Shimura Danzo unleashed his potential to its fullest—it was a strike filled with all his lifelong beliefs and obsessions!
It seemed as though if he could just bring Aomi down, the Hokage Kasa would be taken off Hiruzen's head the next moment and placed onto his by Uzumaki Mito!
"Danzo, don't act rashly!" Sarutobi Hiruzen was suddenly startled, shouting loudly.
Shimura Danzo, however, turned a deaf ear, thinking to himself, in my youth I hesitated, and now that I'm old, you hesitate as well...
So, it's time for decisive me to take over Konoha from hesitant you, Hiruzen!
At this moment, Uzumaki Mito suddenly turned her head and glanced at him.
What kind of eye was that?
It was as if the Nine-tails stood right in front of him, a terrifying beast roaring with unparalleled killing intent, venting centuries of hatred!
"This... this is an out-of-control Lady Mito, combined with the power of the Nine-tails, getting too close would be fatal, wouldn't it?"
Shimura Danzo began to hesitate in his heart again, his movements becoming sluggish.
Before he could continue to reach a decision, countless thick, dark golden chains exploded out from around Uzumaki Mito, securely binding the charging Shimura Danzo who was holding a kunai.
Immediately after, Uzumaki Mito's eyes suddenly regained their clarity, and the Nine-tailed Chakra emanating from her body receded back within.
"Danzo, do you think I can't control the Nine-tails? It's true, I'm an old woman, not being trusted by the younger generation is normal..."
Uzumaki Mito said, looking at Shimura Danzo lying on the ground, with a faint smile.
But her tone inexplicably carried a hint of coldness, causing all the ninjas present to shiver slightly in their hearts.
At this moment, although the chains binding Danzo had been withdrawn by Uzumaki Mito, his heart seemed to be locked tight...
Once again, had he made a mistake? Wasn't he supposed to be decisive...?
"I'm alright, everyone sit down..."
Uzumaki Mito gestured with her hand, indicating for everyone present to calm down, glancing at Shimura Danzo, she said slowly:
"Danzo, return to your seat. As the Hokage Assistant of Konoha, you need to think before you act. Such impatience will only cause trouble for the village!"
"You really should learn more from the monkey."
Shimura Danzo lowered his head, not daring to meet Uzumaki Mito's eyes, but his nails were already dug into his palm, using the physical pain to alleviate the pain in his heart—a pain that cut deep to the bone!
Why... why even when I am decisive, am I still denied...
Hiruzen was merely stunned, what am I supposed to learn from him?
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly adjusted his mindset, smiling gently: "Lady Mito, you flatter me. As a junior, I've always had unwavering faith in your abilities!"
At this moment, though Sarutobi Hiruzen's words sounded pleasant, internally he felt immense relief.
Luckily, luckily he was stunned and didn't even weave signs, otherwise he would have also expressed distrust in Lady Mito!
Uzumaki Mito chuckled, nodding at Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Old people become useless, but the monkey still knows how to sweet-talk like he did when he was a child..."
Yet her heart was nonetheless flattered.
An elder always fears becoming a burden in their old age...
The gaze she had cast on Shimura Danzo earlier certainly contained the shadow of the Nine-tails, but Uzumaki Mito herself was also displeased with him.
What were you trying to do with that menacing expression?
I'm standing so close to this child Aomi, are you planning to deal with me first, or take out this child?
Uzumaki Mito looked at Shimura Danzo with dissatisfaction before replacing her expression with a cheerful smile: "I'm indeed getting old, so sometimes the Nine-tailed Chakra can misbehave..."
Uzumaki Mito grasped Aomi's hand and gave it a firm pat: "I've observed this child, and he's a very good kid!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen finally let out a long sigh of relief, the light returning to his eyes, eliminating his last bit of internal tension.
Aomi had passed the test!
Recognition from Uzumaki Mito was the current gold standard in Konoha, even more valuable than his standing as Hokage...
