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"Kushina."
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked kindly,
"Today was your first time going out with friends, right? How was it?"
"It was great!"
Kushina pulled out a sealing scroll from her arms and proudly showed it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Are these the snacks you bought?"
"No."
Kushina shook her head and puffed out her chest, saying,
"Takeshi bought them for me."
When the picnic ended that afternoon, Takeshi sealed all the snacks he had bought earlier, as well as the barbecue, into this scroll and then gave it to Kushina.
She eagerly opened it to look, then let out an exclamation of surprise.
Even though they had already eaten a lot that afternoon, the variety and quantity of food inside still exceeded her imagination—
Lollipops, chocolates, bread, cookies... Miso chashu ramen, grilled pork belly, red bean paste yokan, dango, red bean dango... She even wondered if Takeshi had moved an entire shop inside.
Hiruzen Sarutobi subconsciously glanced at it and was equally shocked.
This Uchiha kid is too attentive, isn't he?
Could he really be after Kushina?
The reason he appeared here today was actually to wait for Kushina to return and gather some information.
There was no other way; the future Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki was getting too close to those Uchiha people, which made him feel uneasy.
"Here, Third Hokage."
Kushina offered a skewer of red bean dango.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and waved his hand: "You eat it. Your grandfather has already eaten."
"Oh."
Kushina unhesitatingly took the dango back.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyelid twitched, thinking, 'This little girl never intended to give it to me in the first place.'
"Kushina, have any classmates bullied you at school? Tell your grandfather, and your grandfather will teach them a lesson."
Hiruzen Sarutobi began to probe.
When Kushina heard this, the first person she thought of was Takeshi.
That bad guy not only mocked her red hair but also spread rumors about her with classmates.
She looked down at the food in her hand.
However, as they spent more time together, she realized she might have misunderstood him.
Although Takeshi could be a bit of a jerk sometimes, and his words always made her angry, he was actually a good person.
He would go easy on her during duels, buy her delicious food, and take good care of her.
So... "No, Third Hokage, I'm having a great time at school."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stroked his beard, his eyes narrowing immediately.
Something was wrong, very wrong.
As far as he knew, Kushina should have intensely disliked Takeshi and not had a pleasant time at school.
Yet this time, she not only went out to play with Takeshi but also didn't say anything bad about him.
She was clearly enchanted by that boy.
"Then what do you think of Takeshi?"
He probed again.
Kushina's hand movements paused, and she asked, puzzled: "Third Hokage, why are you asking about him?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile: "I just heard that this young man is very outstanding."
"Hmph." Kushina crossed her arms, saying insincerely: "He's not at all."
As soon as Takeshi was mentioned, Kushina's chatterbox instantly opened.
She began to complain about Takeshi in various ways, but what was different this time was that her complaints were strangely directed, making Hiruzen Sarutobi feel as if she was talking about flirtatious bickering between young lovers, showering him with affection.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face grew darker and darker; he didn't need to listen any further. This little girl had clearly been charmed by that boy.
He was about to get up and leave when he happened to run into Tsunade returning.
"Teacher, why are you here?"
"Ah, I came to see Kushina; I'm about to leave now."
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't chat much and directly left the Senju Clan Grounds.
After walking a certain distance, he beckoned to an Anbu member nearby.
"Go and call Uchiha Takeshi to the Hokage Building for me."
This time, even if he had to defy Lady Mito's orders, he absolutely had to find out what Uchiha Takeshi was up to.
"Hehe, Takeshi, you two even held hands this time, so you can't deny it anymore, right!"
On the way back to the clan grounds, Minato teased him with a gossipy look.
"That was just out of concern for a friend."
Takeshi said with a normal expression: "You know, Kushina is still young, and that kind of scene isn't good for her."
"Hehe." Minato rolled his Byakugan: "Keep pretending, just keep pretending!"
Just then, a figure suddenly appeared before them.
Minato almost instinctively stepped in front of Takeshi: "Who are you?"
The Ninja wearing a cat-faced mask merely glanced at him, then looked at Takeshi and said:
"Hokage-sama requests your presence."
