A clear, slightly spirited female voice rang out.
Chiyo raised an eyebrow slightly. That voice...
He looked up at the courtyard gate.
A vibrant red color immediately catches the eye, like a burning flame.
Immediately afterwards, a figure Earth Run.
She was dressed in a smart ninja outfit that accentuated her agile figure, and her long, fiery red hair was tied in a high ponytail, making her look energetic.
Fair skin, delicate features, especially her eyes, which are clear and bright.
At this moment, she was looking around the courtyard with a mixture of curiosity and barely perceptible tension, her gaze finally settling on Chiyo.
The newcomer was none other than Kushina Uzumaki.
"Oh, what a rare guest!"
Chiyo smiled knowingly as he looked her over.
Since returning to the village, Kushina has been too ashamed to see anyone.
I didn't expect them to take the initiative to come looking for me today!
Chiyo casually pointed to the cushion next to her.
"What brings you here today?"
Kushina seemed relieved when she saw Chiyo, but a blush quickly appeared on her face.
She walked over in a few steps, and after confirming that Mikoto was not there, she...
Instead of sitting down immediately, he put his hands on his hips and said in a deliberately fierce tone.
"What? Aren't you welcoming me? Uchiha Compound? Can't I come?"
However, her bluffing was quickly exposed under Chiyo's smiling gaze, and her momentum weakened somewhat.
"Of course you're welcome."
Chiyo chuckled and poured her a cup of tea.
"It's just that since you went back to the village, you haven't left the house at all. You used to know to come and see Mikoto, but now you don't even come anymore."
When Mikoto was mentioned, Kushina's eyes flickered, and her face flushed even more.
She sat down as instructed, took the teacup, but did not drink it. Instead, she ran her fingertips along the inside of the cup, as if carefully choosing her words.
The courtyard fell silent, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.
After a long while, Kushina seemed to have made up her mind.
She raised her head, her beautiful eyes looking directly at Chiyo, and reached out to grasp Chiyo's hand, her tone carrying an unprecedented seriousness and a hint of confusion.
"Brother Chiyo, the village has been experiencing problems lately..."
Lately, everyone seems to be talking about the Minato scandal.
They call him a hero, a hope for the Mirai, and so on...
Some even say that the Third Hokage elders intend to groom him to become...
When the Fourth Hokage...
She paused, carefully observing Chiyo's expression, as if trying to discern something from his face.
What do you think about this?
Chiyo paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup, a knowing glint in his eyes.
So that's what it was for.
He looked at the seemingly brash but actually sensitive and thoughtful girl in front of him. Their relationship was no secret in Konoha, to those who cared.
She came here less to inquire and more to express her concern for herself.
Kushina keenly sensed the potential vortex hidden behind this sudden hype, and the unknown impact it might have on her.
Chiyo smiled slightly, a peaceful smile, and took her hand in his, patting it gently.
It was as if they were discussing a trivial matter.
" Minato!"
He spoke in a relaxed tone.
"He was an excellent ninja, strong and with a good personality. It's a fact that he made contributions in the war."
The villagers loved him, Third Hokage admired him; he deserved all of this."
He took a small sip of tea, and the tone of his conversation seemed to shift almost imperceptibly.
"As for certain things, such as the Hokage Position..."
That's not something that can be determined solely by reputation and military achievements.
There are many things to consider: ability, prestige, qualifications, and more...
Whether it can gain widespread recognition from all parties in the village."
He looked up at Kushina, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
"What Konoha needs is a leader who can unite everyone and lead the village to true strength, not just a symbol."
He did not directly comment on the Third's actions, nor did he express any ambition for the Hokage Position.
But the implied meaning in her words made Kushina's heart tremble slightly.
He stared at Chiyo, unable to look away for a moment, and even felt a little dazed.
She understood Chiyo's unspoken message.
Minato is good, but the Hokage Position involves many complexities and is not an easy task.
Those who truly have the ability to unite the entire village and possess absolute power and prestige...
Her gaze involuntarily fell on the composed man in front of her.
He ended the Third Shinobi World War, captured two Kage, and subdued Orochimaru. His strength was unfathomable, and he enjoyed an almost godlike reputation among the villagers and lower-ranking ninjas.
Even the other major clans of Konoha now hold him in the highest esteem...
A feeling of sudden enlightenment welled up inside me.
Kushina unconsciously revealed the first relaxed smile she had shown in days, though it was still tinged with a slightly embarrassed blush.
"So... so that's what you were thinking."
She muttered something under her breath, and her mood instantly brightened.
"You made me worry for nothing..."
"Worried about me? Then why are you hiding and afraid to see me?"
Chiyo raised an eyebrow, deliberately drawing out his words with a hint of mockery as he looked at her.