"I told you, this old man's judgement is crystal clear. Aomi, with such a deep bond with Asuma, couldn't be wrong!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's smile was amidst his words, while beside him, Shimura Danzo, with his head lowered, formed a stark contrast.
"Hiruzen, postpone the Nine-tails handover ceremony by three months for now..."
Uzumaki Mito, holding Aomi's hand, thought for a moment before saying: "I want to have a word with this child, for now, let's adjourn today's meeting, everyone else can return."
With that, Uzumaki Mito slowly stood up, pulling Aomi by the hand and walking into the inner chamber.
She didn't seek Sarutobi Hiruzen's consent; it was simply an announcement.
Sarutobi Hiruzen blinked in confusion, not quite understanding Uzumaki Mito's intention behind the command, but sensibly responded:
"Understood, Lady Mito!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Shimura Danzo on the shoulder: "Danzo, we should also get moving; the village still has matters waiting for you, the Hokage Assistant, to handle on my behalf!"
Shimura Danzo sharply shook off Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand, if not for being in Uzumaki Mito's residence, he would have lashed out!
Hiruzen, you're being shrewd after taking advantage—enough is enough!
Jiraiya shook his head: "What an interesting day..."
While Namikaze Minato looked worriedly at Kushina, moving to her side.
The Nine-tailed Chakra eruption from Uzumaki Mito greatly concerned Namikaze Minato about Kushina's future, though he knew Kushina was a strong girl...
Orochimaru, however, showed a glimmer of interest in his eyes.
Compared to Wood Release, Orochimaru's interest in the First Hokage's escape techniques had waned...
But today's Aomi, however, intrigued him.
The Uchiha Clan, it seems, is becoming interesting...
And at this moment.
Inside Uzumaki Mito's body, the Nine-tails was like a rabid dog, howling frantically!
"This kid is Uchiha Madara, he is the reincarnation of Uchiha Madara!!"
"I absolutely won't mistake this feeling, I swear, Uzumaki Mito, you must believe me!!"
"Kill him, kill him, kill him, kill him!"
"I'm not lying, you must believe I'm not lying, he is definitely related to Uchiha Madara, either a reincarnation or his son!!"
The Nine-tails was yelling madly, but Uzumaki Mito simply looked at him like watching a monkey perform, her expression filled with sentiment:
"Nine-tails, I've been with you for decades, you've always tried to manipulate my heart, there were a few times you almost swayed me."
"But as your opponent, I have to say, your lies have become increasingly crude..."
"Yet what you said today, I'm not mocking you, but it really is making me want to laugh..."
As Uzumaki Mito spoke, she genuinely laughed at the Nine-tails, her smile sincere, devoid of any sarcasm, as though she'd simply heard a delightful joke—
Amusement!
If you're going to manipulate, at least find a better reason...
If this child were Uchiha Madara's son, then after Uzumaki Mito's keen perception of Aomi's Chakra, there could only be one possibility:
Unless Aomi was the child of Uchiha Madara and Tobirama, and taking after Tobirama in every way...
If that were the case, Tobirama, you'd have gone too far...
Uzumaki Mito pondered over Nine-tail's ridiculous manipulation, unable to suppress her laughter, she burst out in hearty laughter: "Hahahahaha!"
Since Senju Hashirama's death, Uzumaki Mito, who served as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, had never laughed with such joy before as she did now.
Uzumaki Mito even thought that if she could meet her beloved Senju Hashirama in the afterlife, she would definitely share this Nine-tail's joke with him...
The Nine-tails' eyes were wide with anger, Uzumaki Mito's laughter so piercing...
At this moment, the Nine-tails bitterly regretted manipulating Uzumaki Mito for so many years.
This one time, it was really telling the truth, dammit!!
Why don't you believe me, Uzumaki Mito!!
Believe me!
Amid the laughter, the Nine-tails gradually recalled the worst day of its life—
The day it was treated like a dog.