Yuzuru was right. That old man Sarutobi Hiruzen really did take action.
From now on, she could never see Mikoto or Yuzuru again.
"Damn it! Why even take away this little freedom? The Will of Fire, bonds... it's all bullshit!"
Uzumaki Kushina returned to the Senju clan compound in a huff.
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Her last shred of illusion shattered, she was utterly disappointed in this boring village.
She only hoped Yuzuru's plan would go smoothly. She didn't want to stay in this cage for even one more second.
"Kushina, you seem to be in a bad mood."
Uzumaki Mito, who had been sunbathing in the courtyard, reached out and pulled Uzumaki Kushina in front of her. "Did something happen?"
"Granny Mito, I..."
Seeing Uzumaki Kushina hesitate, Uzumaki Mito slowly rose and led her into the house.
"Kushina, don't worry. No one will be able to hear our conversation."
Hearing that, Uzumaki Kushina knelt beside Uzumaki Mito.
If there was still anyone she could trust now, it was only Uzumaki Mito, who had cared for her all this time.
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"Granny Mito, if one day I left Konoha, would you blame me?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"No reason. Just thinking out loud."
Hearing this, Uzumaki Mito stroked Uzumaki Kushina's long hair and said gently, "Kushina, there's a scroll by the bed. Bring it here."
"Oh."
Uzumaki Mito placed the scroll in Uzumaki Kushina's hands and said softly, "This scroll contains all the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan. From now on, it's yours."
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Uzumaki Kushina's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "Granny Mito, why are you suddenly giving me something so important?"
"Do you understand what this means?"
"Granny Mito, you don't blame me?"
Uzumaki Kushina asked in a low voice.
"Silly child, how could I blame you?"
Uzumaki Mito smiled and shook her head. "Since you've already made your decision, I would never interfere."
"How difficult life as a Jinchuriki is—I've experienced it firsthand."
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"Of course, the path you've chosen may not be much easier than becoming a Jinchuriki."
"No matter where you are, the village won't give you up easily."
"It's okay. I'll be careful."
After Uzumaki Kushina finished speaking, she asked with some confusion, "Granny Mito, if your life hasn't been easy, why have you endured it all this time?"
"With your status and strength, even the Hokage shouldn't be able to do anything to you, right?"
Hearing this, Uzumaki Mito sighed. "Even though Hashirama has been dead for many years, as his wife, I wanted to continue his ideals."
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"For the sake of the village, I couldn't act solely based on my own preferences. Over all these years, I've at least done right by Hashirama."
"But still..."
A look of reminiscence crossed Uzumaki Mito's face, and after a long pause, she said, "I've failed those clan members in the Land of Whirlpools."
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"Kushina, I'm sorry for only saying these things after you'd already made your decision. I hope you won't blame me."
If Uzumaki Kushina hadn't decided to leave Konoha on her own, these words might have stayed locked in her heart forever.
Looking at the elderly woman nearing the end of her life, Uzumaki Kushina's nose stung, and she said earnestly, "Granny Mito, I don't blame you."
"That's good."
Uzumaki Mito smiled and took Uzumaki Kushina's hand.
Even for someone with such abundant vitality as her, the skin had become dry and wrinkled.
She gently rubbed the back of Uzumaki Kushina's fair hand and asked curiously, "Kushina, can you tell me how you came to this decision?"
After hearing Uzumaki Mito's question, Uzumaki Kushina rested her chin on one hand, and the moon from that night floated into her mind.
A smile unconsciously appeared on her lips as she said softly, "Because I met a hero..."
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique !"
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"Child's play."
Uchiha Fugaku snorted and sliced the fireball—several meters in diameter and blazing with heat—cleanly in half with a single stroke.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!"
Dozens of flame-wreathed shuriken bloomed like phoenix flowers, ricocheting off each other and converging on Uchiha Fugaku from every blind angle.
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"Shadow Clone Jutsu !"
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Uchiha Fugaku formed hand seals quickly, then used his long blade to knock down all the shuriken in front of him.
As for those coming from behind, he left them entirely to his shadow clone.
Clang!
Sharp blades clashed and instantly separated.
Uchiha Yuzuru and Uchiha Fugaku's Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun wildly.
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The two figures flashed continuously across the field, their speed pushed to the limit.
Each strike aimed directly at the other's vitals, yet each was elegantly evaded.
