After the council meeting, news spread quickly through Konoha. Within days, every major and minor clan had heard what had happened.
None of the clans dared celebrate openly as that would have been the same as wishing for Danzo's death but behind closed doors, a quiet sense of relief took hold. Some even found excuses to gather privately, using any pretext they could.
For years, Danzo had demanded recruits from every clan to fill the ranks of Root. Aside from powerful families like the Uchiha or Hyuga, few had the strength to refuse him outright. Even the clans aligned with Konoha's upper leadership, the Sarutobi, Shimura, and their allies, had members serving under him.
They were treated better than ordinary Root operatives, but everyone knew what Danzo was capable of.
Now that he had disappeared, no one was eager to find him.
To avoid suspicion, each clan still made a show of loyalty. The Hyuga clan leader even went personally to the Hokage's office to express his concern. Others sent written reports or formal recommendations that were quietly stacked on Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk.
No one put their heart into the search. After all, what would happen if they actually found Danzo alive?
Hiruzen understood this perfectly. He didn't scold anyone; he simply continued with village business and told himself a miracle might still happen. But the days passed, and Danzo, along with the three who had vanished with him, remained missing.
And so life in Konoha carried on. The world never stopped turning for the sake of one man. Half a month later, most villagers barely remembered the former Hokage's advisor.
July 10th arrived—a special day for one person.
For most in Konoha, it was just another summer morning, but for Uzumaki Kushina, it marked her twenty-eighth birthday.
She had decided to celebrate this year, inviting close friends and comrades: Uchiha Gen, Shisui, Kakashi, and even the Third Hokage himself. With adults and children alike, there would be quite a crowd, and Kushina couldn't handle it all alone.
Fortunately, her dearest friend Uchiha Mikoto, her cousin Anna Uzumaki, and the elder Sarutobi Biwako came early to help. The four women worked from morning until noon, setting up decorations, food, and gifts.
Gen and Shisui were the first to arrive.
"Kushina-nee, happy birthday."
"Sensei's wife, happy birthday."
Both smiled, each presenting a gift.
Kushina, dressed in a sleeveless home outfit with her hair pinned up, laughed. "You two didn't have to bring presents. Come in!"
Inside, the living room was lively. Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin were playing under Itachi's watchful eye while the women finished up in the kitchen.
Soon Kakashi and Hiruzen arrived. Normally the Hokage wouldn't come in person, but the current balance of power and Gen's growing influence—made maintaining friendly ties with Kushina important.
The Hokage's unexpected appearance made everyone sit a little straighter. Even Gen gave him proper respect, offering no challenge.
Lunch began with warmth and laughter. Though the children's joy lightened the air, the adults still felt the formality that came with dining beside a Hokage.
When the meal ended, Hiruzen took his leave, tactful as always.
Gen stayed behind; his work for the day was done. He called over Kakashi, Shisui, and Itachi, and the four men spent the afternoon playing cards—Sharingan eyes flashing in good-natured competition.
The women took the children shopping, returning by evening. After dinner and more play, the guests departed one by one.
When the house finally quieted, only Kushina, Naruto, Mikoto, and Sasuke remained.
That night, Naruto and Sasuke shared a room for the first time—rivals, yet thrilled at the sleepover. Getting them to settle took all of Kushina's and Mikoto's patience.
Once the boys were asleep, the two mothers bathed, dried their hair, and lay side by side in Kushina's bedroom. The warm light softened the familiar room, where a framed photo of Minato Namikaze still stood on the bedside table.
At first, their talk was about the children. Kushina sighed about Naruto's boundless energy; Mikoto shared small stories about Itachi's diligence and Sasuke's quiet stubbornness.
Gradually, the conversation drifted elsewhere.
"I heard Gen brought home three new women," Kushina said with a half-teasing huff.
"Mhm," Mikoto replied lightly. "It's been a while now."
"Tch. There's even one in Sunagakure! Isn't having you enough?"
Mikoto smiled faintly. "I can't blame him. I already have two children, and I'm… not exactly a young girl anymore. Still, he treats me and the boys well. That's what matters."
Kushina folded her arms. "Even so, four women? He's insatiable!"
Mikoto laughed softly. "Men have their flaws. At least he's responsible. Better that than the nobles who treat women like ornaments."
That drew a reluctant nod from Kushina. She had seen her share of corruption during missions; she couldn't argue with that.
Silence lingered for a while before Mikoto spoke again, her voice quiet but serious.
"You know, Kushina… you don't have to live alone forever."
Kushina blinked. "What do you mean?"
"You're still young. You deserve happiness too."
Kushina frowned slightly. "I have Naruto. That's enough."
"But will you spend your whole life only for him?" Mikoto's tone was gentle, not judgmental. "You've given so much already. Someday, he'll have his own life. What about yours?"
Kushina turned away, staring at the framed photo of Minato. "I can't just move on so easily."
"I thought the same about Fugaku," Mikoto said quietly. "When he died, I felt my world collapse. But raising our children, carrying on his name… that was how I honored him. And when Gen appeared, he reminded me that I'm still alive, that I can care for someone again without erasing my past."
Kushina said nothing. The warmth of the room pressed in around them, and for a long moment, only the sound of the summer cicadas filled the silence.
Finally, Mikoto smiled faintly and reached over to squeeze her friend's hand.
"Just think about it. You don't have to decide anything now."
Kushina hesitated, then nodded slightly. "You're impossible, you know that?"
"I'll take that as a compliment," Mikoto said with a laugh.
The two women talked quietly until their voices grew soft and sleep began to claim them.
Outside, the night deepened over Konoha, warm and still.
Unaware of the conversation taking place miles away, Uchiha Gen sat in his study, focused on his next set of plans—completely oblivious that Mikoto had just planted a seed that might one day change everything.