Yuzuru, You Scumbag

"Toyed with..."

"My life?"

After hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's final conclusion, Kushina Uzumaki stood there in a daze, as though she had lost her soul.

It seemed like she had understood something in her mind, yet it also felt like a complete mess.

Seeing Kushina Uzumaki like that, Uchiha Yuzuru got up and made a cup of tea with hot water.

It was only after the warm steam stopped rising from the cup that Kushina Uzumaki looked at Uchiha Yuzuru with hollow eyes.

"Yuzuru, what... do you mean?"

Seeing Kushina Uzumaki's pitiful appearance, Uchiha Yuzuru felt a trace of reluctance in his heart.

For a girl who had always aimed to "become Hokage and earn everyone in the village's recognition," the cruelty of the truth was far beyond imagination.

But Uchiha Yuzuru would not go soft at a time like this.

After pondering for a moment, he continued, "The so-called bonds are what the Third Hokage likes to talk about most."

"Human emotions are incredibly rich. People care deeply about those close to them."

"Just like parents are willing to sacrifice themselves for their children, lovers are willing to give their lives for the ones they love, and companions are willing to take a blade for their closest friends..."

"You said that not long ago, you wrote to the Third Hokage and told him you didn't want to become a Jinchuriki, right?"

"I think that was why Hiruzen Sarutobi planned this kidnapping."

Watching Kushina Uzumaki's eyes gradually dim, Uchiha Yuzuru gave his final conclusion.

"Whether the Third Hokage was showing concern for you or arranging for Minato to play the hero and save the beauty, it was all just to make you, the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, willingly remain in Konoha and make so-called sacrifices for the village."

Like the last straw that broke the camel's back, Kushina Uzumaki closed her eyes in despair.

Could it be... that the life she believed she had was nothing more than a carefully crafted lie?

"Why... I had already decided to accept the village's arrangement and become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Why did the Third Hokage still have to do this?"

At that, Uchiha Yuzuru sighed. "Kushina, if the Third Hokage hadn't been too impatient, then after you voluntarily told him what you wanted, we might never have known he was this kind of person."

"Have some water first."

Kushina Uzumaki took the teacup. After taking a few small sips, she asked uneasily, "Yuzuru, since the Third Hokage arranged this incident, then you ruined his plan..."

"I'm sorry. I got you involved."

Seeing Kushina Uzumaki's concern, Uchiha Yuzuru shook his head. "Don't say that. Even if I had to choose again, I still wouldn't stand by and do nothing."

"Besides... Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others have always been deeply hostile toward the Uchiha Clan's ninja. Even without this incident, their opinion of me wouldn't improve."

"Hostile?" Kushina Uzumaki looked at Uchiha Yuzuru in surprise. "Yuzuru, isn't the Uchiha Clan, one of the great ninja clans that founded the village, highly respected?"

"Why would the Third Hokage and the others be hostile toward you?"

"You're too naive, Kushina." Uchiha Yuzuru snorted softly. "Konoha's darkness is far beyond what you can imagine."

"Just watch. If nothing unexpected happens, Hiruzen Sarutobi will make a move soon."

Looking at the confident Uchiha Yuzuru, Kushina Uzumaki could not help but sigh. "Yuzuru, you've really changed so much."

"If it weren't for you, I might have been kept in the dark for my entire life."

Uchiha Yuzuru smiled. "Because these eyes of mine can see through everything."

With the memories of his previous life, he knew most things about the world of the Hokage like the back of his hand.

Just like reading those history books, no matter how inscrutable a scheme might have seemed at the time, it could easily be seen through from a god's-eye view.

Perhaps influenced by Uchiha Yuzuru, Kushina Uzumaki showed a faint smile.

She could not help asking, "Yuzuru, then what do you think I should do from now on?"

After this Cloud Ninja kidnapping incident, she had completely lost her trust in Hiruzen Sarutobi. The sense of belonging she had only just begun to develop toward Konoha had also vanished into thin air.

But as she was now, even if she knew everything, she had no way to resist.

How was she supposed to face the rest of her life?

"Kushina, if one day I wanted to take you away from Konoha, would you be willing to leave with me?"

Looking into Uchiha Yuzuru's serious eyes, Kushina Uzumaki felt as though a deer was running wild in her heart. The flush on her face immediately spread from her neck to her ears.

This has to be a confession, right?

Just when did Yuzuru start caring about me...

"Kushina?"

Hearing Uchiha Yuzuru's voice, Kushina Uzumaki came back to herself. Lowering her head, she said quietly, "Yuzuru, I-I'd be willing, of course, but what about Mikoto?"

"Mikoto?" Uchiha Yuzuru scratched his head in confusion. "Of course we'll take her with us."

"What?!" Looking at the innocent-faced Uchiha Yuzuru, Kushina Uzumaki shot to her feet in shock.

"Yuzuru, you, you, you scumbag!"

After saying that, Kushina Uzumaki dashed out of the room.

Uchiha Yuzuru was utterly baffled.

No, they were talking about serious matters. How had he become a scumbag?

"Yuzuru!"

Not long after Kushina Uzumaki left, Uchiha Fugaku's voice came from outside the door.

Uchiha Yuzuru got up and opened the door. Looking at the somewhat grim Uchiha Fugaku, he asked, "What is it?"

"Yuzuru, just as you predicted, the Third Hokage rejected our request."

Just moments ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi had rejected their proposal to recruit ninja from other ninja clans or civilian ninja into the Konoha Military Police Force. He had also clearly told them that, aside from wartime, the Uchiha Clan only needed to handle public security within the village.

This made Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Tarou completely lose faith in Konoha's higher-ups.

If they had nothing to hide, shouldn't they have welcomed something like this?

Uchiha Yuzuru had expected this already, so he merely said, "Fugaku, next, gather information on the conservatives and radicals within the clan."

Uchiha Fugaku looked confused. "Yuzuru, do you have a plan?"

Uchiha Yuzuru nodded. "You don't need to know the details yet. Just do as I say."

"Understood."

Uchiha Fugaku agreed, then added, "Oh, Hiruzen Sarutobi just sent Anbu to inform us that he wants you to visit the Hokage's Office."

"Yuzuru, do you want me to go with you?"

After learning the true thoughts in the hearts of Hiruzen Sarutobi and those higher-ups, Uchiha Fugaku was deeply worried that something might happen to Uchiha Yuzuru.

Uchiha Yuzuru was not only a genius of their clan's new generation, but also the hope tied to the future fate of the Uchiha Clan!

Seeing the concern in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, Uchiha Yuzuru patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll handle everything."

Uchiha Yuzuru was not surprised that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to see him.

He had disrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi's plan. It would have been strange if the other man had taken no action.

But soldiers could be met with generals, and water with earth. No matter what Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to do, Uchiha Yuzuru would not be afraid with his Dual Kamui.

Watching Uchiha Yuzuru's retreating back, Uchiha Fugaku suddenly came to his senses.

Wait, why did it seem like he had become that brat Uchiha Yuzuru's subordinate?