Chapter 56 (Patreon)

At first, Shisui had not understood what Kushina meant.

After returning home and thinking it over, however, he finally realized the danger she had been warning him about.

Kotoamatsukami was simply too powerful.

Whether it was the Uchiha clan or Konoha’s leadership, anyone who learned of such an ability would inevitably fear it. After all, no one could remain calm knowing that their thoughts and decisions might be rewritten without their knowledge.

If information about his Mangekyō ability were exposed, Fugaku might demand that he use it on the Third Hokage and the Elder Council for the sake of the clan.

At the same time, the Third Hokage and the elders would fear that Shisui might alter their minds. They might even decide that eliminating him was the safest option.

The already strained relationship between the village and the Uchiha clan would only deteriorate further.

That was why, when Fugaku asked about the ability he had awakened, Shisui chose to conceal the truth.

Strictly speaking, he had not lied.

Kotoamatsukami was still a vastly enhanced form of genjutsu.

After listening to Shisui’s explanation, Fugaku studied him in silence for several moments before giving a slow nod.

“According to the clan’s records, the abilities awakened through the Mangekyō Sharingan place an enormous strain on the eyes. Susanoo is no exception,” Fugaku warned. “Unless the situation leaves you no other choice, avoid using them carelessly. Continued overuse will eventually cost you your sight.”

This was the first time Shisui had heard such a warning.

However, every time he used Susanoo, he did feel a lingering pain and discomfort in his eyes.

“I understand. I’ll be careful.”

“Good. Go home and rest.”

Just as Shisui turned to leave, Fugaku added, “One more thing. You no longer need to report for duty with the Konoha Military Police Force. The Third Hokage intends to recruit you into the Anbu.”

Shisui paused in surprise.

When Fugaku showed no intention of explaining further, Shisui simply nodded, said his farewells, and left.

Although no one in the village openly mentioned the bounty after Danzō’s name became involved, that did not mean the matter had been forgotten.

People merely found less direct ways to discuss it.

Instead of mentioning Danzō, they spoke of “a certain member of the village’s leadership.”

Instead of discussing a bounty, they talked about groups of shinobi unaffiliated with any hidden village appearing on the front lines and causing trouble.

They could not have been ordinary bandits or robbers. People like that would never possess enough strength to trouble Konoha’s forces.

And if independent shinobi and desperate criminals were willing to attack a major hidden village, what reason could they possibly have besides money?

Anyone capable of putting the pieces together had already understood what had happened.

Danzō himself was initially unaware that another one of his secrets had been dragged into the light.

After visiting Hiruzen and demanding that the Two-Tails’ jinchūriki be handed over to him, only to be refused, Danzō returned home with a dark expression.

Along the way, he heard several members of the Shimura clan discussing the rumors spreading through the village.

No one mentioned his name directly.

However, the longer Danzō listened, the more uneasy he became.

The story had clearly been adapted from actual events, and Danzō Shimura was unmistakably one of the people at its center.

“Damn it. Who has been spreading these rumors about me?”

Unable to vent his anger openly, Danzō’s expression darkened even further.

The tip of his cane slammed into the earth, leaving a deep hole in the ground.

That evening, after Naruto had eaten his fill, Kaorui carried him into the neighboring room and took care of him for the night.

Meanwhile, Roy stood behind Kushina in the bathroom, gently washing her back while explaining that his movements were still restricted.

“So that’s what happened.”

Kushina looked at him through the mirror, as she often did.

“Don’t be discouraged, Roy-kun. At least you have more freedom than before. Once we discover what caused the distance to increase, you might be able to regain your freedom completely.”

Although she spoke encouragingly, a faint sense of relief appeared within her heart.

When Kushina first learned that Roy was no longer confined to the space directly behind her, she had secretly worried that he might leave.

Fortunately, the restriction had merely expanded from ten meters to fifty meters.

As for Roy’s concern that she might suggest they begin sleeping in separate rooms, such a thought had never even crossed her mind.

After returning to the bedroom, Kushina caught his wandering hands and gently pressed them down.

“Roy-kun, I want to move back to the Senju Compound.”

