"Is that the tanned Uchiha? Who the hell let him in the compound?"
"Look at his side, it is the Princess!"
"I heard that this brat and the Tsunade-hime were closely related to each other. I wonder if this brat is using our jeweled Princess or not."
While the breezy winds of the chilly December swayed the luscious branches around, the comments and critiques of the members within the Senju Compound buzzed.
Although some of them remained in the clan, Yoichi could notice the sparse population inside the area.
The scenery around the compound was nearly traditional and elegant.
The trees were everywhere yet this pleasing verdure was incorporated with the clear vivid atmosphere. The architecture and the glorious wooden structures breathe the vicissitudes of history. Young men and women were enjoying the scenery along with their clansmen while looking at the guests.
Walking side by side slowly, Yoichi and Tsunade went ahead amidst the eyes of the public. The princess began telling him some of the news and the history of the Senju as Yoichi listened to her superficial exposition.
"Seriously? Your grandfather personally made the Forest of Death with his signature jutsu?!" Although he has a little bit of knowledge of the Naruto Universe, Yoichi was indeed surprised by her revelation.
After all, Kishimoto hadn't indicated that in the material. Even the fandom of Naruto doesn't truly have any clue about the Forest of Death's creation.
"Hah, it's nothing awesome!" Despite her vehement downplaying, Tsunade couldn't help but rub under her nose, appearing quite proud of her grandpa.
That was the first time she saw his surprised countenance. So Tsunade told him other histories and details with excitement on her face.
After listening to Tsunade's stories in her childhood, Yoichi continuously nodded in agreement with her blunt remarks.
If not for the First Hokage's directive to integrate his prestigious clan into the village, perhaps some of the remaining Senju Clan Members could potentially be like the Uchiha Clan.
This integration was the First Hokage's ingenious plan which was soon to be followed by his brother or the Second Hokage after the First Hokage mysteriously died.
In other words, they ordered their clan members to be assimilated into the village and prioritized its growth rather than exerting influence along with the strength as one of the top clans.
As a result, the remaining Senju Clan in the compound was steadily declining as time passed by. Marrying into another clan without the Senju in their surnames anymore.
Domestication! That's the word I am looking for... Still, this is why some of the ordinary clans in Konoha favored Hashirama Senju that much.
Yoichi thought as he propped his chin on a hand while walking alongside Tsunade, who was peeking at him.
Coupled with Hashirama's friendly appeal to the masses, his unselfish order became a pie falling in the sky.
"We are here! Come on, I'll take you to grandma." With a forceful grab, Yoichi's hand was soon taken by Tsunade as they sauntered forward into a well-conditioned house with a wide field like a sheep's pasture.
When his hand was seized by a dainty hand, Yoichi sighed and shook his head, allowing himself to be dragged by an excited girl without any thought.
From Yoichi's perspective, it was only a friendly gesture and nothing else. Sure, he liked her but it could be fostered in the future, not coerced.
"Grandma! Your request is here!"
Once they arrived at the location, Tsunade launched herself into a red-haired woman's embrace.
"It is my pleasure to meet your elegant self, Mito-sama."
Even time doesn't erase her beauty...
As he saw the graceful woman, Yoichi bowed slightly while his thoughts were opposite. Fascination and delight filled his sanity as one of the mysterious but beautiful women was in front of him, Mito Uzumaki.
"Oh, my... You don't have to be too polite, Uchiha Yoichi."
He really looked like Sensei...
In contrast, Mito scanned every facial and physical appearance of the child with a reminiscent look in her eyes.
Odd sun and moon symbol in the dangling earrings like Yin and Yang.
Slightly tanned skin with the same taste in casual attire.
And that facial shape and figure.
Except for those eyes, he's definitely like Sensei!
Mito easily concluded her mind as she sat down in her soft chair and glanced at the child with amusement in her eyes. However, right before she was about to speak, she was violently pulled into her deeper consciousness.
"Hahaha! He still has that exact face! However, what's with those wretched eyes?! Is he— Is he a cursed Uchiha?!"
A deep voice reverberated with wrath as the massive silhouette's vertical slitted pupils widened at the scene. Soon, the gigantic shadow bathed in light which slowly unveiled an orange colored beast, seemingly like a fox with a unique nine tails behind him.
