Would You Fly into the Sky?

Under the guidance of the maid leading the way, Mimi and Chiri arrived at a Washitsu.

Not that kind of maid. This kind of maid.

Without sparing the young maid another glance, Mimi looked at the middle-aged kunoichi who had come to greet her.

She was far too snake-like.

By Mimi's meaning, her chin was so pointed it could stab someone to death.

Her expression was cold and severe, carrying the bearing of a true ninja.

"I'm Taohua. From now on, I'll be responsible for your daily life, Miss Insect Princess."

"Hm? My daily life?" Mimi asked, puzzled.

"After training, you'll occasionally stay at the estate, won't you?" Taohua said.

"Probably." Mimi said, "I'm not used to sleeping anywhere but my own bed."

"No, what I mean is that I'm in charge of your schedule. In other words, everything you do in this estate is subject to my orders." Taohua sneered.

She really wasn't easy to get along with.

"Do I have to follow your orders even when I need to take a dump?" Mimi asked out of simple curiosity.

"Your clever tongue won't help you." Taohua said, "Come with me."

The maid withdrew to the side.

Mimi and Chiri followed Taohua.

"Becoming Lady Mito's disciple means representing the Forest Senju Clan. Whether here or outside, you must always pay attention to your image."

"I once saw the First Hokage get chased out of a casino. Tsunade was laughing so hard at the time."

Mimi said.

The kunoichi stopped in her tracks. After a long pause, she said, "You're you! Lord Hashirama is Lord Hashirama! In any case, you mustn't disgrace the Forest Senju Clan!"

"What a hassle." As she spoke, Mimi stopped walking.

The kunoichi turned around in confusion and looked at Mimi.

"Then should I leave?" Mimi asked.

"Huh!?" Taohua's eyes widened.

"I'm not going to be anyone's disciple anymore." After saying that, Mimi turned and walked away.

This girl!

Was she serious!?

Taohua lunged forward and grabbed Mimi by the shoulder.

"Is there something else?" Mimi asked.

Taohua stared at Mimi. After a long while, she forced a kindly smile onto her face.

"No."

"I'm going home."

"Wait!"

"Hm?"

"Please, look at the situation here!"

"Hm?"

"Don't get too carried away!"

"Hm?"

"This is the Forest Senju Clan! You'd better show some respect, brat!"

"Hm?"

"Do whatever you want." Taohua said dejectedly.

"Then should I leave?"

"Get back here, you bastard!"

"Go on ahead."

"Thanks a lot!"

Chiri blinked, looking at the big sister whose spirit seemed to have been drained away in an instant. Her entire back radiated inexplicable gloom.

"That's why I hate marriage and children."

Taohua muttered as she walked ahead, not even having the courage to glance back at Mimi.

Her attempt to establish authority and make the little brat easier to manage had failed.

Taohua couldn't help lamenting the days to come.

Lady Tsunade was one thing.

But adding another Insect Princess would be like a comet crashing into Earth.

This girl was no pushover!

Could Lady Tsunade really beat her?

Either way, this house would be turned upside down sooner or later.

In silence, they passed through the deep corridor. A moment later, the three of them arrived at the Reception Room.

Taohua slid open the Paper Door and said, "Insect Princess is here, Lady Mito."

"Thank you for your hard work, Taohua." Mito replied gently.

"Then I'll take my leave."

"Wait, Taohua. Bring the books I prepared."

"Yes."

Taohua withdrew, and Mimi and Chiri entered the room.

"Come over and let me have a look at you, Little Genius."

As Mito spoke, her gaze shifted to Chiri, and she looked slightly surprised.

"Who is this adorable little guest?"

"She insisted on coming along." Mimi said.

Chiri blinked.

That wasn't wrong, but wasn't it you who pulled me here, Mimi? We clearly agreed to play together after training.

"Eh? Why?" Mito asked.

"No one plays with Chiri." Mimi said, "We'd already arranged to go on an outing today."

"Is that so? Then this is my fault." Mito looked at Chiri and said, "Does Chiri not have many friends?"

Hearing that, Chiri shook her head and said, "It's that no one dares to play with Mimi."

Mito looked at Mimi and smiled. "I'm sorry for interrupting your outing with your friend."

"Who is she?" Mimi asked, looking at the other person in the Reception Room.

Hinata Hitomi.

