Chapter 60

Waiting until Senju and the children were far enough away not to hear those remaining in the living room, the elder turned to Nara.

"Mito-sama?" Saya raised an eyebrow questioningly, silently asking about the reason for removing unnecessary ears.

"Here, take these," Uzumaki pulled a couple of scrolls from her wrist and tossed them to her.

Without asking unnecessary questions, Nara unfolded one of the scrolls and gasped quietly.

"Mito-sama… this… why?!"

"I don't have much life left — at most, in half a year, there will be a ritual to pass on the fox, and Kushina will become the new jinchuriki," Uzumaki explained quietly. "After that, I won't last more than a couple of months."

"But why me?"

"It's simple, your son will be able to handle it, simultaneously preventing outsiders from getting their hands on Uzumaki knowledge after my death."

"And what about Kushina?" Saya shook her head.

"To take or steal from an unsuspecting child is easiest," Mito sighed, "and given the tense relations between our villages, it's almost a done deal. Senju will watch over her, but even Toka-chan won't be able to directly go against the Hokage and his cronies without good reason. So consider it payment for supervision. I think Ryu-kun will agree to give Kushina-chan a few lessons in fuinjutsu?"

"Undoubtedly, Mito-sama," Nara bowed. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Mito waved her hand, "but don't breathe a word of this to anyone, otherwise Danzo might start bothering you already."

"Of course! But what about…" the kunoichi glanced at the second scroll.

"This? This is a small insurance policy, but whether to use it or not is up to you."

"I… will think about it," Saya replied hesitantly, sealing both scrolls. "But Ryu might figure it out."

"Let him, he impressed me as a thoughtful child."

Just at that moment, quiet footsteps were heard, instantly cutting off the conversation.

"Ka-chan, can we go?" the red-haired boy waved his hand, entering the living room and smiling slightly embarrassed.

The giggling redhead following him was pointedly ignored. In response to the questioning looks of those present, she shook her head mockingly.

"Someone has already learned how to compliment girls…"

"I just praised her hair," Ryu huffed and turned away, unsuccessfully trying to hide a slight blush.

"It's nothing, you'll have plenty of chances to meet again," the old Uzumaki smiled, "I hope you'll take care of Kushina?"

"Of course! You didn't even need to ask!" the boy replied indignantly.

"Good then!"

"Ryu, it's time for us to go," Nara reminded.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Ryu bowed.

"Don't be so formal, Ryu-kun!" Linli scolded him, seeing them off.

"Bye, Lin-chan, ba-chan!" flashing a wide smile, he hugged both women and waved for a while as he walked away from the house.

"Well, I said the boy would become a heartbreaker very soon," Senju suddenly smirked.

"Yes, Ryu turned out to be an unusual child despite the diluted blood," Uzumaki agreed, watching the mother and son leave. "Good night, Lin-chan, I'll check on Kushina tomorrow morning."

"Alright, good night, Mito-sama."

Stepping away from the house a few steps and hearing the click of the closing door, Mito Uzumaki raised her left hand and pulled a small piece of paper from her kimono sleeve, folded multiple times. Unfolding it, the kunoichi read a few lines despite the darkness—her eyes flashed red for a fraction of a second—and she began to smile.

But not the kind of smile you give to acquaintances and friends, but the one that makes enemies break out in a cold sweat and dream of being as far away as possible.

"What an unusual child indeed," Mito murmured, smiling, and clenched the fist with the note, which ignited with flames, "very unusual."

The wind carried away the ash from her open palm, and the princess of the Uzumaki clan continued her way with a light, almost dancing step, leaving small red embers smoldering in the depths of her eyes, frightening the rare encountered Senju.