Chapter 16

New family members

Tsunade sat back in the dimly lit tavern room, still reeling from the bombshell that had just been dropped on her. She couldn't decide whether to strangle Orochimaru for dragging her grandmother out of her well-earned rest or to thank him for reuniting her with the woman she'd lost so long ago. A mother figure. The one she'd clung to after her own mother's early death. Having Mito back felt like a dream—too good to be real. But the moment the shock faded, Tsunade threw herself into Mito's waiting arms, sobbing in a way she hadn't allowed herself to for years. Mito just held her close, like she always had, her presence quietly soothing the wounds that even time couldn't heal.

Tsunade's gaze drifted to Naruto, who was attacking the food like it might disappear any second. His energy was almost infectious, and yet, he was the second earth-shattering surprise of her day. Agreeing to return to Konoha had been an easy choice, if only to stay close to her resurrected grandmother. But the idea of becoming Hokage still weighed heavily on her, a responsibility she wasn't ready to embrace. At least, she agreed to help at the Konoha Hospital, a compromise that Mito had subtly nudged her toward—another step in facing her paralyzing fear of blood, a fear Mito insisted she conquer before even considering the title of Hokage. With that settled, Jiraiya caught her up on the latest village gossip, casually dropping the bombshell about Naruto's newfound power: a legendary bloodline that had somehow surfaced in another of his students.

Even after seeing the unmistakable ringed pattern of the Rinnegan in Naruto's eyes, it was still hard to believe that the legendary Sage's power had manifested in the young Uzumaki. Jiraiya had once told her of his former student, Nagato, but the abilities Naruto had revealed far exceeded anything they'd known about the dojutsu. The thought of what might come—wars waged to control or destroy this bloodline—made her stomach tighten with dread. Was she making a mistake by returning to Konoha and growing attached to Naruto? The nagging fear that he might meet the same tragic end as her brother and Dan loomed before her. Being attacked by two S-ranked ninja right after leaving the village only heightened that fear. But it was Mito who had confronted her, pulling her aside and quietly asking if she'd rather abandon Naruto, live in blissful ignorance, or stand by him and help him face the inevitable dangers. That question had been a wake-up call, cutting through her doubts and finally cementing her decision to go.

Naruto let out a loud burp after finishing his meal, looking up sheepishly when he noticed Tsunade staring at him, clearly lost in thought.

'Naruto,' Kushina's voice echoed inside his mind. 'Could you bring out my clone? I want to meet her.'

'Oh! Sure, Mom!' Naruto replied, excited. He glanced around the room, ensuring they wouldn't be interrupted, then flashed a mischievous grin toward Tsunade as he formed the necessary hand seal.

Tsunade frowned suspiciously as Naruto began to focus his chakra. "What are you up to, brat?" she muttered, her gaze sharpening as the air shifted with the creation of his clone. But the moment she saw the figure take form, her breath hitched, her heart momentarily stopping for the second time that night.

"Hey, cousin!" Kushina said cheerfully, her clone waving with a wide grin. "It's been forever, hasn't it?"

Tsunade's jaw dropped as she alternated between staring at Naruto and Kushina. "Wha—what sort of Uzumaki mindfuckery is this?! Are you messing with me?" Her voice rose, irritation masking her disbelief. "Brat, if this is some prank, you're in for it!"

Kushina leaned forward, her playful tone slipping into something more serious. "Sorry to disappoint you, cousin, but this is no prank. I'm as real as a shadow clone can get. This was the best way for me to talk to you directly." She crossed her arms, her familiar fiery spirit flashing in her eyes. "And trust me, we have a lot to catch up on."

Tsunade leaned back, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to process what was happening. Kushina Uzumaki—Naruto's mother—stood before her, alive in a way that defied all logic. She was no reanimation, and she had attended her funeral after the massacre that was the Nine Tails attack. Tsunade swallowed hard, the memories of that dark time crashing back. She looked between mother and son, her mind racing to catch up with the impossibility before her.

"You... " Tsunade finally managed, her voice rough with emotion she hadn't intended to show. "How is this... possible?"

Kushina's grin softened, a mixture of warmth and sadness in her eyes. "Minato and I... we left pieces of our consciousness inside Naruto, tied to the remnants of our fading chakra. We couldn't be there for him the way parents should, but we made sure we'd be here when he needed us most." She sighed, her gaze lingering on Naruto, full of motherly affection. "But then Naruto—being Naruto—did the impossible. With his new gift, he transformed his chakra to match ours and amplified the little bit we'd left behind. Rather than enabling us to subsist for an hour at most, he boosted our chakra enough to last much longer. That's when Minato had the idea to use shadow clones. By attaching our consciousness to the clones made from matching chakra, we can actually manifest outside of him. It's not perfect, but it's more than we ever thought possible."

Tsunade pondered on the implications of that. "Somewhat similar to the Mind Body Switch Technique of the Yamanaka clan, I suppose, except that you transfer your mind to clones with your own chakra…"

"That's where Minato got the idea of storing our consciousness in Naruto, actually," Kushina grinned. "He reverse engineered the Yamanaka technique using his own theory, and it worked."

Tsunade eyed Naruto, still struggling to wrap her head around what the boy could now do, mere weeks after awakening the Rinnegan. "So, let me get this straight… you can create a clone of anyone if you understand their chakra structure?"

Naruto paused, considering the question seriously. Then he shook his head. "Not exactly. Without their consciousness, I'd just be making a clone of myself that looks like them. I can copy their chakra signature, but it wouldn't be them."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, still contemplating the implications. "Even just imitating someone's chakra could be a huge advantage," she mused. "You could transform into them and infiltrate enemy territory undetected."

"Yeah, Dad mentioned that," Naruto nodded. "But it's trickier than it sounds. I'd need time to get familiar with the person's chakra, and I'd have to create a clone with a chakra reserve that matches theirs. And… well, I'd also have to act like them, which—" he scratched the back of his head, sheepishly grinning, "—isn't exactly my strong suit. I wouldn't be able to use their jutsu unless I already knew them."

