Konoha.
Koharu stood at the entrance of Kushina's home, gently knocking on the door.
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Just a moment!"
A voice full of vitality rang out as Kushina came rushing over. After opening the door, she froze slightly in surprise. "You're… Adviser-sama?"
"Hello, Kushina."
"I'm here on behalf of the Third to see you. May I come in and sit for a while?"
Koharu smiled kindly—though that was not her true intention.
Before coming to see Kushina, Hiruzen had summoned her once more, discussing in detail the arrangements regarding the Fire Country's public positioning on human-body technology development, and again emphasizing the core purpose of this conversation.
That discussion had left a deep impression on her.
Ever since taking the seat of Konoha's advisor, Koharu had subconsciously felt that she herself had been altered by responsibility and power, becoming no longer the same person she once was.
In the past, she had cared about the emotions of her comrades, valued the continuation of individual lives, and possessed a delicate, attentive mind.
But when governing the village from a macro perspective, she increasingly felt that the idea and promotion of "ninjas as tools" were extremely effective. It could avoid large amounts of friction and internal attrition and was, in concrete terms, a way to ensure Konoha's survival.
Because of this, she had even suggested to the Third that perhaps there was no need to apologize to Kushina, that it would be enough to quietly correct the mistake…
But she had been rebuked by Hiruzen.
"Koharu, you think the warmth of human nature will erode a ninja's tool-like nature and affect the village… I don't deny that this will bring some trouble, but I'm asking you to do it to bring the village greater benefits."
"If we keep suppressing ninjas' human side like this, Konoha is going to run into a big problem sooner or later! And all we need to do is bend down just a little and smooth over that spiritual need, then slowly spread it throughout the shinobi world…"
"Do you dare make a bet with me? The Will of Fire can even make the enemy come running over to surrender!"
"So-called authority is about getting everyone to form a shared understanding that we can make the village better—not about never making mistakes."
"Don't be so short-sighted."
Koharu was hit by a barrage of words and fled the Hokage Building in a sorry state.
Her old classmate's forcefulness made her think of their sensei…
Once you had thought through the logic and the stakes, and reached a conclusion, you had to carry it out with resolve.
No matter whether the target was a so-called Konoha advisor, an enemy nation's hidden village, or even yourself.
"Please, come in—quick! Ah, I haven't tidied the house… what should I do…"
Kushina hurriedly ushered Koharu inside, her red hair fluttering slightly from nervousness.
"It's fine, it's fine… Young people relaxing a bit is perfectly normal." Koharu said with a warm chuckle, thinking as she spoke of Hiruzen's words.
But after stepping into the house, Koharu's brows lifted.
Why was there a blond in this house too?
These two kids seem a bit off…
Minato was barefoot, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, completely focused on the densely packed diagrams spread across the coffee table.
It looked like sealing techniques?
Koharu frowned subconsciously.
Who had allowed this boy to come into contact with an important tailed beast container?
Establishing this kind of private relationship, and even seeming to extract precious sealing technique materials from the Uzumaki clan…
Even if Minato was the one who had rescued Kushina, that was one matter, and this was another.
Kushina did not notice the subtle change in Koharu's expression. Her face simply flushed red as she wanted to explain something.
Ah!
How could she have forgotten that Minato was still at home?
This was the natural reaction of a young girl whose elders had discovered that there was a boy in her house.
But Minato keenly picked up on this. He quickly stood up and greeted her: "Hello, Adviser Utatane!"
"Mm…" Koharu looked at Minato with a scrutinizing gaze.
It was not that she insisted on breaking up a young couple, but Kushina's status was special, and it did not allow her to avoid overthinking.
Even if Minato was Jiraiya's disciple, it was the same.
"Grand-sensei is really very concerned about Kushina. So many people came to see you today…"
Minato smiled like a little sun and said to Kushina, "You're truly receiving a lot of attention."
Kushina let out a soft laugh and teased, "What—if the Third hadn't instructed you, you wouldn't have come to see me?"
Minato raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "That's not what I mean. Grand-sensei said the two of us get along very well, and that seeing it made him very happy…"
A thought stirred in Koharu's mind.
