"Why thank me? When you were pregnant, we agreed that Naruto and Sasuke would become good friends someday—guys would be sworn brothers, girls would be betrothed. Since you're gone, I have to fulfill your last wish," said Uchiha Mikoto playfully.
"It's just a pity Naruto's a boy. If it had been a girl, that would've been perfect," Mikoto added with a slight sigh.
Kushina said nothing.
Thankfully, Naruto is a boy; otherwise, the Uzumaki clan might have really been wiped out.
"But Sasuke's really adorable. I can't believe he's already this big. By the way, how old are Sasuke and Naruto now?" Kushina asked, gently tugging at the sleeping boy's cheek.
"They're seven already," Mikoto replied.
"Seven years already?" Kushina murmured. "I can't believe I've been gone for seven years. Time really flies…"
Though she sounded wistful, inside Kushina felt the weight of those seven years of suffering Naruto endured. That grudge—I must settle it properly with Danzo and the Leaf Village, especially with those who bullied Naruto. They all deserve to pay.
"By the way, Kushina, won't you stay tonight to be with Naruto? Or are you going back later?" Mikoto asked.
"I'm staying. This is just my shadow clone. My real self is with Naruto," Kushina smiled.
She knew her time revived was precious. She wanted to spend as much time as possible with Naruto, to care for him as his mother.
"I see," Mikoto nodded.
At the Sarutobi clan estate—Sarutobi Hiruzen's residence.
Kakashi knelt on one knee behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, who smoked a pipe, the room thick with smoke.
"You say Danzo and Orochimaru met secretly in the forest just now?" Hiruzen asked gravely.
"Yes. I saw and heard it myself. Danzo and Orochimaru were plotting to annihilate the Uchiha clan in that grove."
Kakashi continued, "Danzo's right arm is made of Hashirama's cells, and his right eye is the Mangekyo Sharingan that caused the Nine-Tails Incident."
"I also heard that Danzo used the Mangekyo to control the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, forcing the Bloody Mist Village into cruel policies aiming to overthrow the village," Kakashi added.
"Are you certain it was Danzo and Orochimaru themselves?" Hiruzen asked.
"Yes. I confirmed with my Sharingan. No chakra traces indicating disguise jutsu. Orochimaru used a shadow clone to attend, but the real ones were definitely there."
"What else did they say?"
"Orochimaru said the human experiments were Danzo's orders. After wiping out the Uchiha, Orochimaru wanted 90% of the Sharingan."
Hiruzen said, "I understand. You may withdraw for now."
Kakashi clenched his fist, looked at Hiruzen's back, and asked, "What about Danzo?"
"I will arrange an investigation," Hiruzen answered.
Kakashi's heart sank.
Sensing Kakashi's hesitation, Hiruzen said firmly, "Kakashi, you must understand that Konoha cannot afford internal chaos now. The Uchiha pose a threat within, and the other Great Nations are always ready to strike. We face the risk of destruction every moment.
"Everything I do is for Konoha's greater good.
"The dead are gone. The living must carry on. Please accept this and control your grief.
"I hope you can set aside your grudges for now. After the Uchiha issue is resolved, I will give Minato an explanation, answer for those who died in the Nine-Tails attack, and for our comrades who perished in the human experiments."
"As Hokage, I have my burdens. I want to punish Danzo and Orochimaru even more than you do," Hiruzen said sincerely.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. I understand," Kakashi replied, expressionless.
"Hmph. I know you're not satisfied," Hiruzen sighed. "But think about it—his enemy is my hero.
"Though Danzo's methods in the Mist were ruthless, at least he curbed the village's rise, letting Konoha develop quietly for some years.
"Besides, the Uchiha clan is watching closely, and the Hidden Cloud is always ready to stir up war again. We can't let Hiruzen's death be in vain.
"To prevent the Uchiha from desperate moves and to control the Nine-Tails' power, Danzo, with his Mangekyo Sharingan and Hashirama cells, must remain as a safeguard.
"Once we put down the Uchiha rebellion and obtain all of Danzo and Orochimaru's research on Hashirama's cells, we can take action. With clear evidence, conviction will be easy."
Kakashi nodded reluctantly, "The Third Hokage's foresight shows my shortsightedness."
"It's nothing. You're still young and have a long road ahead. We old ones will pass the future of Konoha to you younger generations. Never let a moment's anger ruin the big picture.
"Where Konoha's leaves flutter, the fire burns eternal. The roots beneath nourish the great tree—that hidden 'darkness' in Konoha's shadows is its source of strength, ensuring growth. You new buds are Konoha's future. I hope you understand," Hiruzen said.
"Understood, Third Hokage-sama," Kakashi responded.
"Yes, the Will of Fire must continue through you. It's late now—go rest. Remember what happened tonight stays between us. Don't tell anyone," Hiruzen said seriously.
"Understood," Kakashi answered respectfully.
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
Sure enough, the Third Hokage still couldn't bring himself to severely punish his old friend Danzo or his student Orochimaru.
When Danzo ordered Anko to assassinate him, Hiruzen didn't punish Danzo but led ANBU to surround Danzo's stronghold and took Anko under his wing as punishment, letting Danzo off lightly.
When Orochimaru was exposed for his human experiments and planned to defect, the Third could have stopped him but let him go. Later, Minato personally ordered a team to track down Orochimaru because of the innocent villagers, shinobi, and over 60 infants Orochimaru had harmed. But even during the chase, the Root interfered, and Minato almost lost his life and his Sharingan. So Kakashi's resentment toward Danzo grew.
Adding to that, Orochimaru revealed that his father died because of Danzo's schemes. Now Kakashi's resentment had turned into murderous intent.
He was completely disillusioned with the Third Hokage.
The Third overlooked murders, deaths of villagers, shinobi, and infants—how much more the Fourth's death?
Kakashi realized as long as Danzo's crimes weren't publicized village-wide, the Third would turn a blind eye.
Hmph.
Such is the laughable Will of Fire.
But the vengeance for my father, my teacher, and the countless innocent lives lost in the Nine-Tails attack cannot be left unavenged!
Fortunately, I held back earlier—I didn't reveal everything about the Danzo-Orochimaru deal.
Kakashi sneered and left. He now understood why Jiraiya and Tsunade were unwilling to return to the village—Konoha had already decayed!