Tenka Uzumaki

Soon, Senju Ben left with Hachiki Peak. Senju Fujima had just turned to leave when he ran into the person he least wanted to see.

She hasn't noticed me. She hasn't noticed me. The best plan is to run. Time to get out of here...!

When Senju Fujima saw the person walking toward him, he quickly turned around and slunk away.

"Where do you think you're going?"

But before Senju Fujima could get away, an angry voice called out.

"Uh...!"

"Mom, um, nothing. I just missed you and came back to see you. Ahaha!"

Hearing Mito Uzumaki's voice, Senju Fujima hurriedly turned around and gave her an awkward laugh.

"Is that so? Do you know what time it is? Hmm?"

"Who taught you that? And now you've learned to skip class?"

"You're trying to run away, too? Is your butt itching for another spanking?"

Mito Uzumaki flew into a rage. The dignified air she maintained in front of others vanished completely before Senju Fujima. A chakra chain appeared in her hand, seemingly out of nowhere, and she whipped it at him.

"Mom, no...!"

"There are so many people here!"

"You can't do this! I'm the young clan head of the Senju Clan, at least. I have my dignity and my reputation to think about!"

Seeing Mito Uzumaki lose her temper, Senju Fujima quickly used the Body Flicker Technique to dodge his mother's chakra chain. He spoke with some embarrassment.

"You know how to feel shame, do you? You couldn't sleep, so you went to school late, and now you're skipping class?"

"How has Mom always taught you? What will people say about your father if they see this?"

"You little brat, you dare dodge me? Try dodging one more time...!"

Mito Uzumaki didn't care what status Senju Fujima held. All she knew was that she was his mother, and disciplining her son was only natural—especially when he was being so naughty.

Seeing Senju Fujima keep dodging, she burned with anger and said coldly,

"Uh...!"

"That look is terrifying...!"

"Dad, how do you put up with a wife like this? She's way too scary."

"Ah...!"

At the sight of Mito Uzumaki's cold, fierce expression, Senju Fujima shuddered. It was as if he'd come face-to-face with his natural enemy, and he froze in place, too afraid to move.

Mito Uzumaki's chakra chains promptly bound him tight, and he let out a scream.

"Let's see you dodge now! If I don't teach you a proper lesson today, you'll think I'm easy to bully, won't you?"

"Smack...!"

"Smack...!"

Once Mito Uzumaki had caught Senju Fujima, she used her chakra chains like a whip and smacked him on the backside, each blow making a sharp crack.

"Ow!"

"Ow!"

"Mom, go easy! My butt's going to split open...!"

Senju Fujima hadn't expected his mother to beat him in broad daylight. It was outrageous. He couldn't help crying out in a low voice.

"Uh...!"

"Sister-in-law, what... what are you doing?"

Just then, Tobirama Senju came over. Seeing Mito Uzumaki beating Senju Fujima, he asked awkwardly.

"Second Uncle, save me! Save me! I didn't do anything, but Mom's beating me! You have to help me!"

"Second Uncle, I'm the young clan head, at least! Getting beaten like this is humiliating. Help me! Second Uncle...!"

When Senju Fujima saw Tobirama Senju approach, a glimmer of hope appeared in his eyes. He hurriedly called out for help.

"Hmm?"

"Tobirama, do you have a problem with this?"

At Mito Uzumaki's words, Tobirama Senju turned to see her glaring coldly at him.

"Brr...!"

"Ah, it's cold! I'd better go home and get another layer. What strange weather. It gets cold all of a sudden."

"Yes, I should hurry home and bring in the laundry...!"

Tobirama Senju shuddered at Mito Uzumaki's terrifying stare. Turning away and ignoring Senju Fujima's pleas for help, he muttered to himself, then immediately turned and ran off.

"Damn it...!"

"Second Uncle, you're no friend...!"

"You're the mighty Sea God, and you're telling me you're cold?"

"Ah...!"

"Help...!"

Seeing Tobirama Senju scamper off, Senju Fujima roared in outrage.

A dignified Water God claiming to be cold was utterly ridiculous.

After that, Senju Fujima still didn't escape a thorough beating.

"Brat, are you going to skip class again?"

After who knew how long, Mito Uzumaki finally stopped and stared coldly at Senju Fujima.

"Mom, I won't do it again. I promise. Untie me, and I'll go to school right now."

"Stop hitting me! My butt really is going to split open...!"

Senju Fujima had no strength left to fight back, and he didn't dare try. He looked at Mito Uzumaki pleadingly.

"Hmph. I should hope not."

"Tenka, take the young master back to school yourself. Watch him go inside, then come back and report to me."

Looking at the pleading Senju Fujima, Mito Uzumaki gave a cold snort, then turned to the young maid behind her and called out.

"Yes, madam."

Tenka's full name was Tenka Uzumaki. She was a member of a branch family of the Uzumaki Clan. Since Senju Fujima had feared the Uzumaki Clan would be wiped out, he had specifically asked some of its members to remain and join Konoha.

