*Tsunade's House*
Shizune, wearing an apron, carried a tray of freshly cooked food out of the kitchen, pausing to glance up at the wall clock.
A pet pig wearing a pearl necklace trotted over to her and nudged her shin with its snout.
"Don't be impatient, Tonton." Shizune put the food down, crouched, and patted its head. Her voice was gentle. "Lady Tsunade should be back any minute now."
Click.
Almost on cue, the front door swung open.
"I'm back." Tsunade strolled in, waved casually, and flopped onto the couch in the living room.
"Welcome home, Lady Tsunade." Shizune scooped Tonton into her arms, smiling. "Did you meet that kid?"
Tsunade paused for a beat, her expression hard to read, then nodded. "Yeah, I saw him."
"Well? Well?!" Shizune's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "He's still in the Academy at his age, right? He must be adorable!"
"Adorable? Not even close." Tsunade shook her head. "Shifty-eyed little brat… and way too bold."
"Bold?"
"He says he wants to be the man of the Fifth Hokage."
"Hokage? Isn't it normal for kids to dream about becoming Hokage?"
"No, no. Listen carefully — he said he wants to be the man of the Fifth Hokage." Tsunade jabbed her thumb at herself. "And yours truly to be the Fifth Hokage."
"Eh?!"
Shizune's eyes went wide. She froze. "Wait, so you mean—"
"Exactly. The face you're making now? That's exactly how I reacted." Tsunade smirked. "So? Big courage or what?"
"He's so young… maybe he was just joking?" Shizune hesitated. "Lady Tsunade, you didn't give him too hard a time, right?"
Tsunade narrowed her eyes at her apprentice. "What, do I look like some petty old hag who picks fights with kids?"
"N-no, of course not…" Shizune gave a dry laugh.
…Though in truth, she could recall plenty of times her teacher bickered with children during their travels — and even stole candy from toddlers.
"Hmph. I just gave him a little lesson on respecting his elders." Tsunade huffed. "It's not like I ruined his life — just his dinner."
Meanwhile at Yuto's House
The dining table was now nothing but splinters, scattered all over the floor.
Yuto swept them into a pile, his expression utterly blank.
"Honestly, I'm impressed." Kushina sat on the couch, swinging her pale feet idly. "You tease Sister Tsunade like that and all you lose is a table? I thought she'd crack your skull open."
"That's not guaranteed," Mikoto said from the kitchen, fetching a dustpan. "If Yuto gets serious, even one of the Legendary Sannin might not win against him."
"Still, he was the one who started it. Who teases their own teacher like that?"
"It was the curse."
"Sure, we know it's a curse. Tsunade doesn't."
"Picking a fight with a kid… , I'm not too impressed with the so-called Legendary Sannin." Mikoto clicked her tongue, clearly unimpressed with Tsunade's behavior.
"Heh-heh, Mikoto, do you still think of Yuto as a kid?" Kushina suddenly leapt up and wrapped an arm around her friend's waist. "Be honest — are you jealous?"
"Don't mess around, I'm busy." Mikoto's cheeks pinkened slightly. "If you, the main wife, aren't jealous, why would I the concubine be?"
"Wait — you're actually serious?" Kushina's eyes widened in mock shock. "You've got some deep grudges, Mikoto-chan! Main wife? Concubine? Really?"
"Me? Hold a grudge? Against you, Kushina?" Mikoto averted her gaze, scooping the splinters into the dustpan. "If I made you angry, you'd toss me out before I could blink."
"Alright, alright, I get it now." Kushina nodded sagely. "You're aiming to walk the Way of Tsundere to the highest level — ultimate goal: Tsundere Saint?"
'…Tea Saint, my ass.'
Even Yuto, who'd been listening silently, almost burst out laughing.
Knock knock knock.
The two women exchanged a glance — then slipped into Yuto's body with practiced ease.
He opened the door.
Shizune stood outside, Tonton in her arms. Her eyes lit up. "You must be Yuto? I'm Shizune, Lady Tsunade's student. Haven't eaten yet, right? Lady Tsunade invites you to join us."
"My, how times change," Kushina's spirit murmured, nostalgic. "I remember the first time I saw little Shizune — she wasn't even taller than you, brat."
"Cute little pig," Mikoto commented, though her tone was oddly neutral.
"Hey! Of course our pig's cute — it even wears a maid outfit sometimes!" Kushina huffed.
"Don't say that out loud. Shizune wouldn't like it — Tonton's not a pet." Mikoto paused. "And are you sure you really think it's cute?"
Kushina nodded solemnly. "Uh-huh. The kind of cute that scares you to death!"
The banter between the two didn't faze Yuto.
The bespectacled boy smiled warmly. "Then I'll trouble you to lead the way, Shizune-senpai."
"S-senpai?" The unexpected honorific caught her off guard.
"Don't like it? If so—"
"N-no! It's fine! Just sudden, haha. Please take care of me, Yuto"
Shizune was inwardly delighted.
Senpai! She was a senpai now! How nice!
'See?. Such a polite, well-behaved kid. And Lady Tsunade tried to tell me he was sneaky?'
Handshake time…
Yuto's brow arched slightly. He pulled out a neatly folded navy-blue handkerchief, carefully wrapped it around his right hand, then extended it to her.
Shizune froze, her smile twitching.
Was… was he saying her hands were dirty?
"Sorry, Shizune senpai," Yuto explained smoothly. "I was just cleaning my place earlier — got some dust on my hands."
Of course, that was a lie. He was just avoiding direct contact — his body's passive ability could be… awkward.
"Oh, I see." Shizune looked relieved. "Well then, let's go — we shouldn't keep Lady Tsunade waiting."
*In A Gloomy Unlit Cave*
"Itachi."
Obito's voice was low as he stood before the young man in the red-clouded black cloak.
"Hayashi Yuto asked to meet me in two days. You're coming with me."
"Meet him? Why?" Itachi frowned.
"I plan to recruit him to our side," Obito said plainly. "With his help — especially with Edo Tensei — our plan will be flawless."
Our side? Itachi almost snorted.
'Since when were we on the same side? And trying to recruit that monster Hayashi Yuto? You're dreaming.'
Ever since their brief fight, the wound on his shoulder had mostly healed.
But whenever Itachi recalled the battle, he just felt… baffled.
He couldn't even figure out how he'd fallen into the boy's genjutsu, or what exactly it did.
One moment he was fighting — the next, it was over.
And the strangest part: Yuto had the chance to kill him… but didn't.
Why? If he wanted to gain Danzō's trust, Itachi's head would've been the perfect offering.
'Why let me live?'
The question gnawed at him.
Still, outwardly, he remained composed.
"And if he refuses?"
"Refuses?" Obito's tone dropped to ice, his Sharingan glowing red. "Then he has no place in this world."
"Alright." Itachi nodded without hesitation.
'Perfect I'll watch you get yourself killed.'
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