Kushina's face flushed bright red, like a ripe tomato, and she stammered in rebuttal.
"Who, who's worried about you! I'm... I'm worried about the village! Yes, worried about the village's Mirai!"
Seeing her flustered denial, Chiyo couldn't help but chuckle. He stopped teasing her and instead asked gently.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I haven't seen you around for the past few days, what have you been up to?"
Or is something bothering you? Did you have a fight with Mikoto?
This caring inquiry warmed Kushina's heart, instantly dispelling the awkwardness she had felt earlier.
She shook her head.
"No, no, I get along very well with Mikoto-nee."
"It's just... I've had some things to take care of lately..."
She gave a vague answer; she couldn't very well say that she was too shy to come because she was worried that Mikoto would find out about her relationship with Chiyo and then ignore her, could she?
She almost got hit by Mikoto's Sharingan.
Chiyo smiled knowingly, not delving into it further, and simply said gently.
"It's good that you're alright. If you run into any trouble, feel free to come to me anytime."
"Also, Mikoto isn't as petty as you think, don't worry!"
"Um!"
Kushina nodded vigorously, feeling as if she were enveloped in a warm current, completely at ease.
All the previous entanglement and anxiety completely vanished in Chiyo's calm attitude and gentle care.
Just then, the courtyard gate was pushed open again, and Mikoto walked in carrying a vegetable basket.
She had clearly just returned from shopping at the market; fine beads of sweat still clung to her forehead.
As soon as she entered, Mikoto saw Kushina sitting on the veranda, and a flash of surprise and joy quickly crossed her eyes.
" Kushina?"
Mikoto spoke with a smile.
"I haven't seen you since you returned to the village. Are you on another mission?"
Seeing Mikoto's ever-friendly smile, Kushina finally relaxed, the last bit of tension in her heart completely dissipating.
She stood up and smiled somewhat shyly.
"Well... I've been busy with other things."
Mikoto put down her shopping basket, walked over, and naturally took Kushina's hand.
He looked her up and down, then scolded her playfully.
"No matter how busy you are, you have to come over for a meal! Look at you, haven't you been eating properly again? You don't look as good as you did a few days ago."
This tender care brought a slight tingling to Kushina's nose, filling her heart with gratitude.
She stole a glance at Chiyo and found him watching them with a gentle smile.
"No way..."
Kushina retorted softly, but her tone was full of coquettishness.
"Perfect!"
Mikoto laughed and pulled Kushina towards the kitchen.
"I bought a lot of groceries, including your favorite soft tofu and fresh fish today."
Come help me out, we're making something delicious for lunch!
"Okay, okay!"
Kushina responded immediately, her slight embarrassment and concerns long since forgotten.
The two women giggled and slipped into the kitchen.
Soon, the sounds of water washing ingredients, chopping vegetables, and their relaxed and cheerful laughter could be heard from inside.
" Mikoto, how should we prepare this fish?"
"Let me do it. You cut the tofu for me, but be careful not to cut your hand."
"Okay, okay! I'm not a child anymore!"
"Hmph, I wonder who almost cut their finger while cutting potatoes last time..."
"Ah! Don't mention that time!"
"..."
Listening to the lively laughter and chatter coming from the kitchen, and watching their busy yet harmonious figures, Chiyo lay back down on the recliner in the corridor and closed her eyes.
The warm sunshine bathed me, and a gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, carrying the faint aroma of food from the kitchen and the laughter of my beloved.
The power struggles and scrambles for prestige in the outside world seem to have become distant and insignificant background noise.
This moment of tranquility, warmth, and everyday life is the kind of day he longs for and cherishes deep in his heart.
A satisfied and peaceful smile played at the corners of his lips.
Chiyo took a comfortable nap in the warm sunshine and her lover's soft whispers.
Deep underground, in the dark depths of a cave, far from all sunlight and noise.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path stood silently like a withered and eerie giant tree, its ten fingers pointing to the sky, radiating a suffocating stillness and boundless energy.
Countless twisted white pipes extended from the golem, eventually connecting to the figure seated atop a giant Uchiha Gunbai in the center of the cave.
Madara Uchiha.
His eyes were closed, and his aged face, like a dried orange peel, was deeply lined with wrinkles, bearing the cruelty of time and the silent madness of life.
He almost became one with the darkness beneath the earth, maintaining this state of neither life nor death by relying on the chakra supplied by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
Suddenly, the rock wall in front of him rippled like water.
A figure, pure white, wrapped like an aloe vera leaf...
White Zetsu.
It slowly emerged from the ground, its face bearing its signature twisted and eerie smile.
" Lord Madara!~"
White Zetsu spoke in that strange, ethereal voice.
