Uchiha Clan's Territory
"Shirou, let's call this technique Rasengan, shall we?"
Returning drenched in sweat, Mikoto's face lit up with a smile. Shirou was momentarily dazed before responding with a cheerful laugh.
"Of course."
Hearing this, Uchiha Mikoto smiled but teased him in a playful tone,
"But, you know, this name was chosen by Kushina. I hope you don't mind, Shirou-kun."
It was only after Mikoto's remark that Shirou realized something—he had yet to name the technique he had created, intending to leave the honor of naming it to Mikoto. Unexpectedly, it was Kushina who came up with the name Rasengan.
"Of course not. Why would I mind?"
Shirou chuckled as he raised the scroll containing the technique.
"These scrolls are privileges reserved for Elder Setsuna. Sister Mikoto, you should continue honing your skills. The external conflicts are escalating, and this Rasengan technique suits you well."
Mikoto was proficient in fire release and genjutsu, and had decent mastery of swordsmanship. While skilled in many areas, she lacked a standout specialty. The Rasengan could potentially become her trump card.
"The instantaneous release of Rasengan, combined with the silent nature of its attack, and leveraging the dynamic vision of the Sharingan to pinpoint weaknesses for a decisive blow…"
Shirou explained the advantages of the Rasengan with a smile.
When comparing Chidori and Rasengan, the latter seemed more suited for the Uchiha. Chidori was loud, while Rasengan was silent, quick to activate, and deadly when paired with the Sharingan's dynamic vision. It was an ultimate technique, difficult for most defenses to withstand, and its versatility allowed for chakra nature transformations in the future.
...
While Shirou and Mikoto were immersed in strengthening themselves with Elder Setsuna's legacy, Uzumaki Kushina, on her way back to the Senju clan, found her thoughts consumed by the words Rasengan and spiral.
"A spiral represents the whirlpool…"
Kushina's expression fluctuated as she murmured to herself, not even noticing Uzumaki Mito's approach.
"Kushina."
The gentle voice startled her, and upon seeing Mito, she blushed furiously and rose in embarrassment.
"Grandma Mito!"
Uzumaki Mito nodded kindly and teased with a smile,
"It seems our little Kushina has something on her mind."
Blushing deeper, Kushina recounted the day's events to Mito, her growing awareness evident. She was already wary, knowing there were those in the village who sought to harm the bloodline of the First Hokage. As a future Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, she couldn't afford carelessness, no matter her trust in Mikoto.
Hearing Kushina's recount, Mito's smile remained gentle as she stroked Kushina's red hair affectionately.
"Rasengan, hmm? It's a wonderful name."
Kushina's face flushed again, and she pointed to a spiral tower visible in the distance, explaining hurriedly,
"Grandma Mito, I thought of the name because the technique rotates like that tower's spiral. And it's like a giant ball, so I combined the ideas."
Seeing Kushina's anxious explanation, Mito chuckled warmly and glanced at the tower.
"A whirlpool is flat, while a spiral is three-dimensional. When climbing a spiral staircase, even though the path loops back, you gradually ascend, and the scenery changes as you go. Even if we find ourselves trapped in a whirlpool, by climbing, we may find 'love.' In that sense, the whirlpool transforms into a spiral."
Kushina looked puzzled, not yet grasping the full meaning of Mito's words.
"Love?" she muttered.
Mito nodded with a soft smile.
"Yes, love. But waiting passively won't bring love. To master the Nine-Tails' power, you must understand love—though not just romantic love."
Still confused, Kushina's expression made Mito shake her head with a smile.
"That Uchiha Shirou seems like a decent person," Mito said, dropping a subtle hint.
Kushina's face turned crimson in both embarrassment and annoyance.
"Grandma Mito! What are you talking about?"
Mito only chuckled knowingly. Her cloudy eyes seemed unusually clear as she continued,
"Kushina, the Senju clan alone is no longer strong enough to protect the Nine-Tails. Even if… adding a Uchiha could make a difference. This way, the higher-ups, like Sarutobi Hiruzen, would think twice before making a move. With the Uchiha's help, the Senju can protect you until you grow strong enough to safeguard both yourself and the clan—just as I once used the Nine-Tails' power to protect the Senju after they protected me."
Mito's insight came from her understanding of the current dynamics. As for Uchiha Shirou, information from Tsunade and Mito's sensory abilities confirmed that he bore no ill will toward the Senju or Kushina.
Despite her strong words, Kushina's flushed cheeks betrayed her thoughts, and Mito smiled.
In her view, Uchiha Shirou and Kushina shared a budding friendship, but any deeper relationship seemed unlikely—especially since Shirou already had Mikoto. Still, the bonds formed between Shirou, Mikoto, Kushina, and Tsunade would serve as a bridge to unite the Uchiha and Senju, creating a temporary alliance to deter those with ill intentions within the village.
As for concerns about these relationships crossing boundaries?
Mito laughed softly. She had faith in Kushina's pride as the princess of Uzumaki. She would never intrude on someone else's love.
But if Uchiha Shirou were to exploit human emotions—guilt, responsibility—could things unfold differently?
Mito's life experience, though vast, paled in comparison to the collective knowledge of countless predecessors upon which Shirou's cunning was built. One individual's wisdom could hardly compete with the insights of many.