"By the way, Isamu, if you provoke him like that, will he really come back and become your apprentice?" one of the White Zetsu asked as it emerged from the ground.
Hearing this, Isamu looked in the direction Senba had left and smiled faintly.
"He'll come back."
"There are no Uchiha from the militant faction left in Konoha who know the Dragon Flame Song Technique. In the entire village, I'm probably the only one who understands that technique."
"He won't be able to find the answer anywhere else."
"And Senba isn't the type to give up so easily."
"I see…"
The White Zetsu nodded before speaking again.
"But if I remember correctly, the Dragon Flame Song Technique is an Ultra A-Rank Ninjutsu, right?"
"With only Genin-level Chakra, it's impossible for him to use it no matter how talented he is."
"Is it really okay for you to trick your own son like this?"
Its expression became strange.
After all, it had heard of sons tricking their fathers.
But fathers tricking their sons?
That was new.
Then again, both Madara and Isamu seemed unusually fond of setting traps for their children.
"Enough nagging!"
Isamu immediately snapped back.
"He's my son. What's wrong with me setting him up a little?"
Clearly unwilling to continue the topic, Isamu waved his hand impatiently.
Truthfully, even he felt this whole situation was somewhat questionable.
But if he didn't do it this way, he really had no idea how to deal with Senba's stubborn personality.
So be it.
After speaking, Isamu and the White Zetsu vanished from the area.
"Lord Sani, Lord Danzo is requesting your presence."
As soon as Isamu returned to his room in Root, a Root Ninja knocked on the door.
"I understand. I'll be there shortly."
After replying, Isamu frowned slightly.
"Why is Danzo looking for me so late at night?"
"What a pain…"
A short while later, Isamu arrived at Danzo's office.
Without even knocking, he pushed the door open, walked inside, pulled over a chair, and sat down lazily as though he owned the place.
Seeing this, the corner of Danzo's mouth twitched.
This bastard really treats Root like his own house.
Not even a shred of politeness.
"So," Isamu said while leaning back comfortably, "what exactly did you want from me?"
"I'm telling you, Isamu," Danzo said while glaring at him, "I am still one of Konoha's elders. Can't you show at least a little discipline here?"
"Oh? Elder Danzo?" Isamu replied casually.
"What did you need from me?"
Even after adding the title "Elder," his posture remained completely shameless.
Danzo could only shake his head helplessly.
This thick-skinned personality really was unmistakably Isamu.
"Take a look at this first."
Danzo opened a cabinet, removed a scroll, and tossed it onto the table.
"What's with all the mystery?" Isamu muttered while opening it.
After reading through it, he casually threw it back.
"So?" Danzo folded his hands beneath his chin. "What are your thoughts?"
"What thoughts could I possibly have?" Isamu replied lazily while spinning a pen between his fingers.
"The battlefield situation is going smoothly. Konoha is steadily winning."
"That should be good news for someone who loves the village as much as you do."
"You should at least treat me to dinner."
"Hmph. Stop pretending not to understand."
Danzo snorted coldly.
"Sakumo Hatake has been winning battle after battle."
"Not only has the title of Konoha's White Fang spread throughout the Ninja World, but his reputation inside Konoha is becoming increasingly overwhelming."
"If this continues, it will become unfavorable for me."
"You really have nothing to say about that?"
Of course Isamu understood exactly what Danzo meant the moment he read the scroll.
But Sakumo Hatake was one of the characters he genuinely respected from his previous life.
He truly didn't want to join Danzo in scheming against him.
Unfortunately, avoiding the topic was impossible.
"For now," Isamu said calmly, "Sakumo is still useful on the battlefield."
"Moving against him now would be stupid."
"Wait until after the war."
"No one can avoid making mistakes forever."
"As long as he slips up once, you'll naturally have your opportunity."
Danzo thought for a moment before nodding slowly.
"That's reasonable."
"We'll discuss how to deal with him after the war ends."
"Fine," Isamu replied while standing up.
"I'm tired. I'm going back."
As he reached the door, he paused briefly and glanced back at the scroll on the table.
Sakumo Hatake…
Buying you a little extra time is the most I can do.
Whether you can escape your fate depends on yourself.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in Konoha—
Senba returned home and immediately sought out Uzumaki Mito.
"Grandmother," he asked obediently, "do you know a Ninjutsu called the Dragon Flame Song Technique?"
Anyone seeing him now would think he was an exceptionally well-behaved child.
At home, Senba truly was sensible and respectful.
Outside, however, he was the infamous bully of Konoha.
People often had two sides.
Gentle toward family.
Ruthless toward outsiders.
"Oh?" Uzumaki Mito smiled gently while stroking Senba's hair.
"Why are you suddenly asking about that technique the moment you come home?"
Senba avoided answering directly.
After all, he had promised Isamu not to tell anyone about meeting him.
Even at his age, he still took promises seriously.
"The Dragon Flame Song Technique, huh…"
Uzumaki Mito closed her eyes thoughtfully.
Time had truly caught up with her.
Her hair had mostly turned white, deep wrinkles covered her face, and even standing too long exhausted her now.
Still, she remained the only person in Konoha who had survived continuously from the Warring States Era until the present day.
Without the vitality of the Uzumaki Clan and the Nine-Tails Chakra she had seized years ago, she likely would have died long ago.
"I'm getting old," she muttered softly.
"My memory isn't as sharp anymore."
"Let me think carefully…"
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