"Things' been quite lively in Konoha lately. I've brought you some new information."
Ban's eyelids twitched slightly, but he didn't open them. He only let out a very faint, almost inaudible snort from his nose as a response.
White Zetsu seemed to be used to it all along, and began to give a vivid and animated report, gesturing wildly to himself.
"That Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, seems to be in a hurry!"
They're really pushing a young man named Minato Namikaze!
Everywhere people are saying he's the ' Yellow Flash,' a hero of Konoha, and the hope for the Mirai!
It seems they want to make him Hokage!
It tilted its head, as if deep in thought.
"However, what's even more interesting is the Uchiha's reaction."
The current Uchiha Clan Head, the guy named Chiyo Uchiha, seems to be completely unconcerned.
His people were a bit worried, but as for him... well, he seemed completely unconcerned.
White Zetsu rambled on about the conflict at the village entrance, the Uchiha's indifference, Chiyo's calm, and the details of Hiruzen Sarutobi's eagerness to pave the way for Minato...
Like a shattered scroll, each piece was presented before Ban.
As White Zetsu narrated, Madara Uchiha's face, which had been as stiff as a stone sculpture, began to curl up at the corners of his mouth little by little.
It wasn't a joyful smile, but rather an extreme curve, imbued with coldness and mockery.
Finally, he slowly opened his eyes.
The crimson Three Tomoe Sharingan twitched slightly.
But at this moment, those eyes were filled with nothing but mockery and disdain.
"Hmph... Hehe..."
A low, hoarse laugh escaped from the depths of Ban's throat, echoing in the empty, deathly silent cave, sounding particularly sinister.
" Hiruzen Sarutobi... The student taught Tobirama that cunning Tobirama can only play these laughable and pathetic power games."
His voice was old, yet it carried a penetrating authority and disdain.
"Is this fear? Are they trying to launch a so-called 'sunshine' spokesperson to combat the fear growing within them?"
"To counterbalance the potential threat posed by the Uchiha?"
"That's... utterly stupid!"
A flicker of reminiscence crossed his eyes, which quickly turned into a deeper chill.
"Back when Konoha was first established, why would Hashirama and I need such methods?"
True peace and order come from absolute power that instills despair in the enemy!
Instead of ridiculous internal balancing and calculations!
His gaze seemed to pierce through endless layers of earth, revealing a prosperous village that, in his eyes, was full of hypocrisy.
Minato Namikaze? The ' Yellow Flash '?
Ban's sneer intensified.
"He sounds like a kid with some talent. But in the face of true power, he's nothing more Fire Fly compared to the moon."
The higher we elevate him, the more his downfall will prove his fragility and incompetence, as well as the ' Will of Fire ' he represents!
Then, his thoughts turned to Chiyo Uchiha.
" Chiyo Uchiha... captured two Kage, End of War, suppressed dissent within the clan, and remained calm in the face of the hype..."
"It's more interesting than I expected."
It seems that the Uchiha Clan has finally produced someone who isn't like those useless, kept-away animals.
Knowing how to conceal one's strength, knowing how to take advantage of the times, and even... knowing how to let one's opponent walk towards their own destruction.
But that slight flicker in his eyes was quickly replaced by a larger, all-encompassing indifference.
"However, that's all."
Ban's voice became cold and empty again.
Whether he is truly insightful or merely a facade...
Whether it's Hiruzen Sarutobi taking over Konoha, Minato Namikaze Hiruzen Sarutobi him, or Chiyo Uchiha ultimately rising to power...
He slowly closed his eyes, as if he had completely lost interest in everything around him.
"It was all just a trivial game of make-believe before the Infinite Tsukuyomi, destined to be completely wiped out."
"In the face of true 'peace,' all struggles, all scheming, all rise and fall... are nothing but illusory dust."
White Zetsu chuckled and chimed in.
"Yes, yes! Lord Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan is the best! Everyone will find happiness in their beautiful dreams!"
Ban fell silent, returning to stillness, like an ancient rock.
The Life Energy supplied by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path flowed slowly, sustaining his decaying body.
In his eyes, the conflicts in Konoha were nothing more than the clamor of ants, not even worth his time.
His stage is the entire Shinobi World.
His goal is to reshape the destiny of the entire world.
As for Konoha, no matter who is performing on stage now, it will ultimately become the place where he realizes his ultimate dream...
A stepping stone, or a ruin swept into the dustbin of history.
"Has Obito Uchiha been out on a mission lately?"
" Lord Madara, not yet! He's been restricted from missions ever since Chiyo returned to the village."
The cave was once again shrouded in deathly silence and the golem's eerie light.
Only Ban's silent, cold laugh seemed to remain frozen in the air, carrying an ultimate contempt for all efforts in the world.