Chapter:3

Uzumaki Mito's gaze lingered on Sarutobi Hiruzen, unblinking and intense. Hiruzen, sensing the weight of her scrutiny, felt a chill creep up his spine.

"You must be exhausted from your journey, and I see you're injured," Mito finally said. "The Senju clan has medical ninjas who will treat you shortly. For now, you should rest." She paused, her voice growing firm. "You are to remain in the Senju compound for the next few days and must not leave. Furthermore, you will speak to no one of Tobirama's death. Understood?"

Hiruzen exchanged uneasy glances with the others. Mito's orders were clear but perplexing. Concealing the Hokage's death and placing them under what felt like house arrest was alarming. As Tobirama's appointed successor, Hiruzen felt uneasy; what if Mito's true intentions were to "disappear" him?

Uzumaki Mito was more than just the First Hokage's widow. She was a high-ranking member of the Uzumaki clan and a warrior forged in the brutal battles of the Warring States era. Underestimating her would be a mistake; she could easily have a dozen elite Senju warriors stationed just outside the door, ready to carry out her every command.

Danzo was visibly uneasy and spoke up hesitantly. "Mito-sama, we..."

But before he could finish, Hiruzen cut him off. "Danzo, Mito-sama has made arrangements for our safety, and we should respect her wishes."

Hiruzen's interactions with Mito had been limited, but he'd seen how Tobirama treated her—with a level of respect bordering on reverence. Though he wasn't entirely sure of her motives, Hiruzen chose to trust Tobirama's judgment. His master's respect for Mito suggested she would not betray his final wishes. Accepting her terms, Hiruzen nodded.

Mito gave a faint nod of approval. "Then leave. Someone will show you to your quarters."

After Hiruzen and his group left, Senju Momoki, who had been guarding outside, entered. He'd observed the return of the Shadow Guards, noting their exhausted and battered appearances. But Tobirama, their leader, was conspicuously absent.

"Patriarch…" Momoki ventured cautiously, his tone edged with worry.

Mito's expression darkened. "Activate Konoha's barrier seals to wartime status," she ordered coldly. "Take my seal to the Anbu and place the entire village under martial law."

She continued, "Deploy every available Senju ninja. Watch all the clans carefully, and report any unusual behavior to me immediately—especially from the Uchiha."

"And send a message to Haruto," she added. "Tell him to return from the front lines at once."

Momoki blinked in surprise at the string of commands. Was Konoha under attack? Or was she concerned about the Uchiha staging a revolt? The request to recall Tao Jian, the young Senju leader stationed on the front lines, only added to his confusion.

"Mito-sama? Is it… is it the clan leader?" Momoki's voice faltered, unable to voice his suspicion.

"Go!" Mito's sharp tone left no room for questions.

"Yes, Mito-sama!" Momoki quickly retreated, hastening to carry out her orders. Once alone, Mito sat down heavily, her composed façade slipping as exhaustion and grief overtook her.

The sound of mocking laughter broke the silence. "So, Mito… that fool Tobirama is dead too, is he? It looks like the Konoha your precious Hashirama built is on the verge of collapse!"

The taunting voice resonated within Mito's mind—the voice of the Nine-Tailed Fox, caged within her for so many years.

"All those years of sacrifice, and for what? Peace? The world's no better off than before," the fox sneered, sensing Mito's anguish and relishing it.

But Mito's face hardened. "Silence, demon fox! Konoha will not fall. Hashirama's vision will live on, and I will protect it."

With a flick of her mind, Mito conjured chakra chains to further bind the Nine-Tails. The chains tightened, sealing its mouth shut and twisting around its body, ensuring its defiance went unheard. The fox's muffled curses faded, leaving Mito in peace once more.

"As long as I'm here," she muttered, "Konoha will stand."

---

Konoha Security Department

Uchiha Hirito sat in the captain's room at the Security Department headquarters. With the other two captains on rotation at the front lines, he alone remained at the Uchiha base, tasked with overseeing the clan's interests within Konoha.

After sixteen years of effort, Hirito had climbed the ranks within the Uchiha clan. As a highly skilled ninja, he commanded both respect and authority. His Sharingan had evolved to three tomoe, he'd developed his own lightning-based jutsu, and his mastery of fire-style techniques was unparalleled. His abilities had earned him a reputation as one of the clan's elite—a reputation reinforced through his own dedication and numerous lottery-drawn enhancements.

The door creaked open as his summoning cat, Manji, slipped into the room, leaping gracefully onto Hirito's lap.

"Hirito," Manji began, "Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others have returned. They went straight to the Senju compound and haven't left since."

Manji continued, "The entire Senju clan seems mobilized. Senju ninja are spreading across Konoha, some of them likely near Uchiha territory by now."

The cat's voice dropped as he added, "The Anbu are active too, posted throughout the village. They're highly skilled—some of the ninja cats couldn't get too close without risking detection. Others have retreated, while a few continue to observe from a distance."

"In short," Manji concluded, "it won't be long before we see Anbu or Senju near the Security Department."

Hirito, unfazed, stroked Manji's fur thoughtfully. "So Mito's decided to make her move," he murmured.

Rising from his seat, he called out to the hall. "Everyone, gather! We have a meeting to discuss."

As Uzumaki Mito's power play unfolded, Uchiha Hirito knew he couldn't afford to sit idly by. If the Senju and Anbu were tightening their grip, the Uchiha clan would need to act with precision and care.

(End of Chapter)