Alright guys, i just finished the fic with 515 chapters. its been a fun project, and i just want to say thank you to all of your support! i plan on uploading the rest, before the end of the week, completing it on here, so expect a barrage of chapters. AGAIN thank u for the support, i appreciate it.
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Chapter 420: Shameless, But Effective
The flash of guilt in Minato's eyes vanished quickly. Reason won out.
He didn't have the authority to decide whether the jinchuriki could take on a student. That was the Hokage's call, not his.
"I'm sorry. The answer is still no."
Minato's voice remained gentle, but carried unmistakable finality.
This wasn't about preference. It was about cold reality and the rules that governed their world.
"Yasushi should focus on building his foundation at the academy. We can discuss apprenticeships after graduation."
Hearing Minato's firm refusal, Kushina reluctantly abandoned the idea that had started to take root.
She sighed quietly and placed her hands on Yasushi's shoulders, gently pulling him back from her embrace. When she looked down, she found him gazing up at her with huge, watery eyes, looking absolutely pitiful. Like a sad little kitten from those picture books.
The cuteness factor was off the charts.
A powerful protective instinct seized her heart.
The child's undisguised disappointment and trust pierced through the lonely shell she'd built around herself over the years.
In that instant, the idea she'd already given up on suddenly came roaring back.
A rebellious impulse exploded inside Kushina.
Fine, I understand not letting me get close to adults. Some of them might be bought off by enemy villages to hurt me.
But a six-year-old child? What harm could he possibly do?
Yes, I'm a jinchuriki. But I'm also a ninja of this village.
I've accepted not being allowed to leave the village. But now I can't even take on a student?
Years of isolation and restriction because of her status, clashing with the pure warmth this simple request offered, created violent internal conflict.
The "Blood Red Habanero's" temper, dormant for so long, ignited like a lit fuse.
She drew a deep breath. Her slender eyebrows shot up, forming an inverted V on her forehead. The gentle aura around her shifted abruptly. Her red hair seemed to move on its own despite the still air.
Minato's composure evaporated instantly, replaced by an expression of pure alarm.
He knew Kushina too well. That look meant her stubborn streak had taken over. Nine bulls couldn't pull her back now.
Minato quickly stepped forward, hands raised, voice panicked.
"Kushina, this isn't something we can joke about! You can't just—"
Before he could finish, Kushina's fist sent him flying with an explosive crack.
Minato became a golden arc through the air, accompanied by a sharp "Ahhh!" before crashing into the far wall of the living room and slowly sliding down.
Kushina stood her ground, fist still clenched, like an ignited war goddess. Her eyes burned with undeniable fire.
Veins bulged on her forehead. She stomped one foot heavily on the low table, sending tea and snacks flying, and threw her arms wide as she shouted:
"I'm taking Yasushi as my student today! Even if that old man, the Third Generation tries to stop me, I'll rip his beard right off his face!"
Her clear, ringing voice echoed through the room. Every word landed with force. Pure, unfiltered defiance.
In this moment, she wasn't a jinchuriki who needed protection. She was Uzumaki Kushina, acting on her own will.
Yasushi looked up at this red-haired sister whose presence had exploded to life, his eyes shining. He grinned so wide his teeth showed.
"That's so cool!"
Yasushi threw both thumbs up, his small face radiating excitement and admiration. Compliments poured out like water.
"Kushina-neesan, this is the real you!"
"This is your ninja way!"
"So awesome!"
"So badass!"
"This is how you should live!"
"You're so much better like this than that sad, restricted version from before!"
"Break free from everything holding you back! Do whatever you want!"
"You should be your own queen!"
His shouts grew louder with each declaration, the last one practically bellowed at the top of his lungs.
The lines were incredibly cringe-worthy. But they hit perfectly for shinobi world sensibilities, especially Kushina's.
Heh heh heh...
Kushina laughed loudly, face flushed. Her smile was brilliant and unrestrained, like the most intense midday sun. Even Minato, picking himself up from the wall, stared in wonder.
He hadn't seen Kushina laugh this openly in so long.
In his memories, she was usually quiet when alone, or wore gentle but restrained smiles when with him. Occasionally there'd be explosive anger when things got chaotic.
But this kind of unburdened, genuine laughter from the heart? He couldn't remember the last time.
Minato suddenly realized that maybe Kushina had been accommodating him all along, and he'd ignored what she truly wanted.
After a moment's stunned silence, Minato could only surrender.
"Fine. I'll talk to the Hokage. See if I can convince him to approve this."
He sighed, his tone helpless but indulgent.
Logic told him this would be difficult. But emotionally, he couldn't ignore that rekindled light in Kushina's eyes.
He'd try for her, even if it meant facing scrutiny from the higher-ups.
Having won his concession, Kushina felt a bit embarrassed.
