Upon hearing Shirou address her more affectionately, Tsunade couldn't help but smile.
"Shirou, I suppose you wouldn't mind passing this jutsu on to Kushina as well, right?"
Shirou froze for a moment, then quickly shook his head and replied earnestly, "Of course not! How could I mind? Thank you, Sister Tsunade."
Was an A-rank jutsu without hand seals precious?
Of course, it was invaluable—a treasure for most Jonin.
But something even more critical loomed over the moment: solidifying the bond between the Uchiha and Senju clans.
After all, this A-rank jutsu, developed by Shirou himself, carried great symbolic weight. If Tsunade were to publicly use this jutsu, it would signify something far beyond its technical value.
No one would ever assume that the proud Senju clan—once the strongest family—would covet an A-rank jutsu from the Uchiha. To them, it was merely a trinket compared to their vast trove of S-rank forbidden techniques developed by the Second Hokage.
By teaching it to Tsunade and then passing it on to Kushina, the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, the implications were profound. Shirou wouldn't just gain Tsunade's favor; he would also establish goodwill with the future Nine-Tails host.
The Uchiha clan had struggled for years to prove themselves worthy of entering Konoha's inner circle. And now, with just one individual and one jutsu, Shirou had accomplished it.
If the elders of the Uchiha clan found out, even Elder Setsuna might be moved to kneel in gratitude.
"Thank you, Sister Tsunade...," Shirou said solemnly, his eyes filled with gratitude as if he had finally proven the Uchiha's worth.
Tsunade, in turn, flashed a radiant smile.
"I appreciate the birthday gift this year, Shirou. But before I came here, I heard that one of your clan elders, Setsuna, is in critical condition. Spending time celebrating my birthday instead of attending to him—does that seem appropriate?"
Shiroufroze, his face filled with awkwardness. After a moment, he scratched his head and replied, "Sister Tsunade, I was planning to visit Elder Setsuna, but then you arrived unexpectedly."
He had indeed intended to visit the elder as soon as he returned, especially since Setsuna's health was reportedly failing.
Hearing this, Tsunade narrowed her eyes with a mischievous smile. That loathsome old man who had rebelled against the Senju during the Second Hokage's rule was finally on his last legs.
Shirou let out a sigh of relief, adopting a serious demeanor as he said, "It's all right. I believe that Elder Setsuna, knowing I'm here celebrating your birthday, would understand and be pleased with what I'm doing."
Goodness!
What a reversal of the heavens!
Elder Setsuna had devoted his entire life to the clan, even sacrificing his granddaughter.
And now, as he lay dying, here was Shirou celebrating someone else's birthday?
It felt absurd. But Tsunade, knowing the nature of the Uchiha, actually nodded in approval.
"That does make sense. After all, that old man was locked up for a while in the past."
Standing up, she looked at Shirou and gave him a dazzling smile.
"Today's birthday celebration has been wonderful. Knowing that an annoying elder is about to pass on makes it doubly joyous. I won't keep you from reporting back any longer."
The thought of it being both her birthday and the day an old enemy would finally die genuinely delighted her. Add to that a stubborn yet protective Shirou willing to do anything for her and the village, and Tsunade felt sincerely happy.
As Shirou watched Tsunade leave, he turned toward Elder Setsuna's residence.
The August summer breeze, hot and oppressive, brushed past his face. Though it was a stifling season, Shirou squinted at the sun with a content expression.
Finally. His gamble had paid off.
The bridge was built. His position within the Uchiha clan was unshakable unless they no longer desired power in Konoha.
And with Elder Setsuna nearing the end of his life, everything—just as Tsunade thought—would fade away with him. The truth of it all didn't even matter. Even if someone uncovered the lies, it would be too late.
"Today truly is a good day," Shirou murmured, enjoying the sunlight as it warmed him.
From a distance, Tsunade turned back to glance at him as she left the Uchiha compound.
In her view, Shirou's solitary figure reached cautiously for the sunlight as if yearning for something distant and unattainable.
Her eyes grew resolute, though her face softened into a gentle smile.
"You are the light, not the darkness," she whispered.
To Tsunade, Shirou had never truly recognized himself. He saw himself as consumed by shadows, while she saw him as a warmth that could brighten everything.
...
Inside Elder Setsuna's residence, the atmosphere was somber. The clan's elite Jonin had gathered, their expressions grave and solemn. The air carried a faint sense of sorrow.
"Shirou-sama."
As Shirou approached, dressed in black, the elite greeted him with respect, nodding in acknowledgment.
Once, some among them had scoffed at him. But after hearing the reports from the Land of Grass battlefield, their opinions had changed.
Prideful and courageous, Shirou had won their admiration.
Even now, as the sliding door to the elder's room creaked open, the solemn mood was palpable. Elder Setsuna lay on a tatami mat, his complexion pallid and yellowed—deathly signs of an imminent end.
To one side knelt Uchiha Mikoto, her expression heavy with grief. Though her relationship with her grandfather had been fraught with conflict due to her rigorous upbringing, the bonds of family had softened her heart in his final moments.
"Shirou."
Seeing him enter, Mikoto glanced up, her sorrowful gaze meeting his. Meanwhile, the clan leader and Captain Fugaku stood quietly to the side.
As the elder's labored breathing echoed softly in the room, Shirou approached. Despite the weight of the moment, his expression remained steadfast—a mix of sorrow and resolve.