"The Third Hokage?"
Minato frowned slightly; he had lived in the Uchiha clan since childhood.
He naturally knew that the Konoha higher-ups and the Uchiha had a strained relationship, so even after learning it was the Third Hokage's order, he still stood in front of Takeshi.
"It's fine." Takeshi patted Minato's shoulder, signaling him not to be so nervous.
He truly hadn't expected that Minato, who usually seemed unreliable, would be so reassuring at a crucial moment.
It seemed he hadn't raised him in vain.
Minato turned his head to look, but Takeshi just shook his head.
He naturally knew the purpose of Hiruzen Sarutobi's summons; it must be about Kushina.
It seemed this picnic had really scared him.
"Hokage-sama!"
Takeshi, upon arriving at the Hokage Office Building, knocked on the office door and then directly pushed it open.
"You're here?"
"Yes, I'm here."
Takeshi thought, 'Should I say, 'I shouldn't have come?'
But Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't follow Takeshi's script. He first showed a kind smile, then began to chat to build rapport.
Then came the familiar formula and flavor, as he recounted his noble Will of Fire, which almost made Takeshi doze off.
He thought, 'You didn't call me here just to brainwash me, did you?'
Indeed, after a few pleasantries, Hiruzen Sarutobi, that old fox, quickly steered the conversation to the main topic.
"I heard you get along well with that little girl Kushina?"
"Yes, we are... good friends."
"Just good friends?"
Takeshi was startled, realizing there was a deeper meaning in his words, and asked: "Hokage-sama, what do you mean?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi lightly coughed: "Have you never thought about... well, taking it a step further?"
Even though he was the Hokage, his old face flushed with embarrassment when discussing this topic.
Takeshi frowned upon hearing this, thinking, 'What kind of person do you take me for?'
Didn't he see all the tireless efforts I've made these past few days to prevent Kushina from falling in love?
How could I take it a step further with her?
Takeshi immediately slammed his hand on the table and righteously declared: "Hokage-sama, please do not defame my innocence!"
"???"
"Kushina and I have only a pure friendship; it's absolutely impossible for us to fall in love."
Takeshi raised his hand and vowed: "My sole focus is on revitalizing the clan. As for romance? Not even a dog would bother with that!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched.
He hadn't expected Takeshi to react so strongly, and to speak with such fervor and determination... he didn't seem like someone about to fall in love at all... Could I be overly suspicious?
He even started to doubt himself.
But he didn't believe him so easily, so he probed Takeshi several more times. After truly confirming that he had no such feelings for Kushina, he finally sent him away.
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked to the window, looked at the peaceful scenery outside, and took a deep puff from his pipe.
"I was indeed overthinking it. Takeshi, he's a good kid!"
"Hiruzen!!!"
As soon as he heard that familiar opening, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew his old friend had arrived.
Bang!
The door was suddenly flung open.
Danzo stormed into the Hokage's office, full of aggressive intent.
"I've said it before, we cannot allow the future Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki to act freely. Now she's mixed up with the evil Uchiha and has been completely corrupted!"
"Danzo!"
The Third Hokage looked up at him:
"A Jinchuriki is also a person; she needs to grow up happily and integrate into Konoha's big family. Moreover, Kushina is not yet the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki. Don't forget, this was Lady Mito's instruction."
"Hmph."
Although Danzo knew Lady Mito's involvement, he was still dissatisfied with Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision.
In his opinion, as long as it was for the Village's safety, what did it matter if it went against Lady Mito's orders?
"Hiruzen, this Jinchuriki candidate has been corrupted. I have a better candidate here than that Uzumaki Clan girl. How about..."
"Danzo, I am the Hokage. I know how to choose the Jinchuriki. I don't need you to teach me."
"..."
Danzo, who had just been so aggressive, was immediately silenced by the Third Hokage's declaration, 'I am the Hokage.'
His face twisted in anger, but besides impotent rage, there was nothing he could do.
"Hiruzen, you will regret this!"
With a bang, Danzo slammed the door shut and left the office.
Immediately after, the room began to fill with smoke...