"Elder Yoshinori, how are you?" A familiar voice interrupted Yoshinori's stroll.
Turning to see who it was, Yoshinori chuckled. "Ah, it's Kushina. Are you out with the kids at this hour?"
"Haha, yes. I thought I'd take Naruto to see the academy today." Kushina's mature and charming demeanor matched her smile as she held little Karin, who was enjoying her ice cream. Gazing at Yoshinori, she added, "Since it won't be long before Naruto starts school, and I'll be taking up a position too."
Kushina had always been optimistic, cheerful, and proactive. Despite battling a serious illness and worrying about Naruto in the past few years, now that Naruto was by her side, they both found happiness in their new life here. They had formed connections with the locals and made new friends, and Naruto had inherited his mother's optimistic outlook. Slowly but surely, smiles had returned to their faces.
Moreover, life here felt more relaxed and unrestricted compared to Konoha. In Konoha, if Grandma Mito were still alive, Kushina could freely roam everywhere. But ever since becoming a Jinchuriki, she felt confined by the village's scrutiny. It was like living in an invisible cage in Konoha.
Her only concern now was Naruto's constant inquiries about his father. After all, in Konoha, since Minato's sacrifice, the villagers there had begun tarnishing his Hokage legacy. And Kushina didn't want Naruto to grow up harboring resentment toward them, so she struggled with how to explain the situation to him about his father.
As she watched Karin in her arms and Naruto contentedly enjoying his ice cream, a warm smile spread across her face. "We had some time after dinner, so I thought we'd take a stroll. Unfortunately, Fusō is busy with cleaning, and Kana has work. Otherwise, I would've loved to go out with everyone."
"What good kids." Yoshinori smiled and nodded, patting Naruto and Karin's heads. Hearing them call him 'Grandpa Yoshinori' filled him with joy.
Though Naruto and Karin didn't have red hair like the Uzumaki clan's, they still inherited their sturdy physique. After enduring a great calamity, the Uzumaki clan now lived in peace. As an elder of the clan, Yoshinori couldn't ask for more.
Looking at Kushina's healthy complexion, Yōshinori felt relieved. It seemed she had fully recovered. With a smile, he informed, "The leader is out for a while. He mentioned possibly bringing back many people later, so let me make the arrangements."
"Akihiko? Come to think of it, he's been missing since the afternoon. We couldn't locate him at dinner either," Kushina heard Yoshinori's words and nodded. "Actually, it was Karin who kept asking to see her dad. So, I decided to take her out for a walk."
As she finished speaking, Yoshinori gave Kushina a strange look. However, he quickly shook his head and remarked, "Well, he's the leader after all. He must be quite busy."
Despite Akihiko occasionally taking time off and even delegating his work to his secretary, he had elevated Grass Village to a level that even the Five Great Shinobi Nations couldn't ignore. Akihiko was undeniably an outstanding leader.
Nevertheless, Yoshinori couldn't help but wonder aloud, "I wonder who the Leader is bringing back this time. It's been quite some time."
"Haha, that's true. Akihiko does have a tendency to bring people from outside," Kushina chuckled at Yoshinori's sarcasm, perhaps reflecting on her own and Naruto's situation. There was a hint of complexity in her eyes. Then, noticing that Karin was starting to feel a bit sleepy in her arms, she realized it was getting late. "It's getting late. I should take the kids..."
However, before she could finish her sentence, Yoshinori seemed to sense something. He looked up at the distorted space in front of him, let out a sigh of relief, and remarked, "Is he back?"
…
With the help of Uchiha Obito's exclusive transport Bus, the journey from Konoha to Grass Village was relatively short. Obito's driving skills, aided by Kamui, had become increasingly stable over time.
The trip was anything but dull. Danzo, their guest, described the scenery, culture, and cuisine of both Kusagakure and Amegakure to the travelers. However, Danzo seemed unusually enthusiastic, his words only coming out as unintelligible (woo~ woo~) sounds.
But upon reflection, it made sense. After all, Danzo had visited Kusagakure twice before, so he was quite familiar with both Grass and Rain.
As Danzo's excitement rendered his speech incomprehensible, Akihiko stepped in to reassure the nervous Uchiha clan members about their future in Grass Village. He promised them that once they arrived, better days would come. There would be no more fear, children could attend school, and life would regain its purpose.
Upon hearing this, the Uchiha clan members felt a sense of relief. They began to visualize their future lives, though not without some lingering concerns.
Young Sasuke, who was fully aware of the events that transpired within the Uchiha clan, maintained a cold and resentful expression throughout the journey. This greatly troubled Uchiha Mikoto. However, Akihiko offered reassurance, assuring her that the child displayed remarkable talent and, as the village leader, he would provide the necessary guidance and support.
As the appointed leader of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Obito couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility weighing heavily on his shoulders. Upon calming his thoughts, he realized that upon their return to the village, he would need to guide the Uchiha clan in settling into their new home in Grass Village.
However, Grass Village presented unique challenges compared to Konoha. It required more than just strength; one needed a special set of skills to thrive in this environment.
Nevertheless, Grass Village offered freedoms that Konoha did not. There were fewer restrictions, allowing individuals to pursue various endeavors. For instance, upon the arrival of the Yuki clan in Grass Village, many of its members chose not to become ninjas. Instead, they successfully established and managed a popular ice cream shop known as 'Snow Heaven.'