Naruto frowned slightly, knowing that even with the memories of one of the best spies, he wasn't cut out for bluffing or deception the way Kabuto was. The technique had potential, but using it without proper preparation would be a dead giveaway and probably raise more suspicion than help.

Tsunade nodded slowly, weighing the risks and rewards. "You've got a point. Even so, the potential remains." She glanced between Naruto and Kushina before her eyes flicked around the room. "So… is Minato shy, or is he just not with you right now?" She smirked, wondering why the Fourth Hokage hadn't made his appearance yet.

Naruto chuckled and crossed his fingers, forming the familiar hand sign. A moment later, Minato appeared beside Kushina, his features marked by a sheepish grin. "Apologies, Lady Tsunade," he said with a soft chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just thought I'd give you a little time to take everything in before making it even more surreal."

Tsunade crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair as she took in the sight of Minato, the Fourth Hokage—alive, or at least, as alive as a shadow clone could be. If this intel left this room, it might just trigger an instant war -atleast, a proxy war, depending on how much they know of Minato's limitations as a shadow clone. Historically, the great wars always started when Konoha became too strong for the other nations to contend with individually. There were a myriad of other triggers, of course, but Konoha's military might had always played a key role. The first great war started not long after the death of her grandfather, for no one had the courage to attack Konoha until then. It ended soon after her great uncle's death, with the nations having lost enough in the war and being satisfied at Konoha's weakened state.

The second war started when the Third Hokage had reached the peak of his notoriety, with the White fang Sakumo and Dan acting as heralds of Konoha's overwhelming power. The Second Great War had been sparked by fear—fear that Konoha had once again grown too mighty to be kept in check. The other nations couldn't stand idly by while Konoha boasted such legendary figures and a generation of rising prodigies that included the Sannin. It wasn't just strength that had set the world on edge—it was Konoha's talent for producing giants in every generation. This had triggered the joint invasion of Uzushiogakure, Konoha's strongest ally, under a flimsy pretext that Uzu was becoming more involved in Shinobi affairs. Sure, it had been Konoha that declared the war, but it was an inevitability after the other great nations barring Suna had razed Uzu and salted the earth it stood on. Tsunade clenched her fists at the memory of Uzu's devastated landscape.

The Third War had started when the nations realized the terrifying power of the Sannin—each of them a Kage-level shinobi, far beyond the abilities of ordinary soldiers. The mere mention of their names sent ripples of fear through the ranks of their enemies. Jiraiya, known across the world as the first sage since Senju Hashirama, capable of summoning the great toads of Mount Myoboku and wielding natural energy with devastating power. Tsunade, the miracle healer, whose medical ninjutsu could turn the tide of any battle, restoring life to warriors on the brink of death and earning her a reputation as a living legend. And then there was Orochimaru—a dark nightmare in human form, his genius only rivaled by his cruelty, leaving no battlefield untouched by his monstrous power and relentless ambition.

Tsunade's gaze studied the shinobi who had single-handedly brought the open warfare of the Third Great Ninja War to a grinding halt. With most powerful shinobi, even the legendary ones, opponents at least had a chance to retreat and live to fight another day, gathering intelligence to counter their techniques in future encounters. But with Minato… it was different. There were hardly any survivors left to learn his strategies, let alone counter them. His enemies often didn't live long enough to understand what had hit them, let alone describe it.

A sensor with the ability to teleport across vast distances in the blink of an eye, combined with his unmatched reflexes, made Minato a force beyond comprehension. By the time his opponents realized they were under attack, it was already too late. Entire battlefields seemed to vanish in minutes, like they had been swept away by a natural disaster. He didn't just overpower his enemies; he erased them before they even had a chance to react. No one could outrun him. No one could outmaneuver him. And few could even grasp the extent of his abilities.

The Kiiroi Senko—the Yellow Flash—had become the stuff of nightmares for the other nations. It wasn't just his strength; it was the terror that came with knowing that once Minato was on the battlefield, the outcome was already decided. The moment his signature three-pronged kunai appeared, enemies scattered in blind panic, often to no avail.

Konoha's enemies had tried, in vain, to counter his Flying Thunder God technique, placing him at the top of every nation's hit list. But targeting Minato was like trying to catch the wind—no matter their efforts, he was an elusive force, perpetually beyond reach. He had single-handedly turned the tide of the war in Konoha's favor, his very presence enough to silence entire armies.

But for all his power, Minato had never reveled in destruction. That's what Tsunade remembered most. There had been no bloodlust in him, no thirst for battle. He had fought because he had to, because the village needed him. He had always been calm, focused, and determined to protect his comrades, his village. That was what made him even more dangerous. Minato fought with purpose. His power was tempered by a sharp mind, a strategist's heart, and the overwhelming desire to end battles swiftly to minimize loss.

She studied Minato for a moment before letting out a low whistle. "I've seen some crazy things in my time, but this… this might just take the cake." Her gaze softened for a moment, somehow a little relieved by Minato's presence. "I never thought I'd see you again, Fourth Hokage."

Minato smiled warmly, his expression tinged with a quiet sadness. "Believe me, I never thought I'd get a chance like this either." He glanced at Naruto with pride in his eyes before turning back to Tsunade. "But thanks to Naruto's incredible progress—and some very unusual and lucky circumstances—I guess we got a second chance, in a way."

Tsunade nodded, her eyes briefly flicking to Naruto, whose hands were creeping towards the leftover dessert on the table. "He's a handful, isn't he?" she said, the ghost of a smile playing on her lips.

Minato chuckled softly. "That's one way to put it," he said with a fond look at his son. "He's more than I ever could've hoped for. He's got Kushina's spirit... and more of my stubbornness than I'd like to admit."