What a crafty little blond brat!
With just one or two sentences, he first emphasized his own status, then subtly made it clear that he had the Third Hokage's backing.
Yet on the surface, he looked like an innocent, sunny boy with a vacant air…
Was this really a disciple trained by that kid Jiraiya?
Not alike at all!
Instead, he was a little similar to Orochimaru when he was young…
"So Minato the brat is here too?"
Koharu instantly put on a different expression. "Seeing you young people training together like this makes even a middle-aged person like me feel younger, hehe."
Kushina's face flushed red as she ran to the kitchen to fetch some snacks and tea.
"What are you working on?" Koharu asked, pointing at the table.
"Adviser-sama, could you help take a look?" Minato scratched his head in distress. "Grand-sensei asked me to do a quality inspection on the security that Sakumo-sama is reorganizing…"
"I thought sealing techniques might be helpful, so Kushina and I have been studying it together!"
Hearing this, Koharu felt deeply moved.
Seeing young men and women striving for the village also made her recall her own youth…
"Let this old woman take a look—perhaps I can be of some help?"
A moment later, Koharu raised her head awkwardly.
She had originally intended to modestly help out and close the distance a bit, but the sealing techniques these two youths were researching were not basic at all.
They had already reached a level that even ordinary jōnin would find difficult to grasp.
Koharu gave a few reluctant pointers. They could be considered substantive, but she still felt awkward and ill at ease.
Minato, however, let out a light exclamation: "Thank you, Adviser Utatane. I've figured this point out!"
Koharu froze for a moment.
Figured out what?
I haven't even figured it out myself!
Kushina's eyes immediately sparkled. "Really? Adviser Utatane is amazing—and Minato is amazing too!"
Only then did Koharu finally feel at ease about this blond boy.
Whether it was his initiative in letting her understand exactly what kind of sealing technique they were researching, or his emotional intelligence…
None of it was at a level an ordinary teenager should possess.
Most importantly, she truly could not tell whether Minato was simply airheaded by nature, or genuinely adept at handling people…
But in any case, he was certainly more than enough when it came to dealing with Kushina.
She already looked like a little fangirl…
Koharu decided it was time to get to the point.
"Kushina, those despicable Kumo ninja— the village will definitely make them pay the price."
"In the past, there were shortcomings in your security arrangements and in guiding your integration into the village, and you suffered some grievances because of that."
"But it was absolutely not because we forgot you. Rather, matters must be advanced one by one: enemy infiltration, postwar reconstruction—these are all major issues tied to the village's survival."
"The Third has already given instructions to incorporate the friendly history between the Uzumaki clan and Konoha into the ninja academy curriculum, so that everyone will not only know the Uzumaki clan's contributions, but also remember the enemy's ruthlessness and this humiliation."
"The Third asked me to pass this on to you: Konoha is your home. You are not some so-called tailed beast container. Even without special chakra, the village has the obligation to properly care for every Uzumaki orphan."
"You may freely choose a new residence. ANBU will strengthen security in the surrounding area. Given that your status makes it unsuitable for you to frequently carry out missions, the village will additionally provide you with a set of training resources and a living allowance."
"If there is anything you need, you can tell the village. Don't keep it bottled up…"
Koharu said solemnly: "The Third hopes that you can live happily in Konoha and find a new family."
Kushina lowered her head, her eyes filling with tears. "Thank you. Thank you, Hokage-sama. Thank you, Adviser Utatane!"
"The village has always kept you in its heart, Kushina…"
Minato sat beside Kushina, gently comforting the one he loved in a soft voice.
"I won't disturb you any further." Koharu sighed inwardly and turned to leave.
After stepping outside, she looked up at the sky.
Koharu felt an inexpressible mixture of emotions.
Like this… it really was very good.
When exactly had she started to speak of the Will of Fire with her mouth, yet let the theory of ninjas as tools occupy the greater part of her heart?
The village… perhaps it should have this kind of role after all?
And at this moment—
On the other side of the village—
Sakumo was also thinking about the issue of Konoha's newly formed security force.
He went to find Uchiha Fugaku.
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