Integration
"Hokage-sama!?"
What first caught Katsuki's eye was the bright red seal of the Hokage. She had seen that same seal on the land deed she'd received yesterday, so the impression was still fresh in her mind.
"Hehe, how is it? Impressive, right?" Kushina grinned mischievously.
"Im–impressive…" Katsuki was genuinely shocked.
Although Shirō had described it in lofty terms, Katsuki—after years of wandering and scraping by—could clearly grasp the meaning behind the Crimson Group's so-called "charter." That was why she was stunned.
Everything Shirō had just read aloud was written directly on the document, which meant it wasn't some joke. It seemed official. It carried weight.
It looked like a group with real authority.
But in truth, she was mistaken. The seal and signature of the Third Hokage were genuine, but the jurisdictions written on the paper were exaggerated, even fabricated.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was no fool. He might give Kushina a title for fun and let her "play Hokage" to ease her loneliness, but he would never allow them to actually interfere with the Uchiha Police Force's duties. If Kushina ever tried to overstep, the Anbu would stop her and report back immediately.
Of course, Kushina herself knew that. That was why she had deliberately written the document in such a flamboyant, over-the-top way. No one with sense would take it at face value.
In reality, it was just a prop to show off. Ever since Shirō had graduated, it had barely been used. Now, finally, Kushina has dusted it off again.
Looking at Kushina's expectant expression, Katsuki hesitated—then nodded. She, too, longed for belonging.
Shirō, however, could only silently mourn for the Uchiha Police Force. The former "Demon Princess of Uzushio" was making a comeback.
The moment Katsuki agreed, Kushina's fatigue vanished. She grabbed Katsuki's hand, chattering about grand plans with sparkling eyes. Minato and Shirō exchanged a look, shook their heads, and wisely chose not to intervene.
Kushina had boundaries. She knew what she could and could not do. That much they trusted her with. So, the two young men leaned back and let the storm pass.
---
When the time came, Shirō and the others rose for the final preparations. Minato activated his Flying Thunder God, vanishing to collect the others. Since everything had been arranged yesterday, there was no rush.
One by one, he appeared at familiar doorsteps. But when it came to Taiyi, Minato stopped just outside the Uchiha compound. Going in himself would only cause unnecessary tension. Instead, he asked a bystander to summon him.
---
"Cheers!"
Voices overlapped as cups clinked. But aside from Kushina and Katsuki, most only took polite sips. Minato and Nakamura rarely drank—alcohol dulled reflexes, and shinobi could ill afford that.
Shirō didn't even have a choice. He was still underage. His "cup" was filled with fruit juice, which he downed in earnest. Fortunately, he wasn't fond of alcohol anyway.
Kushina and Katsuki, however, drank their sake straight. Even though it was low-proof, their enthusiasm carried them past reason. By the end of the first round, both were already flushed pink.
Katsuki suddenly placed her empty cup on the table, stood up, and bowed deeply.
"I am very sorry! I caused you all trouble these past few days. What I did before was wrong."
She was, of course, referring to the way she had tested and distrusted them at first. Even if Shirō and the others hadn't taken it to heart, Katsuki still felt she owed them a clear apology.
Kushina rose as well, bowing beside her. "Thank you—thank you so much."
Shirō and the others exchanged glances. Finally, Nakamura spoke.
"It's fine. This is what we do—it's our mission. And honestly, in that situation, caution was natural. Understandable."
"If it had been me, I'd have reacted the same way. So don't dwell on it. Caution is a good habit. Keep it. And also—"
"Ahem! Captain, you've worked hard. Here, try this—really delicious."
Shirō quickly shoved a dish toward Nakamura before he could launch into one of his endless lectures.
Years of leading genin teams had given Nakamura the bad habit of nagging. Once he started, it was hard to stop him. Thankfully, in actual training he was decisive and razor-sharp. It was only at moments like this that he rambled.
Shirō wasn't about to let dinner turn into a half-hour lecture, so he cut him off neatly.
---
Kushina and Katsuki continued drinking, far more than Shirō's juice. No one blamed them. Their experiences were painfully similar—both girls had carried the weight of loneliness in their hearts.
Kushina had been a little luckier: she had Minato, her destined one; Shirō, who was both like a younger brother and an older one; and even the Third Hokage, who watched over her kindly. Bit by bit, her emptiness had been filled.
That was why she felt such empathy for Katsuki.
She had invited her along, taught her ninjutsu, and even pulled Nakamura's squad into a welcome feast. It was all because she hoped Katsuki could truly integrate into Konoha.
No one at that table understood Konoha's duality better than Kushina—not even Shirō, who had glimpsed "the plot."
Shirō had seen. But Kushina had lived it. She carried the Nine-Tails within her, its bitter whispers constantly urging her to despise the Village. So she had tested the truth of its words again and again.
In doing so, she had seen both Konoha's shadows and its light.
Yes, shinobi lived with blood on their hands. Yes, Konoha had secrets and politics. But its blades rarely turned against its own people. For every hidden cruelty, Kushina found a kindness that outweighed it.
That was why she sincerely wanted Katsuki to belong here.
Even the Third Hokage wanted this integration to succeed—so much so that he had quietly permitted something technically forbidden.
The ninjutsu they intended to teach Katsuki was the Shadow Clone Technique, created by the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. Normally, access to it required official merit and clearance.
But this time, even Danzō, ever quick to exploit any rule-break, had remained silent. Because this act did not weaken the Village. In fact, it made Konoha stronger.
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