Konoha, the Forest of Death~
This usually silent and deep forest welcomed many unfamiliar guests today.
At a glance, every ninja present was a well-known figure in Konoha. Ordinary Jōnin could hardly be named here, and even the heads of smaller clans could only stand at the very back.
Standing at the front of the gathering in a solemn line were the Third Hokage, Homura, Koharu, and the long-retired Akimichi Torifu.
Behind them, in the second row, stood figures like Sakumo, Shikama Nara, and Jiraiya.
Further back were the trusted clan leaders of Konoha, selected by the Third Hokage himself.
Within a radius of dozens of kilometers, both inside and outside the village, the Anbu and Root were fully deployed, monitoring every movement, no matter how small.
Such a formation had gathered nearly half of Konoha's Jōnin forces—an even graver display than during the last Shinobi World War.
And the reason?
Today, Uzumaki Mito would officially transfer the Nine-Tails to a new Jinchūriki—the leader of Root, the disciple of Tobirama, the Darkness of the Shinobi, and the renowned Konoha ninja—Shimura Danzo.
Atop a high platform, the stone floor was inscribed with intricate sealing techniques. This formation, created under Mito's guidance, had been painstakingly completed by the village's sealing team, ensuring maximum containment in case of an unexpected event.
The assembled shinobi were both witnesses and the second line of defense against any Nine-Tails rampage.
The third line of defense, of course, was Mito herself.
"Everyone, I have grown old. The Nine-Tails inside me has become increasingly restless. Though I can still restrain it now, my strength is waning."
Mito slowly opened her aged eyes, scanning the gathered shinobi. A faint sense of disappointment surfaced in her heart.
'Nawaki, Tsunade, and Kushina… As expected, they didn't come. Perhaps this is simply the fate of a shinobi…'
"Rather than waiting until I lose control over the Nine-Tails, it is better to pass on its power to Konoha while I still have the strength to ensure a smooth transfer."
"And Danzo, as Konoha's Hokage Advisor, has stepped forward to shoulder this responsibility. This brings me great relief."
The assembled shinobi maintained serious expressions, their eyes filled with respect for both Mito and Danzo.
Regardless of the complex political calculations at play or the temptation of the Nine-Tails' power, the selflessness displayed by these two figures was undeniable.
Mito, for the sake of the village, was willing to surrender the remaining years of her life to ensure a stable transition of the Nine-Tails.
Danzo, despite his high-ranking position as an advisor, had volunteered to become a Jinchūriki—a role fraught with danger.
A Jinchūriki was nothing more than a vessel for a tailed beast.
The reason why Jinchūriki were often despised in the shinobi world was because the method of sealing a tailed beast was inherently unstable.
Before a village could cultivate an effective weapon of war, it often had to endure multiple rampages, resulting in significant casualties.
Because of this, very few high-ranking officials ever chose to become Jinchūriki unless absolutely necessary.
The Third Hokage glanced at Danzo, his expression unreadable. A complicated mix of emotions surfaced in his heart.
He understood his old friend well.
Rather than taking on this burden solely to protect Konoha, Danzo was likely more driven by his own ambitions—to increase his power and realize his long-held goals.
Yet, in this moment, Danzo's actions could still be viewed as an embodiment of the "Will of Fire."
After all, Konoha was not in the same state of turmoil as Kirigakure. It had not yet reached the point where its leadership needed to assume such a risky role.
Mito turned to Danzo and gave a small nod, signaling for him to speak.
Danzo, his expression cold as ever, stepped forward and bowed slightly to Mito before turning to face the assembled shinobi. His voice carried no hint of emotion.
"I am grateful for Lady Mito's trust. I will do everything in my power to safeguard the Nine-Tails within Konoha."
As he finished speaking, Danzo's eyes swept over the crowd with an indifferent gaze, his lips curling into a faint smirk of disdain.
Mito shook her head slightly, feeling a sense of unease about Danzo's future.
'I had hoped to use love to fill the emptiness in a Jinchūriki's heart… yet, in the end, it is Danzo—the one who inherited Tobirama's cold pragmatism—who will bear this burden.'
'Even with my sealing techniques reinforcing the containment, the power of the Nine-Tails is not so easily controlled… Danzo…'
Mito had held the Nine-Tails within her for decades, and even with her mastery of Adamantine Sealing Chains, the only ability she had successfully extracted was a heightened sense for malice—along with a minuscule fraction of the Nine-Tails' chakra, barely worth mentioning compared to its full strength.
The ideal Jinchūriki, in her mind, would be someone not only strong enough to suppress the Nine-Tails but also capable of forming a bond with it—someone who could truly reach into its heart and bring peace to the world.
Kushina had been Mito's perfect candidate.
With her innate Uzumaki talents, her bright and cheerful personality, and a natural ability to balance strictness with kindness, Mito had envisioned her as the one who could finally pacify the Nine-Tails.
But fate had other plans.
In Konoha's current situation, aside from Kushina, Danzo was indeed one of the more viable options…
Looking at Danzo's cold, unfeeling demeanor, Mito couldn't help but recall his conflict with Fuma—and the ambitions he had harbored for so long.
She knew the real reason why Danzo had volunteered to become a Jinchūriki.
'Danzo… Even if you manage to obtain some measure of the Nine-Tails' power, what do you intend to do against the Uchiha?'
'The Sharingan is the ultimate weapon against all tailed beasts…'
Mito sighed inwardly.
She still remembered the overwhelming chakra Fuma had radiated—so eerily similar to Madara Uchiha's…
Threatening someone with the Nine-Tails when they possessed the same eyes as Madara? That was no different from challenging the Sage of Six Paths with a mere torch.
'Enough…'
Mito took a deep breath.
No matter how unwilling she felt, they had already come this far. She had to fulfill her duty to the very end.
"Danzo, are you ready?"
Mito slowly rose to her feet, forming a seal with her fingers as she asked in a calm voice.
Danzo turned toward her, then knelt on the ground, his voice unwavering.
"For Konoha, I am always ready!"
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