"Finally back!"
Standing at the village gates, Seisui let out a deep sigh as he gazed at the great doors of Konoha.
Only he knew how much he'd suffered during these past days.
Bandits and rogue ninja everywhere… he even ran into Uchiha Madara.
Not to mention getting beaten half to death by the Grass Ninja Village.
I was terrified.
"Yo, big bro!"
Spotting a familiar figure, Seisui waved enthusiastically.
"You're on gate duty again today?"
"You really work hard." He smiled and pulled out an ice-cold drink from who-knows-where, handing it to the chunin guard.
The guard froze as he looked at the drink. This felt… strangely familiar.
He remembered now—this brat had tricked him the same way last time!
This time, he wouldn't fall for it again!
"C'mon, big bro," Seisui said, moving closer and nudging him lightly. "Standing guard every day must be exhausting, right?"
"You're truly amazing!"
"Jiraiya-sama once told me, 'A ninja endures what ordinary people cannot.'"
"I never really understood that before, but now that I see you, big bro, I finally get it!"
"I really understand what being a true ninja means now!"
The rainbow-colored flattery immediately made the chunin's lips twitch upward despite himself.
"Haha, I'm not that great!" the guard said, waving a hand but still accepting the drink. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Seisui's eye twitched. So this is what they mean by saying one thing and meaning another.
Still, he pressed on earnestly. "This isn't nonsense!"
"This is the true ninja spirit that I see in you, big bro!"
"With ninjas like you, it's no wonder Konoha remains the Number One!" Seisui declared with total conviction.
"Hahaha!"
"I'm just a lowly chunin!"
By now, the guard's grin nearly reached his ears.
Glancing around to make sure no one was nearby, he leaned in and whispered, "Hey, let me tell you something in secret."
"You've been away from the village for a while, so you probably haven't heard."
"Oh? What's up?" Seisui asked, raising an eyebrow.
He was only at the gate early waiting for Minato and the others, teasing the guard to kill time. But it looked like he'd gotten more than he bargained for.
"A few days ago, the Hokage's office was attacked."
"Even though Hokage-sama claimed nothing happened…"
"Everyone who's been to the building lately noticed the office doors were replaced with reinforced steel."
"People have been talking about it non-stop."
Seisui: "..."
Ordinary ninjas might not know the truth—but he sure did.
No one in their right mind would attack the Hokage's building. Enemy spies would rather kidnap, assassinate, or steal intel—not assault the Hokage Tower!
That's just asking to die!
So, eliminating every other possibility… the truth could only be one thing.
That old geezer Danzo did it again!
He was probably the one who slammed the door so hard it broke.
Please tell me Minato won't end up like that too… Seisui muttered under his breath.
Just then, Minato and Uchiha Haru arrived with Uzumaki Mina, catching his last few words.
"What do you mean, 'end up like that'?" Minato asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Oh, like Elder Danzo," Seisui replied casually, turning toward him.
"Let's just hope you don't develop a door-slamming habit."
Minato's face twisted in indignation. "Damn you, Seisui!"
"You're the one who's gonna end up like that!"
"We'll see about that, Minato!"
"Don't forget, the mission isn't filed yet—I still have authority over you!"
"Don't forget, I'm the captain!"
"When my strength surpasses yours, you'll regret this!" Minato sputtered, face flushing red with anger.
Haru glanced at him, then smoothly interjected, "Let's go report to Hokage-sama first."
"Mina also needs to meet him for arrangements."
"Right."
Seisui instantly dropped the argument, turning to take Haru's hand as they walked ahead together.
Watching the two walk hand-in-hand, Mina followed behind, her eyes full of envy.
How nice...
I wish I could hold the clan leader's hand like that too... His hand must be so warm...
"Damn you, Seisui!" Minato still fumed behind them. Watching the pair from afar, he gritted his teeth. "You'll get what's coming to you!"
"Minato!"
Just then, a cheerful voice called out. It was Kushina. The moment he heard her, Minato's expression completely changed—anger gone, replaced by a soft, radiant smile.
"Kushina!"
"Minato!"
"Kushina!"
"Minato!"
