In the following days, Natsuo continued with his life normally, but no one could know that he was very happy inside.
His method of briefly opening the first internal door and then healing his body has been successful so far.
Although the changes have been minimal, Natsuo could feel that it has been easier to do his daily physical training.
Pleased with his progress, Natsuo arrived at the Senju clan compound for lunch after accepting Tsunade's invitation.
After the first meeting, Natsuo had been invited a few more times, so some people knew him.
Greeting the maids who greeted him at the door, Natsuo entered the main mansion of the Senju clan while wondering what he would try today.
"This is Kushina, my cousin."
"I hope they get along well"
Of course, Natsuo didn't expect to find a little redhead next to Tsunade.
"It's a pleasure," Kushina said as she bowed slightly.
Natsuo could only lean forward and think about how quickly time passes.
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Shortly after, the group gathered in the dining room and Mito reintroduced Kushina, who was sitting between Mito and Tsunade.
Natsuo nodded as he listened to Mito speak and 'believed' her words about Kushina, who was a normal member of the Uzumaki clan who would now live in the Leaf Village.
Without mentioning that he knew the real reason, Natsuo acted normally during dinner.
"...and for hundreds of years, the Uzumaki clan has lived on the island of whirlpools," Kushina said as she explained her clan's history.
While speaking, Kushina got a little excited talking about fuinjutsu, so she often ran out of breath.
Meanwhile, Mito was happy that Kushina had someone close to her own age.
Nawaki was on a mission outside the village and wouldn't be returning anytime soon, so Mito came up with the idea of telling Tsunade to bring her disciple and introduce him to Kushina.
"So the Uzumaki clan lives alone on their island?" Natsuo asked, intentionally showing a trace of concern.
"Yes, why?" Kushina asked while eating.
Although it wasn't her favorite food, the girl was happy to try the delicious meal.
Of course, he wouldn't be so happy after hearing Natsuo's words.
"Isn't that dangerous?" Natsuo asked while also eating.
"Why?" Kushina asked.
"Well..." Natsuo thought for a moment before speaking.
"Now that ninjas from all countries have united in ninja villages, I think it's very dangerous for a single clan to live in isolation," Natsuo said.
"Don't worry, Natsuo," Mito said when she understood the boy's words.
She was an older kunoichi and knew the reason for the boy's concern.
"There are large whirlpools around the island that make it difficult for enemy armies to pass."
"Until they manage to get through the whirlpools, the Uzumaki clan will receive help from the Leaf Village," Mito said.
One reason the Uzumaki clan stayed on their island when the Leaf Village was founded was that they could always receive help in a short amount of time.
After all, they are not very far from the shores of the land of fire.
"But if this village is also attacked, it won't be able to help the Uzumaki clan in time," Natsuo said.
"This…"
Natsuo's words left the older woman speechless because she hadn't thought about that point.
During the last few years, Mito had noticed the increase in tensions on the borders and it was possible that a war could break out at any moment.
Clutching his head, Mito regretted not having thought about his clan and what would happen in the upcoming conflicts.
But before Mito could say anything, Kushina was the first to speak.
"The Uzumaki clan is very strong!"
"He will wipe out all the enemies who want to attack us!" Kushina shouted, demonstrating her confidence in her clan.
And then it was Natsuo who wouldn't let Mito speak.
"The Uzumaki clan will have to face at least two ninja villages."
"Can you do that until help arrives?" Natsuo asked.
"Grandma," Tsunade said when she noticed the change in her grandmother's expression.
"No, they can't," said Mito as she got up from the table and left the room.
Natsuo's words reminded Mito that the Leaf Village wasn't the only one that could quickly reach Whirlpool Island.
The Land of Lightning and the Land of Water are maritime 'powers' and could attack the Uzumaki clan with a little preparation.
Mito knew she had to send a message to her clan and speak with Hiruzen about the Leaf Village's support for any problems the Uzumaki clan might have in the coming years.
"Grandma Mito..." Kushina wanted to call Mito but was stopped by Tsunade.
"Grandma remembered she had to do something"
"We didn't bother her, she'll be back soon," Tsunade said as she sat down near Kushina and accompanied her to eat.
Kushina nodded as she returned to her plate. Even so, she couldn't stop worrying.
Even though she was a child, she knew what a ninja village meant.
Despite having confidence in her clan, Kushina believed that her clan could at most face a ninja village with their powerful seals.
But 2?
Mito's attitude showed that the Uzumaki clan was in danger, and Kushina hoped that everything would be alright.
As she watched Kushina continue eating, Tsunade smiled slightly.
Turning her gaze back to her disciple, Tsunade nodded, happy to have gained such an intelligent student.
Since the Uzumaki clan lived outside the Hidden Leaf Village, they weren't usually a cause for concern. But now their student had reminded them of this, and Tsunade was grateful that she hadn't refused when her master asked her to take on an Uchiha child as a student.
Hours later
"See you," Natsuo said as he waved goodbye.
Since they wanted Kushina to have a friend, Tsunade asked him to stay that afternoon to play with Kushina and pass the time.
Natsuo agreed and was pleased when Kushina demonstrated that she knew fuinjutsu.
Until now he had not started to learn Fuinjutsu, but since his shadow clones took a great deal of work off his hands, Natsuo thought about starting his Fuinjutsu training.
Kushina was happy to spend time with a friend in this unfamiliar village and did not refuse when Natsuo asked her to learn fuinjutsu.
Watching Natsuo's back as the boy walked away, Mito was grateful that her granddaughter's student had a good head on his shoulders.
As Natsuo disappeared into the distance, Mito's mind was occupied thinking about what she gained from her visit with Hiruzen.
And they weren't good results.
Hiruzen admitted that in the hypothetical case that the Uzumaki clan is attacked while the Leaf Village has its own problems, it is very likely that they will not be able to help in time.
But that wasn't the most worrying thing.
Mito's emotion detection ability sensed that Hiruzen wasn't very keen to help the Uzumaki clan, and for a moment she felt... that the man was happy?
On rare occasions like this, Mito activated his chakra sense to its full capacity and kept it active while returning home.
Within her detection capabilities, Mito was able to sense an ANBU leaving the Hokage building and heading to the place where the older woman knew Danzo's team's training grounds were located.
Shortly after, he could sense Danzo's chakra signature leaving his hiding place and heading towards the Hokage's office.
Unfortunately, at this distance he couldn't sense people's emotions, and Mito couldn't guess the plans of either man.
For now, the elderly woman only hoped that the message she sent through a summoning animal would prompt her clan to make the necessary preparations.
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Since he had already filled his afternoon, Natsuo decided to rest a little at night.
All he did was enter his mind palace and review the basic principles of fuinjutsu that he learned from Kushina.
Adding fuinjutsu to his training list, Natsuo went to sleep after making a mental note to buy ink and other materials for his fuinjutsu learning.
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The next day at the academy.
"We will have a new student joining us."
"I hope they treat her well," said the teacher as he called Kushina who was outside the classroom.
When Kushina arrived at the front of the students, the teacher asked her to introduce herself.
"Hello, my name is Kushina Uzumaki"
"I like ramen and fuinjutsu."
"...and my dream for the future is to be the first female Hokage," Kushina said with a smile as she expressed her goal.
"It's impossible..."
"Yes, it's a girl"
"Her hair is strange"
"You idiots!" Of course, the students didn't welcome a foreigner, and Kushina already wanted to fight them.