"Right now I only have one attempt out of five, but in the next few months, I'll finally master the hand seals for energy separation right at the source," sighed Mito. "After so many years of chakra use, it's very difficult to overcome my own reflexes."
"And what about Kushina-chan?"
"She's almost there!" she replied with obvious pride. "Of course, with her increasing volume, her control is worse than mine, but she's not set in her ways yet, she learns everything new very quickly."
"Fair enough."
Allowing the red-haired couple the opportunity to learn "my" secret, I took an oath not to tell anyone about the source of such knowledge and especially about the principles of operation, deterring overly curious minds with a story about the side effects of our chakra density.
After already being labeled a "genius" by those around me, I didn't seek to further confirm it. If you think about it, it's the Uzumaki women, Ma and Uncle's family, who treat me normally, not emphasizing my uniqueness.
The others prefer to notice my achievements rather than me as a simple person. Even in the academy, among rowdy peers who didn't recognize authority, this attitude persisted, albeit in a somewhat truncated form.
"By the way, today I was blessed with the news that the clan has already started looking for a suitable bride," I told Mito, breaking the brief silence.
"It was to be expected," shrugged Uzumaki. "Elder heirs usually marry strong non-clan kunoichi to exclude even the slightest possibility of influence from other clans, but brothers and sisters, both native and cousins, await marriages calculated to strengthen old alliances or create new ones. The infusion of fresh strong blood goes without saying. What did you answer to that?"
"No marriage until eighteen, and otherwise I don't care," I shrugged. "Can't avoid it anyway, so might as well postpone it, and a lot can happen in six years. Maybe I'll find my chosen one before then?"
Although, considering that I've never truly fallen in love even in my past life, let alone this one, being too cold-blooded and rational by nature, this scenario is unlikely. Sympathy, yes.
"I can offer Kush-chan's hand as one of the options," Mito sighed. "You just need to insist on her candidacy, and the problem is solved."
"You'll give her to me?" I raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"Well, you're a smart boy, and you could have figured it out long ago," she smirked.
"If you're talking about that 'hidden' scroll from Ma, I figured it out a long time ago," I smirked back.
"Besides, it's better you than some idiot from the clan," shrugged the kunoichi. "At least I know you won't harm her and will cherish and protect her in every way."
"A very tempting offer, but no," I replied seriously, pushing aside a branch and stepping out onto a well-kept park path. "At least, not right now."
"May I know the reason for your refusal?" asked Mito, following suit and linking her arm through the one I offered.
"First and foremost, because of her age—she's still too young for such decisions, and besides, do I need to remind you of your own words regarding the jinchuriki?" I raised my eyebrows. "A lot can change in six years, and I don't want to be an obstacle to Kushina-chan's happiness. If she loves me by then—great. If not—I'll make sure her chosen one is a worthy person, not just another scumbag chasing the status of a jinchuriki's husband. With such support, it's much easier to climb to the top of power in Konoha."
Heh, let's make Minato's task more difficult, if not impossible. But the attention of the four old fogies is not necessary for me at the moment, and marrying a jinchuriki would be too strong a move. They might try to eliminate her. After explaining my position, I received a strange look from Mito. Unabashed pride mixed with something else.
"Alright, I won't try to force you two together, even though this option suits me much more than all the others, but still, hold on to the scroll—maybe it'll come in handy in the future."
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