Ryoma's ears twitched slightly. He hadn't expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to take such drastic measures this time—disbanding Root outright.
And Mitokado Homura and Koharu Utatane had been forced into retirement as well?
He truly hadn't expected the Third Hokage to show this kind of resolve.
But then again, the current Hiruzen was only about fifty years old—not the weary old man of nearly seventy shown in the anime.
Still, Ryoma knew that Danzo wasn't finished. For all that he had been pushed aside, Danzo Shimura wouldn't stay silent for long. The so-called "Darkness of the Shinobi" would not crumble so easily.
Kushina's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
Uchiha Mikoto leaned closer, whispering into Kushina's ear. "That's what Fugaku told me…"
Kushina smirked and teased, "Mikoto, are you already with Brother Fugaku?"
Mikoto's expression turned faintly bitter. "My parents want it that way… but I'm still so young. Marriage without love… it's suffocating sometimes. Kushina, you're lucky."
With that, Mikoto sighed softly.
Kushina immediately grabbed her hand and said firmly, "Mikoto, if you don't like it, you shouldn't force yourself to do something you'll regret!"
Mikoto shook her head. "It's not that simple. Fugaku is already preparing to become the next clan head… But let's not talk about that. Tomorrow is my birthday. Will you come?"
"Of course!" Kushina nodded eagerly. "Mikoto, it's your birthday! Of course I'll be there. Right, Ryoma?"
At that moment, the familiar mechanical voice of the system echoed in Ryoma's mind.
[Ding! Based on the current situation, make a choice!]
Option 1: Refuse Mikoto's invitation, stay home, live like a salted fish.
Reward: Limited First Edition of Icha Icha Paradise!
Option 2: Accept Mikoto's invitation and attend her birthday party with Kushina.
Reward: Forbidden Technique – Harem Jutsu.
Ryoma frowned. System, what the hell are you trying to pull?
The Harem Jutsu? …Are you hinting at something?
This choice was unexpectedly difficult.
...
After a brief hesitation, Kushina wrapped her arm around Ryoma's. "Mikoto, don't worry. We'll definitely come tomorrow."
In the end, Ryoma still chose the ninjutsu reward.
There was no way he could accept something as ridiculous as Icha Icha Paradise. At most, he could always "borrow" it from Jiraiya later.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Forbidden Technique – Harem Jutsu!]
The Harem Jutsu… a combination of the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu and the Sexy Jutsu.
Naruto's infamous "signature move."
The knowledge of the jutsu flowed into Ryoma's mind. He now understood all its mechanics—how learning the Harem Jutsu meant simultaneously mastering an A-rank ninjutsu (Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu) and a C-rank ninjutsu (Sexy Jutsu). A packaged combo technique.
Its effectiveness relied entirely on the caster's imagination and realism. The more detailed and convincing the transformation, the stronger the effect.
After all, even the so-called "dead last," Naruto Uzumaki—the same boy who had once accidentally kissed Sasuke—managed to defeat multiple opponents with this technique. He even caught Kaguya Ōtsutsuki off guard with it. Clearly, that required an immense amount of "material" to fuel his imagination.
Which meant… Naruto, even at a young age, was already something of a hidden master.
And now this absurd jutsu had landed in Ryoma's hands. Was he really supposed to carry on such a strange legacy?
I never asked for this kind of ninjutsu!
...
Not long after Mikoto left, Kushina pulled Ryoma along to tell Uzumaki Mito about the birthday invitation.
Ryoma, however, immediately sensed that something was off.
Kushina, with her straightforward and somewhat hot-tempered personality, hadn't thought it through at all. She just happily agreed without a second thought.
But the situation was anything but simple.
The Uchiha clan inviting members of the Uzumaki clan into their household was already politically significant.
And if Ryoma—considered by many as the last heir of the Senju—were to accompany them to the Uchiha compound, the other great families of Konoha would certainly take notice.
This was no small matter.
Would this reveal something?
Perhaps enough to make the heads of every clan in Konoha lose sleep.
The Senju clan… allying with the Uchiha clan?
It was impossible not to think of the glorious era when Konoha was founded—Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, two legends who once stood side by side.
When Kushina mentioned she was going to Mikoto Uchiha's birthday party, Uzumaki Mito sighed softly. To Ryoma's surprise, she nodded in approval.
"Go. Ryoma, you should accompany her. I'd rather not have Kushina go alone."
"Yes, Grandma Mito."
Ryoma was stunned. Uzumaki Mito actually agreed? She didn't object at all?
But in truth, Mito had already thought it through in the brief silence before her answer.
Back then, the Senju had deliberately distanced themselves from the Uchiha to avoid suspicion. The clan even encouraged many of their ordinary members to branch out and live separately.
And yet, their bloodline still grew weaker and thinner with each passing year.
War after war, coupled with the political schemes of others, had led to the deaths of nearly all the Senju's remaining men.
After this most recent assassination attempt on Ryoma by Root, Mito's perspective had changed.
The other clans of Konoha feared the Uchiha… but had they not always feared the Senju as well?
Yes, the Uchiha were formidable. But defeating Uchiha Madara—that was an even greater feat.
Backing down only invited more oppression. Instead of being forced into weakness, perhaps the wiser path was to stand with the Uchiha and reclaim the Hokage's authority.
Mito had observed Ryoma carefully these past days. He already had the strength—he had easily defeated a squad of Root operatives singlehandedly. Even if he wasn't quite on Hiruzen Sarutobi's level yet, he was already among the top ten strongest in the entire village.
And Kushina… she had the qualities to be his partner and supporter.
So in the end, Uzumaki Mito simply said one thing:
"Go early, and return early."
...
TN:
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