"Ryoma, you know what? My dream used to be to become the first female Hokage."
"The first female Hokage… I've heard you say that so many times, I've grown calluses in my ears," Ryoma teased.
Kushina smiled bitterly. "Yes… but now I understand. To make that dream a reality, you need great power. And unfortunately, I don't have that."
Ryoma glanced at her and smiled.
She puffed out her cheeks. "What are you laughing at?"
"Since it's your dream, how can you give it up so easily? Being Hokage isn't impossible for you."
He leaned in slightly. "Before long, you'll become the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki. Just imagine it—a female version of Naruto. Why couldn't you be Hokage?"
Kushina rolled her eyes. "And what about you?"
"Me? I'm just a salted fish… well—" He paused, his gaze turning distant. "—I suddenly think it might not be so bad to guard Konoha."
As he said that, another voice echoed in his heart—a conviction born from the First Hokage's will after Ryoma fused with Hashirama Senju's character card. It carried the same belief: to protect the village, even at the cost of one's life.
But Ryoma didn't fully agree with that philosophy.
"To me, guarding only Konoha isn't big love—it's small love," he said softly. His vision wasn't bound to a single village. He saw the whole shinobi world, the entire continent.
Kushina tilted her head. "Small love? Then what's big love?"
Ryoma lifted his eyes to the moon high above. "Big love… is the unification of the shinobi world. True peace.
"Konoha has the Will of Fire. Other villages have their own wills—the Will of Water, Will of Thunder, Will of Earth, Will of Wind. As long as each village clings to its own will, conflict is inevitable. That's the root cause of every great ninja war.
"But if the entire shinobi world shared one will… then maybe there would be no reason to fight."
Kushina snorted. "That's dangerous talk. Don't go around saying such heretical things in the village, you hear?"
An hour later, Kushina stretched and said, "It's getting late. Let's head back."
Ryoma stood and clapped his hands. She stood as well.
Then, without warning, he gently pushed her forward.
"Ah—!" she gasped, clutching him instinctively.
Ryoma hurled a specially-marked kunai into the air—the key to the Flying Thunder God Technique—and in an instant, the two of them reappeared atop Konoha's village wall.
Kushina's eyes widened. "We… teleported?"
This was Ryoma's first attempt at using the Flying Thunder God Technique. The chakra drain was enormous—no wonder it was considered a forbidden jutsu.
It reminded him of the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique—without enough chakra, it was simply impractical. The other problem was clear: his mastery level was still too low. With more training, the chakra cost would drop significantly.
Kushina eyed him curiously. "What kind of ninjutsu was that?"
Ryoma smirked. "Don't tell anyone."
She nodded blankly, still processing what had happened.
At Konoha's front gate, the Third Hokage and several others had been waiting for over an hour.
Uzumaki Mito, the former jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, stood with arms folded, her sharp gaze fixed on Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Third Hokage… explain."
Though she had long stepped away from village politics, Mito was still a figure of immense respect and authority. In terms of seniority, she was an elder to Hiruzen's generation.
The Third Hokage bowed slightly, not daring to be casual. "Lady Mito, it was my oversight. I'm sure Ryoma meant no harm—he probably just took Kushina somewhere to play."
Inwardly, Hiruzen cursed Ryoma. Everyone in the village knew that Mito had lost her son late in life and cherished her granddaughter Tsunade dearly, as well as Kushina, the Nine-Tails' successor. And now Ryoma had disappeared with her for over an hour.
Mito's expression remained icy. "So late at night—what could possibly be so fun?"
Hiruzen forced a smile. "Rest assured, Lady Mito. I'll have them found immediately."
Before he could say more, a cheerful voice rang out.
"Grandma Mito!"
Mito turned to see Kushina rushing into her arms.
"Kushina! Are you alright?"
Kushina shook her head. "Grandma Mito, I'm sorry… I didn't know you were waiting here."
Uzumaki Mito's expression softened. "It's alright, Kushina. Where did you go to play?"
"We… went there."
Kushina pointed toward Hokage Rock.
Mito's gaze followed, lingering for a moment on the First Hokage's carved face. Then her eyes drifted to Ryoma. For just a heartbeat, something in his bearing reminded her of her late husband, Hashirama Senju.
Am I imagining it? Or am I just getting old…?
"Young man, are you…?"
Ryoma straightened and bowed respectfully. "Ryoma, at your service, Lady Mito."
He knew exactly who stood before him—the former jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, the wife of the First Hokage, and one of the strongest kunoichi in Konoha's history. Even in her old age, her presence was formidable.
Mito smiled faintly. "Very good… I've heard you can use Wood Release. Would you show this old woman?"
Ryoma could feel she bore no hostility. With a flick of his wrist, a patch of green sprouted instantly from the ground—small saplings unfurling in the night air.
Gasps rose from those watching.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward. "Ryoma… when did you—?"
Ryoma shrugged lightly. "When I rescued Kushina earlier, I was badly injured by a jōnin from the Hidden Cloud. I don't know how, but… I suddenly awakened this ability."
"You awakened a kekkei genkai?"
"Yeah… it just happened, without warning."
Hiruzen's eyes shifted to Mito.
Mito nodded slowly. "Yes… it's the chakra and life force of the Senju clan—not an artificial imitation. I didn't expect it… Ryoma, you carry the Senju bloodline, and you've awakened its kekkei genkai."
Her voice trembled slightly. "The Senju's inheritance lives on… Even if I were to die this very day, I could face Hashirama without regret."
Biwa Koharu quickly stepped in. "Don't say that, Lady Mito. This is a blessing for both the Senju clan and Konoha."
The Third Hokage agreed. "Yes… another young talent has risen in our village."
Mito looked between Ryoma and Kushina, her smile deepening. In their faces, she saw echoes of a time long past—of herself and Hashirama in their youth.
Perhaps… I should bring them closer together…
"Ryoma, Kushina," she said warmly, "let's go home."