At the Senju Clan residence, Tsunade stood at the entrance.
Her golden hair swayed gently in the breeze. She stood with her arms folded, her gaze calm as she looked out toward the street, as if waiting for something.
Before long, the figure of Hiruzen Sarutobi came into view.
He wore his Hokage robes and a sedge hat, with three masked Anbu ninja following behind him.
When he saw Tsunade, a smile spread across the Third's face and he raised a hand in greeting.
"Tsunade, sorry to keep you waiting."
Tsunade gave a flat "mm" in reply.
Neither warm nor distant. She simply stepped aside to make room.
"Come in."
Hiruzen had long since grown used to her manner. He stepped through into the residence.
The Anbu behind him were just about to follow when Tsunade raised a hand to stop them.
"The Anbu can wait outside."
The three Anbu paused. Their eyes went to the Third.
Hiruzen waved them off, signaling them to stay where they were.
Then he followed Tsunade alone through the corridor and deeper into the inner courtyard.
In the courtyard, sunlight filtered through the leaves and cast shifting patches of light and shadow across the ground.
Uzumaki Mito sat in a wicker chair under the shade of a tree, watching Uzumaki Kushina in the center of the yard with a warm and gentle expression.
Kushina was fully focused on forming seals. Her long red hair shifted with her movements, and a faint glow of chakra surrounded her.
"Lady Mito."
Hiruzen stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
Uzumaki Mito turned her head. Seeing the Third, a soft smile appeared on her face.
"Hiruzen, you came."
"I am sorry to intrude."
The Third lowered his head slightly, his tone carrying the respect one shows an elder.
"Not at all."
Mito smiled and waved a hand, then instructed the attendant nearby.
"Go and prepare some tea and refreshments. Kushina, why don't you go with Tsunade and take a rest for a while."
"Yes!"
Kushina said respectfully to Mito, then turned to look at Hiruzen.
"Greetings, Hokage."
Hiruzen gave a nod of acknowledgment.
After watching Kushina and Tsunade leave, he turned back to Uzumaki Mito.
"Please do not go to any trouble. I only came to see how you have been feeling lately."
Mito gave a quiet sound of acknowledgment. Once the people nearby had stepped away, she spoke.
"The Nine-Tails seal has been stable since it was re-sealed last time. You do not need to worry."
Hiruzen let out a slow breath of relief. His thoughts drifted back to Kushina a moment ago.
"Has Kushina begun learning sealing techniques?"
"She has. The girl has good aptitude. Her foundations are more or less solid by now. It is time she started on the sealing techniques."
At those words, something moved in Hiruzen's chest.
It was not hard to see what Mito had in mind.
She was deliberately grooming Kushina to be her successor.
Hiruzen kept his expression neutral and said with a pleasant smile.
"With you personally guiding her, I am sure Kushina will make a great name for herself in the ninja world one day."
Uzumaki Mito smiled faintly and gestured for him to sit.
"Since you are here, stay and talk with me for a while."
Hiruzen did not decline. He settled into the other wicker chair.
The two exchanged a few pleasantries first, and then the Third, as if by chance, began bringing up the past, his tone carrying a note of nostalgia.
"The First's Wood Style was the power that brought peace to the age of chaos. And the Second, his governance allowed Konoha to rise so rapidly."
Uzumaki Mito listened quietly, a distant, reminiscing look passing through her eyes.
She let out a soft sigh.
"Yes. Hashirama and Tobirama. They both gave so much for the village."
Seeing his opening, the Third pressed on.
"Konoha today may be at peace, but there are undercurrents moving beneath the surface. The Uchiha Clan under Uchiha Chiya has been growing more and more influential. I have also been hearing lately that he and Tsunade have been spending quite a bit of time together."
He left the sentence unfinished, but his meaning was plain enough.
Uzumaki Mito's eyes flickered slightly, then settled back into calm.
She lifted her teacup and took a quiet sip, then said slowly.
"Hiruzen, Tsunade is grown now. I will not interfere too much in her affairs."
Hiruzen gave an awkward smile.
