"Okay, Grandma, I get it. I was wrong!"
Kushina stuck out her tongue and sheepishly dispersed her shadow clones. Though it had only lasted a few seconds, the feedback had left her dizzy and lightheaded.
"But how many shadow clones should I create at once?"
"You'll need to test that for yourself," Mito said patiently. "But judging by your chakra control, stamina, and spiritual resilience, no more than five at a time."
"And that's for long-term use, mind you. You won't need more than that—right?"
"Got it!" Kushina nodded, having taken the lesson to heart.
"Good. Now go wash up, dinner's almost ready. And don't stay up late—you've got your first day of school tomorrow."
As Mito turned to head inside, Kushina hesitated. "Grandma… can you come with me tomorrow?"
"No," Mito replied immediately. "If I show up in public, it'll attract too much attention. I'll have Tsunade take you instead."
"Oh… okay."
Hokage's Office, That Night
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in his chair, brows furrowed, puffing on his pipe.
He'd just received word that Ren Takashi had been visiting Mito Uzumaki daily—studying advanced sealing techniques under her personal guidance.
"Why would Tsunade allow this?" he muttered. "And why would Lady Mito agree?"
He let out a long sigh. "What are they planning…?"
For the first time, Hiruzen felt a growing unease. Things were slipping out of his control.
"Did I… underestimate that child?"
Without the haze of that earlier manipulation—perhaps even the remnants of the Will of Fire clouding his judgment—his clarity was returning.
"I didn't just misjudge him… Danzo did too."
They had made a rash decision to push Ren toward Tsunade instead of sending him to Root. Hiruzen now realized how shortsighted that had been.
"Tenichi—no, Ren—is the youngest son of Uchiha Nobuhiko. Of course he'd be talented."
Back then, Danzo had suggested immediately placing him under Root supervision for conditioning and control. At the time, Hiruzen hadn't questioned it. Neither of them had.
But looking back, everything about it had been wrong.
"We were both blind."
He rubbed his temples, frustration mounting.
He didn't even consider the possibility that someone had tampered with their minds. That was simply… unthinkable.
Until now.
Knock—slam!
The office door burst open. Danzo stormed in, shutting it behind him. His face was like thunder.
"Hiruzen," he snapped, "did you know Mito is teaching that Uchiha brat the Tensei Seal?"
Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly.
"You allowed this to happen? Are you insane?"
Danzo's fury had reached its peak. Every development involving Ren Takashi seemed like a slap to his face.
"Calm down, Danzo."
"Calm down?" Danzo barked. "Do you even realize how serious this is?"
"I warned you—if you had let me take him into Root, this wouldn't have happened!"
"Instead, you had Tsunade take him under her wing—and now he's studying seals from Mito with the Jinchūriki candidate by his side!"
Danzo was livid. "What's next? Are they planning to hand the Nine Tails over to the Uchiha?"
"That can't happen, Hiruzen! If the Uchiha gain control of the Jinchūriki, the village is finished!"
Hiruzen paled. He hadn't considered that implication.
"Could that be her goal…? Pairing them up early… letting feelings develop…?"
His fingers slipped, and he choked on his pipe smoke.
Cough! Hack!
Danzo looked at him in contempt. "This is your mess. You fix it."
"…I will," Hiruzen said through gritted teeth. "Mito has gone too far. I'll speak with her myself."
He stood up and turned toward the door.
Danzo blinked, stiffened, then quickly shook his head. "Not me. I'm not going."
Hiruzen raised a brow.
"You know she hates me," Danzo said flatly. "And frankly, I'm not risking my life for this conversation."
His eyes darted to the floor, sweat beading on his brow.
"She still blames me for what happened to the Senju clan's elites," Danzo added darkly. "If I show up, she might kill me."
"Fine," Hiruzen replied. "You stay here. But remember—we cannot allow Ren Takashi and the future Jinchūriki to grow too close."
Senju Compound, Moments Later
Hiruzen stepped into Mito Uzumaki's courtyard, guided by a servant.
Mito sat calmly under a pavilion, with Kushina beside her.
"Mito-sama."
He bowed slightly, suppressing every flicker of emotion.
"You're Hokage," Mito said coolly. "No need to bow. Sit."
Hiruzen obeyed. But before he could speak, Mito gestured toward Kushina.
"You've met her, yes? I've already arranged for her to begin at the Academy tomorrow."
"Yes," Hiruzen nodded, somewhat relieved. "Everything is prepared."
"Good… maybe Danzo overreacted."
"If Mito's sending her to school, she can't be planning to isolate her or raise her as some Uchiha bride..."
"Good." Mito turned to Kushina. "Go ahead and greet the Hokage, then go inside."
Kushina bowed respectfully and vanished indoors.
As soon as she was gone, Mito waved her hand—and an invisible barrier sealed the pavilion.
She sipped her tea, calm as ever.
"So. You're here because of Ren and Kushina, correct?"
Hiruzen stiffened.
There was no hiding it. She had read him clean through.
"…Yes. I won't lie."
"Kushina is the future Nine Tails Jinchūriki. Ren is Uchiha. Their bond—if left unchecked—could be… dangerous."
"You know as well as I do: the Uchiha have a history of ambition. Rebellion."
"If they gain control of the Nine Tails, it could bring disaster to Konoha."
"I'm sure you understand why I'm here."
For a moment, silence.
Then—
BOOM.
Mito's suppressed chakra flared like a tidal wave.
The barrier groaned. The floor cracked. The air itself distorted.
Hiruzen froze.
He was a boat caught in a hurricane—helpless, breathless.
Golden Nine-Tails chakra glowed faintly around Mito, filling the room with suffocating pressure.
She hadn't even stood up.
Hiruzen felt as if death itself stood before him.
And then came the words—soft, sharp, and full of mockery.
"Oh? You resent me now, Hiruzen?"
"Are you hoping I'll die soon?"
Hiruzen's thoughts shrieked. "No no no no—why did I let that cross my mind!?"
"I—I didn't mean—" he stammered, sweat pouring down his face.
"I was wrong! I apologize!"
Mito slowly allowed the chakra to fade.
As the pressure lifted, Hiruzen collapsed to one knee, trembling.
"Get up," she said coldly. "You're the Hokage. Act like it."
He staggered upright, cursing himself silently.
Why did I come alone?
Why didn't I drag Danzo with me?
She'd have killed him instead!
Even now, Hiruzen thought of ways to derail the budding connection between Ren and Kushina. Perhaps he could push her toward someone else… Minato Namikaze, for instance.
Bright. Honest. Loyal. Easy to control.
Sure, he was friends with Ren—but love had a funny way of driving people apart.
Hiruzen's mind was already spinning with new plans.