"Are you certain?"
"I'm certain. Do whatever you want with him. Even if he loses his life, I won't blame you."
Seeing that Uchiha Tensei wasn't joking, Danzo looked at him with interest.
"To be able to say something like that about your own son… you're ruthless."
"But for someone who once treasured his son above all else, you've changed so quickly that I can no longer understand you."
"Heh."
"When have you ever understood me, Danzo?"
"From the very beginning, neither you nor Hiruzen has ever truly seen through me."
"That's true."
"You've always been surrounded by too many mysteries."
"It's impossible to completely understand you."
"Perhaps that's for the best."
"If I ever truly did understand you, I'd probably feel even less confident."
"Very well."
"That's enough for today."
"I've accomplished what I came here to do."
"I'll be leaving."
As Danzo rose to leave, Uchiha Tensei spoke calmly.
"Have you ever heard the saying…"
'The Sharingan can make you… and it can destroy you.'"
"The Sharingan can only display its true power in the hands of an Uchiha."
"You don't honestly believe Orochimaru's unfinished experiments can increase your strength that much, do you?"
"If you continue relying on that thing…"
"…your ending won't be pleasant."
Danzo stopped in his tracks.
"You already know about my arm… and where it came from."
His expression became serious.
"I know it can't bring out the Sharingan's full power."
"But it still makes me stronger."
"Even if the improvement is limited, that's enough."
"Tell me…"
"You're not saying all this because you want your clan's eyes back, are you?"
"Heh."
"I don't care about those eyes."
"No matter how good they are…"
"…can they compare to mine?"
"I'm only giving you a friendly reminder."
"Whether you listen or not is your business."
"I couldn't care less."
Truthfully, Uchiha Tensei had always looked down on borrowing external power.
He only brought it up because he genuinely wanted to warn Danzo.
If Danzo continued depending on the Sharingan instead of improving his own strength…
The only thing waiting for him would be Sasuke's blade.
Danzo snorted.
"Then allow me to return the favor with a warning."
"You'd be wise not to wander around Konoha too much over the next few years."
"Certain people aren't the same as they once were."
"Your existence will make them uneasy."
"It's better to leave this troublesome place before you end up disgusted by what they do again."
Uchiha Tensei naturally knew who Danzo meant.
Since Danzo hadn't said the name aloud, neither did he.
"Heh."
"You don't need to remind me."
"I saw through all of that years ago."
"I'll leave tomorrow and travel throughout the ninja world."
"I only hope…"
"…that the next time we meet, you'll still be able to face me so calmly."
"Leaving tomorrow?"
"Very well."
"By the time you return…"
"…the timing should be just right."
"I hope you'll make a proper contribution then."
"After all…"
"…I don't have much time left."
"Safe travels."
Danzo turned and strode away with his two subordinates.
Watching him disappear into the distance, Uchiha Tensei smiled faintly.
"The next time we meet…"
"I doubt you'll be this calm anymore, Danzo."
According to his calculations, the next time he officially returned to Konoha would be alongside Tsunade.
By then, Tsunade would become the Fifth Hokage.
When that happened…
Danzo would undoubtedly be furious.
⸻
Once the troublesome old man had left, Karura could no longer hold back.
"Uchiha Tensei."
"It's not my place to lecture you…"
"But you've gone too far this time."
"Senba is your own son."
"No matter how dissatisfied you are with him, you shouldn't push him into a pit of fire."
"I truly can't agree with what you've done."
"You said it yourself."
"Senba is my son."
"So how could I possibly harm him?"
"I'm only teaching him a lesson."
"I warned him years ago that Konoha's waters run deep."
"He refused to listen."
"He insisted on diving in anyway."
"So this time…"
"I'll let Konoha's higher-ups teach him instead."
"It's time he learned how dangerous this world really is."
"Even if it's only a lesson…"
"You still ignored the possibility that he could die."
"That's too much."
"So you're saying I'm cold-blooded?"
"Garuda…"
"You're overthinking it."
"With me around…"
"Do you really think I'd bury my own son?"
"Have you forgotten how I brought you back?"
Karura's eyes widened.
"You mean…"
"You can use that technique again?"
"Heh."
"As many times as I want."
"If I'm willing…"
"I can use it endlessly."
"That brat Senba isn't dying before I do."
"Even if someone tears him apart limb by limb…"
"…I can still drag him back from the Land of the Dead."
"Oh…"
"So that's why you weren't worried."
"No wonder you said something so heartless earlier."
"But aren't you afraid Senba will resent you?"
"I don't think he'll hate me."
"He'll definitely be upset."
"But after experiencing life and death firsthand…"
"…he'll finally see things clearly."
"When that day comes…"
"…he'll thank me."
"Thank you?"
"For setting him up to die?"
"Or for standing by without helping?"
"Oh, please."
"Stop joking."
Karura rolled her eyes, mercilessly refuting him.
⸻
At that moment, Mikoto returned after escorting Danzo and his men out.
Seeing her approach, Uchiha Tensei quickly whispered,
"Enough."
"Don't mention any of that."
"Mikoto can't know."
"Understood?"
"I know."
"I'm not a child."
"I know what should and shouldn't be said."
After walking into the room, Mikoto asked,
"Father…"
"Danzo didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"
Before Uchiha Tensei could answer, Karura spoke first.
"How could he?"
"Didn't you see how close those two were?"
"They looked practically inseparable."
"Why would that old man make things difficult over something so trivial?"
Uchiha Tensei was left speechless.
Is this really the Karura I know?
Why has she become so good at teasing me?
She's either exposing me… or preparing to expose me.
Mikoto looked toward Uchiha Tensei, seeking confirmation.
He coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem…"
"Well…"
"Danzo and I go back a long way."
"So he's still willing to give me some face."
"There's nothing for you to worry about."
"I see."
"That's a relief."
After a brief pause, Uchiha Tensei spoke again.
"Oh, right, Mikoto."
"There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"You want to discuss something… with me?"
"What is it, Father?"
"You can just tell me."
Mikoto was both surprised and puzzled.
What kind of matter could make her father-in-law hesitate like this?