The month of May in Konoha was as calm as still water.
Everyone in the village was busy with missions, patrols, or training, yet there was one person who could not gather even a trace of enthusiasm.
Kushina felt dejected. At times, it seemed as if the entire world had quietly forgotten her.
Did they not say I would be promoted to Jonin after completing the barrier mission? Why has no one mentioned it since?
What frustrated her most was that she had already gone to the Hokage's office three or four times. Each visit ended the same way. She would sit there in silence for nearly an hour, dropping hints in every possible way. Yet the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, acted as though he had suddenly grown old and deaf, never bringing up her promotion.
Could he be waiting for me to give him a gift?
Kushina suppressed the irritation rising in her chest. If she were not the one asking for something, then with her temper, she might have already set the old man's beard on fire.
Does he really think I am easy to bully?
After venting internally, her anger faded, replaced by a dull sense of helplessness.
Even the previous Chunin Exams had been full of obstacles. Now it seemed that becoming a Jonin in this lifetime was nothing more than wishful thinking.
What made it worse was that several of her close friends had already advanced.
Leaving Hayashi aside, Minato had long since become a Jonin. Nawaki had as well. Even Mikoto had been promoted after returning from the Fire Daimyo's mansion.
Nono and Kana had not been promoted, but they had spent the past two years traveling outside the village with Tsunade, gaining real battlefield experience.
The more Kushina thought about it, the heavier her mood became.
She had remained in Konoha for years. Aside from the period when Tsunade led her team on missions, she had stayed inside the village the entire time, never stepping beyond its gates.
No matter how beautiful the village was, anyone would eventually grow restless being confined within it.
For a brief moment, Kushina found herself sympathizing with the Nine Tails.
She had merely been unable to leave the village. The Nine Tails, however, had been sealed inside a jinchuriki for decades. Day after day, year after year, it had not even been able to leave its cage.
The only time it had tasted the outside world was during the transfer from Uzumaki Mito to Kushina.
Yet before it could even enjoy a few breaths of fresh air, it had been beaten down by Mito and several powerful ninja. When it regained consciousness, it had already been sealed into a new prison.
If I consider myself miserable, then what is Kurama?
A truly miserable existence?
With that thought, Kushina's mood strangely balanced out.
Inside the seal, the Nine Tails was thoroughly confused.
Only a few days ago, this red haired girl had stood before the bars of the cage with her hands on her hips, scolding it for being useless.
Why was she speaking in such a soft tone today?
Had she forgotten to take her medicine?
The Nine Tails listened carefully as Kushina muttered her grievances. By the time it understood the reason for her melancholy, its whiskered snout nearly twisted in anger.
Damn it. What storms have I not endured? Do I need your pity?
In my lowest days, I was crushed by the First Hokage's Sage Art Wood Release Wood Golem Technique. That left psychological scars, yet I recovered. What is this trivial frustration compared to that?
Then, in a deliberately casual tone, it said, "Since you sympathize with me so much, why not remove the seal?"
"Hmph. You really do not appreciate good intentions."
Kushina buried her face in her blanket and ignored it.
Silence filled the sealed space.
Elsewhere, night had fallen over Konoha.
Piercing through the quiet darkness, Uchiha Hayashi stepped into the Hokage's office.
At this hour, the Third Hokage was still buried in paperwork.
As the leader of the village, he carried immense pressure. Endless reports and mission summaries covered his desk in towering stacks.
Hayashi would not have come at such a late hour without reason. He had been summoned personally.
When he entered, he saw Hiruzen seated behind his desk, pipe in hand, brows furrowed as he examined a document. He did not look up immediately.
A Kage level shinobi would never fail to notice someone entering the room. The Hokage simply chose to finish reading before addressing him.
Hayashi waited patiently.
After about five minutes, Hiruzen finally set the document aside. He gestured for Hayashi to sit.
"How is it working in the Police Force?" he asked.
Hayashi replied with a straight face, "The seniors are all talented, and they speak very kindly. I like it there."
Hiruzen rolled his eyes.
"Tell the truth."
Hayashi sighed. "It is too boring."
If he had to describe it, the Police Force felt like a mixture of law enforcement and neighborhood dispute mediators.
Street vendors without permits had to be dealt with.
Residents fighting over trivial matters required intervention.
Family disputes, arguments between mothers in law and daughters in law, they handled those too.
Even public indecency cases ended up on their desk.
They managed everything.
When someone caused trouble and obstructed their duties, Hayashi often had the urge to personally demonstrate why challenging a shinobi was unwise.
But the moment force was used, someone would immediately shout, "The Police Force is hitting civilians!"
At times like that, even Hayashi understood why certain members of the Uchiha clan grew increasingly dissatisfied.
Anyone tasked with such tedious work every day would eventually become irritable.
Hiruzen smiled faintly. "If you dislike it so much, why not come assist me?"
Hayashi's gaze drifted to the mountain of documents piled in the corner. His eyelid twitched.
He shook his head decisively. "I am still young. Someone of your experience, Uncle Third, is better suited for this."
Though spoken jokingly, there was truth in his words.
He had no desire to be trapped behind a desk for his entire life. Even if he became Hokage someday, he would find capable assistants or step down early for the next generation.
Hiruzen did not take offense. In fact, he felt satisfied.
Hayashi had waited patiently instead of interrupting him the moment he arrived. That alone spoke volumes about his temperament.
Genius shinobi often possessed flaws in character. Many clans focused solely on cultivating strength while neglecting discipline.
The Uchiha clan was frequently cited as an example of that imbalance.
This was one reason Hiruzen tended to favor civilian ninja. They were not entangled in clan politics. To them, the village stood above all else.
Returning to the matter at hand, Hiruzen cleared his throat.
"Do you remember what you said to me three years ago during the Chunin Exams?"
Hayashi paused, thinking for a moment before nodding confidently.
"I remember."
In truth, he could barely recall the details. Three years was not a short time.
Still, his expression suggested perfect recollection.
Hiruzen did not doubt him.
"I have thought about that conversation many times," the Hokage said quietly. "You were right. Kushina cannot remain confined to the village forever. She is a shinobi. She needs real missions."
So that was the reason for tonight's summons.
Hiruzen continued, "I promised her that once she became a Jonin, she could leave the village for missions. However, her identity is special. She requires protection from someone with sufficient strength."
Hayashi already sensed where this was going.
"I intend for the two of you to form a team and carry out missions together."
Hayashi asked directly, "What is the mission?"
Hiruzen retrieved a prepared scroll.
"Uzushiogakure, the Village Hidden in the Whirlpools, was once our ally. It was the homeland of Lady Mito and Kushina. Although it was destroyed, remnants of the Uzumaki clan's heritage remain. I want you to retrieve what is left."
The Land of Whirlpools.
Hayashi understood immediately.
The region no longer housed organized shinobi forces, so direct danger was limited. However, it lay close to the Land of Water. That proximity made the situation unpredictable.
He was not particularly eager to go. Still, the Hokage had personally summoned him and explained the circumstances. Refusal was not an option.
It seems I need to prepare thoroughly. If anything feels wrong, I can use the Reverse Summoning Technique to withdraw with Kushina.
Hiruzen handed him the mission scroll and smiled in a way that carried deeper meaning.
"Go. It is Kushina's homeland. If she wishes to stay for a short time, there is no need to rush."
Hayashi rolled his eyes inwardly.
I do not believe a word of that. The old man is far too cunning.
He accepted the scroll nonetheless.