Our Newly Appointed Clan Leader Seems Quite Imposing, Kushina Uzumaki

The next day.

Chiyo arrived at the Guard Unit. After greeting several nearby clan members,

he headed for the Guard Unit archives.

The clan leader was the leader and commander of a clan.

Naturally, he could enter and leave as he pleased.

Chiyo arrived at the Guard Unit archives and had someone bring out the patrol records from the past few months.

He flipped through file after file, trying to find relevant information.

Yet more than an hour passed.

He found nothing. There was not even a mention of the missing children.

This made Chiyo frown.

"Strange. Logically speaking, the Guard Unit's patrol records should include reports of unusual incidents. Why isn't there any news at all?"

The Uchiha should have been paying special attention to matters involving the Senju Clan.

As for the missing children, Chiyo already had a suspicion.

He remembered an incident in the Hokage involving child abductions, and it had been Root's doing.

The effective militarized control of Tailed Beasts was exactly what radicals like Danzo longed for.

To control a Tailed Beast, aside from the Sharingan, only Wood Release could do it.

Someone like Danzo naturally wanted Wood Release even more.

Wood Release, in their eyes,

was a power capable of ending an age of chaos.

But in Chiyo's view, it was not Wood Release that was powerful, but Senju Hashirama himself.

Just as Chiyo was about to stand and leave the archives,

a burst of hurried footsteps rang out.

Chiyo looked up.

The Great Elder hurried into the Guard Unit with several younger Uchiha behind him.

"Remember! Matters involving the Senju Clan are handled by the Hokage Faction, not us. During this afternoon's patrol, stay away from the Senju Clan's territory!"

The Great Elder's voice carried over. It was not loud,

but in the quiet Guard Unit, Chiyo heard every word clearly.

The Senju Clan? The Hokage Faction?

Chiyo's gaze locked onto the Great Elder.

As if sensing Chiyo's stare, the Great Elder turned around.

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

"Why are you here?"

"Just looking through some records. But now that the Great Elder is here, I needn't waste any more time."

Chiyo looked at him calmly, though his gaze had turned cold.

"Do you have time to brief me on the Guard Unit's recent situation?"

Hearing the complete lack of respect in his tone,

the Great Elder frowned slightly.

Then he thought of the many younger Uchiha around them, as well as Chiyo's current status.

"Yes!"

"Come with me."

Chiyo had someone lock the archives and left with the Great Elder.

"Our newly appointed Clan Leader seems quite imposing."

One Uchiha ninja standing nearby let out a breath of relief and spoke to his colleague.

"Yeah. Only someone like him is worthy of being the Uchiha Clan's Clan Leader!"

"..."

Unlike the astonished people outside,

once Chiyo shut the door to the lounge,

the two sat facing each other.

The atmosphere instantly grew grave.

"Great Elder, what did you mean earlier by the Senju Clan and the Hokage Faction?"

The Great Elder rubbed his nose, then revealed an awkward smile.

"Clan Leader, I was only reminding the younger ones that matters involving the Senju Clan are rather sensitive. They should avoid that area while patrolling, lest misunderstandings arise!"

Chiyo's eyes flashed.

"What matters involving the Senju Clan are sensitive?"

For a moment, the Great Elder stammered.

"Great Elder, do you know something but find it inconvenient to say?"

Chiyo asked directly.

He could not be bothered beating around the bush with old foxes like this.

"Clan Leader, there is nothing inconvenient to say.

I was merely following the clan's traditions and rules by reminding the younger ones not to get involved in unnecessary trouble."

Not talking?

Chiyo sneered inwardly. He knew the Great Elder was definitely hiding something.

Thinking of the "afternoon patrol" the man had mentioned earlier, Chiyo said no more.

"Then, Great Elder, you should rest well here."

At those words, the Great Elder's eyes visibly flickered.

Chiyo walked out of the lounge and looked at the two Uchiha clan members standing outside the door.

"Clan Leader!"

The two looked respectful.

Chiyo knew them.

They were younger relatives of Sosuke Uchiha. Going by seniority, they should have been Mikoto's cousins.

"The Guard Unit's affairs are complicated. Let the Great Elder rest properly in the lounge this afternoon."

The two men's expressions immediately sharpened.

"Yes!"

Wasn't that just confinement?

They understood perfectly well.

Chiyo glanced back at the Great Elder, whose expression had darkened, and a cold curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He had only just become the Uchiha Clan's Clan Leader, yet someone was already making moves behind his back.

If necessary, Chiyo would not show mercy.

He possessed the resolve to turn his blade inward and scrape poison from the bone.

Chiyo used the Body Flicker Technique to leave the Guard Unit, hurrying toward the Senju Clan.

It seemed Tsunade knew Chiyo was coming.

She stood waiting by the window.

The moment she spotted him, Tsunade hurried downstairs and came over.

"Did you find anything?"

Chiyo shook his head.

"There's something strange about the Great Elder. I'm not sure whether it's related to this matter."

Tsunade nodded and did not blame Chiyo.

"However, something may happen this afternoon."

"This afternoon?"

Tsunade's gaze sharpened.

"Then I'll go back and have people prepare."

Chiyo smiled.

"It's only eleven! The Guard Unit doesn't start afternoon duty until two. There's still plenty of time. Let's eat first!"

Tsunade was about to agree.

When a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

"Lady Tsunade!!"

Chiyo and Tsunade turned toward the voice.

The newcomer was around twelve or thirteen years old, wearing a Konoha forehead protector.

Her smooth red hair fell all the way to her waist, its strands gleaming with a healthy luster beneath the light.

Her hair had been carefully combed and hung neatly behind her shoulders.

She wore a traditional kimono in a soft pale yellow, decorated with dark purple stripes, giving her a lively air.

Kushina Uzumaki.

Kushina Uzumaki?

Chiyo recognized who she was.

Kushina Uzumaki was also slightly stunned when she saw Chiyo.

She had met Chiyo last time when she was with Mikoto.

"She's Kushina Uzumaki. She's staying with my grandmother right now."

Tsunade beckoned to Kushina Uzumaki, then quietly explained to Chiyo.

Chiyo nodded.

"Kushina, you're back from your mission?"

Tsunade stepped forward with a smile and gently rubbed her head.

The gesture was strangely identical to the way Chiyo rubbed Tsunade's head at night.

"Yes! Today's mission was pretty easy!~"

"Have you eaten?"

Kushina Uzumaki rubbed her stomach, embarrassment appearing on her face.

"Come on, I'll take you to eat!"

Tsunade smiled knowingly, grabbed Kushina Uzumaki's hand, and headed toward the Barbecue Restaurant.

After taking two steps, she turned back to look at Chiyo.

"Come on, let's eat!"

Kushina Uzumaki looked curiously at the approaching Chiyo.

"Lady Tsunade, this is..."

Tsunade gave a proud snort.

"Him? Just a smug little Uchiha brat! Later, we'll have him... grill meat for us!"