Awakening Of Uchiha [Naruto/One Piece]

Chapter 31: Embarrassed Sarutobi Hiruzen

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At this time, Kaori was already waiting at home.

Seeing Katsumi and the others return, she smiled knowingly and said, "You're back? If you didn't return soon, I was about to come and get you!"

"Katsumi, are you fully healed? Let me take a look!"

As she spoke, Kaori stood up and approached. She placed her hand on Katsumi's shoulder, channeling her mental power and chakra to probe his body for any issues.

After confirming there were no problems—and even sensing that Katsumi's life force was much stronger than that of an average person—she withdrew her chakra and mental power with relief. Smiling brightly, she patted Katsumi's head and said:

"Wonderful! You're finally healed!"

"I've been waiting for this moment for so long!"

She was overjoyed. Her greatest worry had finally been resolved.

"Hehe!"

Katsumi grinned and said, "Thank you for worrying about me all this time, Mom! Things will only get better from here on out."

"Now, I can focus on training and becoming stronger!"

"Exactly!"

Kaori nodded, smiling warmly. "No more talking for now—let's have breakfast! We'll need to head to the Senju clan later for our appointment."

With that, she invited Katsumi and Mikoto to sit at the dining table. While they ate, she turned to Mikoto and asked, "Mikoto, are you going to school today?"

"No need!"

Mikoto nodded affirmatively. "But I did make plans to go shopping with Kushina later. Since you're heading to the Senju clan, we'll be on the way."

As Kushina's best friend, Mikoto naturally knew that she lived in the Senju clan's territory.

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Kaori raised her eyebrows slightly. "Uzumaki Kushina? I know her. You should maintain a good relationship with her in the future."

Indeed, although Kushina might not become the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki in the near term, the current transaction could change things. If all went well, Uzumaki Mito could extend her life significantly.

The Uzumaki clan was known for their longevity, but Mito's vitality had been drastically consumed due to being the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Resolving this issue would naturally restore much of her lifespan.

"Of course! Kushina is a wonderful person!"

Mikoto nodded obediently, though she didn't fully understand Kaori's deeper intentions. She had befriended Kushina out of genuine camaraderie, without any ulterior motives.

Breakfast was soon over.

After clearing the table, Kaori took Katsumi and Mikoto to the Senju clan's territory.

The journey took over ten minutes before they arrived at the courtyard where Uzumaki Mito resided.

"Kaori, you're here! Welcome! Please come in!"

"Welcome, Kaori-sama!"

Upon receiving word of their arrival, Mito personally came to the gate with Tsunade to greet them.

"Thank you for having us," Kaori replied, visibly pleased with Mito's hospitality. She returned the greeting and stepped into the courtyard with her group.

Meanwhile, numerous Anbu and even Root ninjas hid at a distance, trying to observe the situation.

However, Mito merely cast a glance in their direction before closing the gate. With a light step, she activated several barriers—soundproof, anti-surveillance, and others—that enveloped the entire yard.

This effectively eliminated any chance for the Anbu or Root operatives outside to gather intelligence.

Even the Third Hokage, seated in his office, could only sigh helplessly at the blank crystal ball before him.

"Ah… it's no use hoping for more information," he muttered. "It seems we'll have to ask Lady Mito directly afterward. Let's just hope nothing bad comes of this."

"Hmph!"

Danzo, standing nearby, scoffed coldly. "You always boast about how powerful your Telescope Technique is, yet this is all it amounts to? It seems it's only useful for peeking at the hot springs!"

"You…"

The Third Hokage's face flushed with embarrassment.

Seeing Utatane spit lightly in disdain and Homura struggling to hold back his laughter, the Third Hokage couldn't maintain his composure. He quickly defended himself:

"Danzo, stop spouting nonsense! When have I ever used this to peek into the hot springs?"

Turning to Utatane, he pleaded anxiously, "Koharu, don't listen to him! You have to believe me—I didn't!"

It wasn't Koharu's opinion that worried him; it was his wife, Biwako!

After all, Biwako and Koharu were close friends. If Biwako heard about this, he'd be dead—or worse.

"Heh! Do you really think I'll believe that?"

Utatane crossed her arms and sneered disdainfully. "We've been friends for years, Hiruzen. Who doesn't know who?"

The Third Hokage had always been a secretly lecherous old man. Did he think she didn't know?

"Please, just let it go! Don't tell Biwako!"

The Third Hokage begged for mercy, his face filled with desperation.

"Hmph, fine. I'll let it slide this time," Koharu said, teasing him for a moment longer before shifting to a more serious tone. "Let's talk business."

Her expression grew solemn. "Hiruzen, what do you think Mito-sama and the others are discussing this time? Has Kaori really recovered completely?"

"Almost."

The Third Hokage nodded grimly. "Danzo and I have sent people to observe her from a distance over this period. Even if she hasn't fully recovered, she has definitely regained most of her strength.

"She won't be dying anytime soon, and it won't affect her performance."

This was troubling news.

It meant they couldn't make any overt moves against the Uchiha clan in the short term.

Kaori wasn't an easy person to deal with. Since her recovery, she had methodically undone many of the subtle measures they had taken against the Uchiha.

Losses inflicted on the Uchiha had been compensated, and the benefits they had taken were recovered through clever maneuvers. Her calculated methods left the Third Hokage feeling deeply frustrated.

Hearing this, Utatane and Homura turned their attention to Danzo.

"Indeed," Danzo said grimly, his expression matching theirs.

"Is that so?"

Utatane's face darkened. "Then, for now, we'll have to stop targeting the Uchiha."

She sighed heavily. "Let's just hope Lord Mito doesn't do anything unpredictable. Otherwise, we'll have no choice but to back down completely."

If Uzumaki Mito and Uchiha Kaori decided to join forces, all of their scheming would be for nothing.

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Meanwhile, at Uzumaki Mito's residence…

After welcoming Katsumi and his group into the living room, Uzumaki Mito asked Tsunade to serve tea to Kaori and the others.

She then sent Kushina off to go shopping with Mikoto.

Once Mikoto and Kushina had left, Mito seated herself across from Kaori. Observing her carefully, her eyes betrayed her astonishment.

"I initially thought you'd only recovered on the surface and were just forcing yourself to hold on," she began.

"But when Tsunade told me last time that you had truly recovered, I was surprised.

"Now, seeing you in person, I realize you've gone far beyond mere recovery.

"Your physique and vitality are several times stronger than they were at your peak.

"Even your soul and mental strength have been significantly restored.

"The same goes for your ocular power.

"If I didn't already know you were a pure Uchiha, your vitality alone would make me think you were from the Senju or Uzumaki clans.

"And it's not just you—your son is the same.

"While his condition isn't as remarkable as yours, his vitality and physique are far superior to those of his peers.

"As I recall, just over a month ago, he was a frail child with congenital deficiencies—weak and sickly, nearly incapable of becoming a ninja.

"Now, not only have those deficiencies been completely remedied, but he has surpassed ordinary standards entirely.

"What exactly have you experienced during this time? Can you share it with me?"

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Happy New year!