Kushina froze for a moment before finally realizing what Mito meant.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
“Grandma Mito!
It’s not like that between us!” “We only met for the first time today.” At most…
At most, she had a favorable impression of him.
That was all.
How could anyone fall in love the first time they met?
“But Grandma never said you two were in that kind of relationship.” Uzumaki Mito’s smile only widened.
Seeing Kushina blush even harder, she chuckled and shook her head.
“Alright, alright.
I won’t tease you anymore.” “Your Sister Tsunade should be back today.
Why don’t you go see her?” Ever since Nawaki and Dan’s deaths, that child had fallen into a deep slump.
That was hardly a good sign.
“Really?” A look of delight lit up Kushina’s face.
“Then I’ll go find her right away!” Come to think of it, they hadn’t seen each other for quite a while.
After watching Kushina leave, Mito let out a quiet sigh.
“I only hope that before I die…
you’ll find someone who can protect you and love you.” A Jinchūriki without love…
Would eventually fall into darkness.
She didn’t want that future for the child.
“Hmph!
You old hag!
The day you die, I’ll destroy Konoha!” Kurama roared in fury.
If it weren’t for this woman, how could he still be imprisoned here?
…No.
The one he should really hate was that bastard Senju Hashirama.
Your strength was already overwhelming, so why did you have to say that my power was too dangerous and that I needed to be sealed away?
Then you just pinned me down without another word!
…No, wait.
The real culprit was that damned Uchiha Madara.
If it weren’t for him dragging me into all this, I’d still be living freely in the wilderness.
Damn it!
Every single one of them was a bastard!
“You won’t get the chance.” Mito replied calmly.
“Even on the day I die, you still won’t have that opportunity.” By then, she would have already arranged everything and sealed the Nine-Tails away once more.
Although she was nearing the end of her life, Mito still possessed a youthful, beautiful appearance.
That was the power of the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
As long as one had sufficient chakra, youth could be maintained indefinitely—until death itself.
Kurama snorted unwillingly and opened his mouth to continue cursing.
Mito didn’t indulge him in the slightest.
With a casual wave of her hand, several Adamantine Sealing Chains shot out and wrapped tightly around his mouth.
Kurama was so furious he nearly exploded.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a thing he could do about it.
He could only glare viciously at Mito.
She had long since grown accustomed to that look.
Just wait, Hashirama…
Once everything is over…
I’ll come find you.
… At that very moment, Akira was deep in the forest, experimenting with his Devil Fruit abilities.
He had completely had enough of the academy’s boring classes.
So he had decided to develop the String Clone.
With memories from his previous life, his imagination far surpassed that of ordinary people.
Before long, he began making progress.
A vaguely humanoid…
…mummy?
“What exactly are you doing?” Uchiha Mikoto jumped down from a nearby tree and stared at Akira’s creation in confusion.
“Practicing bandaging?” “But…
if you wrap someone up like that, wouldn’t they suffocate?” “No.” Without even looking back, Akira continued manipulating the strings.
“I’m developing a new ability.” “Once I finish it, I won’t have to attend school myself anymore.” “So you’re trying to skip class.” Mikoto looked at him speechlessly.
“Then why don’t you just use the Shadow Clone Technique?” “I don’t know it.” “I can teach you!” “No need.” Akira shook his head.
“I can develop one using my own ability.
Besides, this is much more advanced than a Shadow Clone.” Unlike ordinary Shadow Clones, a String Clone wouldn’t disappear just because its body was cut apart.
As long as his mastery over the String-String Fruit continued improving, he could simply repair it.
A Shadow Clone, on the other hand, vanished the moment it took enough damage.
What if that little chili pepper sitting next to him suddenly punched him one day?
Wouldn’t his little plan to skip class be exposed?
After all, in the teachers’ eyes, he’d always been the model student.
“A String Release clone, huh?” Mikoto nodded thoughtfully.
“Now you’ve got me interested.” “But…” She carefully examined the string construct before her.
A helpless smile appeared on her face.
“It doesn’t look like a clone at all.” Just then, a line of text appeared before Akira’s eyes.
Training Complete: System Points +2 The corners of Akira’s mouth twitched.
At this rate…
Who knew how he’d managed to endure all these years?
If he couldn’t clearly feel his control over the strings improving, along with the steady increase in his chakra reserves, he probably would’ve lost all motivation long ago.
“Alright.” Akira dismissed his ability.
“That’s enough training for today.” There was no point continuing.
Once he’d reached the daily training limit, no additional System Points would be earned.
Each day’s reward ranged from one to five points.
Getting four was already considered lucky.
As for five…
Akira had never seen it happen.
“Oh, right.” Sitting beside him, Mikoto suddenly remembered something.
“I’m leaving on a mission soon.” “I probably won’t be able to come see you for a while.” “Is that so?” Akira nodded.
“Then be careful.
The ninja world still isn’t safe.
If anything happens, prioritize staying alive.” He knew there was a complete lunatic wandering the ninja world.
A man who claimed to have once challenged the First Hokage.
Nowadays, that same guy made a living killing people for bounty money.
Akira had always wanted to ask him something face-to-face.
Back then…
did you challenge the First Hokage by throwing a shuriken from eight hundred meters away?
If that counts as a challenge…
then I can do it too.
“Don’t worry.” Mikoto proudly lifted her fair neck.
“I’m an Uchiha.” “I’m very strong.” “It’s just…” “There’s an annoying guy who’s been trying to get close to me lately.” “Who?” “His name is Uchiha Fugaku.” “He’s the clan heir, and he’ll most likely become the next clan head.” “The future clan head is courting you, and you’re not tempted?” Akira looked at her in genuine surprise.
He couldn’t help viewing her in a new light.
“You idiot!” Mikoto suddenly sprang to her feet in embarrassment.
She kicked him once before storming off in a huff.
Watching her leave, a smile spread across Akira’s face.
“She’s still just a kid after all.” “So easy to tease.”