Uchiha Compound / Near Kurogami House
Kurogami's POV
As I walk back home, hand in hand with my mom, my eyes drift upward, watching the stars scattered across the night sky. My mind can't help but replay the recent events.
Mom is definitely strong. The fact she trapped Tsunade — an S-rank ninja — in genjutsu for that long says a lot about her power. Hell, genjutsu isn't even her specialty, yet she managed it. I can't wait to see them actually fight. Maybe we could sell tickets? Imagine it: two beautiful kunoichi clashing, unleashing jutsu powerful enough to reshape the land and cause massive destruction! If mom does well, those old-timers in the Hokage faction might think twice before messing with me or the clan, out of fear of her retaliation.
Lost in thought, I notice my mom stop. I look at her and see we're standing at the gate of our manor. The path is lit by eerie purple flames, which cast a royal yet somewhat ominous glow.
"During the day, this place looks fancy — like noble families live here. But at night, it still looks grand, with an Addams Family kind of twist. I wonder if mom designed it, or did dad?"
Mom opens the gate, and we walk toward the front door. The purple flames flicker, almost like they're welcoming us home.
"Weird."
I glance up and ask, "Mom, why do we have flames lighting up the place? And why purple?"
Mom opens the door with a blank look but then smiles.
"Kuro, the whole flame design is something your father and I worked on. It's kind of like a security system — meant to alert us to intruders or defend the house if trouble comes. The color of the flames when we leave or return tells me if everything's fine or if there's been an issue."
"Oh, that's cool! What do the colors mean?"
Mom leads me inside and gestures to the living room. She sits down and pulls me onto her lap, hugging me close.
"The curse of being a child — no personal space!" she laughs, resting her head on mine and humming happily before continuing about the flame system.
"Purple flames mean everything's fine, no changes in the house. Blue flames mean someone visited while we weren't home. A mix of purple and blue means it's someone we know or friendly came by. Black flames? That means someone tried to break in — and they were taken care of. A mix of purple and black means the intruder escaped from our security alive."
I nod. "How do we know if someone breaks in when we're gone for a while?"
"There's a sealing system your father designed that alerts us telepathically. Then we decide whether to let them live or not."
Damn, that's pretty cool. I wonder what other surprises dad left behind.
Mom starts rubbing my hair, hugging me tighter, humming contentedly.
"Kuro, I've got a question for you."
"Yeah, mom?"
"What did you think of those three people we saw earlier?"
"In terms of what exactly?"
"Just your overall impressions. What feeling did they give you? How strong do you think they are?"
I pause a moment, careful not to say too much but wanting to give a reasonable answer.
"Well, the first one — black hair, creepy aura — he felt like a predator. Like he's waiting for you to make a mistake before he strikes. But other than that, I'd say he's pretty strong."
"His name is Orochimaru, one of the Sannin. Your first impression is pretty accurate. Just remember to always be vigilant around him — he can be terrifying in how he thinks."
"Mom, is he stronger than you?"
Mom laughs. "No. He's not stronger than me. At best, he's a good warm-up, but nothing serious. It takes all three of them combined to make me feel the slightest pressure — and that's assuming I don't go all out."
I sit quietly, thinking.
She's definitely achieved Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan level. All three Sannin combined can only put slight pressure on her? Jesus. I'd pay to see mom versus Madara, just to find out who's the strongest Uchiha — assuming Madara hasn't reached Six Paths level.
Mom taps my forehead.
"All right, Kuro, what do you think about the other two?"
"The white-haired one seems sleazy — like a dirty old man. He also looks lost, like he knows the destination but doesn't know how to get there."
Mom is silent, digesting my words.
"That's accurate. His name's Jiraiya. Whatever you do, don't listen to his advice about women. It's the fastest way to stay single for life. And if he ever gives you one of his books, tell me — I'd like a proper chat with him."
If that chat involves your flames and his… uh, genitals… being on fire, then yeah, that'd be a proper chat.
Mom hugs me tighter and asks my opinion on Tsunade.
"Now, Kuro, what about the last one? The 'cow lady' — Tsunade. Or, as we call her here, 'Cowunade'."
I turn to look her in the eye.
"If you ignore her temper and bouts of rage — which are well-deserved — my first impression is that she's sad. Like a wilting flower, no matter how much water or sunshine she gets."
Mom stays quiet for a moment. I can't tell what she's thinking, but I know, in her twisted way, she cares about Tsunade like a friend. Like a friend you beat up and humiliate from time to time — but still a friend!
Mom lifts me off her lap and sets me on the floor. She stands, takes a deep breath, and looks at me.
"Kuro, I want you to be nice to Tsunade if you see her around the village, alright? Don't tell her I said that — and if you do, I'll deny it with all my heart! Plus, you'll get extra training with your dear mother."
I feel happy at first — until I see that chilling smile at the end of her sentence.
What kind of mom finds reasons to torture her child? Damn it, did Aunt Mikoto get all the kindness genes while mom got all the sadistic genes!?
Mom puts her hand on my head, her Sharingan activated, her smile cold.
"Kuro, you're not thinking anything bad about your mom, right?"
She tilts her head, eyes glowing red.
I shake my head, flashing the best innocent smile I can manage.
"No, mom. I just think it's kind of sweet you care about her, even after everything. I'm starting to understand why you said Dad would never look at another woman with you around."
Mom's face breaks into a sunny smile, and she rubs my hair.
"Good boy. You're starting to understand your mom's greatness! As a reward for my sweet talker, you get extra training with me tomorrow morning and can order the expensive stuff at the barbecue place tomorrow evening!"
Ah, so my cute boy charm only works a few times. Good to know.
I smile back. "Mom, can I ask you something?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Aren't we rich?"
"Yep."
