Watching the scene unfold through the crystal ball, even the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the world's first Jinchuriki, Mito Uzumaki, were momentarily jolted.
Hiruzen, despite being the one who had warned Mito to be prepared, looked more shaken than she did. He, more than anyone, understood exactly what Kushina represented to the village's survival.
On the training field, Goppu Sarutobi's shout echoed just in time. Tatsuma managed to arrest his momentum at the absolute last millisecond. Both the teacher and the student let out a simultaneous breath of relief; had Tatsuma's spear-hand actually connected with Kushina's throat, she would have been in grave danger.
Tatsuma relaxed his posture and offered a small smile. "Looks like I win."
Kushina stared blankly at the fingers hovering inches from her windpipe. Her first instinct was pure, primal terror, but that fear was instantly incinerated by a surge of humiliated rage.
As Goppu nodded, preparing to declare Tatsuma the victor, Kushina's left hand blurred, swinging wildly at Tatsuma's head. Tatsuma's eyes narrowed. His spear-hand retracted and transitioned instantly into a palm strike.
"You bastard! Who said I lo—"
Cluck—!
Kushina's retort died in her throat. The heel of Tatsuma's palm slammed into the side of her jaw. Her eyes rolled back into her head, and her body went limp. If Tatsuma hadn't still been gripping her right arm from the previous grapple, she would have crumpled directly into the dirt.
Only then did the system notification chime in Tatsuma's mind.
[Ding!]
[Attributes Acquired: STR +5, PHY +5]
[Special Talent Acquired: Sealing (Kushina Uzumaki Limited Edition) +10%]
Collect! Tatsuma commanded mentally.
Goppu rushed forward, taking Kushina from Tatsuma's arms. He looked at the boy—who was currently wearing the bright, satisfied smile of a victor—and opened his mouth to scold him, but found he couldn't find the words.
After all, the Hokage had told him last night that the goal was to give Kushina a reality check. Or Minato and Tatsuma. Whoever needed the lesson most. Tatsuma had certainly delivered that lesson, and in the end, he had shown enough restraint to avoid a lethal blow.
"Self-study for the rest of the period," Goppu announced to the class, his voice strained. "I'm taking Uzumaki-san to the infirmary. No wandering off!"
He hoisted the unconscious girl into his arms and hurried away.
"Tatsuma, thanks for holding back at the end," Minato said, walking over and clapping a hand on his friend's shoulder.
Tatsuma's expression shifted into a mischievous smirk. "If anyone's going to thank me, it should be Kushina herself. Why are you doing it for her? What are you to her, exactly?"
Having known Tatsuma for over a year, Minato didn't miss the underlying implication. His face flushed a brilliant red, and he stammered, unable to find a comeback.
Back in the Hokage's office, a long silence followed the end of the match. Finally, Mito Uzumaki spoke in a low, contemplative tone.
"If Tobirama were still alive, he would have loved that child."
" Cough... indeed," Hiruzen replied, wiping a cold sweat from his neck. "Tatsuma's decisiveness... it does bear a striking resemblance to Lord Tobirama's style."
Hiruzen was privately relieved that Mito had broken the silence. A moment ago, the sheer pressure of the chakra leaking from her body had brought back vivid memories of his childhood training on the Senju clan grounds.
It seemed Mito wasn't bringing a successor from the Land of Whirlpools because she was physically failing; the woman was still as formidable as ever.
I need to have a very stern talk with that idiot Danzo tonight, Hiruzen thought. If he provokes Lady Mito, it will be the end of him.
"However," Hiruzen continued, "it seems Tatsuma might not be the best fit as a companion for Kushina."
Mito hummed thoughtfully. "Let's not be too hasty. He might actually be an excellent choice. With a personality like his, he likely wouldn't care about the stigma of a Jinchuriki. Besides, the final choice lies with Kushina. All we can do is filter out the ones who are truly incompatible."
"I understand," Hiruzen nodded. He wouldn't dream of opposing Mito. When he had returned from the war with the Second Hokage's dying decree to name him successor, he had faced immense opposition. He only sat in this chair today because Mito Uzumaki had stood behind him and silenced his critics.
Combined with that brief flare of chakra... Hiruzen knew better than to test her.
Mito stood up. "I won't keep you from your work any longer."
"Are you heading back, Lady Mito?"
"Yes," she sighed. "I need to come up with a good reason to coax Kushina out of her room later."
That evening, Kushina returned home and—just as she had on her first day of school—immediately barricaded herself in her bedroom.
Mito waited until after the dinner hour before visiting. She sat on the edge of the bed, offering silent comfort to the lump hidden under the blankets.
"Grandmother Mito... I couldn't beat them..."
After a long while, Kushina peeked out from under the covers, her expression one of dejected heartbreak. Mito reached out and gently smoothed her hair.
"Of course you couldn't, dear. In that environment, Minato and Tatsuma are the alpha wolves of the pack. As a new cub joining them, it's only natural that you wouldn't be able to overcome them yet. But now you're just like the others—a young wolf who lost to the kings. Now you can live and grow within the pack, waiting for your next chance to challenge them."
Kushina nodded, soaking in the explanation, but then a look of confusion crossed her face. "Wait... Grandmother Mito, didn't you call them 'fat cats' last week?"
"Did I?" Mito didn't miss a beat, her expression perfectly serene. "Well, your grandmother is getting old. It's only natural for me to see things wrong occasionally."
Before Kushina could press the point, Mito quickly pivoted. "You've probably realized by now that those two boys don't actually possess more raw strength than you. Do you know why you still lost?"
"Why?" Kushina was easy to anger, but just as easy to distract. She sat up further, her shoulders emerging from the blankets.
"Because you haven't mastered your true power yet," Mito said with a knowing smile. "The power that belongs to our Uzumaki clan."
"The Uzumaki power?"
"Precisely. We Uzumaki are born geniuses of sealing. If you can master our clan's sealing arts, those two boys won't stand a chance against you."
As Mito spoke, five shimmering, golden chains erupted from her back. The tips were tipped with vicious spearheads and barbs, radiating a lethal, overwhelming aura.
Kushina stared at the chains, mesmerized. Mito smiled warmly. "Well? Do you want to learn?"
Kushina nodded frantically. Mito patted her back. "You can't learn on an empty stomach. Come. Let's go have dinner with your grandmother."
"Okay!"