Having been a reasonably well-mannered young man in his previous life, Yuta knew the art of charming his elders.
The fact that this particular elder looked anything but old was irrelevant; the principles remained the same. By the time their visit concluded, he had made a positive impression on Uzumaki Mito.
His designation in her eyes had smoothly evolved from the formal "Danzo's student" or the distant "that Shimura boy" to the far more affectionate "Yuta-kun."
In short, Yuta had charmed and conversed until he was nearly hoarse.
It should have been a perfectly pleasant encounter for all involved. Unfortunately, Yuta's buoyant mood was promptly deflated by the arrival of a Root ninja.
Or, to be more precise, it was deflated by Danzo Shimura.
Looking at the stern face behind the desk, Yuta's mouth twitched.
'On the bright side, Danzo-sensei seemed to have heeded his previous complaint.'
The Root headquarters now featured actual electric lighting. While the illumination was still somewhat gloomy and atmospheric, it was no longer the lightless abyss where he couldn't see his own hand in front of his face.
"So, to what do I owe this summons, Danzo-sensei?" Yuta asked. Though he used the respectful title, his tone carried little of the deference it implied.
Danzo didn't seem offended. He simply stated, his voice level, "I heard Tsunade invited you to the Senju compound today. You must have met Lady Mito… I want to know... how is Lady Mito's health in these days?"
Danzo still maintained a certain level of outward respect for the wife of the First Hokage and Konoha's Nine-Tails jinchuriki.
Of course, only Danzo himself knew the true depth—or lack thereof—of that respect.
'Come to think of it, it had been a long time since I'd paid her a visit.'
Ever since he ascended to the role of Hokage's assistant and founded Root, his social calls had become exceedingly rare.
'That Sarutobi, on the other hand, would still occasionally drop by the Senju compound.'
Yet, whenever Danzo pressed for specifics on Uzumaki Mito's condition, Sarutobi Hiruzen would always deflect with a vague, infuriatingly placid, "She's doing fine."
It was unacceptable! She was not just the First Hokage's widow; she was Konoha's jinchuriki! As the Hokage's assistant, how could he be kept in the dark about the status of the village's most powerful strategic asset?
This was precisely why he had summoned Yuta—to extract the information that Hiruzen was so deliberately withholding.
Yuta looked at Danzo with a peculiar expression.
Perhaps poisoned by preconceived notions, his first instinct was that Danzo was hatching some new, nefarious scheme, and that the target was Uzumaki Mito—or more precisely, the Nine-Tails sealed within her.
But after a moment's cooler reflection, that seemed improbable.
No matter how much the Third Hokage indulged his old friend, he would never permit any overt moves against Uzumaki Mito. And Danzo himself wasn't foolish enough to attempt something so brazen.
So, against all odds, perhaps Danzo was genuinely, just concerned about her well-being.
"Lady Mito is in excellent health," Yuta reported dutifully. "She hardly looks old enough to be Tsunade's grandmother, to be honest."
Upon hearing this, Danzo let out a soft, barely audible sigh of relief, a subtle loosening of his shoulders.
The geopolitical situation in the shinobi world was growing increasingly tense.
Border skirmishes and proxy conflicts with other villages were becoming more frequent and severe. If this trend continued, it was only a matter of time before the five great nations were plunged into another all-out war.
On this grim point, the higher echelons of Konoha's leadership were largely in silent agreement.
War was inevitable. The only question was when it would ignite.
Konoha might not need Uzumaki Mito, the jinchuriki, to physically appear on the battlefield. But her existence was a stabilizer, a deterrent. As long as she remained stable and in control, Konoha's foundation was secure.
But if something were to happen to her... Konoha could become a ripe target, besieged on all sides by opportunistic rivals.
Soon, however, a new line of thought caused Danzo's eyes to narrow, the momentary relief vanishing.
'Even if Lady Mito's body is still robust and her appearance deceptively youthful, she is, by any measure, advanced in years. The critical selection and preparation of the second Nine-Tails jinchuriki must be placed on the agenda immediately.'
This was a matter he needed to discuss thoroughly with Hiruzen... It was just a shame that he always adopted an evasive, almost sentimental attitude on this topic.
If pressed too hard, the conversation would inevitably end with that infuriating, final pronouncement: "I am the Hokage."
'Hmph!'
'Hiruzen, your sentimental attitude is unfit for the harsh realities of leadership! Only I possess the clear-eyed resolve to be Hokage!'
Danzo's brow furrowed in familiar frustration. After a moment of silent contemplation, he looked up and retrieved a formal-looking envelope from a drawer.
The Uzumaki clan's crimson spiral crest was emblazoned proudly at the top.
"In five days, the son of the Uzumaki clan head will be married. This is their invitation," he stated, sliding it across the desk. "I have already prepared an appropriate wedding gift; you will be the one to deliver it."
'A wedding banquet? An invitation?'
Given the historically close ties between Konoha and the Uzumaki clan, and the fact that both the Uzumaki and Shimura were major, allied clans during the Warring States period, it was no surprise that Danzo had received a personal invitation.
'But... why send me?'
As if reading his mind, Danzo continued, his voice dropping, "Once you arrive in Uzushiogakure, you will deliver this letter to the Uzumaki clan head."
He placed a sealed letter beside the invitation.
Of course. He should have known Danzo's objective wouldn't be so straightforward or social.
Yuta accepted the ornate invitation but made no move to take the accompanying letter. He just fixed his teacher with a flat, questioning look.
Who knew what the old hawk had written? This man was notorious for his lack of diplomatic tact.
What if the letter contained some outrageous demand or insult? He had no desire to be thrown out of Uzushiogakure the moment he handed it over.
Though Yuta remained silent, Danzo, having been his primary instructor for six years, understood his hesitation.
With any other ninja—especially his Root operatives—he wouldn't deign to offer an explanation; they obeyed without question. But Yuta was different. Yuta was his prized pupil, his protégé.
"Do not worry," Danzo explained, his tone uncharacteristically patient. "I am merely requesting that he lend us a few of his clansmen for a time."
"My Root division is in need of shinobi proficient in advanced sealing techniques. Once these Uzumaki clansmen have finished instructing my operatives, they will be free to return to Uzushiogakure. It is a simple transaction."
'Don't worry?'
'How can I NOT worry!?'
'The Uzumaki clan was famous—infamous— throughout the entire shinobi world for their secret, hereditary sealing arts, and you just nonchalantly write a letter asking them to send over a few tutors? Where do you get the nerve!?'
'Have you been sitting in this shadowy office for so long that you've completely lost touch with diplomatic reality?'
Looking at Danzo's utterly serious, un-ironic expression, Yuta was convinced that the man genuinely saw nothing abnormal or audacious about this request. He sincerely believed it was a reasonable and logical proposition.
"Simply deliver the letter to the Uzumaki clan head," Danzo reiterated with a light, confident cough, his voice filled with an unshakable certainty. "After he reads its contents, he will agree. Do not worry."
'Where does this man's confidence even come from?' Yuta wondered, a wave of sheer exasperation washing over him.
'Fine. So be it. If you have the gall to write such a presumptuous letter, then I suppose I have to deliver it."
Whether the Uzumaki clan head would actually agree to Danzo's request after reading it was, ultimately, none of Yuta's concern.
His own plan was much simpler: he'd just make sure to bring Tsunade along with him.
Out of respect for the First Hokage's granddaughter, the Uzumaki clansmen probably wouldn't throw him out. At least, he hoped not.
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