After parting ways with Asahi and Kurenai Yūhi, Shinku Yūhi headed straight for the Hokage’s office building.
He arrived there shortly after and knocked on the wooden door in front of him.
A strong and steady voice came from inside the room: “Come in.”
Shinku Yūhi pushed the door open, walked inside, and bowed respectfully to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
“Lord Hokage.”
“Hmm.” Hiruzen, who was smoking his pipe, simply gave a short reply.
Then he smiled and looked at Shinku Yūhi, getting straight to the point without wasting any time.
“How is that boy doing?
Does he hold any dislike or hatred towards Konoha?”
As the Hokage, he naturally paid close attention to someone who might be a descendant of the Uzumaki clan.
Every single person from the Uzumaki clan was a potential candidate to become a jinchūriki.
As Hokage, he had to plan carefully for the village’s future…
Shinku Yūhi nodded.
“During these two months we have spent together, Asahi has never shown any sign of rejecting or disliking Konoha.
However, perhaps because of everything he has been through, he is much more mature than other children his age, and rarely opens up and shows his true feelings…”
Hiruzen nodded slightly.
“Only time can heal the wounds in his heart.
We should give him more care and attention, help him forget his pain, and make him truly love this village.”
Shinku Yūhi spoke with great sincerity: “I understand.
I have already come to think of him as part of my own family.”
Hiruzen smiled.
“It seems you two have gotten along very well indeed.
That is good news.”
After a short pause, Hiruzen brought up another matter, his tone becoming more serious.
“During the time you have spent together, have you been able to confirm whether he really is a descendant of the Uzumaki clan?”
This was the key point.
If Asahi really was from the Uzumaki clan, they would have to increase the level of training and education he received, preparing him to become the next jinchūriki after Kushina Uzumaki.
This was all done for the sake of Konoha’s future!
When this was mentioned, Shinku Yūhi thought for a moment and shook his head helplessly.
“Apart from that one incident, Asahi hasn’t shown any other special abilities.
And on top of that…
he doesn’t seem very ambitious or motivated.
He never really wanted to become a ninja, and whenever I try to teach him how to refine chakra, he always finds excuses to avoid it…”
The amount of chakra a person possessed was one of the most effective ways to determine if they were from the Uzumaki clan.
Just one month after taking Asahi in, Shinku Yūhi had already tried to teach him how to refine chakra, but Asahi had refused, saying he didn’t want to become a ninja.
At the time, this had given him quite a headache…
“For a child of his age, going through the experience of watching his parents be killed by ninjas is bound to leave some deep emotional scars.” Hiruzen was already well aware of Asahi’s background and situation.
He took a puff from his pipe and slowly blew out the smoke.
“But the fact that he went to the Ninja Academy to register means he has already overcome these struggles in his heart.
You have done a very good job.”
A soft smile appeared on Shinku Yūhi’s serious face.
“I didn’t really do anything.
This was all Asahi’s own decision.
He said he wants to become a ninja so he can earn money to help support the family.
He really is a wonderful child.”
Hiruzen nodded.
“He certainly is a wonderful child.
The fact that he trusts and accepts you also shows that you have treated him with true sincerity.”
He tapped his fingers gently on the table and said kindly, “Keep observing him, but do not put too much pressure on him.
Whether he is from the Uzumaki clan or not, now that he is part of Konoha and you see him as family, you should treat him well and look after him.”
Shinku Yūhi bowed respectfully.
“Understood, Lord Hokage.”
Hiruzen waved his hand.
“You may go now.”
After Shinku Yūhi left, Hiruzen looked down at the documents and information about Asahi laid out on his desk and spoke softly to himself.
“Recovering completely from life-threatening injuries in just one night…
even if he isn’t from the Uzumaki clan, he definitely possesses something special, like vitality far beyond what any normal person has…”
“We shall just have to wait and see how you perform from now on.”
“I truly hope you are a descendant of the Uzumaki clan.
If you are, we won’t have to worry about so many things anymore.
Konoha…
will never treat you unfairly or let you down…”
Not just anyone could become a jinchūriki.
Just the requirement of having a massive amount of chakra alone already ruled out ninety-nine percent of all the ninjas in Konoha.