Tsunade's smirk widened. "Stubbornness, huh? That's going to give me gray hair, you know."

"But your hair is already gray!" Kushina interjected with a stage whisper, much to Tsunade's annoyance.

Minato's laugh was light, shaking his head at the sheer gall Kushina displayed. She was the only person he knew that was not afraid of Tsunade's temper. "I know what you mean." He told Tsunade, his tone becoming more serious. "But… you can see it, can't you, Lady Tsunade? He's special. Not just because of the Rinnegan or anything like that. He has something… something that can't be taught or passed down."

Tsunade exhaled slowly, her arms uncrossing as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "I know. I saw it once I took a look at him. He's got that spark, the same one Nawaki and Dan had. He reminds me of them. But even more than that, he reminds me of… my grandfather." Her voice dropped, heavy with memories she tried not to dwell on. "But that's what scares me, Minato. Those with too much potential tend to burn out too soon. Grandpa was an exception, of course, but not everyone has that kind of strength…"

Minato's expression turned somber, understanding the weight behind her words. "I know you've lost people you cared about," he said gently. "But Naruto's different. He's got us standing by him, watching over him. He's not alone."

Tsunade met his gaze. "And what happens when something happens faster than you can intervene? You and Kushina won't always be there to pull him through. I've seen how easily hope can slip through your fingers."

Minato took a breath, his gaze unwavering. "We believe in him. We believe he'll become something greater than any of us ever were." He smiled softly. "He has that chance. We just have to trust him."

Tsunade was quiet for a moment, her eyes shifting back to Naruto, who had now finished the last bit of dessert and was wiping his face, seemingly unaware of the heavy conversation happening between his parents and his would-be Hokage. "Trust, huh?" she murmured, more to herself than to Minato. "We'll see."

Naruto was, of course, listening to the conversation, but only passively. Ever since awakening the Rinnegan and reconnecting with his parents and Granny Mito, he'd felt the pressure of living up to the legacy they'd left behind. Before that, he'd always felt like no one really cared what he would become. The conviction that he could bring change—that was something he was hearing for the first time from his father. But with the Rinnegan came heavy expectations, and learning that he was somehow tied to the ancient founder of the Senju clan only made it worse. He knew people would start measuring him against the First Hokage, and as much as he tried not to, Naruto couldn't help but feel like he was falling short. Sure, he was stronger than most genin now—that much was obvious—but anyone would be with the power of the Rinnegan. Deep down, he still felt like he had to prove he could handle what was coming.

As his gaze flicked toward Tsunade, he noticed her studying him. He wondered what she really thought of him—of her distant Uzumaki cousin she had never once bothered to check on. A tiny flicker of resentment rose inside him, but he suppressed it viciously. That was uncalled for and unfair. Tsunade had her own traumas, and it was easy to see why she avoided attachments. Kabuto had studied her life in detail, and he had heard enough from Orochimaru about Tsunade's losses to understand how deeply scarred she was. Tsunade had lost almost everyone she ever loved, including her brother and her lover. The weight of those losses had made her wary of caring for anyone else. No one owed him anything, and it was unreasonable to expect a distant relative, wrapped in her own grief, to have checked up on him. Naruto pushed the thought away. He knew better than to hold grudges against those who had suffered.

Tsunade broke the awkward silence. "So, Naruto," she said, her curiosity clear in her voice, "How good are you with medical ninjutsu? I knew Yakushi Nono personally, and if this Kabuto was anything like her, you must've picked up quite a bit by now."

Naruto was relieved at the change in topic, though a bit sheepish. "Honestly, my control's still pretty bad. I can barely manage to attempt medical ninjutsu." He reached into his pouch and pulled out an array of needles, quickly forming a precise chain of ten with deft movements. "I can do this much, but that's only because I've got shadow clones training back home. My chakra reserves aren't as big right now because of that."

Mito, standing quietly to the side, smiled approvingly. "That's still quite an improvement, Naruto," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "You've come a long way."

Tsunade crossed her arms, giving him a nod of approval. "You've still got a ways to go, but for someone with as much chakra as you've got, I have to give you credit. Control isn't easy when you're built like a walking chakra battery."

Naruto grinned at the compliment, feeling a bit more confident.

Tsunade's expression shifted, turning a bit more serious as she continued. "Alright, let's see what you know in theory. What's the antidote for a shinobi who starts developing dark blue spots around their eyes?"

Naruto stiffened, the question tugging at memories he'd rather not revisit. "That would be one of Suna's black poisons. The fifth variant—the one that burns the skin and blinds the eyes," he replied, wincing as flashes of Kabuto's experiments ran through his mind. "It targets the tenketsu around the eyes and forces it to produce fire-natured chakra. The antidote is to stop the chakra flow immediately and make the victim inhale an infusion of Hanaume and Aobanashi roots."

Tsunade's eyebrows shot up, clearly impressed. "Correct. Not bad at all, brat," she smiled. "Let's take it a step further, shall we? What if-"

"And there she goes." Jiraiya shook his head in dismay. "This'll take a while."


Half an hour later, Naruto was nursing a headache as Tsunade bombarded him with questions on symptoms, medicines, poisons, and chakra theory. He could confidently say he answered about ninety percent of them, but he wasn't so sure about the rest.

"Incredible." Tsunade leaned back in her seat, clearly impressed. "That Kabuto probably knew more about medicine and treatments than Nono herself. It's a shame he was our enemy."

"Yeah, but he only got those 'insights' by experimenting on Orochimaru's prisoners," Naruto grimaced, recalling the horrors he'd seen.

Tsunade's face darkened. "Good riddance, then," she muttered. Her expression softened as she looked at Naruto thoughtfully. "I suppose you're not interested in joining the medical corps?"

"I've got a clone there, helping out," Naruto replied, once again relieved that the conversation had shifted. "I can keep him there more permanently once I learn the chakra storage seal." He glanced hopefully at Mito.