Similarly, members of the Chinoike clan also found diverse opportunities in Grass Village. Not all of them pursued the path of a ninja; some found employment in slaughterhouses. Their unique abilities proved invaluable, reportedly leading to a significant improvement in the hygiene standards of the slaughterhouses where they worked.
With these thoughts in mind, Uchiha Obito's exclusive bus soon arrived in Grass Village, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the Uchiha clan.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached our final destination. Please exit the bus calmly and in an orderly fashion. Thank you for your cooperation," Akihiko announced as the bus came to a stop. He glanced at the still apprehensive Uchiha clan members, ensuring that they maintained composure. "Please gather your belongings and watch your step as you disembark."
Regarding further instructions, he kept his words brief. Once they arrived in the village, other arrangements would be made to comfort and assist them by someone else.
As the tense Uchiha clan members stepped off the so-called 'bus,' which, in reality, was just a time-space ninjutsu, they found themselves surrounded by numerous Grass shinobi who had been awaiting their arrival.
Although their hearts tightened at the sight, they soon realized that the Grass shinobi had no hostile intentions towards them. Relief washed over the Uchiha clan members as they breathed a collective sigh.
Similarly, Uchiha Mikoto, holding Sasuke close, felt a sense of relief. However, amidst the unfamiliar surroundings, she couldn't shake off a lingering nervousness. Despite Akihiko's assurances, she remained unsure if his promises would hold true.
At that moment, Uzumaki Yoshinori's voice chimed in, "Leader, everything has been arranged."
"Is everything set? I'm sure everyone is feeling a bit famished. Let's organize some food first, then focus on resting," Akihiko nodded, stifling a yawn. "It's getting late, and I could use some rest myself. This journey has been quite exhausting. If you have any questions, feel free to ask your esteemed leader here." He gestured towards the stunned Uchiha Obito. "He's in charge of the Uchiha clan now."
As he finished speaking, Obito's expression mirrored disbelief, and he blurted out, "But I have classes tomorrow!"
"Is that so? No worries." Akihiko nodded reassuringly, seemingly understanding Obito's concern.
However, before Obito could exhale a sigh of relief, thinking he could take a day off tomorrow, Akihiko added, "Later, I'll arrange for someone to give you extra lessons. You won't fall behind, I promise."
Obito was left speechless, inwardly wishing he could protest, "Taking a day off wouldn't make me fail." Yet, he refrained, knowing it wouldn't serve any purpose except perhaps earning him even more homework.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Mikoto, upon hearing Akihiko's intention to depart, was suddenly struck with surprise, and then a wave of nervousness washed over her.
Even though they had the Uchiha clan leader, who was well-acquainted with this new environment, on their side, it was still the Uchiha clan's first day in Grass Village. If the leader of Grass Village is present, it would undoubtedly ease everyone's nerves. She was about to voice her thoughts when—
"Mikoto, you're here too?" A familiar voice interrupted her train of thought.
Startled, Mikoto turned to see a red-haired woman with a bright smile, holding a little black-haired girl and trailed by a blond boy. "Lady Fourth?"
"Hahaha, just call me Kushina here," Kushina said cheerfully. "I thought Akihiko was bringing someone else this time. Didn't expect it to be you guys."
Mikoto was still processing the surprise encounter. Why was Kushina holding a little girl? What was their relationship? Before she could voice her confusion—
"Daddy~" The little black-haired girl, her eyes droopy with sleepiness, addressed the leader of Grass Village, then snuggled into Kushina, appearing ready to doze off. "Kushina-Mama, I'm sleepy."
Confusion gripped Mikoto. What was happening here? She gazed at Kushina with wide eyes, her mind reeling with questions. "Kushina..."
"Oh, right, I almost forgot, Karin needs to sleep," Kushina said apologetically, then eagerly pulled Mikoto. "Come on, let's go together. We'll talk later; tonight, we'll sleep together."
"I... Uchiha..." Mikoto, still stunned, attempted to say something, but Kushina didn't give her a chance.
"It's okay, Akihiko will take care of everything. Just relax. Let's go; it's okay if Sasuke comes too." Before Mikoto could fully process what was happening, she found herself being led away by Kushina.
"Hey~" Watching Mikoto being pulled away, Akihiko shook his head in resignation. After all, Mikoto was the former clan leader's wife. At this point, even the authority of the new clan leader, Obito, couldn't compare to hers. With her presence, everyone would remain calm.
But as he observed Mikoto being taken away, he could only let out a resigned sigh, yawn once more, and turn to Yoshinori and Obito. "I'm heading back too. I'll leave them to you guys."
With that, before Yoshinori could respond, he departed without giving back even a glance.
Left behind were a speechless Yoshinori and Obito, who then glanced at the nervous Uchiha clan members before them and inwardly sighed.
Unfortunately, Mubuki said he was busy tonight. Otherwise, with him present, the task of comforting would be much simpler. Yoshinori couldn't help but mutter to himself, "I wonder what that guy is busy with."
…
Meanwhile, at this time, somewhere in the Grass Village.
"Thank you for your hard work," The president of the Shinobi Times, Mubuki, solemnly accepted the dusty report from the award-winning journalist, White Zetsu, and smiled warmly. "Future vice president!"