At present, the village’s jinchūriki was Kushina Uzumaki, so there was no need to worry about this issue for the time being.
But still, not having a backup candidate ready to take over in the future was something that left Hiruzen, as Hokage, feeling uneasy.
If Asahi really was from the Uzumaki clan, he would be the perfect person to fill this important role…
After returning from the Hokage’s office, Shinku Yūhi had just entered his home when he saw his daughter sitting on the sofa, looking clearly upset and angry.
Curious, he asked, “Yūhi, what happened to you?”
Yūhi pointed straight at Asahi, her face all puffed up with anger.
“It’s all his fault!
He bullied me again!”
“…” Hearing this, Shinku Yūhi didn’t know what to say.
He was already used to seeing this happen.
In fact, he would be far more surprised if there was ever a day when Asahi didn’t tease or upset Yūhi.
Rubbing the space between his eyebrows, he asked, “Asahi, what did you do this time to make Yūhi so angry?”
Asahi spoke confidently and without any guilt: “I was actually doing her a favor!
Eating too many sweet things really will make you gain weight.
I’m only saying this because I care about her well-being.”
Shinku Yūhi: “…”
Do you think I believe that?
He immediately took back what he had said earlier about Asahi having a maturity beyond his years.
This kid could actually be quite mischievous sometimes.
But perhaps this was also a sign that he was finally opening up to them?
“I don’t need you to think about me!” Yūhi was furious, and her anger, which had calmed down a little, seemed to be flaring up again.
“Even if I turn into a chubby girl, I’ll still be a cute chubby girl!”
Asahi spread his hands wide, putting on an expression that clearly said I have my doubts.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Ahhh, this is so frustrating!
I’m going to beat you up for sure!”
“Uncle Shinku, look at this!
Yūhi is being naughty again.
This won’t do at all, it’s so unladylike!”
She chased him, he ran away, she couldn’t catch up, and he even started complaining to their guardian.
The atmosphere was truly harmonious…
yes, very harmonious…
Shinku Yūhi watched the two of them running around the living room.
He found it quite amusing, but at the same time, his heart felt warm and peaceful.
This was exactly what a family should be like.
Seeing that things were getting a little too wild, he spoke up to stop them: “Alright alright, stop it you two.
You’re going to tear the whole house apart.
I think I understand what happened.
I’ll give you extra allowance this month, Yūhi.
Asahi gets nothing.”
Yūhi immediately stopped moving, her beautiful red eyes blinking curiously.
“Really!?”
Shinku Yūhi nodded: “Of course.
When have I ever lied to you?”
Yūhi’s mood changed instantly from stormy to bright and sunny.
She wasn’t angry anymore, and a bright, happy smile spread across her face.
“Father, you’re the best!”
She then raised her slender eyebrows and looked pointedly at Asahi – a little gesture she had learned from him.
The meaning was clear: I have something you don’t!
Hmph, you can’t have it.
Go ahead and be jealous!
“Tsk…” Asahi couldn’t help but laugh softly.
All he did was tease this little doll-like girl a little.
But he had to admit, having a little sister was actually quite fun and brought him a lot of joy.
It wasn’t that he had some strange obsession with little sisters…
well, Asahi had to admit, maybe there was just a tiny bit of that.
Who wouldn’t love a little sister who was beautiful, cute, and not even related to them by blood?
In any case, that annoying blonde guy who would try to get close to Yūhi in the future absolutely had to be stopped!
At this moment, Shinku Yūhi seemed to think of something and turned to Asahi.
“Asahi, tomorrow is the official first day of school at the Ninja Academy.
Although they will teach you how to refine chakra there, I happen to be free today, so let me guide you through it first.”
Asahi didn’t refuse at all; on the contrary, he looked quite eager to give it a try.
“Alright, Uncle Shinku.”
Asahi wanted to test and verify the rewards he had received from the system.
Spiritual Pressure Aptitude, in a sense, could be considered a measure of one’s natural talent.
But after all, this was a term used in the world of Bleach.
Would it really work properly in this world?
And how effective would it actually be?
There was no way to know for sure without trying it out.
Perhaps he could find out the answer by trying to refine chakra for the first time.
There was definitely a need to test this out!
“Schedule”
Monday – Friday – Update 3 Chapters a Day
Saturday – Sunday – Off