"A basic chakra storage seal is something you can develop on your own," Mito said with a gentle smile. "It will be good practice, too. You can already make basic storage scrolls, correct?"

"Yeah." Naruto nodded. "That's the first thing Mom had us learn once we got the basic structures down."

"Then you're already halfway there," Mito continued. "Once you understand the structure and language of seals, the rest is logic. Developing a basic chakra storage seal isn't difficult, but making it efficient—that's where the real challenge lies."

"Got it," Naruto said, narrowing his eyes as he squinted at the seal on Tsunade's forehead, trying to analyze its intricate design.

Tsunade chuckled at his focus. "Don't even think about trying to copy this," she said, tapping her forehead. "The Strength of a Hundred seal took years of practice and research. It stores chakra gradually over time, and requires precise control to maintain."

Naruto pouted a little, figuring it wouldn't be that easy.

"So, how's your Rasengan training coming along?" Jiraiya asked Naruto, a hint of trepidation in his voice. Naruto's chakra control had improved dramatically, and Jiraiya was beginning to regret the bet they'd made.

"See for yourself!" Naruto grinned, extending his hand. A perfectly formed Rasengan materialized, identical in size and power to Jiraiya's. "I'm matching yours now. Just need to shrink it a little more and increase the spin. After that, I'll have improved it."

"Good job matching mine," Jiraiya said, trying to sound dismissive, though a bead of sweat formed on his brow. "But improving it? That's the hard part."

Naruto smirked, not missing Jiraiya's unease. "Oh, you think that's all? Check this out."

Without missing a beat, Naruto channeled fire-natured chakra into his Rasengan. The spinning sphere expanded slightly, taking on a brilliant gold and orange hue. Flames flickered around the edges, radiating heat from his palm. "Fire style: Rasengan!" He declared.

Tsunade and Jiraiya gawked, their jaws slack. Injecting elemental chakra into the Rasengan was something even the Fourth Hokage had tried—and failed to do. That was still a work in progress when he met his untimely end.

"Excellent work, Naruto," Minato said proudly, his voice filled with pride and admiration.

"That Rinnegan's giving you an edge with nature manipulation," Jiraiya muttered, clearly unsettled. "But don't forget, our bet was on your control of the pure Rasengan."

"Oh, I'm not forgetting that," Naruto replied with a grin. "But this isn't all."

He dismissed the fire-natured Rasengan, forming two shadow clones that took position a little further from the group. The first clone created a Rasengan and channeled pure Yin chakra into it, flattening it into a spinning disc. The second clone did the same, but with Yang chakra, forming a disc that spun in the opposite direction. Slowly, one of the clones flipped its hand, positioning the two discs together. The moment they touched, the discs violently expanded, a high-pitched screech filling the air as the opposing forces struggled for dominance.

The clones dispelled instantly, cutting off the flow of chakra as the unstable discs began to distort and collapse. The attack dissipated with a loud crack, leaving an eerie silence.

"It's still a work in progress," Naruto said with a shrug, "but I'm thinking of calling it the Rasen-Enban, the Spiraling Disc."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You should call it the Double-Shadow Clone Suicide Technique," he said dryly. "Right now, that's all it's good for."

"Hey, just look at the table!" Naruto protested, pointing to where his clones had demonstrated the jutsu. As if on cue, the table wobbled before one of its legs toppled over, cleanly severed.

Jiraiya leaned in, a little surprised that he didn't notice that. "Alright, I'll give you that. Could be useful... once you figure out how to throw it or at least control it. Right now, it's too unstable."

"That's why I said it's a work in progress," Naruto countered, folding his arms.

Mito, who had been quietly observing, walked over to inspect the severed leg. "It'll be a terrifying jutsu once you master it," she remarked, running her fingers over the smooth cut. "When the Yin and Yang forces combine, they briefly produce a form of Yin-Yang Release. A fully balanced Yin-Yang attack is said to be able to destroy anything it touches."

Jiraiya whistled low. "Well, you better keep working on that, kid. Sounds like it'll come in handy."

"I will," Naruto said confidently, flashing a smirk. "Right after I perfect the base Rasengan."

"Was worth a shot," Jiraiya sighed, shaking his head with mock disappointment.

As Naruto walked back to his seat, Mito's gaze shifted to Tsunade. Her expression turned serious. "Tsunade, about the Senju estate..."

Tsunade froze, her eyes darting anywhere but toward Mito. "Uh… what are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," Mito replied, leaning forward, her voice firm. "You've got a lot of work waiting for you when we get back to Konoha. We need to buy back the Senju lands and settle your remaining debts—before you take on the mantle of Hokage."

Tsunade's face paled. "...You're kidding, right?"

Mito's smile didn't reach her eyes. "My dear Tsuna, I'm dead serious."

Tsunade stared at her, wide-eyed, before glancing at Kushina, hoping for backup. Kushina only gave her a look of pity, confirming Tsunade's worst fear. There would be no escaping this. She wondered if it was too late to reconsider moving to Konoha. By the way Kushina was shaking her head, it probably was.


The group returned to Konoha the following day, reaching the village just as the evening sun dipped behind the Hokage monument. As they made their way through the streets toward the Hokage Tower, Naruto couldn't help but notice the hushed whispers that followed their group. Villagers and shinobi alike cast curious glances at Tsunade, their eyes wide with recognition and awe. But it was the puzzled stares directed at him that caught his attention. A newly minted chuunin walking alongside two Sannin and two elite jounin—he could almost hear the unspoken questions swirling around them.

Tsunade's sharp eyes quickly picked up on something more hostile: a few glares thrown Naruto's way, likely from those still uncomfortable with the Nine-Tails' presence in the boy. Her lips curled in disgust, and she shot a withering glare back at the offenders. The results were immediate. Some paled and quickly looked away, while others scrambled off in terror.

"Still got it," she muttered under her breath, earning a small, approving smile from Mito.