"I only worry about the intentions of the Uchiha Clan."
"Matters between young people, let them sort out themselves."
Mito cut him off, set down her teacup, and spoke in a tone that was gentle but left no room for argument.
"Besides, I have met Chiya a few times. He strikes me as a young man with a sense of responsibility."
Hiruzen heard the refusal in her words and knew there was nothing to be gained by pressing further. He changed the subject tactfully.
"You are right. By the way, would you like the village to arrange for medical ninja to come check on your health regularly?"
Uzumaki Mito shook her head with a smile.
"No need. Tsunade checks on my health every day. Rest easy, Hiruzen. Surely you trust her medical skill."
Hiruzen nodded.
"With Tsunade looking after you, your health is in good hands."
The two chatted a while longer. When the Third judged the moment was right, he rose to take his leave.
"Lady Mito, I have matters waiting for me, so I will not take up any more of your time. Please do take good care of yourself."
Uzumaki Mito gave a slight nod.
"Go on. You should also remember to rest, and do not wear yourself too thin."
The Third bowed respectfully, then turned and left.
Tsunade stood at the entrance and watched their figures disappear from view.
Then she went back inside to the courtyard and sat beside her grandmother.
Her brow furrowed as she asked.
"Grandmother, what did the Third come for?"
Uzumaki Mito reached over and stroked Tsunade's hair, her eyes full of warmth.
"He came partly to check on the Nine-Tails situation, and partly to sound out my feelings on something."
"Your feelings?"
Tsunade's eyebrow lifted.
"About what?"
Uzumaki Mito smiled, her gaze thoughtful.
"About you and Chiya."
Tsunade's face went slightly red.
"He has a lot of nerve sticking his nose into that."
Mito let out a quiet sigh, something reflective in her tone.
"Hiruzen is the Hokage after all. There is much he has to consider. But."
She paused, took Tsunade's hand, and said gently.
"Grandmother knows you have your own ideas. I will support whatever you choose."
Tsunade was still for a moment, then a trace of feeling passed through her eyes.
"Grandmother."
Mito patted the back of her hand and smiled.
"My granddaughter has grown up. She has her own thoughts. How could I ever stand in your way? All I want is for you to be happy one day."
Tsunade pressed her lips together, a current of warmth rising in her chest.
She leaned against her grandmother's shoulder and said softly.
"Thank you."
Uzumaki Mito gently put an arm around her, but her gaze reached out toward the distance, as if looking through time itself to some earlier version of herself.
After a moment, Tsunade sat up straight again, a new resolve appearing in her eyes.
"The Third coming here today was probably not as simple as it looked. I need to go talk to Chiya."
Uzumaki Mito gave a nod.
Tsunade rose and left quickly.
As she stepped out of the residence, her gaze swept over the Anbu ninja still standing guard at the entrance. A cold laugh passed silently through her mind.
"Old man. What exactly are you scheming?"
At the same time, inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen stood at the window, looking out toward the Hokage Monument in the distance, his brow deeply furrowed.
Homura pushed the door open and stepped in, asking in a low voice.
"How did it go?"
The Third shook his head.
"Lady Mito was clear. She will not interfere with Tsunade's choices."
Homura frowned.
"In that case, the relationship between Uchiha Chiya and Tsunade will likely only deepen."
Hiruzen was quiet for a moment, then said slowly.
"The Uchiha Clan is already powerful on its own. If they also gain Tsunade's support."
He did not finish the sentence, but Homura had already understood what he was worried about.
"Should we."
Homura lowered his voice and made a subtle gesture.
The Third's gaze darkened. He shook his head.
"No. Moving against them now would only inflame the situation. Besides, neither Tsunade nor Uchiha Chiya are easy to deal with."
Homura let out a sigh.
"So we just watch?"
Hiruzen turned around, his eyes deep and steady.
"For now, we observe and wait. In the meantime, increase surveillance on the Uchiha. Chiya's movements in particular."
Homura nodded.
"Understood."
The Third looked back out the window, murmuring under his breath.
"Uchiha Chiya. What is it that you actually want?"