DXD: The Awakening Of Phenex

Chapter 396: Chapter 396 – Pressure in Motion

ROOT HEADQUARTERS

Danzō remained still at the center of the room, leaning on his cane while the silence reflected the absolute control he maintained after leaving the meeting with the elders. The decision had already been made, and that was enough to keep his outward calm, even with the situation demanding immediate action.

’Now he is mine.’ The thought came straight, without deviation. ’I just need to find him.’

Two ANBU appeared before him, kneeling instantly, and Danzō’s attention shifted first to the one who had been assigned to monitor the new Uchiha. The delay alone was already a problem.

"You." Danzō kept his tone low, but filled with pressure. "What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be watching Riser?"

The ANBU did not hesitate, but also could not avoid the weight of the answer.

"I’m sorry." He kept his head lowered. "I searched hotels and inns... but I didn’t find him."

Danzō did not respond immediately.

The information didn’t fit.

"What do you mean he wasn’t found?" His tone hardened. "He can’t just disappear from the village."

The ANBU maintained his posture.

"I considered that possibility." He replied directly. "And went to the Uchiha district."

Danzō tilted his head slightly.

"And?"

The ANBU didn’t delay.

"There’s a barrier."

The silence shifted.

"A barrier?" Danzō repeated, lower.

"Yes." The ANBU confirmed. "I tried to move forward... but I was blocked."

Danzō did not move.

"What else?" The question came immediately.

"There’s no visible sign." The ANBU continued. "But the structure is solid. I tried to break it... it didn’t work."

Danzō closed his eyes slightly for a moment, organizing the information coldly as his reasoning moved quickly.

’A barrier in the Uchiha district... on the same day an Uchiha appears... too convenient.’

"Return to the Uchiha district." He spoke directly, without changing his tone. "Observe from a distance... and do nothing else."

The ANBU nodded without hesitation and disappeared instantly, leaving only the second agent in the room as silence imposed itself again.

Danzō did not hide his irritation, the slight tightening on his cane revealing his discomfort with the situation being out of control, but his expression remained steady.

’If necessary... I’ll break that barrier tomorrow.’

"And you?" He shifted focus to the other ANBU. "What information do you have for me?"

"Jiraiya was assassinated." The answer came directly, without hesitation.

Danzō did not react outwardly, but his gaze changed.

"Who gave you that information?"

"It came from that person."

The silence lasted less than a second.

’Orochimaru.’

"Do you have the details?" Danzō kept his tone low, but more attentive.

"Only that it was his own student... Naruto Uzumaki."

Danzō did not look away.

"The fox..." He spoke low, already reorganizing the impact of the information. "He should not have left Konoha."

He made a slight gesture with his hand.

"You may go."

The ANBU nodded and disappeared instantly, leaving Danzō completely alone in the room.

The silence returned, but now filled with intent.

The frustration was still present from failing to locate Riser, but the new information clearly shifted the balance of the scenario.

’Jiraiya dead... and by the village’s own weapon.’

The conclusion came quickly.

’This changes everything.’

Danzō slightly raised his head, his firm gaze already projecting the next move within the political game forming.

"Hime..." He spoke low, with no one to hear. "You didn’t just lose Jiraiya... you lost the fox itself."

His hand tightened on the cane.

"It’s time to question your position as Hokage."

____

HOKAGE TOWER

Tsunade kept her gaze firm on the table as she organized the decisions that needed to be made, ignoring the evident fatigue and focusing only on what lay ahead.

"Yesterday was a difficult day." She spoke without looking away. "But we have to deal with the consequences... Jiraiya’s death is no longer a secret."

Kakashi remained silent, while Sakura kept a rigid posture, absorbing the weight of the information without interrupting.

"And that is dangerous." Tsunade continued. "Other villages may interpret this as weakness... and attack."

She let out a controlled breath, not allowing the tension to break her line of thought.

"Kakashi." Tsunade raised her gaze. "I want you to find Riser Phenex and bring him here. Despite the name... he has Uchiha lineage."

Sakura did not react.

Kakashi slightly inclined his head.

"It will be done, Godaime."

Tsunade shifted focus.

"Sakura." The tone was direct. "I need you to understand... your former teammates are now enemies of Konoha."

Sakura did not respond immediately.

"I understand, Tsunade-sama." The answer came low, but firm enough to leave no doubt.

knock knock

"Tsunade-sama!" The voice came from outside, urgent. "Tsunade-sama!"

"Come in." Tsunade replied instantly.

Shizune entered without waiting, breathing quickly as she closed the door behind her.

"We have a problem." She spoke directly. "Danzō is coming here... and the elders are with him."