Naruto caught the exchange and smiled to himself. It felt as though he had gained a protective big sister, although an aunt may be the more accurate title.

They soon entered the Hokage's office, where Shikaku Nara was already present, along with the ANBU commander. The room buzzed with quiet tension, though it lightened when Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up from his desk, a warm smile spreading across his face.

"Tsunade, it's good to see you again. It's been far too long," the Third Hokage greeted her with genuine warmth.

Tsunade dropped into the chair in front of the Hokage, with Jiraiya and Mito taking seats on either side of her. Naruto and Shizune hung back slightly, still taking in the weight of the room.

"I half expected to see you in the hospital, old man, after I heard about the invasion," Tsunade quipped, her smirk returning. "Looks like Grandma bailed you out, hmm?"

Hiruzen chuckled softly. "Indeed, she did," he said, acknowledging Mito with a grateful nod before turning to Jiraiya. "But before we dive into catching up, I've received your report about the Akatsuki encounter. I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate."

Jiraiya's usual laid-back demeanor faded as he shifted to business, recounting the details of their mission. He described the Akatsuki operatives they had faced—Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki—outlining their abilities and the devastating power they commanded. When he reached the part about Itachi's use of the Susano'o, Shikaku visibly paled, his calculating mind already working through the implications of such a technique.

"The powers of this Mangekyou Sharingan are indeed extraordinary," Shikaku said, his tone grave. "Our clan records mention Susano'o as an ability once wielded by Madara himself. To think that Itachi possesses it now... And you say he wields the legendary Totsuka Blade as well? How could he have obtained such a weapon?"

"That might not be important," Mito interjected. "The Uchiha clan's abilities stem from the Sage of Six Paths' power to convert imagination into reality. What matters now is developing a strategy to deal with it."

"A sword that seals anything it touches…" Shikaku mused, his expression darkening. "That'll be difficult to counter, unless you use it against the attacker. Another option is to overwhelm him from multiple directions, but Susano'o renders smaller attacks useless."

Mito nodded. "I managed to disrupt his attack by exploiting this weakness. He'll likely be more cautious next time, but it shows the jutsu isn't invincible."

"As for Kisame," Hiruzen said, turning the conversation, "it's fortunate that Samehada is now in our possession. Like the Kusanagi, I'll trust Mito-sama with it." Hiruzen said. "It would be invaluable if you could study the sealing formula behind the Samaheda."

Mito's brow furrowed thoughtfully. "Yes, Samehada absorbs and stores chakra. Its storage ability is likely tied to an advanced chakra-sealing formula. It's an ancient weapon, so it may use techniques that have been forgotten over time. A more efficient chakra storage seal would be a great boon." She said, mindful of how it might help Minato and Kushina's clones and enable them to be active combatants.

Hiruzen's expression grew serious as he addressed Shikaku and Dragon, the ANBU commander. "There's something I need to disclose to both of you. It concerns the true nature of the Nine-Tails attack on Konoha."

Shikaku straightened in his seat, and Dragon nodded slightly, signaling his full attention.

"As you know," Hiruzen began, "the higher-ranking shinobi were aware that the Nine-Tails attack was not simply a result of Kushina's seal were multiple eyewitness accounts, especially among the shinobi, of the Nine-Tails' eyes resembling the Sharingan during the initial stages of the attack. As you know, this fact has caused much of the blame and resentment towards the Uchiha clan." He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "New information has come to light regarding the actual perpetrator. A rogue Uchiha wearing a mask with a single visible sharingan had attacked Minato and Kushina during that time, pouncing on the moment of vulnerability."

Shikaku remained silent, his eyes narrowing slightly as Hiruzen continued.

"Minato was forced to battle him while protecting the village. At first, Minato suspected that the man could be none other than Madara Uchiha."

Shikaku's brow furrowed in thought. "Madara Uchiha…?" he repeated quietly. "That would have been impossible. Madara would have been over a hundred years old by then."

"Exactly," Hiruzen said. "Minato himself wasn't sure. The masked man's ability to control the Nine-Tails and his battle skills were reminiscent of the legends surrounding Madara. However, he acknowledged the impossibility of the assumption, given that it was highly unlikely for a shinobi to live for so long. Either way, it didn't matter then. All that mattered was that he was a threat to the village."

"Jiraiya had received Minato's message regarding this interloper, but we had never received any other intel to confirm or reject his identity." Hiruzen knew that Shikaku might suspect that he was not revealing the whole truth, but this was the best he could reveal right now without disclosing Minato's present status.

"I assume something has happened that gave us more information?"

"A shinobi whose jutsu matches that of this masked man had observed the fight between the Akatsuki members and the Konoha team. Lady Mito had identified the presence of someone who was watching them through a space-time jutsu, and the nature of the jutsu matches that of the masked man. The good news here is that the chakra signature does not match that of Madara. Besides that, Madara is not known to possess any space-time jutsu."

"I'm not sure how relieving that is, if he possesses a jutsu that can rival the Flying thunder god." Shikaku sighed. It seemed that the brief respite of peace for Konoha ended with the chuunin exams.

"It should be very relieving," Mito opined. "Although the Flying thunder god is a devastating jutsu, we can rest a little easy knowing that it is not in the hands of the calamity that was Madara Uchiha."

Shikaku nodded. Even he had read the terrifying accounts of the erstwhile Uchiha clan head in the Nara records. "What do you believe our next steps should be, Lord Hokage?"

"It might be prudent to alert the other Kage about this masked man. Keeping this information to ourselves would only benefit the Akatsuki. The villages should be wary of his influence."

Jiraiya frowned. "I don't trust Onoki of the Hidden Stone. He might decide to ally with the masked man if it benefits him. There are already rumors that he's hired the Akatsuki, and that he still has ties to Deidara, the rogue ninja from Iwa's explosion corps."

