In the Living Room
"Sister Tsunade, what exactly is this jutsu about?"
Uzumaki Kushina, though she didn't understand everything, could tell it had something to do with her.
"It's about what you think it is."
Tsunade's teasing response turned Kushina's face bright red as she awkwardly glanced between Tsunade and Mito.
Uzumaki Mito watched this heartwarming scene with a gentle smile, but her expression soon grew somber as her thoughts wandered.
The recent events weighed heavily on her mind, especially how her granddaughter Tsunade had nearly lost her life on the frontlines.
"Kushina, I had hoped to give you a carefree childhood," Mito began, her voice tinged with sadness.
"But with everything happening, there are things you need to understand."
Her gentle demeanor carried the weight of the harsh realities of the ninja world.
Seeing this, Tsunade paused mid-sip of her drink, then downed it entirely before speaking in a low tone.
"Grandmother, let me explain it to her."
Kushina, confused and unsure, listened intently as Tsunade—despite her usual nonchalance—began recounting the events of the past year. Her tone was calm, though tinged with annoyance.
"First, Grandmother and I received intel that someone in the village was targeting Nawaki. After his incident, our investigations yielded no clear leads. Then came the Jonin council meeting... followed by certain intel we gathered..."
Tsunade detailed the events with precision, carefully omitting key details—such as Nawaki's condition and Uchiha Shirou's involvement. She also refrained from mentioning the specifics of what transpired in the Land of Grass, wanting to spare her grandmother any additional worry.
Kushina listened in shock.
"You're saying… Nawaki's incident was orchestrated by someone in the village?"
Her voice faltered, and she clapped a hand over her mouth in disbelief. The revelation was terrifying. To Kushina, Konoha had always been a place of light—a village she hoped to call her home. The idea of such darkness shattered that illusion.
"Impossible!"
"Just the despicable schemes of a few old men," Tsunade said dismissively.
From Nawaki's downfall to their attempts to manipulate her, Tsunade had pieced together enough to realize that Kushina would likely be the next target.
"Kushina, you were once the princess of Uzushiogakure. Surely you understand that without absolute power, one cannot control their destiny. Grandmother and I are doing our best to give you a chance to make your own choices."
Tsunade gestured toward the scroll Kushina held.
"Take this jutsu as an opportunity. What you do with it is up to you."
Her words hung heavily in the air, shedding light on the village's darker underbelly.
Mito, seated nearby, sighed softly, her gaze distant.
"If only Hashirama were still here…" she murmured wistfully, longing for the simpler days.
"Kushina," she continued, "the village plans to send Tsunade to the Land of Rain soon. Officially, it's to ease tensions, but given everything that's happened, we must stay vigilant."
Mito's grave expression revealed her deep concern. If her grandchildren could be manipulated, Kushina—an outsider to the Senju—was certainly at risk.
"Do you mean I'm next?"
Kushina's voice wavered with fear.
Tsunade let out a bitter laugh.
"If they can target the grandchildren of the First Hokage, why wouldn't they go after you?"
"Given what we know, the village won't give up their pursuit. That's why the Senju clan cannot afford to lose the power of the Nine-Tails."
Mito, brushing Kushina's red hair, smiled kindly, though sadness lingered in her eyes.
"Kushina, forgive this old woman for being selfish," she said softly.
The Senju clan had come to see the Nine-Tails as a necessary deterrent, ensuring the village remained cautious of them. Kushina now realized her role: she and Tsunade were part of a larger plan to maintain the balance of power in Konoha and pull the Uchiha clan into an uneasy alliance.
"I understand now," she whispered.
...
At the Uchiha Clan Grounds
"Shirou-kun, before Grandfather passed, he left a final request," Mikoto began, her voice gentle yet filled with grief.
"After his cremation, he wanted his ashes scattered in the ancestral land of our clan. He also entrusted you with something."
Mikoto handed Shirou a scroll, her eyes glistening with tears.
"This contains a forbidden clan genjutsu."
Upon seeing the scroll's contents, Shirou's eyes widened in shock.
"Izanagi!"
One of the ultimate genjutsu techniques of the Uchiha clan.
"I can't believe it's this technique!"
Shirou now understood the significance of the scroll. This Jutsu, kept as a forbidden secret, had been hidden even from most of the clan's elite.
"Grandfather entrusted me with his eyes," Mikoto continued, "but he wanted you to have them. He feared for your safety on the battlefield."
"These eyes…"
Shirou began, but Mikoto interrupted with a gentle smile.
"Shirou-kun, you have the ambition and ability to reshape the Uchiha clan. I will support you in any way I can."
Mikoto's traditional values were clear—she believed a man should lead the charge while the woman provided unwavering support. Her love and faith in Shirou were absolute.
"Shirou-kun," she said softly, her eyes shimmering with admiration, "you are the man I've chosen."