The little girl with the Byakugan sat properly in seiza, exceedingly obedient and tense.

At heart, she was simply a shy little girl who was afraid of strangers.

The Hyuga Clan had taken a position.

Even though she was from the Branch Family.

Her very presence was an attitude in itself.

But clearly, they had bet wrong.

Although, logically speaking, Tsunade becoming the future Fourth Hokage was practically a certainty.

The key problem was that Tsunade herself was hopeless.

She'd been given a chance, but she was useless!

"You're classmates, so I won't introduce you. Like you, she has become my disciple."

Mito smiled and said, "From now on, you must support one another and love each other."

"Yes!" Hinata Hitomi answered energetically.

"Honestly, don't be so stiff in front of me." Mito said angrily, "That Heavenly Ninja is such a bastard! Hitomi, just treat me like someone closest to you."

Looking at the Cursed Seal beneath Hitomi's bangs, Mito's eyes flashed with pity.

They really had the heart to do that, Hyuga.

"Yes." Hitomi answered softly.

"And you, Insect Princess. Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"I heard you, Grandma Mito." As she spoke, Mimi found a cushion, sat down cross-legged, and plopped herself onto it.

Seeing this, Mito laughed in exasperation. "You really don't stand on ceremony!"

The main reason was that Mimi's sitting posture had absolutely nothing feminine about it.

She was a match for Tsunade.

Just looking at her gave Mito a headache.

And since Tsunade wasn't here, she had probably gone to the Third Hokage's place.

Mimi did not answer Mito.

Mito wasn't surprised, either.

She had already learned about Mimi's personality in advance, and three old men and one Hokage had given her ample warning.

She had to keep her composure and not get angry with her, or she would die of rage.

Geniuses had privileges.

This flaw did not hinder Mito's fondness for her.

Though, of course, love never came without a reason.

"Little Chiri, come sit over here." Mito beckoned.

Chiri answered and carried her cushion over to sit beside Mimi.

Mito stared at Chiri's face.

After a long while, she said, "You're adorable."

Chiri blushed shyly.

"Hitomi is adorable too." Mito praised her.

Hinata Hitomi replied in a low voice, "Thank you for praising me, Grandma Mito."

"It's good to be polite, but you don't have to thank me. Tsunade has never said that even once." As Mito spoke, she reached out and stroked Hitomi's little head.

The poor child was heartbreaking.

Then Mito looked at Mimi and said, "What about you? Won't you take off your mask and let me see you?"

Mimi shook her head and said, "No."

"Why?" Mito asked.

"Have you ever seen what an Aburame Clan member looks like?"

"..." After a moment of silence, Mito said, "I haven't!"

"That's why." Mimi said, "When does training start?"

"Don't be impatient." Mito looked at the three girls one by one. After a moment, she looked at Chiri and asked for no apparent reason, "Little Chiri, do you have any dreams?"

Hearing that, Chiri thought for a while and said, "I don't really have any dreams, Grandma."

"Eh? For example, becoming like Tsunade and winning at every casino in the world?" Mito asked. "Nothing like that?"

"Ah, that counts as a dream?" Chiri cried out in surprise.

She had always thought Tsunade was joking.

Or rather, what kind of joke was that? That counted?

"Of course it does." Mito said firmly.

As she spoke, she pointed at Mimi.

"She wants to fly into the sky and stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun."

Hearing this, Hinata Hitomi's eyes widened.

Chiri, however, wasn't surprised.

Following Mito's gesture, she pointed at Hitomi.

"What about Hitomi? She wants to become a bird and fly freely into the sky."

"And you, Chiri? Do you want to fly into the sky together?"

"Then I have a wish too." Chiri said.

Mito encouraged her. "What kind of wish is it? To fly into the sky?"

"I want to stay with everyone forever and live in the village. If Mimi gets tired from flying in the sky and comes back down, it would be wonderful if I were waiting for her in the village."

Is that so...

"Would you like to become my disciple, Little Chiri?"

"Eh? Is that allowed?"

"Of course."

Mito smiled gently.

One sheep could be herded, and two sheep could be herded too. She had originally planned to find teammates for Mimi.

She had still been troubled by the matter. There weren't many children in their generation who could keep up with Mimi, so having her good friend along was perfect.

Besides, the Uchiha ultimately had to integrate into the village.

Even if it would be difficult, this was Hashirama's wish.