"I'm aware," Hiruzen replied, "but that might change if Onoki realizes that someone carrying Madara's legacy is pulling the strings behind the Akatsuki. His hatred for Madara runs deep. Decades ago, when Onoki and the Second Tsuchikage visited Konoha to discuss an alliance with Lord Hashirama, they were attacked and subdued by Madara. That incident left a deep scar between our villages. Since then, the Hidden Stone has never truly trusted Konoha."

Mito raised an eyebrow, amused. "Onoki is still alive? He's less than two decades younger than I am."

"Yes," Hiruzen chuckled. "I'm not the oldest of the five Kage yet."

Jiraiya smirked. "So you think Onoki's grudge against Madara outweighs his grudge against us? Fine, it wouldn't hurt to share the intel if it turns him against the Akatsuki."

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, gazing out the window at the village. "Shikaku, if the Akatsuki launched an all-out assault on Konoha today, what do you think our chances are?"

Shikaku considered the question carefully. "It would be a hard fight, Lord Hokage. With yourself, Lady Mito, Lady Tsunade, and Lord Jiraiya, we have four Kage-level shinobi to defend the village. However, we must assume that Nagato, the man claiming to be Madara, and Itachi are all Kage-level threats due to their unique abilities. Add the other members of the Akatsuki, and our chances are... not great. That said, I don't think they'll attack Konoha directly anytime soon."

"Why do you think that?"

"A direct assault on Konoha would force the other villages to unite against the Akatsuki. While they might be glad to see us weakened, they'd be too concerned about being the next target. No, I believe the Akatsuki is playing the long game—profiting from the tensions between villages while consolidating power in secret. The real danger will come once they've collected enough of the tailed beasts. Once that happens, we can expect a more open and aggressive strategy."

Mito smiled, reminded of Tobirama's analytical mind. "Hiruzen, you've got a brilliant strategist in Shikaku."

Shikaku bowed humbly. "Thank you, Lady Mito."

Hiruzen nodded in approval. "Indeed. Thank you, Shikaku." He straightened in his chair, his tone turning more formal. "Now, we should discuss Tsunade's role in the village. But first, Naruto and Shizune, you're free to go. I shall get the details of the debriefing from Jiraiya and Mito."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Shizune said with a respectful bow before leading Naruto out of the room.

Naruto looked at Tsunade before he followed Shizune. "Oba-san, will you come to the hospital today? One of my friends, Lee, is in a critical condition. Besides the damage to his arm and leg, I think some bone fragments got inside his spinal cord. I was hoping you may be able to operate him…" Naruto trailed off uncertainly.

"Spinal cord injuries are difficult to heal fully," Tsunade winced. "I'll see what I can do," she promised.

Shikaku's eyes trailed Naruto as he left the room, his eyes curious at Naruto's newfound medical knowledge.


Naruto and Shizune made their way to the physical trauma and injuries ward at Konoha Hospital. As they approached Lee's room, Naruto saw that Sakura, his clone Toruna, and Gai-sensei were already inside. Before stepping in, he leaned toward Shizune and whispered, "By the way, my clone's in there, disguised as a medic. Just a heads-up."

Shizune nodded, a knowing smile on her lips, and they entered the room.

"Naruto, you're back!" Sakura exclaimed.

"Hey, Sakura! Lee!" Naruto greeted, giving Lee a thumbs-up before turning to his clone. "And you must be Toruna, right?" he said, keeping a straight face as he 'officially' met his clone for the first time.

"That's right," Toruna replied, shaking Naruto's hand. As they shook, Naruto discreetly channeled his chakra into the clone, absorbing the memories it had gathered over the past few days. "Naruto Uzumaki, huh? Sakura told me about you."

Shizune, suppressing a smirk at Naruto's charade, turned her attention to Gai, who had just stood up, surprise and hope written all over his face.

"Shizune? It's been a long time!" Gai exclaimed. "So it's true? Lady Tsunade is really back?"

"She is," Shizune confirmed with a smile. "It's good to see you, Gai."

Gai visibly relaxed, a deep sense of relief crossing his features. Toruna had already briefed him on Lee's serious condition, and he had been praying for a miracle ever since. It seemed that miracle had arrived.

Shizune walked towards Lee and pressed her arms against his back while closing her eyes to make a diagnosis.

"Check the mid Thoracic region," Toruna prompted. Shizune nodded as she directed her chakra through Lee's spine.

"The diagnosis is correct," Shizune said as she rapidly flipped through Tornuna's notes. "I see you've recommended some mild physio, but it's pending approval?"

"Yeah, the higher-up's didn't want to risk anything till Lady Tsunade got here." Toruna said with some annoyance.

"I understand their concern, but these recommendations are sound. I'll approve it," Shizune said, scribbling her signature on the notes. She then turned to Toruna. "Now, remove the restraints, please. Why were they put in place to begin with?"

Toruna sighed, shaking his head in mild frustration. "Lee decided to do some 'light exercises' on his own. So, I had them confine him for his own good."

From the bed, Lee shot a pointed glare at Toruna, while Sakura looked away, a bit sheepish.

"Exercises? Unsupervised?" Shizune's eyes widened in alarm as she turned to Lee. "Do you have any idea how serious your injuries are? It'll be a miracle if you ever walk again!"

Lee froze, the weight of her words hitting him hard. "What? You can't be serious, Miss Shizune! I'm not even in that much pain. It's just broken bones, right?"

Shizune's expression softened for a moment, but her tone remained firm. "You're not in pain because of the medications we've given you. But some of those bone fragments have pierced your spinal cord. Any movement without supervision risks permanent paralysis."

Lee swallowed hard, his eyes widening as he finally understood the seriousness of his condition. Sakura, standing by his side, looked at him with growing concern. Though she had read Toruna's notes, the full severity of Lee's injury hadn't truly sunk in until Shizune spelled it out so bluntly.

