A subtle manipulation...
By never letting them meet, Danzō had gradually replaced the real photos of Kabuto with those of the imposter.
Like a frog in water that slowly heats up...
In the end, Nonō would completely forget her real son's face, believing the impostor was her child.
Such was the fate of all spies.
Used, then discarded.
Because they knew too much.
And above all...
"It looks like you crossed paths with the Nine-Tailed Fox on the way..."
With a single glance, Danzō saw through Nonō's thoughts.
"His name is Uzumaki Naruto."
Danzō pulled out another file and placed it in front of Nonō.
She took it with suspicion, and when she discovered Naruto's true identity, her eyes widened.
"He's... the Fourth Hokage's child..."
Even living in a village on the border of the Land of Fire, even after leaving Konoha for years, she still knew the fame of the Yellow Flash.
What's more...
Konoha's former jinchūriki, Uzumaki Kushina, was the mother of this teenager.
The child of a jinchūriki remains a jinchūriki.
Was it... fate?
What do you want me to do?
Nonō looked up at Danzō.
Before she could speak, Danzō continued on his own.
"Eight Kumo ninjas were killed by the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki... So why did the Hyūga clan cover up his actions? And why did they 'invite' him to their territory?"
The Hyūga clan had broken several taboos, yet continued to act freely.
Did they not fear retaliation from the village?
And so...
"The alliance between Kumo and Konoha is a national policy, beneficial for the village and its people. I don't understand why such a great opportunity is constantly being sabotaged."
Danzō's smile grew darker.
"Now I understand... It's because the Hyūga are fueling the unrest."
Perhaps the Hyūga had even been corrupted by Kumo, working with them to orchestrate this farce.
And Uzumaki Naruto was just a pawn in their game.
Nonō: "..."
Was it just an illusion?
A cold wind suddenly blew through the icy morgue.
Nonō didn't know if the Hyūga had truly betrayed Konoha, but one thing was certain: the Hyūga clan... and the Fourth Hokage's son, Uzumaki Naruto, were in trouble.
Once Danzō set his sights on someone, any excuse was enough to become a threat.
The real objective was never the one displayed.
In reality, Danzō probably wanted to use this opportunity to crush the Hyūga... or even take control of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
After all, no member of the Hyūga clan had ever joined Root.
This was due to the Cursed Seal of the Heavens, which prevented any Hyūga from being controlled.
As long as the main branch members controlled the seal, those of the branch house could not serve another master.
Yet the Byakugan was an extremely powerful strategic weapon, and Danzō could not ignore it forever.
"Do you want me to contact the Hyūga?" Nonō asked.
"I'll handle the Hyūga personally..."
Danzō shook his head, his tone betraying boundless cruelty.
Soon, he would go see Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura. Together, they would confront the Hyūga and accuse them.
"Nonō, prepare yourself. You'll stay in Konoha for now and find a way to get in contact with the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki..."
First the Hyūga.
Then, the demon fox!
And finally... the Uchiha!
---
Chapter 26: Sako's Mom
In the heart of Konoha's busiest shopping district, the approaching New Year softened the tension caused by the conflict with Kumo.
People were shopping frantically, as if trying to soothe their anxiety.
"Sako, over here..."
Mikoto was also walking through the street.
She had left early with her daughter, and they had already spent several hours shopping.
Mother and daughter carried several bags filled with purchases.
Unlike the anxious passersby, Mikoto's beautiful face remained serene.
The reason was simple...
Her husband, Uchiha Fugaku, clan leader and head of the Military Police, had not yet received orders to go to the front lines.
That meant the situation at the border wasn't dire enough to justify open war.
At least, compared to a Great Ninja War, it was nothing.
It also meant... her husband might spend the New Year with the family.
"Sako, is something bothering you?"
Mikoto looked at her daughter, who seemed troubled.
At first, she thought Sako was hesitating to buy something expensive.
But now, she wondered if her daughter had a real concern.
"That guy, Uzumaki Naruto, said he lived in the shopping district..."
Prompted by her mother, Sako began scanning the area.
The street was teeming with people.
Above and behind the shops were residential buildings.
This was one of the most expensive and prestigious areas of Konoha.
The true "downtown."
And yet, Sako doubted Naruto's words.
Unless you were rich, no one could afford to live here.
And judging by how people treated Naruto, he didn't seem to come from a wealthy family.
"Not that I'm really curious or anything!"
Realizing she was saying too much, Sako quickly added that sentence.
But it only confirmed her interest in Naruto.
"…"
Mikoto watched her daughter in silence.
Seeing her awkward expression, she couldn't help but reflect on the whims of fate.
Sako and Naruto...
She and Kushina...
Back then, Mikoto and Kushina had been very close friends.
Kushina had even joked that if she had a son, they could arrange a marriage.
It was said on a whim, in typical Kushina fashion.
But Mikoto, as her best friend, hadn't objected.
Because ever since the village's founding, the Uchiha's situation had been... complicated.