Calling each other's names, they ran closer—until Kushina threw herself into his arms.
"You've gotten so tan!" she said, pulling back with a worried look.
But her concern lasted only a second before her attention shifted toward Mina standing behind him.
"So you're a member of the Uzumaki Clan!" she exclaimed warmly.
Minato had already informed Jiraiya via Mount Myoboku's toads about finding Uzumaki Mina, so Kushina and Mito both knew.
When Kushina heard that Seisui had brought back another Uzumaki survivor, she was so excited she'd rushed out immediately.
Not far away, Uzumaki Mito stood smiling as she watched the two young couples interact.
"Young people really are full of life," she said softly with a nostalgic smile.
Her appearance hadn't changed much over the years—thanks to the Yin Seal, her body stayed young.
But her heart had grown old.
The seal could preserve her chakra and youth, but not her vitality forever.
"The air outside feels nice," Tsunade said beside her, stretching a little.
"Hmph," Mito snorted. "If you'd just learned the Yin Seal properly, you could breathe the outside air every day!"
"Until you've mastered it, don't even think about leaving again!"
"Grandma, I really don't have time," Tsunade groaned, clinging to Mito's arm. "Just give me three more years!"
"Three years and I swear I'll learn it!"
"Don't pull that again!" Mito said sharply, shaking her off. "You said that three years ago!"
"And what happened?"
"You didn't even start!"
"Forget it, Tsunade! I'm never letting you near a casino again!"
Looking at her granddaughter, Mito felt a complex mix of frustration and affection.
Such a good girl… ruined by her grandfather's influence into becoming a gambler.
Then she grew into a violent woman on top of it.
Will you ever get married, Tsunade... Mito thought silently.
That's partly why she was forcing Tsunade to learn the Yin Seal—it would help preserve her youth and maybe increase her chances of finding a husband.
Plus, it would make her stronger.
A win-win, really.
"Mito-sama."
Seisui approached, holding Haru's hand.
Glancing down, he noticed Tsunade crouching on the ground, looking miserable, and scratched his head in confusion.
"Oh, it's you two," Mito said with a warm smile.
"Thanks to you, we finally found another clan member." She looked fondly at Mina, who was now being bombarded with questions by Kushina.
"Choosing you as clan head really was the right decision."
Her gaze softened even more as she looked at Seisui.
He could only laugh awkwardly.
Clan head? Me?
He wasn't even really an Uzumaki—no sealing arts, no red hair, not even the right surname!
Everything about him being the "Uzumaki leader" was pure nonsense.
"Seisui," Mito said gently, "the Uzumaki clan is in your hands now."
"As long as our people can live peacefully in Konoha, that's enough."
Her wish was simple.
The Uzumaki had always been close allies of Konoha—ever since the days of Hashirama and Madara.
They'd given much to the village through both wars, and most Konoha shinobi held them in high regard.
As distant relatives of the Senju, and with their crest symbolizing friendship sewn onto every flak jacket, their bond was strong.
Besides, the Nine-Tails still needed a proper host—having the Uzumaki clan close benefited both sides.
All in all, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
As long as the village leadership didn't lose their minds, no one would ever target the Uzumaki.
"I'll make sure we thrive again!" Seisui promised with conviction.
Even if he was a fake, he'd already decided—if they made him the clan head, he'd lead them to greatness anyway!
He struck a pose dramatically. "No one… understands the Uzumaki… better than me!"
"Hahaha!"
Mito laughed heartily at his theatrics.
"What a bold little brat."
"With you leading the Uzumaki, I can rest easy." She then turned her eyes toward Haru.
Or rather—toward the fan on her back.
That fan brought back memories of someone long gone.
"That fan…" Mito narrowed her eyes slightly. "Where did you get it?"
Seeing her expression, Haru tensed and looked uncertainly at Seisui.
"We found it while traveling to Kusagakure," Seisui explained.
"It was taken from a bandit leader—a rogue ninja. I noticed it could absorb ninjutsu and unleash powerful gales, so I kept it."
"Later, Haru said it looked like the Uchiha crest. Since neither Minato nor I use weapons like that, we gave it to her."