collapsing to the ground.
"Kushina, what's wrong?"
Uzumaki Karin quickly reached out to support Kushina, helping her to the sofa in the house to sit down.
"Naruto, Naruto..." Kushina's eyes were red, tears welling up, unable to speak a complete sentence.
Uzumaki Karin, who was sitting beside her, took the envelope and looked at it. Her vision went black...
The first thing that caught her eye was a lock of blond hair, stuck to a photograph.
In the photograph, Naruto was lying on a stone platform, sleeping with his eyes closed. What was most terrifying was that his entire body was covered with explosive tags.
It could only be said that Danzō was truly vicious. A simple photo would have sufficed, but he had to make such a terrifying one.
Of course, Kageyama Kogetsu's morals were not much better. He dared to let Danzō do as he pleased, all because of his powerful strength and resurrection ability.
"Wuwuwu..."
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have asked Lord Third to withdraw the Anbu just so that Naruto and I could live more comfortably."
"If I hadn't withdrawn the Anbu, Naruto wouldn't have been kidnapped by those bad people with ulterior motives."
"If something happens to Naruto, how can I face Minato and Konoha? Wuwuwu..."
Kushina, who had always been carefree, strong, and independent, broke down emotionally, unable to stop herself from covering her face and crying.
Actually, Danzō did not intend to, nor could he, kill Naruto.
First, Naruto was one of Konoha's Tailed Beast weapons, a matter of great importance.
Second, if Naruto died, it would cause a huge uproar in Konoha, and the operation Danzō had arranged might not be able to withstand the investigation.
Third, if Naruto died, it would be impossible to force Kushina to submit.
Fourth, and most importantly, Kageyama Kogetsu knew the inside story. If anything happened, he would surely know who was behind it.
Although he had no proof and was involved himself, making it impossible to expose, his angry retaliation would be terrifying.
Danzō was not very confident that he could survive an assassination attempt by Kageyama Kogetsu. After all, his reputation was not just for show; it was built on a pile of corpses.
Of course, Kushina knew none of this. It was normal for her to lose her composure and break down emotionally for a moment.
It was only because Kushina's control over the half of the Nine-Tails was extremely strong that she hadn't transformed into a Tailed Beast at this point.
"Kushina, don't cry. There's writing on the back of the photo. We still have hope."
Hearing this, Kushina suddenly looked up and quickly snatched the photo...
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