Perhaps realizing her violent outburst and bold declarations weren't very ladylike, she showed a rare flash of shy self-consciousness.
Sheepishly, she took her foot off the table, face red, and ran to Minato's side. She grabbed his arm and swayed it gently back and forth like a kitten with retracted claws, using charm to make up for her earlier "roughness."
"I'll come with you. If you get yelled at, at least I'll be there too."
Her voice softened, carrying a coaxing sweetness.
She knew Minato was doing this for her. Now that the impulse had passed, she wanted to share the burden with him.
Her gentle coaxing melted away any lingering irritation Minato felt. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close against him, his voice both firm and tender.
"Good. We're in this together. Whatever happens, we'll face it as one."
Fading sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the embracing couple in warm golden light.
Having just been force-fed a mouthful of romance, Yasushi deflated with a sour feeling stirring inside.
He puffed out his cheeks and channeled his "anguish" into eating, chomping loudly on the candy in his mouth as if protesting this sweet "attack."
That little-adult expression of exasperation made Takeshi beside him barely suppress his laughter, covering it with a cough.
The cough startled Minato back to awareness. He laughed and released his embrace, though his hand naturally remained on Kushina's shoulder.
He turned to Takeshi and his son, his smile recovering its usual sunshine and reliability.
"Takeshi-san, Kushina and I will go speak with the Hokage about this right away. But the final decision is his, not mine."
"Thank you so much, Minato-san."
Seeing another chance emerging, hope rekindled in Takeshi's heart. He bowed deeply in gratitude before taking his leave with his son.
He knew that having Minato advocate on their behalf was already an enormous favor.
Having succeeded with his cuteness tactics, Yasushi stopped clinging to Kushina. He just smiled sweetly and waved goodbye.
"Kushina-neesan, I'll go home and wait for the good news~"
He put on his most adorable act, batting his big eyes, voice soft and sweet, "anticipation" written clearly across his face.
"Don't worry, Yasushi! Big sister will definitely make you mine!"
Kushina thumped her chest confidently, looking radiant.
Father and son left the estate and headed home.
As soon as they entered the Uchiha compound, they ran into Clan Head Fugaku helping Mikoto take a walk.
Fugaku's usually stern face showed rare gentleness and nervousness, his manner careful and cautious.
"Ah, Clan Head-sama." Takeshi hurried forward to greet him.
"Oh, Takeshi!" Fugaku's face brightened seeing this newly powerful clan member. "How's Yasushi's recovery going?"
"Thanks to your concern, he's completely fine now."
After some pleasantries, Mikoto took Yasushi's hand and looked at his round little face with an envious expression.
"Little Yasushi is so adorable. I hope our son turns out just as cute."
As she spoke, Mikoto gently rubbed her still-flat belly.
"Wait, Mikoto-san, you're pregnant?" Takeshi asked in surprise.
"That's right, just found out." Fugaku's face split into a huge grin.
The usually dignified Uchiha clan head looked like any other goofy dad-to-be.
"Oh, congratulations!"
Takeshi eagerly began sharing fatherhood wisdom while Fugaku listened intently, nodding along.
The clan head's identity temporarily faded, leaving just two fathers talking.
Meanwhile, Yasushi glanced sideways at Mikoto's belly, idly wondering if one well-placed kick could solve the massacre problem permanently.
Of course, he'd only think about it. You'd have to be an idiot to actually do it.
He quickly extinguished that terrible thought, keeping his expression perfectly innocent.
After extensive parenting talk, Takeshi remembered the apprenticeship matter and felt he should inform the clan head, so he brought it up.
"Oh? Becoming Kushina's student?"
After hearing this, the warmth drained from Fugaku's face like a receding tide, replaced by the contemplative gravity unique to a clan leader.
Kushina's identity was too sensitive. The implications behind this choice immediately put him on alert.
"Actually, we originally planned for him to study under Minato-san, but since Minato-san already has Obito as a student and can't take on another, so..."
Takeshi didn't mention that Yasushi had changed his target on a whim. He took all responsibility on himself.
"I see..."
Fugaku's gaze swept over Takeshi's face with a hint of scrutiny, as if trying to see through the surface explanation to the true intent.
Simple coincidence, or deliberate planning?
The Third Hokage had already informed Fugaku about the suspicious aspects of the assassination attempt.
Fugaku found the arguments reasonable and had agreed to "protective surveillance" of Takeshi, though he'd opposed Danzo's suggestion of letting Root enter Uchiha territory for monitoring.
Instead, surveillance within the clan was being conducted by their own people.
But Takeshi seemed unable to stay put. Just a few days later, he was already getting involved with the jinchuriki.
The jinchuriki was the Hokage faction's forbidden fruit. Was this something the Uchiha clan could touch?