"So wouldn't the 'expensive stuff' just be normal for us?"
Mom smiles even brighter.
"Yep."
So that's a reward? Just an excuse to justify torturing me further with incentives so I don't complain?
I sigh. "Okay, mom, got it. Can I go to the study now?"
She lifts me up, showering my face with kisses.
"Okay, you can go. Mommy's had enough of Kuro energy tonight. Just make sure to put all the books and scrolls back in their proper places."
She sets me down and hands me a scroll.
"Kuro, this has everything we bought for you at the shopping district. Make sure to hang everything up and organize it, alright?"
I grab the scroll and stuff it into my pocket.
"Alright, got it."
I run off before mom changes her mind and keeps me around for more Kuro energy.
Time to learn more about this world, and get my hands on powerful jutsu I can study!
Hokage Building
Hiruzen's POV
Sometimes, you see something so funny that you laugh uncontrollably — but when you look closer, you realize the horror beneath the surface. That's how I feel after reading the report from Hawk.
At first, making Tsunade get on all fours and moo like a cow is funny, even if it embarrasses me somewhat as her teacher. But the child is grown; she must bear the consequences of her own actions. However, seeing how Reika put her in genjutsu for four minutes — that is truly concerning. Could she have awakened it? I pray to the Sage of Six Paths that's not the case, or everything I've worked for Konoha could be in jeopardy!
"Hiruzen!"
I'm jolted from my thoughts by my companions' worried faces.
Danzo: "Hiruzen! What does the report say? Is it bad? Do I need to mobilize Root against Reika?"
Koharu: "Did that evil Uchiha cause chaos? Did she harm anyone?"
Seeing them act like the world's ending, I look to Homura, who just sips tea calmly, unaffected.
"Bear!"
An ANBU jumps from the shadows and kneels before me.
"Yes, Lord Third?"
"Call my students to my office. I need firsthand accounts."
"Yes, my lord!"
Bear vanishes through the window to find them.
I glance at my advisors and hand them the report.
"Read it yourself. Interesting, isn't it?"
Let's see if your ninja observation skills have rusted,
I light my pipe to calm my nerves.
If Reika truly awakened the Mangekyo, we must act with caution. Any provocation could trigger severe retaliation. I must ensure she joins the next war and either loses her sight or is stopped somehow. Also, her child must fully embrace the Will of Fire — it could serve as a defensive line for my faction if things get hairy.
As I ponder, I watch their reactions.
Danzo's grimace is darker than usual — he clearly sees the danger. The others, however, seem less worried. No wonder Sensei always treated them with low expectations.
I notice Koharu and Homura laughing — but after rereading, Homura stops and realizes the gravity.
Koharu scans the room, noticing she's the only one laughing.
Koharu: "What's wrong with you guys? I get why Hiruzen isn't laughing. But Tsunade being pissed off, then dropping on all fours, mooing like a cow, and milking herself is pretty funny!"
She and Tsunade always butt heads over the medical department. But now's not the time to laugh.
"Koharu, while Tsunade's situation is funny, it's the underlying problems that make this serious."
Koharu: "Huh? What do you mean?"
Homura shakes his head disappointedly.
"Koharu, think how strong Tsunade is — now tell me what kind of power it takes to keep someone like her trapped in genjutsu for four minutes."
Koharu: "Well, isn't Reika pretty strong? It wouldn't be the first time she did something outrageous or made us rethink ninja combat."
Danzo: "Stupid woman! Don't you see she trapped Tsunade — an S-rank shinobi — in genjutsu for four minutes! You can be killed a dozen times in that period, yet Tsunade couldn't break free! Don't you see the problem? Or did Tobirama Sensei's teachings go to waste!?"
Koharu stands shocked at Danzo's tirade.
I cough to stop him.
"Koharu, the problem is that we suspect Reika has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan."
Koharu pales in horror.
"The Mangekyo Sharingan!? Hiruzen, Danzo, are you sure? Reika of all people can't have awakened it! No — she shouldn't have that power, given how terrifying she is! This must be a mistake!"
We sit silently as Koharu panics.
"Koharu! It's only a guess. I'm waiting for Tsunade and the others to arrive for confirmation. Calm down — don't assume the worst."
Danzo: "Hmph! Hiruzen, you're too naive. You and I both know what's most probable. Don't let blind optimism blind you."
I can't deny Danzo might be right. But I pray the Uchiha clan didn't get another Mangekyo user, especially not Reika. If she ever went rogue or rebelled against me, the damage to the village would be catastrophic.
"Danzo, let's wait for my students before making assumptions. For now, we wait for all the facts."
Danzo: "Fine. Time will prove me right."
Danzo falls silent. Homura looks at me and asks,
Homura: "Hiruzen, assuming she has it, what do you plan to do?"
Everyone looks at me, waiting for my answer.
Before I can speak, there's a knock on the door, and my students enter.
Orochimaru strolls in first, his usual relaxed demeanor intact. Then Tsunade, scowling — likely angry about the Reika situation spreading through the village. By tomorrow afternoon, at least seventy percent of the population will know. Lastly, Jiraiya enters looking depressed, his face swollen and marked — missing an eyebrow, red marks, and a swollen cheek.
Knowing him, he probably said something perverted and Tsunade hit him again. Will this child ever learn? If you're going to be a pervert, you must hide it well — especially with a harmless noble aura. Only then will no one suspect your intentions toward the lovely ladies.
They all greet me in unison.
Orochimaru/Tsunade/Jiraiya: "Sensei!"
I nod, then break the tense atmosphere with a joke.
"Tsunade, should I start calling you Cowunade? Should I get you a pet cow too?"
Tsunade howls in rage, a howl that echoes throughout the village — the second one tonight.
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