Chapter 35

"Is it the Hokage herself?" The head of "Root" entered the Hokage's office without knocking.

"What did you want to see me about?" The Third Hokage raised his head from the papers.

"Yes, come in and have a seat," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, reaching for his favorite pipe from the desk drawer and filling it with fragrant tobacco, then lighting it — a sure sign that the upcoming conversation would be important and not particularly pleasant.

"In a week, a new vessel for the bijuu will arrive," Hiruzen didn't beat around the bush.

"They finally agreed to renew the agreement?!" Danzo's face remained impassive, but his voice betrayed surprise.

"No, it's just to fulfill an even more ancient agreement between Uzushiogakure and the Senju regarding the Kyuubi," sighed Kaminoshinobi, "but the very opportunity to start negotiations on this matter cost us tens of millions of ryō and two dozen A-rank or higher techniques, as well as a couple of favors for Mito-sama."

"And you agreed to it!!?" The veteran, losing his mask of composure, sprang from his seat. "We'd better have used a Nara for this purpose than pay such a high price for breaking the alliance agreement! To hell with the chance to get a full-fledged vessel!"

"Sit down and be quiet!!" The Hokage raised his voice, imbuing it with a significant amount of Killing Intent. "I'll tell you once again — we cannot use a Nara! Firstly, we don't know if he has the necessary chakra to restrain the Nine-Tails, and secondly — no one would give him to us! The Akamichi and Yamanaka clans would stand firmly behind a friendly clan in case of conflict, and internal discord just before the start of a war with two great villages is the last thing we need! Thirdly — I don't want rumors spreading through the village about the fact that we've changed jinchuuriki. At the moment, very few people inside Konoha know about its existence, and let's keep it that way. If the Naras find out, so will their allies, and then the whole village! Do you understand the consequences of this event? Moreover, the half-blood will soon be eight years old, and by the time the sealing is done, he'll be too old to fully harness the bijuu's power without serious consequences for himself. And fourthly — to hand such a trump card over to other clans?! What do you take me for?! So let's not speak of this matter again."

"As you wish, Hokage-sama," Shimura smirked, settling back into his chair. "What do you need from me?"

"As I said, in a week, the vessel will arrive, and I want your subordinates to check the entire path that the shinobi escort from Uzushiogakure will have to take. An ANBU team will be sent to meet them for additional security, but extra caution won't hurt, especially in such an important matter."

"It will be done, Hokage-sama," nodded the head of "Root." "May I know the identity of the new vessel?"

"Kushina Uzumaki, almost four years old," Sarutobi took a drag from his pipe and, releasing a puff of smoke, continued, "belongs to the ruling family of Uzushiogakure, although she's a distant relative of the Uzukage, like Mito-sama, she possesses the ability to suppress the bijuu, thanks to her unique chakra."

"Where will she live?"

"Naturally, with the current jinchuuriki — we don't want Mito-sama's knowledge about controlling the Kyuubi to disappear with her death," Sarutobi replied. "And perhaps, in a few years, the village will have not only a new vessel but also a future seal master. Kami sees, we need it more than ever!"