"Now, now, Shizune," Gai interrupted, attempting to bring some of his usual optimism into the room. "A little exercise never hurt anyone—"

He was cut off by Shizune's sharp glare. "Gai, you may be a Taijutsu master, but you are completely out of your depth when it comes to medicine. You can't just brute force your way through this."

Gai blinked, silenced.

Shizune turned back to Lee, her tone more controlled but still firm. "I'll demonstrate the movements that are safe for you. From now on, you will only do exactly what I show you—and nothing more. Understand?"

Lee let out a long, defeated sigh. "Yes, ma'am." He hesitated, then asked, "How long do you think it'll take for me to get back to action?"

Shizune bit her lip, choosing her words carefully. "That's a question I'll leave to Tsunade-sama. But, Lee… things aren't looking great."

Before Lee could respond, Gai's booming voice filled the room once again. "Shizune! Did you come here to crush Lee's flames of youth? His determination—"

"Stop," Shizune's voice cut through Gai's speech, her patience wearing thin. "I'm here to tell the truth. Giving Lee false hope and sugarcoating the reality of his situation will only make things worse."

"Let's step outside, Sakura," Naruto said tactfully, sensing the tension in the room. He gently guided her toward the door, shooting a reassuring smile at Lee before they exited.

As they walked through the quiet corridors toward the lobby, Naruto glanced at Sakura. "So, the bastard's out on a mission, huh?"

Sakura's eyes narrowed, but she didn't look entirely surprised. "Don't call him that," she protested, though there was no real heat in her voice. "And how do you know these things so fast? He didn't even tell me! He just left two days ago without a word."

Naruto shrugged casually. "I didn't see him around the village, so I figured he was off on a mission. I checked on the Uchiha compound on my way here, and he wasn't there."

"Oh," Sakura muttered, a bit flustered as she realized his reasoning made sense. "I guess that does add up."

Naruto grinned, noticing her embarrassment. "Plus, it's not that hard to keep track of people when you've got these," he said, tapping his temple.

Sakura flushed, remembering that she couldn't judge Naruto by the same standards as the past. It was too easy to forget the legendary bloodline he wielded, especially since they were hidden behind some illusion. Trying to shift the conversation, she asked curiously, "How do you know Lady Tsunade's assistant? I didn't expect you to be on a first-name basis with her."

"Oh, Shizune?" Naruto replied nonchalantly. "She was with Oba-san when we found her."

Sakura stopped dead in her tracks, staring at him in shock. "Oba-san? Wait, Lady Tsunade is your aunt?!"

Naruto nodded, looking pleased with the reaction. "Yup. My great-grandfather on my mom's side was Lady Mito's younger brother, which makes her Oba-san's grandmother."

"Wow…" Sakura shook her head in amazement. It was hard to imagine any relation between the renowned Sannin with the village's former prankster. "Is that what your mission was? You told me you had something top secret going on."

"Yeah," Naruto confirmed. "We were sent to find her and bring her back to the village. She was on this super long 'extended leave,' but after the attack, they had to recall her."

"T"That makes sense," Sakura said, nodding thoughtfully. "Did they send you because of your family connection?"

"Pretty much," Naruto said with a grin. Then, as he turned towards the rehabilitation ward, he added, "Speaking of family, I heard there's a new Uzumaki in town."

"Seriously, there you go again," Sakura threw her hands up. "How did you know about Karin?"

"Jiji told me," Naruto lied, feeling bad for the lack of transparency. He had, in fact, gotten that knowledge from his clone when they shook hands earlier. But Sakura doesn't know that.

"Ah." Sakura nodded. "Poor thing. I heard she went through hell in Kusagakure. Her bloodline is incredible—her chakra has powerful healing properties—but they practically drained her dry. They used her until she was nearly bled out. She's been getting transfusions since she arrived."

Naruto's fists clenched involuntarily, and he could almost feel the anger radiating from Kushina inside him. He didn't need to say a word—his eyes darkened, and Sakura saw the shift in his demeanor.

"Seriously… this world's messed up," Naruto muttered under his breath.

"Yeah… it really is."

Naruto knocked on the door leading to Karin's room, and opened it gently when he heard a tentative "Come in".

"Hi, Karin, right?" Naruto greeted with a warm smile as his eyes landed on the girl with striking red hair, so much like his mother's. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto. Pleased to meet ya!"

Karin's eyes widened in surprise. "Uzumaki? But… you have yellow hair!" she said, clearly skeptical. The Hokage had mentioned the existence of two Uzumaki in the village, but she hadn't expected this. While Konoha had treated her far better than Kusagakure ever did, she couldn't shake the feeling that they had their own agenda. Ninja villages weren't exactly known for their charity.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, smiling sheepishly. "Yeah, I take after my dad in that regard. But I can prove it!" Without further explanation, a single chakra chain emerged from his body, glowing faintly.

Karin's breath caught in her throat. "My mom… she had that…" she whispered, her eyes wide with awe. "She told me it was an Uzumaki bloodline limit."

Sakura, standing beside Naruto, was just as stunned. Her eyes flickered between Naruto and the glowing chain. "Wait—what? How—?" Sakura had a million questions racing through her mind, but she managed to keep herself from blurting out the most pressing one: 'How can he have the Rinnegan and another bloodline limit?' In the end, she settled on a safer question. "Since when could you do that?"

Naruto chuckled. "Since last week! Tomi-nee-san showed me how, and I've been practicing ever since. I'm still nowhere near her level, though."

"Umm… Is that the other Uzumaki in Konoha?" Karin piped up at the mention of another chakra chain user.

"Yup!" Naruto grinned brightly. "You'll meet her soon."

Karin lowered her eyes, her voice softening. "I… I can't use chakra chains yet," she admitted, a small hint of doubt creeping into her tone. She wondered if this was the real reason Konoha had rescued her—because they expected her to develop that power.

