Chapter 106: The mission begins

Shikaku crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful but still holding a hint of skepticism. "If Hokage-sama vouches for the power of your summons, then we won't question their capabilities. But I still have to ask—why the insistence on full autonomy, Kenshin? If you worked alongside one of our strategists, perhaps a Jonin from among us, it could lead to more refined plans and resolve the trust issues."

Kenshin's gaze swept across the room, his calm demeanor unwavering. "I understand the concern, Shikaku-san," he began, his tone measured. "But the reason I request autonomy is because I want to handle this my way. We don't know the specifics of the forbidden jutsu the Grass's leader possesses, but considering it came from Orochimaru, we should assume the worst. Treating him as being on the same level as one of the Sannin is a safe bet."

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "From what I see in this room, there are four—maybe five—people here who could deal with such a threat apart from me and the Hokage. And even for her it might be hard if the matchup is wrong. And for someone of that caliber, a simple assassination mission is not enough.

This isn't about trust. It's about capability. And I'm not interested in working with someone just to 'earn goodwill' or prove my loyalty by going through the motions. I'll make my mark by succeeding on my own, without endangering the Leaf in the process."

Kenshin's gaze turned to Kakashi, then to Tsunade. "The only reason my mother and I were allowed to come to the Leaf from the Rain was politics. My bloodline—Uzumaki and Uchiha—was a deciding factor, and I'm not blind to that reality.

If I were in Hokage-sama's position, I'd have made the same choice. I know the stakes here, and I won't let my new home—my family—be harmed. That's why I need autonomy."

A quiet murmur passed through the room, the Jonin exchanging uncertain glances. Kakashi finally broke the silence, his voice calm but firm. "Kenshin, if you take this on alone, you bear the full responsibility. But you're not the only one who will be affected. Your mother, Kana. Your sister, Akane. And the Uzumaki woman you brought in, Yukari. Even if no one targets them directly, their lives will be impacted if this mission fails. Their position in the Leaf will become... precarious."

Kenshin met Kakashi's gaze, his expression steady. "I don't need reminding, Kakashi-san. I understand the stakes better than anyone. The only reason I'm even considering this mission is because it concerns my family. I trust myself to handle this. That's enough."

Kakashi's single visible eye narrowed slightly as he observed Kenshin, but he said nothing more. The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by Shikaku turning toward Tsunade.

"It's your call in the end, Hokage-sama," Shikaku said.

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, her fingers drumming thoughtfully on the armrest before she spoke. "Fine. Kenshin, you have my permission to proceed, but there will be conditions. You'll report back to me at every critical point in the mission. And I will retain authority over the slave seals and Danzo. Do you accept?"

Kenshin nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I do, Hokage-sama."

Tsunade exhaled sharply, her gaze hardening. "Then this mission is yours. Don't make me regret this, Kenshin."

"Rest assured, Hokage-sama. I will definitely succeed." Kenshin replied, bowing his head slightly as Tsunade gestured the Jonin to dismiss.

As the other Jonin were dismissed, the atmosphere in the room shifted. Only Shikaku, Asuma, Yuki, Kakashi, and Guy remained.

Tsunade straightened her posture, signaling the next phase of their meeting. Moments later, a group of ANBU entered, escorting Danzo Shimura.

The former elder was tied securely, despite his lack of arms. His left arm was completely gone, decayed beyond recognition, while his right arm, though severed, remained relatively intact thanks to the influence of Hashirama's cells.

The shoulder area made of Hashirama cells protected the rest of his body from Akane's decay, and the decaying flesh on the left side was cut off completely to prevent spreading. The sharingarm, however, was locked away in the Hokage's vault.

Kenshin stepped forward, his demeanor calm but purposeful. He glanced at the sealing parchments on Tsunade's desk and picked them up. "Hokage-sama," he said, meeting her gaze, "please step closer. These seals need two people to activate."

Tsunade nodded, approaching Kenshin while keeping a wary eye on Danzo. Kenshin moved to the restrained man and placed one of the parchment seals on his right shoulder. "Flow your chakra into the left one as I do the right," he instructed, attaching the second parchment to Danzo's left shoulder.

As Tsunade channeled her chakra, Kenshin did the same. The paper tags began to glow faintly, their seals activating as they synchronized with the two users' chakra signatures.

