"Obito, why'd you call Itachi here? What's the big idea?"
Not long after Uchiha Itachi's figure disappeared, Black Zetsu slithered out from the wall, his expression somewhere between suspicious and annoyed.
"You do realize… that guy's just making a temporary compromise, right? He's never actually been on our side."
"Hmph, so what?" Obito, his face hidden under that yellow mask with black spirals, glanced at Black Zetsu and replied flatly,
"My goal is to make sure he sees the consequences of defying us."
"Defying us? What's that supposed to mean?"
Black Zetsu froze, his eyes widening. "Wait, you mean… Hayashi Yuto? That kid hasn't even said he wouldn't cooperate!"
"If he really wanted to cooperate, he would've just agreed right away," Obito said coldly, tilting his head back. "But instead he says 'let's talk in person.' Hah. As if he's qualified."
"Obito, I think you're letting personal grudges get in the way here," Black Zetsu said in a slow, almost fatherly tone.
"Shut your mouth." Obito's gaze turned icy.
"Remember your place, Zetsu. I don't need you telling me how to do my job."
With that, he turned on his heel and went back to his room.
Black Zetsu watched his back disappear and couldn't help the twitch at the corner of his mouth.
Useless.
He'd really spoiled this one. Obito didn't care about the "Eye Of The Moon Plan", didn't care about the grand cause — all he wanted was to settle petty vendettas.
Compared to him, that Hayashi Yuto kid was starting to look better and better.
'Shame he wasn't an Uchiha…"
"…Wait a second."
Maybe they could work together in another way — one that didn't require a Sharingan.
*Senju Tsunade's family home.*
"Thanks for the meal, I'm full." Yuto put down his chopsticks, his tone warm and polite.
"Well? Give me your verdict, kid," Tsunade said, cheeks slightly flushed after a few drinks. "How's my Shizune's cooking?"
"Perfect balance of color, aroma, and flavor — top-notch work," Yuto praised sincerely.
"You flatter me, junior Yuto," Shizune said with a smile, clearly pleased.
"Junior?" Tsunade glanced between the two, her brow furrowing. "You two just met, didn't you? When did you get so chummy?"
"Yuto and I are both your students, Tsunade-sama. That makes us like senior and junior," Shizune explained softly.
"Don't get it twisted, Shizune." Tsunade snorted, looking dismissive. "You're my official disciple. This brat hasn't even been accepted yet! If I find out he's got zero talent for medical ninjutsu, he's not even worthy of being called a student."
"Tsunade-sama…" Shizune started to defend him. She genuinely liked the boy — despite being young, he was calm, warm, and easy to talk to. None of that awkward generation gap she'd expected. If he became her junior, she'd be happy.
"Tsunade-sensei is right," Yuto interrupted her, his tone even. "If I don't have the talent, forcing myself to learn would just waste everyone's time."
"Huh. At least you've got some self-awareness," Tsunade said, mildly surprised.
"I'm just confident in myself," Yuto replied with a relaxed smile — warm, but edged with just enough arrogance.
"I will learn it. And I'll learn it faster and better than most."
Tsunade blinked. For a split second, something in her gut agreed with him — like she just knew this kid was telling the truth. Then she caught herself.
Why the hell was she thinking that?
'Just because he was easy on the eyes?'
She remembered his earlier claim about becoming Hokage's husband and rolled her eyes.
'Yeah, right.'
"I believe in you, Yuto!" Shizune, less restrained, was already swept up in his confidence.
"Hmph, talk's cheap," Tsunade said, pouring herself another drink. "Let's see if you actually have the skill to back it up, brat."
"If Tsunade-sensei's free, we could start right now," Yuto offered casually.
"Shizune, teach him the secret to the Mystic Palm Technique!" Tsunade ordered, then snorted at Yuto.
"If you can learn it in one night, I'll acknowledge you—"
"Five minutes," Yuto cut in, holding up five fingers. "I only need five minutes, Tsunade-sama."
Both Tsunade and Shizune stared at him like he'd just announced he could juggle bijuu.
Five minutes to learn the Mystic Palm Technique? The most basic yet notoriously difficult medical ninjutsu? Even with her own insane talent and legendary teachers, Tsunade had needed a whole night to grasp it.
This punk was claiming he'd do it in less time than it took to boil ramen?
"If you learn it in five minutes, I'll agree to any condition you name!" Tsunade slammed the table, taking the bet without hesitation.
Truth be told, she liked the kid. His was calm under pressure, the way he hid his true strength, even that cocky self-assurance — all good traits for someone his age. But overconfidence? That was a flaw she hated, and she was ready to knock it out of him.
"No need for that, Tsunade-sensei," Yuto said, smiling gently. "I'm just stating the facts."
"Oh yeah? And what if you can't learn it in five minutes?" she challenged.
Yuto opened his mouth to answer —
[Choose:]
[1. Wear only lace-trimmed teddy bear underwear and run 50 laps around Konoha.]
[2. Admit you've read that book about her grandpa and Uchiha Madara].
[3. Right here, right now — suck on her and Shizune's sweaty feet.]
'Goddamn system. None of this was even necessary'
— he knew he'd win!'
He took a deep breath. "If I can't learn it, I'll run 50 laps around Konoha."
Tsunade gave him a cold smirk. "That's it? Even the old lady next door could do that."
"Then… what if I do it wearing only lace-trimmed teddy bear underwear?" Yuto said, deadpan.
Silence.
Both Tsunade and Shizune stared at him like he was some rare, exotic creature.
Kids these days… really this hard on themselves?
[Congratulations you have unlocked Lava Release Kekkei Genkai.]
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