"Danzo… Hiruzen… why would Lady Mito summon us this late?"
Shimura Danzo muttered under his breath as he walked beside Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The moon hung high above—
But was quickly swallowed by drifting clouds.
A dark night.
The kind that made one uneasy.
For some reason, a chill crept up Danzo's spine.
The gazes from passing Senju clan members made his skin crawl.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
His thoughts churned.
Beside him, however, Hiruzen remained calm.
"If it's a blessing, it won't harm us. If it's a disaster, we can't avoid it."
Hiruzen spoke quietly.
They were already in the lion's den.
What else was there to fear?
At worst—
Death.
He did not fear dying.
Only regret.
Regret that he might fail to fulfill his teacher's final wish.
With that thought, Hiruzen quickened his pace.
Danzo hesitated—
Then hurried after him.
—
Inside the compound.
Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, Uchiha Kagami, and Akimichi Torifu had already arrived.
They stood silently.
Waiting.
At the entrance, Hiruzen saw them.
And beyond them—
Mito Uzumaki.
Seated.
Still.
Beside her stood two Senju jonin—
Senju Haru.
Senju Shun.
Both were familiar faces.
Strong.
Reliable.
And tonight—
Unnervingly silent.
Inside the room, rows of Senju shinobi stood on either side.
Like a tribunal.
A trial waiting to begin.
Hiruzen and Danzo's hearts tightened.
If they mishandled this—
The trees in the Senju courtyard might soon grow even more "fertile."
Koharu and Homura forced bitter smiles upon seeing them.
Their eyes carried a hint of relief.
Standing here alone under such pressure…
Had been unbearable.
Mito said nothing.
From the moment they arrived, she had only glanced briefly at Kagami—
Then ignored them completely.
She simply sat there.
Drinking tea.
Calm.
Silent.
Waiting.
Koharu and Homura knew their place.
They were like rootless weeds.
Easy to crush.
Their clans held no real power.
Compared to the great bloodline and secret technique clans—
They were insignificant.
If they died—
Who would speak for them?
No one.
Torifu and Kagami, however, were different.
Akimichi Torifu—
Son of the Akimichi clan head.
Part of the future Ino-Shika-Cho formation.
Uchiha Kagami—
A prodigy of the Uchiha.
A political bridge between the Hokage and his clan.
They would not die so easily.
But the rest—
Expendable.
The pressure was suffocating.
Every Senju shinobi in the room seemed to be watching them.
Judging them.
Waiting.
And Mito—
Still said nothing.
Clearly—
She was waiting for someone.
Not Danzo.
Not the others.
She was waiting for—
Hiruzen.
The man Tobirama had named as the Third Hokage.
The rest were merely… extras.
Hiruzen and Danzo stood at the doorway.
For a moment—
Neither moved.
The tension snapped something inside their minds.
A dull ringing filled their ears.
Then—
Mito set down her teacup.
Her voice came, calm and cold.
"Since you're here…"
"Come in."
Simple words.
But they made Danzo's scalp go numb.
His feet felt rooted to the ground.
He turned instinctively to Hiruzen.
What now?
Hiruzen inhaled slowly.
The fog in his mind cleared.
Then—
Without hesitation—
He stepped forward.
Into the room.
Danzo followed closely behind.
The moment they entered—
The door shut.
Bang.
The sound echoed.
Everyone flinched.
Hiruzen.
Danzo.
Koharu.
Homura.
Torifu.
Kagami.
Their hearts trembled.
The room fell silent again.
Five pairs of eyes turned toward Hiruzen.
The meaning was obvious.
You speak.
You're the Hokage.
If not you—who?
Hiruzen swallowed.
Then stepped forward.
"Lady Mito… calling us here at this hour—has something happened in Konoha?"
Mito looked at him.
Their gazes met.
For a few seconds—
Hiruzen's heartbeat quickened.
Then—
She spoke.
"I believe I told you earlier."
"Tobirama's death is not to be disclosed."
Her voice remained calm.
But—
"Yet by this afternoon—"
"The entire village knows."
Bang!
Her hand struck the table.
The sound exploded through the room.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
Panic spread instantly.
The six of them exchanged stunned looks.
What?
How?
They hadn't left their rooms all day.
Resting.
Receiving treatment.
They hadn't spoken to anyone—
Except Senju medical ninja.
"I want an explanation."
Mito's gaze sharpened.
A killing intent flickered.
Her chakra surged—
Violent.
Chaotic.
The Nine-Tails' influence bled through.
The oppressive aura crashed down on them all.
We're dead.
We're dead!
Koharu, Homura, and Danzo screamed internally.
"I swear! I swear on my life!"
"I never left my room!"
"I only saw the medical ninja—no one else!"
"If I leaked anything—I'll die a miserable death!"
"I swear on my clan!"
"If I'm lying—may my entire family perish!"
Koharu broke first.
Her voice cracked as she poured out desperate oaths.
Like a dam collapsing.
"I swear too!"
"Me too!"
"I didn't say anything!"
The others followed immediately.
Repeating.
Swearing.
Trying to prove their innocence.
"Is that enough?"
Mito's voice cut through them like ice.
"I asked for an explanation."
Not excuses.
Not panic.
Answers.
If they couldn't provide one—
She had other methods.
Interrogation.
Memory extraction.
Konoha's ANBU were very skilled at such things.
Just as the situation teetered on the edge—
The door opened.
A Senju shinobi stepped in.
Senju Soma.
"Lady Mito."
"We've identified the source."
His voice was steady.
"All information originated from Uchiha-controlled shops."
Silence.
Then—
Every head turned.
Toward one person.
Uchiha Kagami.
Kagami froze.
"…Me?"
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read chapters ahead on Patreon → patreon.com/c/MythArcStudio