Five days later—
Standing before the gates of Konoha, Seisui let out a long breath.
"I'm back again!"
He glanced at the gatekeepers and realized the usual guard wasn't there. Curious, he walked forward and asked, "Hey, where's the chunin who used to be on duty here?"
The new gatekeeper gave him a quick look. Seeing that Seisui wasn't wearing a chunin vest yet, he replied, "You mean Umino Ichikaku? I heard he got hit by something hard… and went to become an academy instructor."
"Something hit him?" Seisui blinked. "What could possibly traumatize someone just guarding the gate?"
"Exactly!" the guard nodded. "He told me to watch out for three chunin kids. Said they were too discouraging."
"Three chunin kids, huh?" Seisui grinned. "Well, he's not wrong. Just three brats who entered the academy at six, graduated the same year, and became chunin at seven!"
You really didn't have to say it out loud.
Just then, Minato and Uchiha Haru caught up from behind.
Minato sighed helplessly. "You really used Flying Raijin just to rush ahead? Aren't you afraid of running out of chakra?"
Seisui looked at him in disbelief. "Why would you even say something that dumb? My chakra reserves are dozens of times greater than the average jonin's—twenty or thirty times yours, at least."
"I thought Kushina was from the Uzumaki Clan," Seisui added casually. "You do realize I'm the clan leader, right? Keep talking nonsense like that, and I won't approve of your marriage to her."
Arms crossed, he gave Minato an insufferably smug look.
Damn it, he's actually got me there.
Minato cursed silently. Technically, Uzumaki Kushina did have to follow Seisui's word as clan head. If he wanted to marry her, Seisui's blessing was required—otherwise, it wouldn't be an officially recognized union.
Every major clan had that kind of tradition, though most leaders didn't bother enforcing it.
Trying to steer away from this humiliating topic, Minato quickly said, "Let's just go report our mission to the Hokage. No need to dwell on… minor details." And with that, he bolted off ahead.
Watching him flee, Seisui clicked his tongue. "Tch, look at him running away. How lame." He turned to Haru with a grin. "Come on, let's go too."
Haru smiled faintly, glanced at the new gate guard, then quietly took Seisui's hand as they headed toward the Hokage Building together.
The guard stood frozen for a long moment.
"…Maybe I should find a new post," he muttered. "Ichikaku was right. Those three are way too much."
==========
Inside the Hokage's Office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his temples as he looked at the trio before him.
"So, let me get this straight—you beat up the Raikage's son?"
"Mm-hm!" Seisui nodded proudly. "Under the wise leadership of the illustrious Third Hokage, Konoha's strength utterly surpasses that of the second-ranked Kumogakure! This battle showcased our might, proved the power of Konoha's next generation, and ensured the Cloud won't dare act recklessly again! All of this—" he bowed theatrically "—was achieved under your brilliant guidance, Hokage-sama!"
The corners of Hiruzen's mouth twitched—but soon a pleased smile replaced his headache.
"Excellent. You did well."
Encouraged, Seisui pressed on. "We are children born under the sunlight, growing strong under your protection, Hokage-sama! Where the leaves dance, the fire will burn—its light will shine on the village and help new leaves grow!"
"I understand that phrase so much better now. That's your greatness, Grandpa Third!"
"Ha ha ha ha!" Hiruzen burst into laughter, clearly delighted. His gaze toward Seisui grew warmer by the second. "You'd better not say those things in public though—people might think you're just flattering me."
"No!" Seisui refused righteously. "If they can't appreciate such words, it just means they don't truly understand the Will of Fire! Isn't that right?"
He looked to the side. Haru hesitated for a moment, then nodded softly. Minato just gave a pained nod of agreement, his soul slowly leaving his body.
Watching Seisui's absurdly polished flattery, Minato couldn't help thinking his own dream of becoming Hokage was fading further away.
Am I doomed to end up like… Danzo? he thought, sneaking a glance at the scowling elder in the corner.
Danzo noticed, of course. With a low snort, he muttered under his breath, "Damn sycophant."
Hiruzen, still smiling, finally said, "You three should take a good rest. By the way, Seisui—Mito-sama has been pestering me about your sealing training. You'd better start soon, or she'll come after me next."
"Got it," Seisui nodded. He'd been meaning to learn sealing anyway.
After the trio left, Danzo finally rose, his expression dark.
"Hand that Uchiha girl over to me."
"I told you before, that's not happening," Hiruzen replied calmly, knocking his pipe against the desk to settle the tobacco.
"She awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan!" Danzo slammed a hand down. "Have you forgotten Uchiha Madara?!"
"I haven't," Hiruzen said quietly, exhaling a puff of smoke. "But Haru isn't Madara. She awakened her eyes because of Seisui."
"She's Uchiha Setsuna's granddaughter," Danzo growled.
"That doesn't matter," Hiruzen answered firmly. "She's the bridge between the Uchiha and the village. I trust Seisui and his team to handle it."
Danzo's eyes narrowed dangerously, but before he could speak, Hiruzen's tone hardened.
"Put away those schemes of yours. Don't touch them—or else."
A suffocating pressure filled the office. Even Danzo felt it.
Hiruzen might be aging, but he wasn't senile, and he wasn't weak. The Five-Elemental Grand Burst was still a technique few could withstand.
Danzo turned away with a cold snort. "Hmph. I hope you don't regret this."
"I never regret my decisions," Hiruzen said simply.
==========
The next morning.
Seisui stretched as he got out of bed.
Haru was already at his house—just like they'd planned, today they were going to see Uzumaki Mito to begin his sealing training.
After eating the breakfast Haru had prepared, Seisui couldn't help but praise, "Haru, your cooking just keeps getting better."
Her cheeks flushed faintly. "If you like it… I can make it for you every day."
"Deal," he said without hesitation.
Meanwhile, across town, Uchiha Setsuna stared at his empty dining table and sighed deeply. "Ah… the tragedy of youth."
After breakfast, Seisui and Haru made their way toward the Senju compound—no, it was officially the Uzumaki compound now. The Senju had completely ceded the grounds to Mito's clan.
When they reached Uzumaki Mito's residence, they happened to run into Nawaki at the gate.
Seisui took one look at his gear and raised an eyebrow. "Nawaki, what's with all that equipment? Are you heading out to blow up a mountain or something?"
Nawaki looked down at himself, blinked, and shook his head.
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