The moment Uzumaki Kuming stepped through the gate, Uzumaki Mito's voice sounded in his ear.
At her words, Kuming headed straight for the study. As he walked through the compound, he didn't see anyone else.
The Mito family compound was enormous. Before Kuming had been weaned, a nanny had taken care of his daily needs, but after that, Mito had looked after him herself.
By now, Nawaki was already a Genin. He had plenty of free time, but he didn't like staying home; he was always calling friends to train with him at the Training Ground. Tsunade was already a Jonin with her own responsibilities, and Kushina worked as an assistant at Konoha Hospital. These days, besides Uzumaki Mito, the only people in the compound were the two cooks in the kitchen.
As Kuming walked along the corridors, he looked at the tall weeds in the courtyard and fell silent, lost in thought. When he reached the study, the door opened by itself, though he hadn't made a move.
Sunlight poured into the study, allowing Kuming to see inside.
"You're back. Come in."
Mito sat behind her desk. When she saw Kuming standing in the doorway, a smile appeared on her face. Though Kuming hadn't been gone long, Mito felt as if a great deal of time had passed. Now that she saw him again, her eyes held not only happiness but also a tender sadness.
"Grandma, I'm back."
Kuming entered the study and sat cross-legged in front of Mito. Looking at the increasingly frail Uzumaki Mito, he felt an ominous premonition rise in his heart.
"The opponent you faced this time must have been powerful. When I saw what state you were in that day, I was frightened. Almost all your Chakra was gone. You had just enough left