After a few moments, Kenshin peeled his tag off, revealing the seal formula now etched onto Danzo's shoulder like a tattoo. Tsunade mirrored his actions, the completed seals marking Danzo's body on both sides.

Kenshin stepped back to examine the results, his expression unreadable. "Let's test its effectiveness," he said abruptly, his voice sharp.

Before anyone could react, Kenshin summoned his adamantine sealing chains. A golden chain shot forward, stabbing directly into Danzo's torso. "Don't make a sound or move," Kenshin ordered coldly, his tone laced with authority.

The suddenness of his actions caused a wave of tension in the room. Shikaku and the others tensed, their instincts flaring at the unexpected aggression. Even Tsunade frowned, but she didn't interfere.

Danzo, despite the wound, remained completely still and silent, his expression blank. The seal had taken effect.

Kenshin retracted his chain, the golden glow dissipating as he deactivated the technique. He activated his right eye, the blue glow signifying the use of his healing ability. The injury mended quickly, leaving no trace of the puncture.

However, Danzo's missing arms showed no signs of regrowth, even under the influence of Kenshin's Mangekyo Sharingan ability. Kenshin frowned slightly but stepped back. "The arms are too far gone," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

He turned to Tsunade. "We should consider giving Danzo back his right arm," Kenshin said, his tone decisive. "That arm is infused with the first Hokage's cells, and their regenerative properties might allow him to regrow his other arm. If we leave him armless, it will raise suspicion among his contacts, jeopardizing the entire plan."

"You want to give him the Sharingan arm back?" Yuki asked, her tone sharp with disbelief. "You're serious?"

Kenshin nodded. "Yes, sensei. With its regenerative abilities, either I or my summon—" he glanced at the others, clarifying, "might be able to restore his left arm as well. He needs to look like he did before in order to retain the trust of his network. If he's seen as weak or compromised, this mission will fail before it begins."

Tsunade exchanged a long look with Shikaku, who nodded reluctantly. "It's a calculated risk," Shikaku said. "But if Danzo is truly incapable of acting on his own now, it can be considered."

Tsunade sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. "Very well. I'll arrange for the arm to be retrieved from the vault. But you'd better be right about this, Kenshin."

Kenshin inclined his head. "I am."

Tsunade gestured to one of the ANBU in the room. "Retrieve the arm from the vault," she ordered, her tone clipped and commanding. The masked figure disappeared in a blur, leaving the room momentarily silent.

The tension hung in the air as they waited. Kenshin's thoughts wandered, his sharp eyes drifting to the ANBU who had escorted Danzo. One of them, a woman with striking purple hair, seemed oddly familiar.

'Purple hair… Where have I seen her before?' he wondered. The vague sense of recognition nagged at him, but he pushed it aside. There were more pressing matters at hand.

Minutes later, the ANBU returned, holding a sealed storage scroll. The arm, with its many implanted Sharingan, was handed over to Tsunade. Kenshin's gaze lingered on the arm as she unsealed it, the grotesque limb appearing with its many red eye opened, eerily lifeless.

Kenshin focused his thoughts, reaching out to Kaede telepathically. "Kaede, I need your help. I need you to share your ability with this guy for a bit."

The response was immediate, sharp, and laced with disdain. "No, I will not kiss a disgusting man like him, not even if it's your order, master."

Kenshin sighed internally. "Kaede, this is important. I need his arms to be functional not just for this mission, but for future stuff too."

Kaede's response was firm, but her tone softened just slightly, almost teasing. "Then why don't you try it again, master? Surely you wouldn't want your dear servant to sully her lips on this vile man"

A thought struck Kenshin, his brows furrowing. "Wait, how exactly does it work? You healed aunt Yukari by licking, but you always kiss me. Is it related to fluids or something?"

Kaede's mental laughter echoed in his mind, equal parts amused and mischievous. "Yes, master. Saliva, to be specific, although other fluids would work too. But for my master, only an elegant kiss would be appropriate. The only other option would be what is released during an orgasm, though you wouldn't be interested in that."

Kenshin's eyes widened in shock. He turned abruptly, his expression incredulous as he stared at the small black-furred cat lounging casually nearby. Without hesitation, he strode over, picked her up by the scruff of her neck, and brought her face level with his.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" he demanded telepathically, his frustration evident.