"Yuzuru, this time I'll definitely beat you!"
Uchiha Fugaku said confidently.
They'd agreed not to use ocular power, so he was confident he could defeat his opponent.
Hearing this, Uchiha Yuzuru didn't reply—he simply responded with even sharper blade work.
After some time, staring at the long blade pressed against his throat, Uchiha Fugaku's expression darkened.
He'd lost.
Even in a duel without using eye techniques, he still wasn't Uchiha Yuzuru's match.
Looking at Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Yuzuru slowly sheathed his blade.
"Though I don't know what you were hoping for, this is reality."
Even without using eye techniques, the dynamic vision of the Mangekyo Sharingan far surpassed that of an ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
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Moreover, with the system's rewards, he had no weaknesses in any area.
To defeat a Kage-level powerhouse with no weaknesses, there was no way but to crush them with overwhelming strength.
Uchiha Fugaku clearly didn't meet that requirement.
Seeing Uchiha Yuzuru's nonchalant demeanor, Uchiha Fugaku could only sigh. "I lost."
"You seem pretty disappointed."
"What else?"
We're both praised as geniuses, and I'm even several years older than him, yet now he's completely outclassed me...
Seeing Uchiha Fugaku like this, Uchiha Yuzuru offered some consolation. "Losing to me shouldn't make you feel inferior. It's like how butterflies are destined never to cross the sea, and fireflies need not compete with the bright moon."
Hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's words, Uchiha Fugaku clenched his fists. "Are you mocking me?"
"No, I'm comforting you."
"Then please don't do that anymore. You have no talent for it."
The usually composed Uchiha Fugaku felt like his teeth might shatter from clenching.
So annoying. Why couldn't I be this infuriating guy?
But still, at least tonight he'd have material for his dreams.
Just as Uchiha Fugaku was lost in thought, Uchiha Yakumi and Uchiha Inabi rushed in urgently.
"Lord Yuzuru, Lord Fugaku, our people have clashed with ANBU. Do you want to take a look?"
Several minutes earlier.
Shokumi-tei.
As a small restaurant renowned for its delicious food, Shokumi-tei was quite popular among Konoha's many eateries.
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Though the shop wasn't very large, customers came and went in steady streams every day.
Rumor had it that the owner, Uchiha Yuriko, combined the Sharingan's powerful and meticulous observational abilities with her cooking, which was how she could produce such exquisite dishes.
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It was also because of this that Shokumi-tei only opened for business in the evenings.
Right now, it was dinnertime, and the small shop was already packed.
Amid the clamor of voices, a loud slam suddenly rang out.
Everyone turned to look and saw two men reeking of alcohol shouting loudly, "Boss! Boss! Boss!"
Soon, Uchiha Yuriko emerged from the kitchen wearing a white apron.
"May I help you?"
Though she'd just come from the kitchen, Uchiha Yuriko was spotless.
She wore her hair in a bun topped with a white cap. Though middle-aged, her beautiful features paired with her ample chest always drew men's gazes.
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The two troublemakers exchanged glances, then flashed rather sleazy grins.
One of the men pointed at the empty cup on the table and said unhappily, "Boss, do you expect the booze to pour itself into my cup?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Yuriko's expression turned cold, but she still bent down and poured the man a drink.
"The shop is busy. We were slow to attend to you. Please forgive us."
"Hold on!"
Seeing Uchiha Yuriko about to leave, the man who'd just spoken pressed further. "I can drink a lot, lady. One cup ain't gonna cut it. How about you stay and drink with us till we're done?"
"Ha ha ha ha ha..."
The men's words provoked a round of laughter.
Uchiha Yuriko's expression grew darker as she stared silently at the two men.
Just as she was about to act, a voice came from behind her.
"Yuriko, need any help?"
"Captain Kaen?"
Seeing Uchiha Kaen, Uchiha Yuriko quickly explained what had happened.
Uchiha Kaen snorted and said to his two subordinates behind him, "Take these two troublemakers to the Military Police Force."
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"You dare!"
"Wait."
Two masked ANBU ninja suddenly appeared. "ANBU is taking over this matter. You may leave."
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"You...!"
The ANBU's forceful attitude made Uchiha Kaen furious, but he was helpless.
As the Hokage's direct force, ANBU was an organization no one in Konoha dared provoke.
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Seeing Uchiha Kaen fall silent, the two troublemakers' faces lit up with smug grins.