"Rest assured, Envoy-sama. I will dispatch my most elite Jōnin to protect Princess Tsukihime," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a serious expression.
Konoha could not afford to lose the recognition and support of the Land of Fire; otherwise, the ninjas of the Hidden Leaf would effectively become rogue ninjas without a home or funding.
"Men! Order Kakashi and Might Guy to protect Her Highness, Princess Tsukihime. Do not allow her to suffer even the slightest injury," Hiruzen commanded toward the door.
"Yes, Lord Third!" An ANBU ninja acknowledged the order and flickered away.
After giving the orders, Hiruzen felt a lingering sense of trepidation. He hadn't expected the Uchiha to be officially betrothed to the Daimyo's household. Fortunately, he hadn't listened to Danzo's suggestion to root out the Uchiha entirely. Regardless of the circumstances, the Daimyo's estate was someone they could never afford to offend.
The Daimyo controlled the village's tax revenue and budget. If they offended him and the funds were cut, everything in the village would cease to function.
Meanwhile, on a street safely away from the initial chase.
"Uncle, who was that masked woman?" Sasuke asked, trailing behind Raizen like a curious little chick. "Are you really... involved with her?"
Raizen gave a helpless chuckle. "She is the Princess of the Land of Fire, rumored to be the kingdom's greatest beauty."
"For certain reasons, the Daimyo and I were betrothed. But your uncle has been so busy lately that I... well, I forgot."
"That's why she showed up to settle the score."
Sasuke came to a sudden realization. "So, this is entirely Uncle's fault. That's why you were too embarrassed to fight back, right?"
"I knew it! How could Uncle lose to a mere samurai? You were just being a gentleman and letting her win!"
Seeing Raizen scoop them up and run, Sasuke had momentarily feared his uncle was outmatched. Now he realized it was just guilt staying Raizen's hand.
Karin looked at Raizen. "Raizen-sama, are we still going home? I think that sister will definitely find her way to the compound."
Raizen nodded. She was right. As the Princess of the Land of Fire, Konoha wouldn't lift a finger against her; instead, they would likely escort her right to his front door to make his life difficult. In essence, ninjas were the standing army funded by the Daimyo. The village was the training ground for the nation's elite soldiers. With Tsukihime's status, she could practically command the Leaf's forces.
"I'm in the wrong this time. I need to stay away for a bit and think of a way to handle this."
Raizen thought for a moment. "Sasuke, take Karin home. Tell Auntie Kurenai and the others that I have some business and won't be back for a few days."
"I understand, Uncle," Sasuke nodded. "Where will you be? Once Auntie Tsukihime calms down, I'll sneak over and tell you."
"I'll be staying at Auntie Kurenai's old house for a while," Raizen replied. "It's getting dark, let's split up here."
"Bye, Uncle!" Sasuke waved.
"Goodbye, Raizen-sama!" Karin waved enthusiastically as well.
As they walked home, Sasuke looked at Karin. "Karin-chan, do you... like Uncle?"
"Huh?!" Karin's face instantly turned bright red at the sudden question. "Raizen-sama is so handsome and he saved my life... it's only natural to like him!" she whispered, twiddling her fingers and looking at the ground.
"If you marry Uncle later, won't I have to call you 'Auntie'?" Sasuke's eyes went wide.
"Ah! I suppose that's how it would work!" Karin's blush deepened as she imagined Sasuke calling her Auntie. "But I don't even know if Raizen-sama likes me yet..."
Sasuke's eyes lit up with a mischievous thought. "Oh right! Uncle likes 'Big' things. I don't think you're going to grow up to be big, so I probably won't have to call you Auntie after all!"
"Karin, you're definitely going to stay small!"
"Hmph! I'm not talking to you anymore!" Karin glared at him, puffed out her cheeks, and stomped off ahead.
"Wait—Karin-chan! I was just joking! Don't be mad!" Realizing he had messed up, Sasuke scrambled to catch up. "You'll definitely grow up to be very, very big!"
A Secret Chamber
Three figures sat grimly around a table in the shadows.
Danzo's face was dark. "Hiruzen is being stubborn. Leaving that 'evil' remnant alive will surely invite disaster. I propose we dispatch someone to eliminate Uchiha Raizen in secret."
"I agree. Uchiha Raizen should not have been spared," Mitokado Homura added gloomily. He still harbored a grudge over being forced by Hiruzen to pay "mental distress" compensation for his son's antics.
Koharu Utatane narrowed her eyes. "Uchiha Raizen himself hasn't done anything against the village yet, but... he is an Uchiha. Sensei always said they were not to be trusted. I concur."
"However," Koharu continued, "that man—Itachi—is still alive. If we kill Raizen and the truth of the massacre leaks, how will we respond? And Itachi's strength is undeniable. If we push him too far and he retaliates against our clans and families, how can we protect everyone?"
Homura's face darkened. "Itachi Uchiha really is a sword hanging over our heads!"
Koharu mused, "I suggest we let Raizen rebuild the Military Police Force. That way, we can repeat our old tactics of isolation. Or, we send him on a mission to capture high-level spies. If he dies at the hands of an 'enemy spy,' Itachi will have no reason to blame us."
Danzo's expression grew even colder. "No. Letting him rebuild the Police Force introduces too many variables. He might use that position to consolidate the Uchiha's remaining influence. It's better to assassinate him directly."
"Let my Root handle it. They bear the Cursed Tongue Seal; they cannot leak secrets. We will use a few 'outside' recruits—orphans. Even if they fail, the trail won't lead back to us."
Koharu asked, "Are you sure we shouldn't consult Hiruzen? He is the Hokage. If we cause internal strife, it will weaken Konoha's overall power."
A cold sneer flickered across Danzo's face. He had been at odds with Hiruzen for a long time. Even before the massacre, he had secretly attacked Hiruzen's ANBU subordinates.
"Hiruzen is old," Danzo said darkly. "He values stability over everything and has grown indecisive. He even let Orochimaru escape when he had the chance. One day, it will be his precious pupil who ends him."
He had maintained secret contact with Orochimaru for years and knew full well that the snake desired his former master's head.