Bring That Kid Along

Uzumaki Mito narrowed her eyes, making Tsunade tense up. Her hands clenched involuntarily.

"Salamander Hanzō is known as a demigod. His strength is beyond what you three youngsters can handle. Remember, a reputation like his is well earned," Uzumaki Mito said calmly.

Tsunade gritted her teeth. "Grandma, this is the first mission our teacher has entrusted to us. I don't want to give up! I know Salamander Hanzō is a Kage Level fighter, but how can we know unless we try?"

Her eyes shone with something called determination. Seeing this, Uzumaki Mito didn't look happy. Instead, she sighed.

"If that's what you've decided, I won't try to talk you out of it. Just come back alive." Uzumaki Mito closed her eyes.

"I don't want to lose you, my granddaughter." Uzumaki Mito's words drifted through the room, leaving Tsunade dazed. She couldn't help thinking back over her grandmother's life.

She had left her homeland to marry into Konoha, traveled far from home and her clan, lost her husband in middle age, and her son in her later years. Now, her only blood relatives were Tsunade and her younger brother.

And now the two siblings were both going to the battlefield. How could an old woman bear such a thing? Tsunade had been so focused on proving her strength, on showing that Senju Hashirama's granddaughter was a strong kunoichi, that she'd forgotten her grandmother only wanted the two of them to be safe and happy.

"I will, Grandma. I'll come back alive and safe." Tsunade's eyes were red, and her voice trembled.

Uzumaki Mito suddenly seemed to remember something. "Ah, Tsunade, I think the squad leader is allowed to take one trusted person along, right? Have you chosen anyone?"

"Huh? Grandma, I haven't decided yet. Someone did recommend a boy from the Kato family, though. I heard his Spirit Transformation Technique is unusual." Tsunade wiped away her tears.

"Spirit Transformation Technique? In the end, it's just a minor trick." Uzumaki Mito shook her head. "I think that boy from the Uchiha Clan would be a better choice."

"Uchiha Kō? But he's only a Genin!" Tsunade said in surprise.

Uzumaki Mito rose and walked toward the door, then turned to look at Tsunade. "That boy's Sharingan may only have one tomoe, but the chakra within it is stronger than that of most Two-Tomoe Sharingan. It even rivals a Three-Tomoe."

Tsunade froze. A Three-Tomoe? Did that mean Kō could fight at a Jonin's level? Even so, the person from the Kato family seemed to be a Jonin too, and he had the unusual talent of the Spirit Transformation Technique.

By comparison, Kō still seemed to fall short. As Tsunade wondered about this, Uzumaki Mito added, "That boy can also use Magnet Release."

Tsunade's pupils contracted. Magnet Release! A Kekkei Genkai formed by combining Wind and Earth chakra, it was unique to Sunagakure, their old rival next door. How could someone from the Uchiha Clan have it?

"Uchiha Kō can use Magnet Release? Then why hasn't he ever shown it before?" Tsunade wondered why Uchiha Kō would hide such a talent instead of revealing it.

"That's where he's smarter than you. The tallest tree catches the most wind. His clan doesn't value him; in fact, he's been treated with prejudice. And in the village, he's a member of the Uchiha Clan. Who could he trust?" Uzumaki Mito said with a smile.

"Even I only noticed something unusual through my Mind's Eye of the Kagura. So, Tsunade, find a way to bring Uchiha Kō along tomorrow. I have a feeling that boy is no ordinary person." Uzumaki Mito's voice was full of concern.

Then she left Tsunade's room without looking back and returned to her own to sleep.

Tsunade got undressed and thought it over carefully. The Spirit Transformation Technique was certainly unusual, but it had a serious flaw: the body had to be protected. If someone pierced it while the user's soul was away, the soul couldn't return, and the user would die.

Besides, the Spirit Transformation Technique was child's play against Kage Level fighters. Its minimum potential was high, but its ceiling was low. Magnet Release was different. Even before Sunagakure was founded, it had had powerful Magnet Release users.

And without exception, those Magnet Release users had become Kage Level fighters. The current Third Kazekage was one such fighter, and he even wielded the special Iron Sand Magnet Release.

On top of that, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan could also let Kō reach Kage Level. So, all things considered, the position of trusted companion was better suited to Kō.

Having made up her mind, Tsunade resolved to ask Kō what he thought tomorrow. After all, a melon forced from the vine wouldn't be sweet.

Before long, Tsunade drifted off to sleep.

The night passed quickly. The stars shifted, and a new day arrived.

Around five in the morning, Uchiha Kō woke up. It was his body's natural rhythm. The first thing he did was fold his bedding and put it neatly back in its place.

Then he went to wash up. Clear water streamed from the faucet. Uchiha Kō cupped some in his hands, and a chill swept over them.

He couldn't help shivering, then slapped the water onto his face. Brr—icy cold, and it woke him right up! It was a little unpleasant the first time, but he got used to it, and it even felt nice.

After washing his face, Uchiha Kō wiped it dry and headed to the Senju Clan's training ground. He couldn't let a day's training go to waste.

He took eight Shuriken from his ninja pouch and threw them with his well-practiced Uchiha Style Shurikenjutsu. The eight Shuriken struck one another, then all flew toward the wooden training dummy's head.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.

The tips of the eight Shuriken sank into vital spots on the dummy's head: its temples, forehead, and the back of its skull. Uchiha Kō's technique was ruthless.

Next, Uchiha Kō took out a standard-issue long sword—about as ordinary as a sword could get. More precisely, it was a katana, though in Japan it seemed to be called a sword.

As soon as he drew it, Uchiha Kō's eyes lit up. Relying on muscle memory, he spun and slashed diagonally, then kicked at his target. A gash appeared over the wooden dummy's carotid artery. Uchiha Kō kicked its body, rebounded into a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree somersault in midair, and landed perfectly.

How to put it? That was very Uchiha: high damage, with a flair for the dramatic.

If that slash had hit a person, they would probably be clutching their neck and dead by now.

Uchiha Kō's mouth twitched. Uchiha-style swordsmanship was powerful and intricate, sure, but as a young man from the twenty-first century, he couldn't help thinking it was a little... showy.

Still, he pushed the thought aside and practiced swordsmanship for another forty minutes. Then he sheathed the sword, having carefully kept his strength in check so he wouldn't destroy the wooden dummy.

After all, this wasn't his own training ground. But because so few people lived on the Senju Clan Compound, he was enjoying the luxury of having the place all to himself for the first time. It made him happy.

Uzumaki Mito was inside the house, using her Mind's Eye of the Kagura. She had actually woken up as soon as she heard Uchiha Kō throwing Shuriken, but she wanted to see how well he could train, so she observed him from her room.

She discovered that Uchiha Kō had not only solid fundamentals but also trained with exceptional focus and dedication. He was nothing like the rumors made him out to be.