Tsunade did not change her expression.

’He doesn’t waste time...’

"His objective isn’t just Riser..." The thought aligned quickly.

"There’s more." Shizune continued. "About ten ANBU are near the Uchiha district."

The focus shifted.

"Why?" Tsunade asked without hesitation.

"I don’t know the details." Shizune replied. "But they didn’t enter... they’re just surrounding the place."

Tsunade did not look away.

"It’s likely Riser is there." She kept her tone firm, already aligning the decision without room for doubt.

"Kakashi." The focus returned to him. "Go to the Uchiha district... and inform the ANBU it is a direct order from the Hokage to withdraw."

She didn’t pause.

"Anyone who disobeys... will be considered a traitor."

Kakashi did not hesitate.

"It will be done, Godaime."

Tsunade slightly turned her face.

"Sakura, you go with him." The tone did not soften. "And be careful."

Sakura nodded instantly.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama."

The two disappeared seconds later, leaving no presence in the environment, and silence returned for only a moment before being interrupted.

Footsteps.

Firm.

Approaching.

Shizune turned her face toward the door, already knowing who it was before seeing.

The door opened.

Danzō entered first.

Right behind him, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane followed, maintaining rigid postures as they evaluated the environment without hurry.

"Homura-sama... Koharu-sama..." Shizune spoke, maintaining respect, but without moving.

"Step aside." Koharu replied directly, without changing her tone. "And leave us alone with the Hokage."

Shizune did not move immediately.

Her gaze went to Tsunade.

Tsunade held her gaze for a second.

"Go, Shizune." She spoke simply, without losing firmness.

Shizune nodded.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama."

She stepped aside instantly, leaving a clear path as the three moved into the room. The door was closed right after, completely isolating the environment.

____

KAMUI DIMENSION

The table was already set when Riser sat down, maintaining a relaxed posture as he began eating without hurry, as if nothing outside held any urgency at that moment. Merlin was in front, maintaining a neutral demeanor, while Hancock stayed too close, clearly satisfied.

"I still can’t believe it." Hancock rested her face on her hand, smiling to the side. "It was the best night of my life... even with an intruder getting in the way."

Merlin did not look away.

"If that was a problem, you didn’t show it." She replied directly, without changing her tone. "Your behavior was consistent from start to finish."

Hancock slightly narrowed her eyes, but did not back down.

"I can ignore certain things when it’s worth it." She replied with a slight smile. "But it doesn’t mean I’ll like it."

Riser kept eating.

"That doesn’t matter." He spoke simply, without looking at either of them. "You already understand how this works."

Hancock did not respond immediately, but also did not argue, only maintaining proximity as if that alone was enough to reaffirm her position. Merlin did not insist, simply accepting the implicit decision without needing to reinforce it.

Silence returned for a few seconds, but it wasn’t uncomfortable, just stable, maintaining the calm rhythm of that isolated space. Riser finished his meal without hurry, cleaning his hands simply before finally ending the moment.

"That’s enough." He spoke, standing up without hesitation. "Time to leave."

Hancock raised her gaze immediately.

"Already?" She tilted her head slightly. "You just decided to stay."

"I stayed long enough." Riser replied directly, without changing his tone. "Now there’s things to do."

Merlin stood up without questioning.

"The district." She spoke simply, already aligning the action. "I’ll restore the structure."

Riser nodded.

"Exactly."

Hancock crossed her arms, but there was no real dissatisfaction.

"And me?" She asked, even though she already knew the answer.

"You stay." Riser replied without hesitation. "Someone needs to keep this place organized."

Hancock didn’t take long.

"Of course." She replied naturally. "That’s the role of a good wife."

Merlin didn’t comment.

Riser didn’t either.

The decision was already accepted.

Hancock stepped away from the table, beginning to organize the space without hesitation, moving objects naturally while a slight smile remained on her face. The behavior wasn’t forced, it was something she did by her own choice.

"It’s so good..." She murmured low as she started cleaning. "Being Riser-sama’s wife."

Riser didn’t react.

He simply brought a hand to his face for a moment before activating the Sharingan, the red appearing cleanly as his gaze fixed forward. Merlin was already positioned beside him, ready to follow without needing further instruction.

"Let’s go." Riser spoke simply.

Merlin nodded.

"Yes."

Space distorted instantly.

Their presence disappeared without leaving a trace, pulled directly out of the dimension, leaving only silence behind. Hancock did not stop what she was doing, simply continuing at the same pace, as if it were already expected.

She turned slightly in place, picking up another object while maintaining her smile.

"Come back soon..." She spoke softly, still cleaning. "Dear."

The dimension remained stable.

And completely under control.

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