The councillors and the Hokage were gathered in the main meeting room. Doors closed and privacy seals activated.
When the three elders were summoned, they expected bad news. Especially given the room they were in and the protections put in place.
They prepared themselves to help conduct damage control. Prepared for the worst news. Death of their soldiers. Another, direct confrontation with either Kumo or Iwa. Hiruzen could throw anything at them and they would be ready to respond to the best of their abilities.
Yet, Hiruzen said nothing for a long time. Simply watching his long time friends and weighing their reactions in his mind.
Once Inoichi has left his office Hiruzen wasted no time in having missives sent to gather the council. The news of a new mokuton user was too big to be kept secret. The news of the nidaime's granddaughter was too personal not to share with the people who've been impacted by the Uzushio tragedy years ago.
Finally, Homura could no longer wait in silence and asked Sarutobi for the purpose of this summons:
"Today, one of our MIA agents has returned, alive, back to us. T&I has confirmed that he was not compromised and that he's loyalty is intact," Hiruzen started off, noting the frowns marring his friends' faces.
"That…is good news, But tell us Hiruzen, why summon us to tell us this in person?" Koharu asked, eyebrows furrowed as she reached for the tea cup placed in front of her.
"This is not about that particular shinobi per se; it is about the child he brought back with him."
"Child?" Danzō, echoed, eyes narrowing in thought.
"Please tell us that none of our shinobi were stupid enough to kidnap a noble child without orders. Especially give the time we live in," Koharu added quickly, feeling a migraine fast approaching.
Hiruzen allowed himself a small chuckle at that. Certainly, if that was truly the case, it would be no laughing matter, but as it is not…
"Fortunately no," he replied, a small, nostalgic smile, blossoming on his face.
"Do you remember Lady Ume?" he asked, looking up to see the three before him tense at the name.
"Why do you bring up that past Hiruzen? What does—,"
"Peace my friend," Hiruzen interrupted, lowering the hand he used to stop Homura.
"This has everything to do with that past…It has come to my attention that we were not as thorough as we were meant to be," he carried on. Sighing, as he lowered the cup he has been holding the entire.
"What do you mean?" Danzō questioned.
"Lady Ume and Shōrai-hime lived," Hiruzen declared. Watching his friends stiffen and lose colour at the news.
"Impossible," Koharu whispered, tears gathering in her eyes.
The image of a laughing child dancing in her mind's eye.
(She was so proud, and honoured, when the nidaime entrusted her with his greatest secret. The family he hid from the world. The daughter she grew to care for so much.)
"How do you know this?" Danzō asked, being the least affected by this news out of the three.
"The child I mentioned earlier, is Shōrai-hime's daughter," he told them, unsurprised by the gasps he received.
"A daughter," Koharu murmured in surprise.
"A daughter," Hiruzen repeated.
"And you are certain of this information?" Homura asked, expression full of wonder. Such news…they were without a doubt, unexpected.
"What about Shōrai-chan, and Ume-sama?" Koharu asked, noticing that Hiruzen made no mention of the two being here.
In response the kage closed his eye sorrowfully.
"Dead," he tells them, "killed by Kirigakure ninja's it seems."
(He wasn't the only one who felt bubbling rage well up within him at the news)
Koharu and Homura shed no tears at the news, their clenched fists the only visible proof that the news affected them. Danzō on the other hand did not feel the same anger at the news, the man having never met Shōrai or Ume when they were alive.
Only learning of the nidaime's family after questioning his friends about their desperate searches, following the purge of the Uzumaki clan.
What he was more interested in right now, was the child's worth towards Konoha. They were at war, they didn't have time to mourn over the past.
"Tell us more about the child, where is she now?" he asked.
Hiruzen levelled his comrade with a long look before responding:
"T&I should have had her transferred to the hospital by now."
"Will she become an asset to Konoha?" Danzō carried on, "Is she alright?" Homura asked instead.
"There didn't seem to be anything physically wrong with her, though it never hurt to be safe. it is also preferable that she not be kept with T&I for long, there is no need to make her transaction in the village any more difficult," Sarutobi told them calmly.
"Why haven't they come to Konoha when they fled? Surely they couldn't have though we would turn them away," Homura said, more to himself than really asking.
"Inoichi discovered a hesitation within Reikoat the prospect of coming here. When he investigated, it revealed that her family was not very fond of this village," Hiruzen said sadly, once again guilt coursed through him.
To think that they somehow made the two mistrust them…he couldn't explain to himself why else Ume would refuse to flee here with her daughter. 'I guess we will never learn the truth,' he thought sadly.
"'Will that be a problem?" Danzō pushed on.
"Inoichi does not think so and I certainly wish to have Reiko learn to view Konoha as her home. It is, after all, the truth," Sarutobi declared.
"Reiko?" Koharu said curiously, looking up at the hokage as she did so.
"Reiko," he confirmed.
"Hhm, Reiko eh…a fine name," Homura said wishfully
Hiruzen then proceeded to tell the rest of the council about what Inoichi discovered, venturing through Reiko's memories, and what Tokuma himself reported.
(There was a simultaneous jolt of pride at learning that the child was particularly proficient at water style ninjutsu. "Just like sensei.")
However, the information Hiruzen felt most apprehensive about sharing, but, which he could not keep secret, has yet to be told.
"What is it?" Danzō asked, having noticed Hiruzen's shift in personality. They've known each other for too long to attempt masking their emotions from one another. It simply never worked.
"There is, one last thing…," Sarutobi trailed off, sighing when he knew that this conversation couldn't be avoided.
"Reiko, she has inherited one last thing from her Senju heritage," the rest stood a little straighter at this information. Curiosity practically vibrating through their bodies.
Taking a moment to look each one of them in the eyes Hiruzen said:
"She inherited shodaime-sama's mokuton."