Love.

Konohagakure.

Having finally gotten a day off, Namikaze Minato naturally went to find Kushina.

After dropping off Kagami Uchiha and Kakashi, he left them with a "We'll eat at the barbecue restaurant tonight," then disappeared without a trace.

"Tch. The guy forgets his Junior Disciple once he sees a pretty girl," Kakashi muttered.

"What about you? Aren't you going to find your little girlfriend from the Ninja Academy?"

Kakashi kicked a pebble by the roadside and said indifferently, "I'm not interested in little girls."

"Heh heh. I wonder who it was that used to read Icha Icha Paradise during breaks from training."

"...I was appreciating Teacher Jiraiya's literary accomplishments! It was also training!"

"Besides... they're all older sisters in there..." His voice grew quieter and quieter.

"No need to explain. If I see you peeking into the women's bathhouse with that old lecher, I'll notify the Uchiha Police Force and have you arrested."

Kagami Uchiha headed toward his home and said indifferently, "Tell Minato I'm eating at home, so I won't be going."

Tap, tap...

"Then I'll eat at your place too!"

Kakashi shamelessly followed him, having forgotten Kagami Uchiha's warning from that one time.

Kagami Uchiha thought about it. The effort required to drive Kakashi away was far greater than simply adding another set of bowls and chopsticks, so he let it go.

"I'm not free. You buy the ingredients, and you cook too."

"Huh? I'm going to your house as a guest. Forget cooking—do I have to buy the ingredients too?"

"Go if you want. Don't if you don't."

Kakashi finally understood what Obito and Might Guy had felt.

When Kakashi carried two baskets of vegetables into the house with Kagami, the first thing he saw was Shisui standing on the surface of the water basin.

"Little Shisui, are you practicing water-walking?"

Splash...

Shisui, who had been completely focused, lost his train of thought at the shout and fell halfway into the water basin.

His little face flushed bright red as he glared angrily at Kakashi. "White-haired dead fish eyes! Don't disturb me!"

"Ah! Big Brother! You're back!!"

Shisui jumped out of the basin and pounced toward Kagami Uchiha like a carp leaping from the water.

Smack—

Kagami Uchiha pressed down on Shisui's face and frowned. "Go rinse yourself off and change into clean clothes."

"Okay!"

Watching Shisui hop away, Kakashi leaned closer and said, "Aren't you being too strict with him? Even I didn't start practicing water-walking until I was four. He's only two or three, right?"

"And besides... White-haired dead fish eyes? Why does he call me that nickname?!"

"He's three and a half, yet he still isn't proficient at water-walking." Kagami Uchiha looked at Kakashi with disdain. "Isn't that just as useless as you are?"

Kakashi really wanted to say, People have been calling me a genius since I was little...

But facing Kagami Uchiha, he still couldn't bring himself to say it.

When she saw Kagami return, Grandma's face lit up with delight, though she made no move to get up.

Kakashi could clearly sense that, compared with a year ago, the old woman carried a deeper air of twilight.

Kagami Uchiha walked quietly to her side and placed his hand on her ankle.

The muscles had already begun to atrophy. With only a layer of skin covering them, her bones could be felt clearly.

"Things have already gotten this bad... Why didn't you tell me?"

Grandma gently stroked Kagami's hair and smiled kindly. "It's all right. Shisui already knows how to take care of me."

Kagami Uchiha lowered his head silently and said nothing.

He had a way to heal Grandma's body. If necessary, he could even ask Tsunade and Orochimaru for help.

But physical injuries could be healed. The heart could not.

Use Genjutsu to erase Grandma's longing for those who had passed away?

Kagami Uchiha couldn't bring himself to do something so cruel.

He could clearly feel that as he gradually grew older, Grandma's desire to live was growing weaker and weaker.

She had been born into the Uchiha Clan. She had gone to war while still young, barely survived, witnessed the founding of Konohagakure, and married the person she loved.

But not long afterward, her beloved husband died on a mission.

After that, Shisui's parents also died.

The Ninja World had never treated the Uchiha Clan kindly.

All because of the conflict between Asura and Indra, the Uchiha Clan had known no peace for a thousand years!

Without any grand declarations, Kagami Uchiha gently moved Grandma's hand away and said softly:

"Grandma, I'll take good care of myself, and I'll take good care of Shisui too."

If, one morning or afternoon, you wish to go in search of the person you love, then go in peace.

"Mm... Grandma believes in you."

—

"Kushina!"

Downstairs, Minato held a bouquet of crimson flowers similar in color to Kushina's hair and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Bang!

The window shattered when it was pushed too hard.

Ignoring the height of more than ten meters, the girl jumped straight out of the window.

"Catch me, Minato!"

—

Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the intelligence sent back by Orochimaru and Sarutobi Shin'nosuke and took a deep drag from his cigarette.

Overpowering the Four-Tails, forcing back the Tsuchikage—the Uchiha's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!

Of course, he didn't believe the reports released by Iwagakure.

The Nine-Tails was still perfectly well inside Kushina's stomach.

Based on the intelligence Sarutobi Shin'nosuke had obtained by questioning Shibi and the others, as well as Minato's clarification, Kagami Uchiha possessed a secret technique similar to a higher-level Spirit Transformation Technique.

Using this technique, Kagami had successfully seized part of the Four-Tails Chakra and used it to outwit Ōnoki.

That old man Ōnoki had clearly been run ragged by the Raikage, yet he still claimed that he was honoring the six-month agreement and absolutely would not head south.

What a joke.

They had all been Kage for decades. Who was he trying to fool?

But...

What made Sarutobi Hiruzen uneasy was precisely Kagami Uchiha's ability.

If he could seize the Four-Tails, could he also seize the Nine-Tails?

The Nine-Tails combined with the Uchiha made it far too easy for him to think of one person.

He had personally witnessed that earth-shaking battle.

The Uchiha might produce another Uchiha Madara... but could the Senju produce another First Hokage?

Sarutobi Hiruzen understood all too well that power on that level was beyond the reach of ordinary shinobi.

Only bloodlines could reach it.

The thought of eliminating Kagami Uchiha while there was still time flashed through his mind.

Sarutobi Hiruzen secretly shook his head and rejected the idea.

If Kagami Uchiha died now, the Uchiha Clan would certainly erupt. Even the Uchiha clansmen who had originally stood on his side would never accept such a thing.

Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated, then picked up Minato's letter again.

Its ending read:

"Kagami possesses the true Will of Fire and will bring peace to the Ninja World.

I'm beginning to believe that he may be the Child of Prophecy Teacher Jiraiya has been seeking.

He will guide the shinobi world through change!"

Ever since Jiraiya was young, the Great Toad Sage had prophesied that his disciple would become a savior.

Thus, Sarutobi Hiruzen had permitted Jiraiya to travel everywhere in search of that possible disciple.

I thought... I thought the person Jiraiya was searching for was you, Minato.

Yet you believe that person will be Kagami...?

"What should I do... Teacher..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked toward the framed portraits of the previous Hokage hanging in the office.