Kaede's bright red eyes gleamed with amusement. "You never asked, I assumed you preferred it that way. Besides, wouldn't it be improper for a servant to make her master consume her fluids directly? A kiss seemed far more… intimate. And your lips, master…" she purred through their link. "They feel divine."

Kenshin sighed deeply, a vein on his temple threatening to burst. Tsunade, noticing his abrupt actions, raised an eyebrow. "Kenshin, is everything all right?"

He turned back to face her, setting Kaede down with exaggerated calm. "It's fine, Hokage-sama. Just a minor issue with my summon."

Straightening, Kenshin looked at Kaede, his patience wearing thin. "Kaede, transform. Now," he commanded aloud, his voice firm.

The small black-furred cat grinned mischievously before obeying. In a swirl of chakra, her feline form gave way to her human form. Kaede stood confidently, her long dark hair flowing over her shoulders, and her piercing red eyes gleaming with playful arrogance. She bowed elegantly, her lips curling into a devilish smile.

"Kaede of the Cat Tribe," she announced smoothly. "Loyal servant and summon of Kenshin Uzumaki-sama."

The room fell silent as the others processed her presence. Guy and Kakashi exchanged a quick glance, while Yuki's eyes narrowed with suspicion. Shikaku merely raised an eyebrow, clearly reevaluating Kenshin's resources.

Kaede's confident demeanor never wavered as she stood beside Kenshin, her expression daring anyone to question her presence. "Now," Kenshin said, his voice sharp, "let's focus on the task at hand."

Kaede's eyes flicked toward the grotesque arm on the table. Her smile faltered slightly. "I'll share my regenerative abilities, master." she said telepathically. "But I still refuse to kiss him."

Kenshin smirked faintly, his frustration fading. "Then spit into his mouth. He doesn't deserve anything better."

Kenshin took the grotesque Sharingan arm and carefully aligned it with Danzo's right shoulder. His expression was neutral, his eyes coldly focused on the task. "Hold still," he commanded, his voice sharp and unyielding.

Kaede, standing beside him, extended her hand. Invisible tendrils of wind chakra emerged, slicing through the flesh and muscles at the edge of Danzo's shoulder with surgical precision.

To everyone else, it appeared as though the arm itself had reacted to being placed, the flesh opening unnaturally to accommodate the limb. Kenshin pressed the arm into place, the seal suppressing any movement from Danzo, ensuring absolute stillness.

The wound attempted to close almost immediately. The skin and flesh began to fuse, the Hashirama cells responding as expected, but the underlying bone refused to connect, leaving the arm incomplete.

Kenshin's gaze flicked to Danzo. "Open your mouth, wide," he ordered bluntly, his tone devoid of any sympathy.

Danzo hesitated for the briefest moment, but under the weight of Kenshin's presence and the binding seals etched into his flesh, he obeyed. Slowly, his mouth opened, his head tilted back to face Kaede.

Kaede, crossing her arms with a mischievous smirk, stepped closer. "Well, master," she said telepathically, her tone dripping with mockery, "this is quite the spectacle you're forcing me into."

"Just do it," Kenshin responded sharply through their link. His frustration was palpable, though his tone held a tinge of amusement at her theatrics.

Kaede let a glob of saliva gather in her mouth, her red eyes narrowing in distaste. She tilted her head slightly, allowing the saliva to fall directly into Danzo's mouth. He flinched, but the seals prevented him from reacting beyond that.

The effect was almost immediate. A faint glow emanated from the arm, spreading to the rest of his body. The disconnected bones within the arm began to knit together, the regenerative properties of Kaede's ability merging seamlessly with the Hashirama cells.

The flesh at his left shoulder bubbled unnervingly before rapidly expanding, forming a new arm in mere moments.

The room was silent except for the faint sound of Danzo's steady breathing. Kenshin stepped back, watching intently as the former elder clenched and unclenched both fists.

His expression remained neutral, though inwardly he was calculating the success of the procedure.

Kaede wiped her mouth with a theatrical flourish, her smirk firmly in place. "There," she said telepathically, her voice laced with mock pride. "I've done my part, master. Now he owes me nothing less than his eternal gratitude."

Kenshin resisted the urge to roll his eyes, instead addressing the others. "The regenerative process worked. His appearance is intact, and the limbs are fully functional. This should ensure his network doesn't suspect anything."

