After teasing Minato, everyone began the new semester's studies.
Some were teasing dogs, some were competing in hand speed, some were playing with insects, some couldn't stop moving their feet, and others were mixing water and earth together, kneading mud.
Those who studied seriously were studying seriously.
Those who didn't want to work hard but had no choice were working hard anyway, even dragging their best buddies along to work hard with them.
A simple, unremarkable day passed just like that.
After school, Kamito Uchiha went to find Hideki Senju.
"The usual place. I learned a new ninjutsu."
"Tomorrow. Uzumaki Mito-sama wants to see me today."
Kamito Uchiha's lips twitched slightly before he left.
As someone who had been his rival for nearly a year, Hideki Senju naturally knew what he had said.
Malice detection and the Kagura Mind's Eye—one senses the heart, the other senses chakra.
Sigh.
Perhaps, up to this point, the biggest boss in Konoha was her.
Hopefully nothing bad would come of it.
Tch.
Why am I setting a flag like that?
He went back home while fooling around with Nawaki. After returning, he changed into a formal kimono that the Senju clan only wore on major occasions, then went with Nawaki to meet Uzumaki Mito.
"Oh? The Senju clan has such a little one as well?"
Just as Hideki Senju stepped into the Senju residence, Uzumaki Mito—who had been resting with her eyes closed—opened them.
"Hideki Senju greets Mito-sama."
"Nawaki, you may leave."
"Huh? Why, Grandma?"
"I'll explain later. Go back first."
"Alright then, Grandma."
Senju Nawaki looked completely confused. Wasn't she just taking a look at his cousin? Why couldn't he stay? He had even wanted to watch that bastard Hideki embarrass himself.
After Nawaki left, Uzumaki Mito said,
"When did it begin?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your chakra training. If I remember correctly, according to the current rules of the Ninja Academy, six-year-old you shouldn't have come into contact with chakra yet—let alone started training in chakra nature transformation."
"As expected, nothing can be hidden from Mito-sama. I awakened chakra when I was four. As for nature training—turning chakra into earth or water—I found that in an old scroll at home. I don't know exactly what it is, but it said that if you master it, Earth Release and Water Release techniques become stronger."
"You've already transformed your chakra's nature—of course it will become stronger. Then why are you hiding it?"
"Hiding? What hiding?"
"With your current strength, you should already be at least at the level of a genin. That kind of ability should make you stand out in the academy. Haven't you felt anything strange?"
Uzumaki Mito was a little puzzled.
With that kind of strength, he should already be able to graduate. Among second-year children, he should stand out like a sore thumb.
"I'm not outstanding at all. Everyone's strength is about the same. That bastard from the Uchiha clan and I have fought 230 matches so far—115 wins and 115 losses. There's absolutely no gap between us."
What? And that still isn't outstanding?
Uzumaki Mito frowned deeply.
Have I been staying indoors too long?
Has Konoha changed this much?
The Senju clan is famous for having enormous chakra reserves. The only ones comparable are the Uzumaki clan, who possess equally massive chakra.
What kind of monsters are those children?
If the Uchiha child is evenly matched, then he must have already awakened his Sharingan.
A six-year-old Uchiha…
The cursed fate between the Senju and Uchiha really can't be severed.
It seems even more necessary to explain things to him.
"What do you think about the Uzumaki clan?"
???
Aren't you from the Uzumaki clan? Why are you asking me this?
"The Uzumaki clan is the iron ally of the Senju clan—people who would be honored as heroes if they died for each other."
Hideki Senju answered respectfully.
Oh. Even better than I expected.
"Kushina, come out."
A little girl with long red hair and slightly chubby cheeks walked out from the back.
It was Uzumaki Kushina.
Perhaps because she had just arrived in Konoha, she looked a bit shy.
"This is your cousin from the Uzumaki clan, Uzumaki Kushina. She came to Konoha to study and will join your class at the academy. Please take good care of her."
"Hello, Cousin."
"Ah… hello, Cousin."
Ah, so it's just that.
You should've said so earlier.
I thought it was something serious—gave me quite a scare.
When the time comes, I'll just pass her over to Minato and everything will be fine.
"Mito-sama, please rest assured. I'll take good care of Cousin Kushina."
"Mm. You two go out and play for a bit."
"Yes, Mito-sama."
"Yes, Grandma Mito."
...
After the two walked out, Hideki Senju didn't dare linger and headed straight for the main gate.
Kushina didn't know why he was walking so fast, but she hurriedly followed behind this cousin who was several heads taller than her.
Once they were outside the gate, Hideki Senju finally let out a long breath.
Meeting leaders and elders was the scariest thing ever.
"Kushina, are you hungry?"
"Huh? I ate just an hour ago."
"Then it's about time you got hungry again."
…Do you Konoha people normally eat like this? Another meal after just one hour?
Hideki Senju waved his hand and summoned a black insect.
"Akimichi BBQ restaurant. My treat. Private room number three. Everyone come—there's a new friend to meet."
After he finished speaking, the insect disappeared.
Kushina's eyes widened.
Are Konoha's ninjutsu all this cool?
Just wave your hand and you can summon a bug?
Where are the hand seals? You can use ninjutsu without hand signs?
Her tiny head was filled with a giant question mark.
Hideki Senju brought Kushina to private room number three.
"Auntie Akimichi, same place—room three."
"Alright. But little Hideki, it's your turn again? It hasn't been that long since the last time you treated everyone."
"No, we've got a newcomer today. I'm introducing her to everyone."
"Oh? You haven't had any new members for several months, right? Auntie will show off my cooking today."
"Hahaha, then thank you, Auntie."
After saying that, he entered with Kushina.
"Another little monster… Sigh. I'd better report this to the Hokage-sama."
Although the auntie from the Akimichi BBQ restaurant didn't understand any grand theories, she knew one thing clearly.
When descendants of the Senju, Uchiha, Hyūga, Aburame, Inuzuka, and the Ino–Shika–Chō clans gathered together, it absolutely had to be reported.
And their leader seemed to be a civilian boy.
That was even more terrifying.
...
After Kushina entered, she discovered a large round table.
There were fourteen chairs, each labeled with a number.
"Kushina, sit here for now. I'll introduce everyone later."
Hideki Senju placed an unnumbered chair between chair number one and chair number fourteen.
He himself sat down in chair number two.
Kushina's eyes widened.
Did I just join some kind of organization?
This is way too cool!
Her heart thumped rapidly.
So exciting—so exciting.
After that, people began arriving one after another.
When they saw Uzumaki Kushina, they paused in surprise for a moment, but soon sat down in their assigned seats.
...
This is an extra chapter released for reviews. Thank you! Each review unlocks +1 additional chapter