Visiting Mito

Tsunade gently raised her hand and rapped her knuckles against the thick, timeworn gate of the Senju Clan Compound.

A moment later, a voice came from inside the courtyard. "Who is it?" It sounded somewhat low and tired, yet carried a faint warmth.

Tsunade paused, wondering to herself, Did we have a guest? That sounds like a middle-aged woman.

Just then, another familiar voice rang out. "Is that little Tsunade and little Xiao?" Tsunade's face lit up with delight. She hurriedly replied, "Grandma, it's us!" Before she had finished speaking, the courtyard gate slowly swung open, revealing Uzumaki Mito's kind face.

Uzumaki Mito immediately saw Tsunade and Uchiha Kō standing safe and sound outside. The worry she had been feeling eased, and she couldn't help breaking into a happy smile.

"I heard magpies chattering away in the trees this morning. I wondered what good fortune was coming our way. I never imagined my little Tsunade and little Xiao would return safely after the war!"

As she spoke, Uzumaki Mito looked at Tsunade and Uchiha Kō with a smile. Her gaze was as loving and caring as if she were looking at her most beloved granddaughter and grandson.

Uchiha Kō hurriedly greeted her with respect. "Lady Mito." But as soon as the words left his mouth, Uzumaki Mito furrowed her brow and pretended to be cross. "Didn't I tell you to call me Grandma?"

Uchiha Kō stiffened slightly, then cleared his throat twice. "Grandma." His voice was quiet, but carried a hint of reverence and affection.

Uzumaki Mito chuckled softly. She took Uchiha Kō's hand in her left and Tsunade's in her right, then led them slowly into the compound.

Once inside, Uchiha Kō and Tsunade curiously looked around. The place was bustling with people; hundreds of members of the Uzumaki Clan were busy with their own tasks.

Every one of them had vivid red hair, bright as a burning flame.

Uchiha Kō couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath. The Uzumaki Clan members have such enormous reserves of chakra!

His gaze swept over the crowd, and he noticed that even a young girl seemed to have only slightly less chakra than he did. The Uzumaki Clan truly lived up to its reputation!

While the two of them were looking around, a small figure suddenly shot toward them like an arrow, lunged at Uchiha Kō, and wrapped both arms tightly around his leg.

Uchiha Kō was startled again. Looking down, he saw little Nagato. His lips curved into a faint smile. "Well, if it isn't little Nagato!" He reached down and gently patted Nagato's head.

Uzumaki Nagato looked up and grinned at Uchiha Kō, his eyes shining with excitement and joy. Ever since coming to Konoha, he had realized that the sky wasn't always gloomy and rainy, and that there were so many delicious foods in the world... At the thought, Nagato swallowed.

Uzumaki Mito, who had been quietly watching all along, saw the warm, harmonious scene and smiled even more brightly. She felt even more fond of and pleased with Uchiha Kō.

Just as everyone was basking in the joyful, peaceful atmosphere, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the gate, followed by a loud shout. "Grandma! Grandma! I'm back! Your favorite grandson is home!"

Uzumaki Mito's lips curved into a gentle smile. She was about to get up and open the door for Nawaki herself when Uchiha Kō, carrying little Nagato in his arms, briskly headed for the entrance.

With a creak, the door slowly opened. Senju Nawaki stood outside, a broad, guileless grin blooming across his face. Without even seeing who had opened the door, he spread his arms, lunged forward, and hugged the person in front of him tightly. "Grandma~ Hehe, I missed you so much!"

But when he heard a familiar cough, he looked up. He froze when he saw that the person before him wasn't the grandma he had been longing for, but Uchiha Kō, barely holding back his laughter.

Realizing he had mistaken the person, Senju Nawaki quickly let go and stood up straight. Then he bowed his head respectfully. "Commander!"

Uchiha Kō smiled and waved a hand. "The war is over. From now on, just call me Kō. This is your home, after all. You don't have to be so formal."

With that, he gave a helpless, wry smile. Why does it feel like Nawaki is the guest here?

Just as Uchiha Kō was about to close the door, he spotted two figures hurrying toward them in the distance. One was a white-haired man carrying a gift; the other was a thin, black-haired man.

They were none other than Jiraiya and Orochimaru. They had come to the Senju Clan Compound specifically to visit Lady Mito, but hadn't expected to run into Uchiha Kō.

Jiraiya and Orochimaru exchanged a glance and hesitated briefly, but eventually pushed open the wooden door and entered the courtyard.

When Jiraiya's eyes fell on the child sleeping peacefully in Uchiha Kō's arms, his heart gave a sudden jolt. The mysterious prophecy the Toad Sage had once given him came to mind: he would take on a disciple with the potential to shake the very foundations of the Ninja World.

Now, as Jiraiya gazed at the child before him, especially those deep, bright eyes, an indescribable sense of familiarity washed over him.

For some reason, Jiraiya felt there was a special bond between him and this child. Unable to help himself, he reached out with his right hand and gently stroked Nagato's little head.

Nagato gazed in surprise at the unfamiliar white-haired man before him, who had such a kindly face.

Yet in an instant, he felt warmth and affection from the man's hand. An inexplicable sense of trust made him stop resisting and let Jiraiya gently stroke his head.

Being patted so gently actually made Nagato feel more comfortable and at ease than ever before.

Seeing this, Uchiha Kō's lips lifted into a barely perceptible smile. Just as I thought. Even in this completely different timeline, the bond between the master and student from the original story remains deep and unbreakable.

With that, Uchiha Kō carefully placed Nagato in Jiraiya's arms and smiled as he introduced him. "Lord Jiraiya, please hold him. This child's name is Uzumaki Nagato."

As soon as he had spoken, Uchiha Kō turned and walked deeper into the house, leaving Jiraiya standing there with Nagato in his arms. A strange, warm feeling lingered between them.