Chi Yu and Uzumaki Kushina were at home when a sudden knock came at the door.
Chi Yu opened it and was surprised to see Minato Namikaze standing there alongside a red-haired woman.
"Miyuki, you're here!"
Upon hearing that name, Kushina immediately stood up from the sofa and walked over, her expression lighting up with joy.
"Miyuki!" she called warmly, embracing the woman. "It's been a few days!"
Miyuki Uzumaki smiled, linking arms with Kushina. "I know. I've missed you. A few days ago, I wanted to visit, but... things got complicated."
Kushina nodded. "I wanted to take you shopping the other day, but you weren't home, so I had to go by myself!"
At the mention of "a few days ago," the smiles on Minato and Miyuki's faces grew noticeably strained.
A few days earlier, while Chi Yu had gone to Tanzaku Town, an incident had occurred in Konoha.
The Nine-Tails within Miyuki had lost control.
Although Chi Yu had previously forged a tentative truce with the Nine-Tails, Miyuki's chakra was ultimately too fragile to contain the beast. The suppression seal weakened, and the tailed beast's influence overwhelmed her.
Minato had been forced to intervene, using a hastily constructed sealing technique to prevent a catastrophe. In the process, as he disrupted a partially formed Tailed Beast Bomb, the concept of compressing chakra in a spiraling motion took root in his mind—planting the seed that would eventually become the Rasengan.
Sensing their unease, Chi Yu quickly pieced together what had likely happened.
He stepped aside and gestured politely. "Would you like to come in?"
Minato shook his head. "We're just here to deliver invitations. We've still got more to deliver after this."
Kushina blinked, surprised. "Wait—don't tell me… are you two getting married?"
Miyuki laughed softly. "That's right. We've decided to tie the knot in two weeks. You and Chi Yu have to come!"
Minato handed over a formal invitation, which Chi Yu accepted with both hands.
"Then allow me to congratulate you in advance," Chi Yu said with a nod. "May your marriage be blessed."
"Thank you," Minato replied with his usual calm smile.
Miyuki turned to Kushina. "Will you come shopping with me over the next few days? I want to pick out a wedding kimono."
Kushina immediately brightened. "Of course! That sounds great!"
With a few parting words, Minato and Miyuki took their leave.
Once the door closed, Kushina took the invitation and sat back on the sofa, staring at it with a nostalgic expression.
"Time flies," she murmured. "Miyuki is getting married to Minato..."
Chi Yu sat beside her and chuckled. "You're the one sighing? Minato's our age, and I think Miyuki's two years older than him. Besides, it's peacetime now—when better to settle down?"
Kushina paused, then nodded. "You're right. I guess I should save the sighing for when we get married."
She puffed out her cheeks in mock annoyance. "Back in the Academy, you used to ignore me so much I had to ask you to be my friend. It was outrageous!"
Chi Yu gently poked her puffed cheek with his finger. "I know. I was such an idiot back then. Can't believe I ignored you."
Kushina crossed her arms with a self-satisfied huff. "At least you've come to your senses! As punishment, you're making dinner tonight!"
Chi Yu gave her a salute. "Yes, ma'am. What shall I prepare?"
"Curry beef rice!"
Chi Yu smiled. "Understood! My lovely wife, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to the market for ingredients?"
Kushina stood and looked down at him theatrically. "Hmph. I suppose I can spare the time."
Laughing, the two left the house hand in hand.
---
Over the next few days, Kushina and Miyuki went out shopping nearly every day.
Meanwhile, Chi Yu returned to Orochimaru's laboratory to continue his training. Although newly married, he wanted to spend time with Kushina before heading to Ryūchi Cave in pursuit of Sage Mode—a power few had ever mastered.
Elsewhere, in the quiet chambers of the Third Hokage's residence...
Danzo Shimura sat across from Hiruzen Sarutobi, his expression grim.
"Hiruzen," Danzo began coldly, "the war has ended. Now is the time to finalize our plans for dealing with the Uchiha Clan."
Hiruzen, pipe in hand, paused mid-motion before setting it down with a sigh.
"This isn't the time for that, Danzo," he replied. "Let's revisit the matter later."
Danzo's eyes narrowed. "Avoiding the subject won't make it go away. We've spent years tightening the noose around the Uchiha. Now that we're on the verge of success, you want to let them go?"
"They've changed," Hiruzen said. "Uchiha Fugaku has kept the clan in check since the war. Their conduct during the conflict was commendable. Perhaps they deserve a chance."
Danzo scowled. "A chance? You think Fugaku seeks peace? He's biding his time. If we loosen our grip now, all our efforts will be wasted."
Hiruzen's tone sharpened. "Konoha cannot afford civil strife so soon after the war. We must rebuild, not tear ourselves apart. The Uchiha fought and bled for this village. They deserve fairness."
Danzo leaned forward, his voice low and furious. "Minato won't be able to contain them when they rebel. You and I struggled to keep them in line—do you think the boy you handpicked to be Fourth Hokage will succeed where we nearly failed?
If Tobirama-sama were alive to see this cowardice, he'd be disgusted you ever inherited the Will of Fire."
The pressure in the room spiked as Hiruzen's chakra flared.
"Don't speak his name so lightly," Hiruzen said coldly. "Tobirama wanted unity. Not endless division and bloodshed. Konoha must move forward."
The two elders stared each other down, the old shadow of conflict between them growing heavier once more.
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