"Monkey . . . Think long and hard about the judgment you just delivered . . . And make sure it is worth listening to . . ."
Bloody killing intent seemed to flow out of Mito's thin frame like a tangible, crimson aura.
'Threat! A naked threat!' Be it allies or opponents, everyone in the Hokage's office was shocked by the Uzumaki's matriarch's words and, even more so, by the intimidating bloodlust backing them up.
Hiruzen's idea of punishment was far more shameless than what Tsunade and Fukutsu expected but they still did not think Mito would react in such a way.
As for the Hokage and his advisors, they were dead silent.
Even Danzo, who liked to jump out and criticize such words and ways of speaking as signs of rebellion towards Konoha, knew better than to open his mouth at that moment.
"Then . . . What does Mito-sama suggest?" The Hokage carefully asked.
Honestly, with how unexpected the Uzumaki matriarch's attitude was, Hiruzen was no longer confident in figuring out her bottom line so he smartly decided to bow out.
'So long as the demands are not too excessive . . .' He thought to himself.
"Hmph!" Mito snorted with disdain.
"Disband Root, fold all of its projects and people back into the Anbu and make sure to clean up your act. The village cannot afford to cull capable shinobi ahead of war, let them earn redemption on the battlefield." The Uzumaki matriarch declared.
Once again, shock spread through the Hokage faction, but in the completely opposite direction.
"I accept Mito-sama's judgment!" Danzo did not even give Hiruzen a chance to formulate a response.
In fact, the Darkness of Shinobi was already internally apologizing to Mito for calling her an old hag in his mind multiple times.
His instincts sharp too, the Hokage soon realized what was happening and why his "old friend" was so eager to accept his "punishment."
'After this merger, Danzo's ability to act independently will be severely restricted but since none of Root resources are being seized nor is any of its personnel being arrested or executed . . . A large number of Danzo's diehard loyalists will be weaved into my Anbu.'
Danzo, schemer that he was, realized the crux of the matter even faster.
'It is an open scheme. The "punishment" is meant to pit Hiruzen and I against each other but with the bait being an actual chance to wrest major control of the Anbu from my "old friend" . . .'
'To obtain one of the Hokage's exclusive authorities, this trap . . . I'm willing to jump in.' The Darkness of shinobi internally sneered.
But that was not the only reason he was so internally glad of Mito's decision.
Essentially, the Uzumaki matriarch had elected to give him some leeway and even prepared this opportunity in order to punish Hiruzen more severely.
'In Mito-sama's mind, Hiruzen's incompetence as the Hokage is the "root" of the issue.' Danzo was immensely pleased with the evaluation, so much so that he even began addressing the Uzumaki matriarch more respectfully, even within his own mind.
Of course, the fact that the source of Mito's displeasure was Hiruzen's acquiescence and covering of Danzo's own actions, was something the Darkness of Shinobi conveniently "forgot".
"Utahane, Mitokado, you two can handle the details of the merger, to prevent any . . . irregularities." Mito suddenly spoke again.
The two advisors just mentioned immediately began feeling sick.
Was this not just purposely tossing the two of them into the fire of Danzo and Hiruzen's power plays, both men would begin trying to "guide" these two usually weaker voices into favoring their side in the merger between Anbu and Root.
'But then again . . .' Mitokado Homura and Utahane Koharu looked at each other.
This was also a chance for the two of them to accrue more power and authority.
'Mito-sama's ability to stir the pot is truly frightening.' Uchiha Fukutsu thought from the side.
He was too you to truly see the glory days of figures like Hashirama, Madara and Mito but now, seeing the Uzumaki matriarch giving orders to the four highest Konoha Officials, the Hokage himself included . . .
It certainly put things into perspective.
'Not only that . . . Elder Naori's restored youth came from Mito-sama so it stands to reason she too has her youth and power back. So the Hokage fears a weakened and old Uzumaki Mito, not knowing she is back to her peak or even stronger . . .' The Uchiha clan head pondered on the situation.
'This alliance truly was the right move ever since I sent Mei into the boy's team just to express our willingness to cooperate, my previously rather unremarkable daughter is now growing stronger at a blinding rate . . .'
Be it as a loving father or as a clan head, the future was looking brighter and brighter.
*
Back at the Uzumaki Residence, the returned Mito was now speaking with Shiki's shadow clone, the original still being by Onikuma Maiko's side.
"Summarizing things, that is how it went." The redhead retold the proceedings in the Hokage Office to Shiki.
"It seems things have deviated quite a bit from our plans." The boy ponderously commented.
"Plans often don't survive first contact." The Uzumaki matriarch responded.
"Mito-sama is right . . . With this however, there is a chance we will not be targeted by the Hokage faction, at least not in a way we can easily expose and condemn." Shiki thought out loud.
"It seems Mito-sama got a little too heated during the meeting." The boy casually teased but observed his mistress closely for a reaction.
"Hereditary condition I'm afraid, renewed youth also has downsides . . . What? Do you blame me?" Mito countered with a little jest of her own.
Shiki just smiled and shook his head, hands raised in mock surrender.
'Was I mistaken?' The boy wondered if he was being overly sensitive.
'No . . . my intuition never missed before, no reason for it to start happening now.' His will firmed.
'Something is definitely off with Mito-sama . . . I just don't know what exactly . . .' Even as he thought this, nothing showed on Shiki's expression.
'He's really too sharp . . . I must fix this before he actually grows worried . . .' The Uzumaki matriarch thought to herself.
For the time being though, she just elected to smoothly divert the boy's attention to other matters that also attracted his attention.
"How is that girl you rescued?" Mito asked.
"Ah, that . . ." Shiki paused, wondering how to put it.
"Well to start . . . She'll live?" He said in a weird questioning tone.
"That bad huh?" His mistress continued her inquiry.
The boy proceeded to summarize Onikuma Maiko's condition as well as the measures he was taking to treat her.
"Want me or Tsunade to take a look at her?" Mito offered.
"I definitely wouldn't mind a second opinion from two more seasoned medical nin but the girl definitely does not feel the same way." Shiki recalled the incident from the last time people tried approaching Maiko.
"You'll just have to deal with it then. You want to help her right?" The Uzumaki matriarch questioned.
"Yeah. I guess so." The boy replied.
Mito gently smiled at Shiki.
"Maybe you won't feel as "hollow" then." She quietly whispered, but loud enough for him to hear.
The boy did not respond.
'Yes . . . Maybe Mito-sama is right . . .'
+++++
Hey, Author here!
To promote the novel I will be releasing BONUS CHAPTERS on SUNDAYS based on the previous week's power stone count.
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
500 Power Stones = 2 Bonus Chapters
1000 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Every earned BONUS CHAPTER on Webnovel will also be posted on Scribble.
Just a reminder that you can read up to a FULL MONTH ahead of this site on pa-treon.
I'm trying to become a full time Author now and I'm not going to be starting any new novels just so I can make sure this one is properly completed.
Find those sweet advanced chapters on pa-treon.com/lusoba without the -