"What's wrong? Who angered you so?"
Feeling the negative emotions swirling through her body, Mito deeply frowned and weaved the hand signs, suppressing the Nine-Tailed Fox with her indestructible chains.
"Grandma! What's happening?!"
Meanwhile, Tsunade became nervous as the intense chakra earlier managed to outwardly pressure the peripheral area including the two children.
"Do not be hasty! Let Mito-sama handle this!"
As Tsunade went closer and closer to Mito, Yoichi immediately grabbed her hands and stopped Tsunade in an instant. Even though he had a bit of curiosity, the compressed chakra earlier could have seriously injured them as a consequence.
"That wasn't about you, human! Get out before I kill you here right now!"
With a resounding roar, his enormous wave of Chakra along with oppressive killing intent felt pervasive but the complex seals around him instantly stifled the immense pressure by a slight margin.
"I will soon quell your anger about the humanity..." Once she came back into reality, Mito never forgot to mumble her kind words to the Nine-Tailed Fox, who merely scoffed and looked at Yoichi intently.
In the end, Mito successfully subdued the Nine-Tailed Fox with a little bit of exhaustion due to her aging. Still, her experience in subduing the beast was phenomenal and distinguished.
"Hohoho... Looks like you're quite bold in your approach." Opening her eyes, Mito immediately noticed Yoichi's callous hands tightly grasping her granddaughter's petite hands, smiling with a teasing tone in her voice.
"Grandma. Don't tease me like that!"
Noticing the intimate situation, Tsunade yanked her hands out of his grasp and hugged her grandmother in protest, burrowing her slightly flushed face away from Yoichi's eyesight.
"Mito-sama... May I ask about your request for my presence?" Yoichi changed the topic, easily hiding his ashamed self into an indifferent one.
"A frank question, indeed. Then, I'll have you respond to my question regarding some matters. Is that alright with you?" With a profound expression, Mito rubbed Tsunade's head and intently glanced at Yoichi.
Yoichi nodded in acknowledgment.
"What do you think about Konoha?" Without further ado, Mito threw a curveball that made Tsunade raise an eyebrow as Yoichi crossed his arms, thinking about his careful response.
"In my opinion, it was still worth protecting for." Yoichi casually spoke.
"'Still'? Why do you think so?" Mito and Tsunade tilted their heads in interest.
"The prosperity and peace said so," Yoichi then continued, "However, the encroaching darkness might be creeping into the underground. Peace was only a temporary relief while desire and human conflicts were cycling in perpetuity."
Upon hearing his words, Mito hesitantly nodded while Tsunade scratched her head, unable to process Yoichi's statement in her mind.
He's not wrong. Ever since that time period, nothing has particularly changed. But human desires really fuel our ambitions into something much sinister.
As a Jinchūriki who could perceive malice, Mito was truly glad about her husband's aspirations and might. If not, then perhaps there would be many more innocent victims in the Warring States Period.
The shinobi landscape has changed ever since the allegiance between the daimyō and the hidden village.
Instead of clans killing each other, it evolved into missions for the village.
But from the looks of it, it was merely a stopgap for a bottomless abyss called human nature.
"Good child. I don't know what your beliefs are... but it appears that you had some wisdom. Anyway, do you want to eat lunch here?" Soon, Mito shook her head and invited the child to lunch, standing up as a host.
"Thank you for inviting me."
Therefore, the three went into the wide dining area and waited for the food to be delivered by maids nearby.
________________
(Current Progress)
[Heavenly Demon Posture: (Perfection) 0/1000]
[Mountain Crushing Fist: (Small Success) 78/300]
[Lightning Spear Thrust: (Small Success) 52/300]
[Phantom Steps: (Small Success) 101/300]
[Secret Technique: Face Changing (Entry) 21/100]
[Tickets: 1 Prismatic, 0 Gold, 0 Silver.]
____________
Shoutout to Obligation and HologramBuddha for the Power Stones! Holy shit! Absolute Cinema!
Thanks for reading the chapters and bookmarking the novel! See ya! XDD!