Tsunade, observing the entire process with a mix of awe and unease, finally spoke up. "It's done," she said, her voice firm. "Danzo Shimura, your condition has been restored. Now, it's time to put your skills to use for the good of the village."

Danzo, despite his bindings, nodded curtly. "Understood, Hokage-sama," he said, his voice raspy but calm.

Kenshin turned to Tsunade, his expression unreadable. "The operation was a success. What's next, Hokage-sama?"

Tsunade glanced at Shikaku, who gave her a small nod. "We move forward with the mission as planned. But remember, Kenshin—this is a gamble. Make sure it pays off."

Kenshin bowed slightly. "It will," he said, his voice laced with quiet determination.

Kaede lingered for a moment longer, her red eyes gleaming as she glanced at the now-restored Danzo. "And if it doesn't, master," she added telepathically, "I'll gladly take care of the nuisance myself."

Kenshin glanced at Danzo, his tone commanding but devoid of emotion. "Stand up."

Danzo obeyed without hesitation, his movements precise and deliberate. The former elder stood tall, his now-regenerated arms resting naturally at his sides, though his eyes betrayed nothing of his thoughts, the slave seal ensuring absolute compliance.

Tsunade crossed her arms, stepping forward with her usual air of authority. "Danzo, here's what you need to do. Reestablish your contacts with the Akatsuki and convince them to take the mission in the Hidden Grass. Provide them with just enough information to secure their interest, but do not give away anything unnecessary. Remember, this mission's success hinges on subtlety. Payment is not a matter."

Danzo inclined his head slightly, listening intently. Once Tsunade finished, he straightened and spoke, his tone even. "If I am to succeed, I will require the restoration of my Root. It is essential for maintaining communication with my network and establishing credibility with the Akatsuki."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening briefly as she considered his words. Finally, she nodded. "Root will be reinstated, but under strict conditions. My personally selected ANBU will oversee all its operations. You will not act outside the scope of this mission, and anything deemed unnecessary by Kenshin or myself will not proceed without our explicit consent. Is that clear?"

Danzo bowed deeply, the effects of the slave seal now fully apparent as all traces of his usual arrogance disappeared. "Understood, Hokage-sama."

Satisfied, Tsunade stepped back. Danzo straightened, his gaze void of emotion. "If I may be excused, I will begin immediately. I should have preliminary information within 24 hours."

Tsunade waved a hand dismissively. "Go."

As Danzo exited the room, he was immediately flanked by a team of ANBU, their presence a constant reminder of his restricted autonomy. Shikaku, leading the group, exchanged a brief glance with Kenshin before following Danzo out.

Asuma, who had been silent throughout, gave a small nod to the group. "I'll take my leave as well." He adjusted his coat and left without further comment, his demeanor as calm as ever.

Guy followed shortly after, giving Kenshin a thumbs-up and an encouraging smile before vanishing in a blur of green and blue.

This left only Kakashi, Yuki, Tsunade, and Kenshin in the room. Yuki's eyes darted nervously between Kenshin and Kaede, her conflicting emotions evident in the tight grip of her hands. Pride for her student swirled with the residual fear etched into her mind, the events from a week ago still fresh.

Kakashi, noticing her unease, stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. His gaze, usually lazy and indifferent, held an unusual warmth. "Yuki," he said gently, "Let's go grab something to eat. My treat." His single visible eye crinkled in a smile.

Yuki hesitated, her eyes lingering on Kenshin for a moment before nodding. Kakashi's calm demeanor had always been a source of solace for her, and she found herself relaxing slightly under his reassuring presence.

As they turned to leave, Kenshin's voice called out, stopping Yuki in her tracks. "Sensei," he said, his tone soft yet firm. "If possible, could you come over to my house tonight? I want to show you something."

Yuki turned back to him, her heart pounding. His crimson eyes, so familiar yet alien since that day, now bore nothing but the earnest respect she had always known.

For a brief moment, the Kenshin she had trusted shone through. Her lips curled into a small, hesitant smile, though her voice wavered slightly. "All right, Kenshin. I'll come by."

Kenshin nodded, his expression warm. Yuki's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before turning to leave with Kakashi, her thoughts a maelstrom of uncertainty and hope.

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