"Eh, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it eventually. But it's cool if you don't," Naruto said with a reassuring smile. His eyes shifted to the door, sensing Mito's approach. "Looks like Tomi-nee-san's here," he added casually.

Karin's eyes widened. "You're a sensor too?" she asked, surprised. SShe had felt the powerful chakra approaching, but she hadn't expected Naruto to be able to sense it as well. She wondered if all Uzumaki have such strong chakra. Her own chakra was strong, but she didn't have much of it. Both Naruto and the now-approaching Mito were veritable powerhouses, even dwarfing the Hokage in the sheer quantity of chakra.

Naruto scratched his head. "Sort of," he said. "Not as good as Tomi-nee-san, though."

The door opened, and Mito entered, her gaze falling on the young Uzumaki girl in the bed. Karin's red hair and delicate features reminded Mito of her youngest sister, Maiko, who was just below Ashina. She remembered that her daughter's name was Kaori.

"Hello, Karin," Mito said warmly. "I am Tomi Uzumaki. By any chance, are you related to Kaori?"

Karin stiffened, surprised by the accuracy of the question. "My mom told me that was my grandmother's name. She died during the exodus," she said softly. "Did you know her?"

"Yes, I did." Mito said sadly. "I had seen her briefly before the exodus, but lost contact after that. She was a gifted shinobi—very talented. Now I understand why Kusagakure was so reluctant to let you go. But don't worry, you're safe now."

"Thank you for saving me from that place." Karin shivered. She had tasted the relative freedom outside her former village during the chuunin exam, and she felt like she was being dragged back to the pits of hell when she reached Kusa's gates after failing in the second round.

"That's what a family is for," Mito said, stepping forward to give Karin a reassuring hug. Karin froze, the unfamiliar sensation startling her. She hadn't been hugged since her mother had died, and now that she was feeling it again, something seemed… off.

"Um, I don't mean any offense, Tomi-sama, but why do you feel so cold?" Karin asked, hesitantly pulling back. "Are you unwell? And your chakra… it feels strange. There's a… coldness to it, like a shadow," she added, unsure of how else to describe it.

Mito's eyes softened. "It seems you possess the Mind's Eye of Kagura," she said thoughtfully. "Kaori had that ability as well. To sense the Yin-predominant nature of my chakra—that's something only a gifted sensor could detect." She smiled. "I promise, I'm not unwell. I will tell you the reason in due time."

Mito made a mental note to create seals to better conceal her chakra and body temperature. The latter would be easier to mask, but distorting her chakra signature entirely would require careful work to make it believable. She would also have to install mild sensing barriers around the estate to ensure Karin didn't accidentally sense Naruto during his Rinnegan training. Having foreseen that the sensing division could be a problem, she had worked with Minato and Kushina to come up with a seal that would mute their presence from the sensing network. It was a seal inscribed to their chakra, so it would be present each time Naruto created their clones. This was how they managed to evade detection for so long. This precaution would fail if they performed an overt jutsu that required a lot of chakra, but it was good enough on a day-to-day basis.

"What's the mind's eye of Kagura, Tomi-sensei?" Sakura asked, breaking Mito's train of thought.

"It is a rare secondary kekkei-genkai within the Uzumaki." Tomi explained. "It allows the user to sense chakra from a great distance with extraordinary detail—far beyond what most sensors are capable of. It can also discern the nature and quality of chakra, which is a rarity even among skilled sensors."

Karin listened carefully, but her expression grew uneasy. "What does Konoha want from me?" she asked, a hint of trepidation in her voice. "I'm a pretty good sensor, but nothing exceptional."

"Your abilities are still blossoming," Mito said kindly, "but I believe they'll become formidable with time. We didn't bring you here simply because of your sensing skills, Karin. We brought you here because you're Uzumaki, and Konoha has always been a home for our clan since the fall of Uzushio. You might have noticed the Uzumaki symbol in the back of the standard vest issued to chuunin and jounin. It's there to honor the memory of Uzushiogakure—Konoha's first and closest ally. To answer your question, Konoha hopes that you may assist it in whatever capacity you are able to in exchange for your stay in the village. This is not different from the expectations on any shinobi or civilian who is a resident of Konoha."

Karin looked up, her voice soft but filled with hope. "I can choose how I help?"

"Of course. If you wish not to join the active shinobi corps, that would be fine too."

Karin's eyes welled with tears as relief washed over her. She had expected Konoha to demand something in return for her safety, but she hadn't expected this level of choice. "What do you think I should do, Lady Tomi?"

"Just Tomi is fine," Mito said with a smile. "Or Tomi-nee-san, if you prefer, like Naruto does." She paused thoughtfully before continuing, "If it's all the same to you, I'd suggest joining the sensor division as an apprentice. It would provide a steady income and isn't nearly as dangerous as becoming a mission-focused shinobi. Given your basic shinobi training, staying as a civilian might actually be more dangerous for you. In the event of an invasion, enemies could easily identify you as a shinobi and target you."

"I'll try the sensor division, then," Karin said, bowing her head. "Thank you for your guidance."

"Of course, Karin," Mito said warmly. "Once you're discharged from the hospital and formally inducted into the shinobi program, you're welcome to live in the Senju clan compound with us. There are plenty of empty houses there—I'm sure you'll find one to your liking."

Karin blinked in disbelief. "A-a house? I don't think I can afford to rent one right now, Tomi-nee-san…"

Mito chuckled softly. "Not for rent, dear. You can choose one and use it freely. Why would family members need to pay rent?" She asked. She knew that this was a risky move, but Karin was vetted by the intelligence division as someone who could be trustworthy and loyal. She didn't want to keep another Uzumaki at arms length if she could help it.

Karin stared at her, stunned by the offer. In her experience, the shinobi world never operated on kindness or favors. But maybe… having a family really was different. It all felt surreal.

"If that's truly the case… then I can't thank you enough, Tomi-nee-san," Karin finally said, tears of happiness prickling her eyes.