"Kushina, what were you just saying?"
Ayaka Uzumaki smiled sweetly as she placed tea and snacks on the table, then sat quietly beside them, occasionally glancing at Kushina.
Though Ayaka acted as if she hadn't heard a thing, Kushina was certain she had—judging from the faint chill radiating behind her and that polite, smiling face.
"...Nothing, I was just giving Mirai some advice."
Kushina forced an awkward laugh. She knew she was no match for Ayaka now. Though she'd trained in both Sage Mode and the Nine-Tails' power, she couldn't last more than a few exchanges against her. If Ayaka decided to "spar" with her later, Kushina would be in for a beating.
Hyuga Mirai shook his head. "Your advice was terrible. If Tsunade heard you, she'd never let it go."
That made both Ayaka and Kushina freeze—especially Kushina.
I wasn't talking about Tsunade at all! Mirai, did you even think about what I said?
Ayaka's eyes flared with anger as she glared at Kushina. For a fellow clanswoman not to take her side—and worse, to speak for another woman—was unforgivable. In her mind, Kushina had just earned the title of "traitor to the Uzumaki Clan."
Trying to ruin the clan's future? From this moment, she was no longer Princess Kushina—she was the traitor Kushina.
"In comparison," Mirai continued, "we might as well send some clans with weaker ties to Tsunade into a battlefield trap, and then have the Federation 'capture' them. But ninja are stubborn—breaking their bones won't be easy."
He wasn't speaking aimlessly. Out of every hundred shinobi, three or four defectors was already a high number.
If the power of Konoha couldn't be absorbed directly by the Shinobi Federation, the other three villages would see hope and rebel. Rebellions would continue to erupt unless a few were executed as warning.
Even with No.18 and the Federation's strength, they still couldn't govern the entire shinobi world. It would take at least ten years before the Federation could transition into a unified and peaceful nation.
Ten years wasn't long—but by then, the Otsutsuki might have already arrived, bringing a whole new crisis.
While Mirai pondered, Kushina grew increasingly uncomfortable under Ayaka's glances. She couldn't sit still, fidgeting until she finally excused herself without touching her tea.
As soon as she stepped out, Ayaka followed.
When she suddenly appeared in front of Kushina, the redhead yelped, startled. "Ayaka!? I was just—"
Clink!
A metallic chain sound echoed, and before she could resist, Kushina was wrapped tightly in Adamantine Chains.
"Kushina, don't disturb Lord Mirai."
Hearing that, Kushina noticed Ayaka's faintly glowing cyan eyes and felt utterly wronged. She'd only been joking—did Ayaka really need to enter Sage Mode over this?
Bound and silenced by the chains, Kushina could only obey as she was dragged into Ayaka's room. Thankfully, Naruto wasn't home, and no one lived nearby. Still, for the deputy head of the Sealing Division to be hauled off like this—it was humiliating.
"Ayaka, Ayaka, let me explain!"
Once inside, Ayaka released her mouth, and Kushina quickly pleaded. During the short walk, she had already racked her brain to come up with an excuse.
Ayaka snorted, set her on the sofa, and said coldly, "Then talk."
"Ayaka, you're already over thirty," Kushina began cautiously. "Even if Mirai says we'll live for a long time, you can't seriously plan to wait forever, can you?"
She wasn't much of a talker, but Ayaka was simple-minded—especially when it came to Mirai.
"If you keep waiting, how many more years will it take? Until the entire ninja world is unified? That's at least ten more years…"
Ayaka frowned slightly. She knew Kushina had a point. Though her body had been altered by Mirai, granting her long life, being near him every day without being able to touch him—it was like having a feast placed before her that she could only smell, not taste.
After a moment, Ayaka sighed and loosened the Adamantine Chains. "I know you're right... but I can't force Lord Mirai."
"With Mirai's ambitions, he'll eventually stand above the entire shinobi world, like a single Daimyo ruling all lands. By then, having only one wife would look... strange. Why not make arrangements early?"
Kushina used what little cunning she had, skillfully coaxing Ayaka. The more she spoke, the more Ayaka listened—and the more tempted she became.
If marrying Mirai sooner were possible, Ayaka would give anything to make it happen.
"Kushina, keep talking."
Kushina hid her satisfaction. If she hadn't thought quickly, she'd have been "sparring" with Ayaka right now—and losing badly.
As Mirai once said: "When two fools gather, stupidity multiplies. But even among fools, there are ranks."
Compared to Ayaka, Kushina was just a slightly smarter fool.
Meanwhile, the Five Kage arrived one after another in the Land of Hot Water. In a courtyard within Kumogakure's embassy, they began discussions about the joint Chunin Exams.
No matter their personal agendas, they shared the same goal—to make the exam happen.
Under the banner of "peace," they would unite all ninja villages, great and small, to hold a grand Chunin Exam—the first in shinobi history. The Five Great Villages had only existed for about sixty years, and previous joint exams had only been held between allied nations.
"Since everyone agrees to the joint Chunin Exam, we should now discuss its contents," the Raikage A said loudly. "With so many participants from major and minor villages, if we end up with a bunch of useless Chunin, I won't approve."
Onoki nodded. "For once, the Raikage makes sense. More participants shouldn't mean easier tests. If the nobles or commoners saw unqualified ninja promoted, it would damage the Five Villages' reputation."
"What do you mean 'for once'!?" A snapped angrily.
Mei rubbed her temple. "You two, please stop arguing. But I agree with the Raikage."
"Agreed," said Tsunade.
"Same here," added Pakura.
Both were confident in their own Genin—raising the difficulty wouldn't threaten their villages' chances.
"Then let the first exam be held in Kumogakure," A declared. "Each village's Genin will gather at the Land of Hot Water's border. Once they cross into Kumogakure territory, the first exam begins. Along the way, I'll leave intelligence clues. Only those who collect all the intel can find the exam site."
It was a test that even many Chunin would struggle to complete, designed to ensure only the elite Genin advanced.
"I'm surprised you came up with such a solid plan," Onoki said mockingly. "I have no objections."
"What did you—!" A flared up again, but the others quickly moved on.
"I agree," said Mei. "But I think other villages should also provide examiners."
"Same here," Tsunade added.
The four villages agreed—cooperation mixed with mutual suspicion.
A nodded to their proposal. Tsunade then said, "The second exam will be in the Land of Fire. After testing intelligence gathering, we'll test teamwork. We'll set up three scroll distribution points along the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water. Teams will have five days to cross the Land of Fire and regroup on the far side. Only those who collect all three scrolls will pass."
The others fell silent. The second exam was already brutal—any Genin who passed would clearly deserve promotion.
"A fine idea, Lady Hokage," Mei said with a strained smile. "It'll be quite the spectacle." She was already planning to have a few Chunin disguise themselves as Genin; otherwise, if no Mist team passed, it would be an embarrassment.
Onoki and A had the same thought but knew any cheating risked exposure and humiliation under the joint supervision of the nations.
Pakura suddenly asked, "Hokage, what if someone injures civilians in the Land of Fire?"
"Then they're stripped of their ninja status and prosecuted. Anyone who can't follow basic shinobi laws doesn't deserve to be Chunin," Tsunade said firmly. "I'll also send ANBU to monitor the exams."
No one objected. Her reasoning was fair—ninja laws were near-universal.
Once Onoki, Mei, and A voiced no further opposition, Pakura spread her hands and said, "Then according to the map, the third exam should be held in our Shinobi Federation. After the first two rounds, the third will simply test pure strength to determine final rankings."
(End of Chapter)