Kushina, Join the Uchiha Clan!

Kushina was still quite young, a few years younger than Mikoto. She was at the age of innocence.

Otherwise, that old fox Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't have been able to trick her so easily into becoming the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

So when Kushina heard that Byakuya had easily subdued her rampage, she looked at him with admiration.

"Kushina, from now on, you can stay with the Uchiha Clan without worry..."

"As long as you stay with the Uchiha Clan, I can guarantee that the Nine-Tails will never hurt you..."

"And you can do whatever you want..."

Byakuya said as he looked at Kushina.

"Really!? I can do whatever I want from now on!?..."

"Lord Hokage will agree to that!?"

Hearing Byakuya's words, Kushina was overjoyed.

At her age, Kushina loved excitement and couldn't sit still.

Being cooped up in the valley every day, with the Nine-Tails occasionally going on a rampage, was sheer torment for her.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have sneaked out of the valley.

So when Byakuya told her that she could do whatever she wanted as long as she stayed with the Uchiha Clan, Kushina was thrilled.

"Of course..."

"As for that Hokage you mentioned, don't worry about him. He'll definitely agree..."

Byakuya looked at Kushina and spoke with absolute confidence.

What did it matter to Byakuya whether Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, agreed or not?

Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi disagreed, he couldn't stop Byakuya.

And if Hiruzen Sarutobi dared to get in his way, Byakuya wouldn't hold back.

"That's great! In that case, I'll join the Uchiha Clan..."

Kushina agreed without giving it much thought.

Or rather, as someone from another village, Kushina didn't really understand the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan.

More importantly, in order to keep a better hold on Kushina as a Jinchuriki, Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want too many people interacting with her.

As a result, Kushina didn't have many friends in Konoha.

"Excellent!..."

"Kushina, from this moment on, you're one of us in the Uchiha Clan..."

Then Byakuya introduced Kushina to Mikoto.

"Mikoto, this is Kushina. From now on, she's one of us in the Uchiha Clan!..."

After Byakuya introduced them, Mikoto greeted Kushina with a smile.

"Kushina, welcome to the Uchiha Clan..."

"Big Sister Mikoto, you're so pretty..."

Kushina exclaimed as she looked at Mikoto.

"Little Sister Kushina, you're pretty too..."

Mikoto smiled as she replied.

"Big Sister Mikoto, let's go shopping!..."

"It's been ages since I last went shopping..."

Kushina invited her.

Kushina had always been a bit scatterbrained. She soon put the Nine-Tails' rampage behind her, and now all she wanted was to shop and have fun.

"Lord Byakuya... is that all right!?"

Mikoto asked Byakuya for permission.

"Of course..."

Byakuya agreed without hesitation.

"Great! Let's go!..."

With Byakuya's permission, Kushina excitedly grabbed Mikoto and ran outside. Byakuya followed behind them.

Soon, they arrived at a bustling commercial street.

Many members of the Konoha Military Police Force were patrolling the street. When they saw Kushina, they were quite surprised.

"Look, that girl... the red-haired girl. She must be the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!..."

"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!? I heard an entire block was destroyed when she went on a rampage..."

"What are you afraid of? Can't you see Lord Byakuya right there!?..."

"That's right. Lord Byakuya has the Mangekyō Sharingan... The Mangekyō Sharingan can control the Nine-Tails..."

"Really!? The Mangekyō Sharingan is that powerful!?..."

"Of course! Uchiha Madara once controlled the Nine-Tails with his Mangekyō Sharingan!..."

"Looks like the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki will be a powerful asset to our Uchiha Clan..."

"Obviously. Just imagine Lord Byakuya with his Mangekyō Sharingan, riding the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. What a sight that'd be..."

"..."

In that moment, the Uchiha shinobi's view of Kushina changed.

Their fear gave way to friendliness.

And when Kushina sensed the friendly gazes around her, a smile spread across her face.

Ever since coming to Konoha and becoming the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki,

she had endured the wary looks of those around her. Everyone had looked at her with fear and suspicion.

It had been a long time since she had felt such warmth.

So this was the Uchiha Clan!? This family seemed wonderful!

"You're Kushina. What are you doing here...?"

Just then, Goketsu Senju, who was out for a stroll, spotted Kushina and called out in surprise.

Ever since the Senju Clan had moved to the Uchiha Clan's compound, their lives had changed dramatically.

Not only were their living conditions better, but with the Uchiha Clan's help, they had become more prosperous, and the Senju children were growing up in peace.

Seeing that the Senju Clan had finally settled down, he had put his mind at ease and begun enjoying his retirement.

He often went shopping or stopped for tea.

But he never expected to see Kushina there today.

Wasn't Kushina the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!?

Knowing Hiruzen Sarutobi, he would never let the Jinchuriki act alone if he wanted to keep control of the Nine-Tails. He certainly wouldn't let her go shopping.

"Grandpa Goketsu, are you out having fun too!..."

"I've joined the Uchiha Clan..."

Kushina said when she saw Goketsu Senju.

"You've joined the Uchiha Clan..."

Goketsu Senju was taken aback by Kushina's words. But when he saw Byakuya beside her, he seemed to understand.

"I see. Uchiha Byakuya, what a move!..."

Goketsu Senju exclaimed.

Goketsu Senju knew very well that Byakuya's Mangekyō Sharingan could control the Nine-Tails' power.

Now that Kushina had joined the Uchiha Clan, it was practically the same as the Uchiha Clan gaining control of the Nine-Tails' power.

All Goketsu Senju could do was marvel at the Uchiha Clan's good fortune. They had produced someone as powerful as Byakuya.

At least the Uchiha Clan wouldn't fall into decline.

Why hadn't the Senju Clan produced someone like Byakuya?

If they had, the Senju Clan might not have fallen into such decline.

All Goketsu Senju could do now was sigh helplessly.

He no longer cared about the Senju Clan's glory.

The entire Senju Clan was on the verge of disappearing. What was the point of talking about glory?

All he hoped now was that the name Senju Clan would live on.