Getting entangled with the Hokage's inner circle, especially the jinchuriki, was a double-edged sword for the Uchiha. Hard to say if it was good or bad.
He'd been inclined to stop this, but hearing that both Minato and Kushina had agreed and were even going to the Hokage to discuss it, he couldn't voice his objections.
The boat had sailed. Too late to stop it now.
If he opposed forcefully now, he'd not only offend the Minato couple but also make the Uchiha look ungrateful, blocking their own clan member from connecting with the Hokage's faction.
After careful consideration, he chose to hedge.
"Since this has already reached the Hokage, we'll follow his decision."
"If Yasushi can become Lady Kushina's disciple, that's actually good. It strengthens our relationship with the Hokage's faction."
"Maybe we'll even produce a Hokage from our clan someday!"
He shifted his perspective, starting to interpret this positively.
These words were both for Takeshi and himself.
If handled properly, this might become an opportunity to improve the Uchiha's situation, even elevate the clan's status.
Thinking about the Uchiha clan's bright future, Fugaku couldn't help but break into open laughter.
Takeshi naturally hoped his son would become Hokage too. Infected by Fugaku's optimism, imagining his son's brilliant future, he laughed happily as well.
Only Yasushi, who knew how the future actually played out, rolled his eyes internally and complained silently.
Hokage? What Hokage?
Forget it!
Wait for Sarada!
See if she can beat out Boruto and Konohamaru.
Mikoto's gaze remained gently on Yasushi. She naturally didn't miss his momentary "disrespectful" expression and laughed into her hand.
"Haha, little Yasushi is so cute."
"Come on, let's go to our house for some sweets."
Yasushi let himself be led along, once again appreciating the "privileges" this young body brought.
Being young was great. Whatever you did got indulged. Everything was just childish innocence and cuteness.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage was losing his temper.
"Does Hidden Sand think I'm senile?"
"Do they really think a flimsy denial will make this go away?"
The Sand envoy across from him bowed respectfully but didn't back down.
"Hokage-sama, this is a frame-up."
"This must be another village's scheme to drive a wedge between us. You mustn't fall for it!"
"We signed a peace treaty!"
"Unless we're planning to start another war, why would we randomly attack you, especially targeting the ninja academy?"
"Hokage-sama, please believe us. We didn't do this." The Sand envoy's voice carried genuine frustration.
"If we'd done this, we wouldn't be meeting here. We'd be meeting on the battlefield at our shared border."
Hiruzen's expression remained dark, but doubt crept in. The whole situation felt wrong from start to finish.
He and his advisors had discussed this repeatedly without reaching a satisfactory conclusion.
As the Sand envoy said, if the assassins had actually succeeded that day, with massive student and parent casualties, all of Konoha would've exploded.
Even the most war-weary people couldn't have said "let it go." War would've been inevitable.
A disaster neither side could afford.
Unless Hidden Sand's leadership had collectively lost their minds, they wouldn't make such an insane, self-destructive decision.
Maybe it really wasn't Hidden Sand?
Or maybe the assassin really was targeting Uchiha Takeshi specifically?
The suspicion Danzo had forcibly planted suddenly seemed clearer.
If the target had been Takeshi from the start, then attacking the academy, creating chaos, and that seemingly "inefficient" assassination sequence actually made a twisted kind of sense.
Ensure the primary target's death, even if it meant sacrificing secondary objectives and the operatives' lives.
Hiruzen's fingers tapped unconsciously on the desk. His gaze drifted toward the night sky outside. The truth seemed shrouded in even deeper fog.
While Hiruzen hesitated, a cold voice emerged from the shadows.
"You claim you're not planning war? Then what about the Land of Rain?"
"The Land of Rain? What about it?" The Sand envoy looked genuinely confused.
"Hmph!" Danzo slowly stepped from shadow into lamplight, his bandaged face and single eye appearing especially hard in the shifting illumination.
His words weren't a question but a cold statement, carrying the certainty of confirmed intelligence.
"Hidden Sand is shipping massive amounts of supplies to the Land of Rain. Am I wrong?"
"You might fool others, but you can't fool me!"
The "fooled old man" immediately frowned and turned his gaze to his old comrade Danzo, face dark.
Such critical intelligence. Root knew, but he, the Hokage, didn't.
This wasn't just an intelligence failure. It was an erosion of the Hokage's authority.
Danzo was getting more outrageous!
He'd need a serious talking-to later!
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, his gaze lingering on Danzo for a moment, heavy with warning.
But now wasn't the time for internal reckoning. He suppressed his anger and focused on the developing situation.
Danzo completely ignored Hiruzen's furious look, staring fixedly at the Sand ninja like an experienced hunting dog, sniffing out every subtle emotional fluctuation and weakness.
The Hokage's displeasure? He'd grown used to it long ago. It wasn't even in his calculations.