Konoha: Uchiha, I get stronger by causing trouble.

Chapter 21 Your Regret, My Shadow

Seeing this, Mikoto Uchiha said no more.

At this moment, Fugaku Uchiha spoke up and asked, "In that case, when do you plan to formally meet Chiga?"

He meant that he wanted to confirm the relationship between Chiga and Kushina as soon as possible.

Upon hearing this, Kushina Uzumaki pondered for a moment and then said, "Let's wait until he graduates from the Ninja Academy. I want to give him a surprise!"

Mikoto Uchiha asked in surprise, "Um, aren't you planning to attend our wedding?"

"Oh right, I almost forgot, Mikoto, you're getting married soon. Do you need me to be your bridesmaid?"

"Of course, but will you even be able to fit into the bridesmaid dress?"

"Fine, now I hate you even more than Chika!"

"I can get even more annoying! Fugaku and I had a traditional wedding, we didn't need bridesmaids!"

"Mikoto, you tricked me!"

Kushina Uzumaki groped Mikoto Uchiha right in front of Fugaku Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha did not interrupt their playful banter; it was quite surprising that the two could become such close friends.

One is gentle and quiet, the other is lively and active; perhaps this is what it means to have complementary personalities.

"Kushina, since you insist on taking Chiga as your disciple, what should we say to Minato?"

It was only then that Fugaku Uchiha remembered that he hadn't given Minato an explanation yet.

"Minato? Let him die while holding Kakashi!"

"Doing missions for the village is one thing, but when you come back to rest, you're still thinking about giving Kakashi special training. Don't you even have time for me?"

"And Fugaku, you're no better! Minato's already so busy, and you still send a disciple over!"

Mentioning Minato evoked a deep resentment in Kushina Uzumaki, part of which stemmed from Fugaku Uchiha.

Ever since she took Kakashi Hatake in, her feelings have changed. When they're talking about love, she can even talk to him about Kakashi's life story.

Under such circumstances, Fugaku Uchiha still wanted to send another genius to Minato.

Is she afraid that she and Minato won't argue?!

Fugaku Uchiha awkwardly explained, "I sent Chiga to Minato's team because I was worried about the members' dissatisfaction. That way, it would lighten his workload!"

Seeing that Kushina was about to continue, Mikoto Uchiha quickly interrupted, "Kushina, speaking of which, Chiga and I are of the same generation. If you take him as your disciple, wouldn't I be a generation lower than you?"

She knew Kushina's fighting prowess; her boyfriend was no match for Kushina when it came to arguing.

Sure enough, Kushina's attention was immediately diverted, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? I didn't even think of that! Now that you mention it, I'm even more determined to take him in!"

"So, that's what you were planning, Kushina. I misjudged you!"

Now it was Mikoto Uchiha's turn to grope Kushina.

"Haha, Mikoto, I'm sorry, don't tickle my armpits, I'm ticklish!"

Watching his fiancée and Kushina fool around, Fugaku Uchiha fell silent again.

Am I overthinking this? Could someone so lively, cheerful, and unreliable really be a Jinchūriki?!

That night, in the Hokage's office building.

"Kushina, you really know how to give me a tough time!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the report in his hand and exhaled a long puff of smoke.

As a key protected individual of Konoha Village, Kushina was always accompanied by two ANBU members.

These two ANBU members only take orders from Hiruzen Sarutobi.

You could say it was to protect Kushina, or you could say it was to monitor her.

Generally speaking, barring any unforeseen circumstances, there's no need to report everything to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

However, Kushina's decision to take on an Uchiha clan member as a disciple was clearly a significant matter.

If Mikoto Uchiha and Kushina hadn't already been best friends when Kushina became a Jinchuriki, Hiruzen Sarutobi would never have allowed Kushina to appear in the Uchiha clan's territory.

Unfortunately, Kushina suddenly severed this bond.

Even if Kushina disagreed, anyone with a discerning eye could guess the problem.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a few puffs of his cigarette before asking the ANBU member who was reporting, "What's the information on that boy?"

"It has been collected."

The Anbu were well-prepared and handed another document to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Uchiha Chiga, seven years old, doesn't have any particular hobbies, but is proficient in swordsmanship and fire-style ninjutsu. It's suspected that she awakened her Sharingan after her father's death, and her personality became more cheerful?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a little confused when he read this.

According to his teacher Tobirama Senju, the Uchiha clan are all obsessed individuals; the more they hate, the stronger their eye power becomes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had thought that Chiga would be like what his teacher had said, given that she had awakened her powers so early.

The Anbu seemed to sense Hiruzen Sarutobi's disbelief and added, "I've already spoken with the teachers and students at the Ninja Academy, and he has indeed become much more cheerful!"

"Really!"

With a thousand faces, each person is unique. Hiruzen Sarutobi, being old, couldn't keep up with his imagination and never considered that Chiga had already been replaced by a different soul.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment before saying, "That seems to be an option, but that's probably not the most troublesome part."

Sure enough, before he could finish speaking, the office door was pushed open with great force.

Danzo Shimura, the Hokage's assistant who was leaning on a cane, walked in.

"Sarutobi, I disagree!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened.

Did you secretly turn my secret agents into your own again?!

He had just received information that Kushina wanted to take Uchiha Chika as her disciple when Danzo rushed over to stop her.

If we also factor in the time it took Danzo to get from Root to the Hokage Building.

One of those two secret agents is probably already a member of Root!

With a wave of his hand, Hiruzen Sarutobi expelled the ANBU member who had reported the incident.

After the Anbu left, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "It's not even a matter of time before the shadows appear, what's your hurry?"

"Hmph, if I weren't in a hurry, would you have agreed?"

"Let Kushina choose for herself. She is a Jonin and has the right to choose her own disciple! Moreover, if we let the Uchiha clan members contact Kushina at this time, it will actually reduce the suspicion surrounding her."

"While what you say is true, don't forget what the teacher said and the mistakes the Uchiha clan made!"

"That child is still young; even if he opens his eyes, he can't do anything."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice, "Also, you should know to what extent the Uchiha clan needs to evolve their Sharingan in order to control the Nine-Tails, right?"

"Hmph, in short, I'm against it!"

"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"

"Sarutobi, you'll regret this!"

The two exchanged their classic lines at the end, and then Danzo left the Hokage's office. Judging from his expression, the matter was clearly not over.

Hiruzen Sarutobi pursed his lips, said nothing, and just stared at Chiga's file in deep thought.

(End of this chapter)