Why did Uchiha Qi think Kikyo was Karin's mother?
Because, upon careful reflection, the traits Kikyo Uzumaki had displayed when she was first rescued perfectly matched those of Karin Uzumaki's mother in the original manga—a woman whose face had never even been shown.
A member of the Uzumaki Clan, controlled by the Land of Grass, used as a living medicine bottle, deprived of her freedom, with an age that also matched. On top of that, despite being from the Uzumaki Clan, she had never appeared in the original manga. Everything pointed to Kikyo Uzumaki being the mother of Karin Uzumaki, one of the original work's popular supporting characters.
Of course, it was also possible that the Land of Grass had found and exploited another member of the Uzumaki Clan, while Kikyo Uzumaki had died without leaving a trace in history.
After all, anything was possible in the real Ninja World.
In any case, it was absolutely impossible for Uchiha Qi to send Kikyo back to the Land of Grass to continue her "mission" of giving birth to Karin Uzumaki. From the moment she arrived in Konoha, she had become a younger sister everyone protected.
After entering the house, Uchiha Qi made his way to the kitchen with practiced ease, greeted Minato Namikaze, who was busy inside, and skillfully worked with him to prepare dinner.
Before crossing over, Uchiha Qi had been a single man who had learned to make all kinds of food during his long life as an overworked office drone. He had not abandoned that skill after crossing over.
As an orphan from a branch family who had moved out of the clan compound at an early age, it was only natural that he had picked up cooking again long ago.
As Uchiha Qi's close friend, Minato Namikaze had naturally tasted the Celestial Empire Cuisine Uchiha Qi made long ago.
Minato Namikaze loved that distinctive food. As a fellow orphan with a great deal of initiative, he had started learning Celestial Empire cooking methods from Uchiha Qi early on.
Uchiha Qi naturally did not refuse. Moreover, he was interested in making the Ninja World's cuisine as well, so he in turn learned from Minato Namikaze.
As they learned from each other, it became only natural for them to spend time in the kitchen helping one another.
Over time, working together in the kitchen became normal for them. Although they had already finished teaching each other their cooking skills, preparing food together had become a habit.
By now, whenever they invited each other over for a small gathering at home, they would naturally head to the kitchen upon arriving.
With the cooperation of two men exceptionally suited to being fathers, a table full of delicious, fragrant dishes was soon laid out. Four voices saying, "Let's eat," rang out in the warm, family-like atmosphere.
The warmth and harmony of the meal made it feel as though the four of them truly were a family.
That was not entirely wrong. All four were orphans. Uchiha Qi and Minato Namikaze had known each other since they were young and become friends. Later, when Kushina Uzumaki came to Konoha, she joined their little group under Minato Namikaze's influence.
Later still, Kikyo Uzumaki was rescued and became one of them as well.
It could be said that the four of them had truly grown up supporting one another. They were not family, yet they were closer than family.
These small dinners were part of what maintained that bond.
During the meal, the four began chatting about all sorts of things, sharing recent amusing stories and experiences.
Minato Namikaze spoke of some of the things he had encountered while carrying out missions. Naturally, he did not reveal the details of those missions, as they were classified.
Kushina Uzumaki shared gossip she had heard from the neighbors, which was also one of her usual forms of entertainment.
After all, as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki's freedom was actually restricted. ANBU were always assigned to protect and monitor her, and she was generally only allowed to move around within the village.
In terms of freedom, she had far less than her son, Naruto Uzumaki.
Of course, her treatment was not bad at all, especially with a boyfriend like Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, as her teacher.
As for Kikyo Uzumaki, she happily talked about her studies in Konoha's sealing class.
As a member of the Uzumaki Clan with innate talent in Sealing Jutsu, Kikyo Uzumaki and the sealing class were practically a perfect match.
Although she had received no systematic education during the first twelve years of her life and could not even read, after arriving in Konoha, she received the finest education. With the care and instruction of her clanswoman and elder sister Kushina Uzumaki, she had progressed rapidly as a ninja specializing in sealing.
After four years, she had become a Genin through special recruitment. Hearing that she would soon be exceptionally promoted to Chunin, Kikyo Uzumaki happily shared the news with everyone.
Normally, one had to pass the Chunin Ninja Exams to become a Chunin, but Kikyo Uzumaki had originally been a specially recruited ninja, so she was allowed to skip that process.
Naturally, everyone offered Kikyo Uzumaki their heartfelt congratulations and blessings.
However, throughout this, Kikyo Uzumaki carefully watched Uchiha Qi's reaction, afraid that he might be unhappy.
After all, Uchiha Qi had worked hard for so many years and was still only a Chunin, while she had become a Chunin without spending much time at all. She truly feared that he would be upset because of it.
Only when she noticed that Uchiha Qi showed no displeasure and was genuinely happy for her did the girl secretly breathe a sigh of relief. Then the joy in her heart spread openly across her face.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki noticed this and exchanged smiles.
If this bond truly came to fruition, then in a sense, they would become brothers-in-law and one family.
That would not be so bad.
Finally, it was Uchiha Qi's turn to speak. What he shared was none other than the matter of the Genjutsu Game. More precisely, he was telling the two girls, since Minato Namikaze had already experienced it personally.
As Uchiha Qi spoke about the Genjutsu Game, Minato Namikaze eagerly described his own firsthand experience. The two spoke together, painting the game's appeal with words and leaving the Uzumaki Sisters deeply intrigued. Both of them wanted to try it.
Although the activation requirements were harsh enough to make one wonder whether some scheme was hidden within, just as Minato Namikaze trusted Uchiha Qi unconditionally, the Uzumaki Sisters trusted him unconditionally as well.
However, Uchiha Qi refused.
He still needed to save Chakra and energy that night to cut and repackage the game, which consumed resources. So even though his Chakra and eye power had recovered, he could not let the two girls experience the game.
Naturally, Uchiha Qi told everyone the reason directly. He was not about to do something idiotic that would make others misunderstand him.
After learning the situation, the Uzumaki Sisters and Minato Namikaze were all somewhat disappointed. The sisters were disappointed because they could not try it, while Minato Namikaze simply wanted to continue clearing the game and reach its ending. Since he could not do that now either, he was naturally disappointed.
Still, blaming Uchiha Qi was out of the question. All that remained was to look forward to playing it in the future.
At that moment, Uchiha Qi asked Kushina Uzumaki a question he had considered during the day.
"Kushina, you're an expert in Sealing Jutsu. Do you think there's a way to package the game, seal it inside something like a Ninjutsu Scroll using Sealing Jutsu, and let players who want to play simply unseal it and start playing right away?"
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