Uzumaki-General Compendium of Sealing Jutsu

"Grandma!"

Just as Uchiha Gen was bowing, a woman's voice mixed with a man's came from a distance. Gen turned toward the sound and saw a blond woman walking this way with a boy who was still alive for now.

"Child, there's not always just one way to fulfill your responsibilities. As it happens, let me introduce you to them. That child is a little older than you, but I think you'll get along."

Mito Uzumaki smiled warmly at the two siblings approaching her, then spoke to Gen beside her.

"Grandma, what are you doing here? And why is this Uchiha guy standing next to you?"

Before Gen could answer, Nawaki's voice came closer. A moment later, he was standing in front of Mito, glaring at Gen—or, more accurately, at the clan crest on Gen's clothes.

"It seems you've got the wrong impression."

Ignoring Nawaki, Gen spoke softly to Mito.

"Are you even listening to me? Ow! Sis, why'd you hit me?! You should've hit this Uchiha instead!"

Just as the ignored Nawaki was about to roar, Tsunade punched him on the head, bringing him back to reality.

"Grandma, what's going on?"

Tsunade narrowed her eyes as she looked at Gen, then at Mito. On their way here, she'd noticed many Uchiha shinobi passed out in the bushes.

They didn't have a single injury and looked as if they were asleep. Grandma had definitely been the one to take down those Uchiha.

"Tsunade, come here. Let me introduce you. This is Uchiha Gen, the new... younger brother I've found for you."

Mito smiled as she spoke softly.

"Little brother!!" ×2

"????"

As Mito's words fell, three pairs of eyes turned toward the old woman.

Gen stared at Mito in shock. When had he agreed to sell himself?

In response to his astonishment, Mito merely winked at him, then pulled a crimson scroll from her sleeve.

"Since I haven't given you a welcoming gift yet, I think you'll like this."

Mito smiled as she took out the scroll.

"Wait! Grandma, what do you mean by 'little brother'? Did you take this Uchiha in as your grandson? No!! That's absolutely impossible! He's an Uchi—"

Compared to Tsunade's surprise, Nawaki had already started speaking before his brain could catch up. He pointed at Gen and questioned Mito, but before he could finish, a golden chain instantly wrapped around him, including his mouth.

"Gen, I can call you that, can't I?"

After binding Nawaki, Mito turned to Gen with a gentle look.

"Please, go ahead."

Holding the scroll, Gen spoke softly.

"Then come have dinner with us at the Senju Compound tomorrow. Or I could take them to the Uchiha Clan Compound and have dinner with you."

Ignoring Nawaki writhing on the ground like a worm, Mito smiled at Gen.

"...When?"

"In the afternoon. You still have school, after all, and skipping class isn't a good habit."

"Okay."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow."

Watching Konoha's strongest shinobi leave with one person and one writhing worm, Gen stood by the riverbank in silence for a moment.

Mito's sudden visit had been utterly bizarre. Thinking about it honestly, if Gen himself had possessed power and discovered an unstable factor that hadn't yet come into its own, he would have thought to snuff it out immediately.

But Mito's approach had been to use this absurd bargain to let Gen decide for himself...

That was right. It was absurd.

"Is this the thinking of an old-timer left over from the Sengoku era? Or... was it Hashirama Senju's way of thinking, idealistic like the Will of Fire?"

Looking at the scroll in his hands, Gen wasn't sure what to make of the old woman.

He opened the scroll and stared at what was written on it, his eyes widening.

[Uzumaki—General Compendium of Sealing Jutsu...]

"This really is... one incredible welcoming gift."

"Master Gen, are you all right?!"

After Mito left, Ganghuo Uchiha regained consciousness. The moment he came to, he used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Gen. Only after confirming that Gen wasn't injured and that there were no signs of a fight nearby did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"I'm fine. Inform the elders and call a meeting."

Putting away the scroll, Gen spoke calmly.

"Yes!"

Senju Compound.

"Grandma! Why did you take an Uchiha in as your grandson?! If word gets out, won't everyone laugh at us?"

Nawaki stood in front of Mito, shouting with an expression of utter disbelief.

"Be quiet! You're too noisy!"

Tsunade punched Nawaki on the head again, forcibly silencing him, then turned to look at her grandmother.

She was just as confused.

"Tsunade, Nawaki, don't be prejudiced against Gen or any of the Uchiha. The feud between the Senju and Uchiha ended long ago, in the hands of your great-grandfather. Do you understand?"

Mito looked at the two of them with a serious expression.

"But..."

Looking at Mito's stern expression, Nawaki couldn't help feeling a little aggrieved.

"Nawaki, I know your dream is to become a Hokage like your great-grandfather. But Hashirama would never have been prejudiced against the Uchiha.

"In his eyes, everyone in the village was family, and that included the Uchiha. So if you really want to become a shinobi like Hashirama, you have to learn to treat everyone in the village as family."

Looking at Nawaki's aggrieved face, Mito smiled kindly and gently ruffled his hair.

"Is that Uchiha boy... special?"

Unable to hold back any longer, Tsunade asked.

Everything that had happened today felt strange, no matter how she looked at it. Grandma had actually invited someone home for dinner, and that someone was an Uchiha.

And most importantly! She'd even taken him in as her god-grandson (or so she assumed)!!!!