Chapter 112

— Come in and make yourself comfortable, Danzo, — Sarutobi nodded to his old comrade and friend.

This time, he was hosting the head of Root not in the office at the top of the tower, but on his clan's grounds, where one could be sure that no outsiders could overhear a conversation on topics sensitive to other clans. The special room, equipped specifically for important negotiations, ensured that not a sound would escape through its thin walls. After all, excessive caution has never harmed anyone.

— I'm surprised you took so long to arrange a personal meeting, Hiruzen, — Shimura grunted and took the chair opposite the host at a small coffee table set for two.

— You know it's better to let the dust settle first and then make other plans, — the Hokage shook his head. — After all, you don't really believe that Mito-sama is so foolish as to actually believe the official version of the Kumogakure shinobi infiltrating Konoha, do you?

Both powerful shinobi shuddered in unison, recalling the wrath of the first Hokage's wife, who was very displeased with the attack on her ward almost in the center of what was supposed to be a protected village. It was thanks to this that she managed to push through the appointment of the trusted mentor, jinchuriki Hatake Sakumo (who was quite happy about the chance to spend more time with his family in the village), dismissing the offered ANBU protection.

Unfortunately, it was the "failure" of the invisible guards that allowed Uzumaki to do this so easily, playing on the village council's fears of losing such an advantage over other countries, even if they had weaker bijuu, but besides Suna and Taki, winning in number of vessels. Unfortunately, a long-prepared and highly risky operation was ruined by a simple underestimation of the target.

— You're right, the failure of the operation has set us back considerably, — Danzo nodded. — And as a result, Sakumo was unavailable to me for quite some time.

None of those present in the room needed to be reminded that the founding clans would be monitoring such a team even more closely in the future. Unfortunately, Hiruzen had been unable to fend off the placement of the jinchuriki heir to the Uchiha team.

— We must admit that the idea of presenting Minato as the savior for the kidnapped jinchuriki turned out to be a failure, — Sarutobi reached for his pipe, recalling the report from his subordinates about the small kunoichi's massacre. — However, this is just a temporary setback. How is the recruitment of Namikaze progressing?

— As expected — the initial materials provided on fuinjutsu have significantly eased the task, as has the promise to place him under Jiraiya's tutelage as soon as he returns to the village, — the head of Root replied with satisfaction. — And the boy's dream of becoming Hokage helps increase the leverage we have over him.

— Not to mention the possibility of gaining access to Mito's library through Kushina in the not-so-distant future, — Hiruzen noted, puffing out clouds of tobacco smoke after a deep drag.

— Given my hint about Kushina's importance to the village and the increased chance of getting to the Hokage seat with such a wife, it's just a matter of time, — the one-eyed shinobi smirked faintly, carefully sipping hot tea from a decorated porcelain cup. — We were fortunate that the vessel suited him well without our manipulations.

— Rather, it was Minato's interest in the art of seals, where Uzumaki are recognized as the masters, that had an impact, — Sarutobi observed.

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