Roy was slightly surprised, but he quickly understood.

This was the house Kushina and Minato had purchased together. Even if she had begun moving forward, remaining here would inevitably remind her of Minato.

Living in the house might continue to leave her feeling awkward or uncomfortable.

Before Roy could respond, Kushina continued.

“The number of rooms used to be enough, but now that Yugito-san is staying with us, things have become crowded. Once Nonō Yakushi finishes her work at the Konoha Orphanage and joins us, there won’t be enough space for everyone.”

Most of the Senju Compound had already been placed under the village’s management.

However, one entire street still remained under the ownership of Tsunade and Kushina.

The residence where the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and Mito Uzumaki had once lived had also been left untouched.

Aside from Tsunade and Kushina, who had both lived there for a time before leaving the compound, no one else in Konoha would have dared to move into that residence even if they were granted permission.

Now that their current home was becoming too small, it was only natural that Kushina would think of returning there.

“You can decide,” Roy replied. “Wherever you go, I’ll follow.”

He was physically incapable of doing otherwise, but when phrased that way, the meaning sounded entirely different.

Such was the art of language.

As their clothes slipped away, Roy also found himself fortunate enough to taste the drink that little Naruto loved so much.

He truly had not intended to steal food from a child.

There was simply far too much for Naruto to finish by himself.

Roy had only leaned forward and taken a large mouthful. He could hardly spit it out afterward and let it go to waste.

Kushina herself had nearly forgotten about it.

When she saw that Roy liked it, she made no attempt to stop him.

Early the following morning, Kushina went directly to the Hokage’s Office and informed Hiruzen that she intended to move.

Hiruzen hesitated briefly before agreeing.

After all, the Senju Compound was where Kushina had lived during her childhood.

Once the matter of moving into the First Hokage’s former residence was settled, Kushina turned to leave.

Hiruzen hurriedly called out to stop her.

“Kushina, wait.”

She turned back toward him.

Hiruzen lowered his pipe and asked, “Can you tell me why you proposed taking a hostage during the negotiations?”

Kushina considered the question before answering.

“Konoha had just survived the Third Shinobi World War. The village should have been using this time to recover, but then the Nine-Tails’ attack occurred.”

Her expression grew more serious.

“Minato’s death made the other hidden villages believe Konoha had become vulnerable. Kumogakure attacked us because they thought they had found an opportunity.”

After releasing a quiet breath, she continued.

“By holding their jinchūriki as a hostage, we can ensure that Kumogakure is unlikely to invade Konoha again during the next three years. With one less major enemy to watch, we can devote more of our attention to Iwagakure and Sunagakure while giving the village time to recover.”

“I see.”

Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“With their jinchūriki in our custody, Kumogakure truly would be unlikely to violate the armistice.”

If the hostage had been an ordinary shinobi, or even an important official from Kumogakure, the situation would have been different.

The moment a sufficiently tempting opportunity appeared, the Hidden Cloud might have torn up the treaty and launched another invasion without hesitation.

A jinchūriki, however, was far more valuable.

The person herself was almost secondary.

What truly mattered was the Tailed Beast sealed inside her.

If Kumogakure violated the agreement, Konoha would have the right to dispose of the hostage.

They could extract the Two-Tails and seal it inside a shinobi from Konoha.

Alternatively, they could kill the jinchūriki and allow the Tailed Beast to perish alongside her.

Kumogakure would have no grounds to complain in either case.

Even if the Two-Tails eventually revived several years later, it would no longer belong to the Hidden Cloud.

If Kumogakure wanted to capture the reborn Tailed Beast again, they would first have to see whether the other hidden villages were willing to allow it.

Therefore, unless the Raikage had completely lost his reason, he would never risk breaking the treaty so easily.

Moreover, Konoha intended to hold Yugito Nii for only three years.

It was not a short period, but neither was it excessively long.

Even if Kumogakure still coveted the Land of Fire’s abundant resources, enduring for three years and making new plans afterward would be far safer than risking the permanent loss of the Two-Tails.

After finally understanding the reasoning behind Kushina’s proposal, Hiruzen looked at her with undisguised surprise.