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"Jonin leader?!" Uzumaki Kushina exclaimed, pointing at herself.
"That's right." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, maintaining his calm demeanor.
This was no spontaneous decision. Hiruzen had thought of it long ago. Even though Yuichi Yuuki possessed the Sharingan, he wasn't a full member of the Uchiha clan. Yuichi's clean background, combined with his adoption by Yuhi Shinku and his connection to Shinku's daughter, Kurenai, made him an ideal candidate in Hiruzen's eyes. Most importantly, Yuichi was a potential backup Jinchūriki—an asset too valuable to overlook.
For Hiruzen, this arrangement would serve multiple purposes. Not only would it satisfy Kushina's demands, but it would also provide Yuichi Yuuki with vital mentorship in sealing techniques. Additionally, by having Kushina guide him, Hiruzen could further foster goodwill. It was a strategic move, but one that Kushina wasn't buying.
Kushina scoffed, her skepticism evident. "I told you to let me teach Yuichi Yuuki now, and you want me to wait until he graduates? What is this, a joke?"
She was fuming. If Minato Namikaze hadn't been standing beside her, pulling her back from confrontation, Kushina might have already made good on her earlier threat to "redecorate" the office with her fists.
"Calm down," Hiruzen sighed. He had no intention of compromising on this matter. Yuichi Yuuki had to be nurtured properly—he needed to be immersed in the ideals of the Will of Fire, the guiding principle of Konoha.
This was Hiruzen's line in the sand.
Yuichi wasn't just a backup Jinchūriki; he was also key to mending ties between the Uchiha clan and the village. The potential for Yuichi to bridge that divide was crucial to the future stability of Konoha.
Letting out another sigh, Hiruzen's aura shifted, and the weight of his power filled the room. "Other matters can be discussed, but this is non-negotiable."
Despite his age, Sarutobi Hiruzen was still a force to be reckoned with—a living legend whose skill in ninjutsu had earned him respect across the ninja world. Although his physical strength was starting to decline, his presence was still formidable, a reminder of why he had been Hokage for so long.
Minato Namikaze, sensing the situation was irretrievable, quickly intervened. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. When the time comes, Kushina will be Yuichi Yuuki's team leader. We're grateful." Minato gave a formal bow and pulled Kushina away before she could further escalate the situation.
As soon as the couple left, Danzo appeared from the shadows, a sinister smirk on his face. "Hiruzen, it seems you're struggling to control the Jinchūriki."
"I've told you before, handing her over to you is out of the question." Hiruzen shot back coldly. "You're daydreaming if you think that will ever happen."
Meanwhile, Yuichi Yuuki was completely unaware of the storm brewing around him. His day at the academy was winding down, and the afternoon had been simple. Ikkaku Umino, their teacher, had been lecturing on Konoha's Will of Fire while also teaching basic literacy and chakra refinement. By the time the school bell rang, Ikkaku announced that any students who had grasped these concepts could leave early.
Most students filed out immediately, save for a few like Uchiha Obito, who stayed behind solely because Nohara Rin was still sitting and paying attention. For Obito, the world revolved around Rin.
Yuichi Yuuki and Yuhi Kurenai, however, left the classroom together and decided to grab dinner at Ichiraku Ramen before heading to the training grounds on Hokage Rock.
"I need to learn tree climbing before Uncle Shinku gets back!" Yuichi thought to himself, determined. He clenched his fists as he faced the tree. "If I fail, I'll train with Kai for a month—double the usual training!"
Climbing trees with chakra had proven challenging, but after finding the trick, it was only a matter of time before Yuichi mastered it. Yuhi Kurenai, on the other hand, was already close to learning how to walk on water. The pressure was on, and Yuichi couldn't afford to fall behind.
"Then I'll learn to walk on water before my father returns," Kurenai smiled, adding, "I'll give him a surprise!"
The days passed quickly. After three days of training, Yuichi Yuuki had successfully learned to climb trees but was still struggling with walking on water. Kurenai, however, had managed to master it on the second day. The reason they were both soaked now was because Yuichi had fallen into the water, splashing Kurenai in the process.
When they returned home, drenched and tired, Yuhi Shinku's voice called out, "Why are you back so early?"
Shinku appeared, noticing their soaked clothes, and was momentarily stunned but said nothing more.
"Go take a shower and change your clothes first," Shinku instructed, and Kurenai quickly obeyed, running off to get cleaned up.
Yuichi, still exhausted, raised his hand weakly. "Can't we shower together?" he muttered, clearly not thinking straight.
Yuhi Shinku's eyes narrowed suspiciously. He was protective of his daughter and would not tolerate any inappropriate behavior, though he trusted Yuichi, knowing it wasn't time for such things yet.
"Why are you wet?" Shinku asked, his tone more serious now.
"We've been practicing water walking," Yuichi admitted honestly.
Hearing this, Shinku laughed heartily. "Water walking already? That's ambitious! Hahaha!"
Yuichi clarified, "We've already mastered tree climbing."
Shinku's laughter abruptly stopped, replaced by a look of confusion. "Wait, what? You've already learned tree climbing without anyone guiding you?"
Shinku was amazed. He had only been gone for a few days, and yet Yuichi had mastered something that usually took much longer.
With curiosity, Yuichi then asked the question that had been bothering him. "Uncle Shinku, isn't tree climbing and water walking all about using the push and pull forces of chakra to stick to surfaces?"
Shinku looked puzzled at first but then nodded. "Yes, all chakra has weak gravitational and repulsive properties. But those forces are far too small to be used in combat."
Yuichi nodded thoughtfully. While chakra could assist in basic tasks, such as sticking to surfaces, it seemed limited in practical battle applications.
Still, Yuichi wasn't convinced. "But... is that really the case?"
Deep down, Yuichi Yuuki believed there was more to chakra than what he had been taught. And with that thought, his determination to discover the truth only grew stronger.
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