Tenka Uzumaki was about the same age as Senju Fujima, so Mito Uzumaki had always kept her by her side. Hearing her words, Tenka hurriedly replied.

"Hmph."

Mito Uzumaki withdrew the chakra chains binding Senju Fujima and turned to leave.

"Young master, are you all right?"

After Mito Uzumaki left, Tenka Uzumaki looked at Senju Fujima with concern and called out to him.

Tenka Uzumaki was around twelve years old and about 158 centimeters tall. She had long red hair, with a pink panda hair clip tucked into it. She wore a gray-and-white short-sleeved one-piece outfit and fishnet stockings, making her look very cute.

"I'm fine, Tenka."

"Let's hurry. The tigress might come back."

Senju Fujima grabbed Tenka Uzumaki's hand and immediately ran off, afraid Mito Uzumaki would catch him again. He looked flustered.

"Giggle...!"

Hearing Senju Fujima call Mito Uzumaki a tigress, Tenka Uzumaki hurriedly covered her mouth with a hand and giggled, her eyes narrowing.

"The young master is so handsome. If only I could marry him..."

"But I'm just a girl from a branch family. I don't have the right to marry the young master."

"We're from different worlds. Sigh...!"

As Senju Fujima led Tenka Uzumaki toward the school, she found herself daydreaming about her future. But because of her status, it was impossible for her to marry the young master, the heir to the clan. All she could do was sigh.

"I hope this world can stay just like this moment, with us running together forever."

Tenka Uzumaki thought, her cheeks faintly flushed.

"Hm? That hair clip is cute."

"Tenka, do you like it?"

As Senju Fujima led Tenka Uzumaki toward school, they passed a shop selling accessories. He spotted a lily-of-the-valley hair clip hanging by the entrance, decorated with several red jewels and long ribbons, and stopped.

He picked up the hair clip and asked Tenka Uzumaki.

"Huh? What?"

Tenka Uzumaki had been lost in thought and hadn't even noticed Senju Fujima leading her to the entrance of the accessory shop. When they stopped, she came back to her senses and turned to look at her young master.

"Hehe, I'll put it on you."

Senju Fujima smiled faintly, took the hair clip, and put it in Tenka Uzumaki's hair.

"Mm, it looks beautiful."

Senju Fujima quickly removed Tenka Uzumaki's old pink panda hair clip and replaced it with the new one. He smiled softly.

"Hm? The young master? He... he...!"

Only then did Tenka Uzumaki come back to her senses. Seeing Senju Fujima's gentle touch, she reached up to feel the hair clip he had placed in her hair. Her heart raced, and her face turned red. She didn't know what to say.

"Boss, how much is it?"

Seeing Tenka Uzumaki blushing, Senju Fujima smiled faintly and turned to ask the shopkeeper.

"Hehe, Young Master Fujima, you don't have to pay. It's a gift for your little girlfriend!"

"What else do you like? Pick anything you want. You won't have to pay for it."

When the shopkeeper saw Senju Fujima, he smiled. Senju Fujima had sealed Kurama, allowing them to carry on their business in peace, so the shopkeeper respected and felt grateful to him. He refused to take any money.

"Hehe, I can't do that. You work hard for your money, too."

"Here's a thousand ryo. Keep it."

Hearing the shopkeeper, Senju Fujima shook his head and took out a thousand ryo, handing it to him.

"I really can't accept it, Young Master Fujima. You're our lifesaver. I can't take your money."

But the shopkeeper insisted on refusing the money, shaking his head repeatedly.

"Just take it!"

"Here."

Senju Fujima shook his head. He appreciated the shopkeeper's kindness, but he had plenty of money. He held out the thousand ryo, pressed it into the man's hand, then took Tenka Uzumaki by the hand again and left.

"L-little girlfriend? Was he talking about me?"

"Ah...!"

"How embarrassing! He thought I was Lord Fujima's girlfriend!"

"If only it were true...!"

When Tenka Uzumaki heard what the shopkeeper had said, her face grew even redder. She lowered her head, too shy to look up.

"Young Master Fujima, you really don't have to pay! Young Master Fujima...!"

The shopkeeper insisted that he didn't want the money, but by then Senju Fujima had already run off with Tenka Uzumaki. He called after them loudly, but he couldn't catch up, so he had to give up.

"Hehe!"

"Tenka, wear it like that from now on. It looks lovely. I wonder which bastard will be lucky enough to marry our sweet little Tenka."

Senju Fujima chuckled as he led Tenka Uzumaki along, praising the gentle, lovely girl before him.

"N-no, not at all!"

"I-I'll stay with the Senju Clan for the rest of my life. I won't get married. I'll just stay with Madam and look after her."

Embarrassed by Senju Fujima's words, Tenka Uzumaki blushed even more and lowered her head as she mumbled.

"Haha, how can you grow up and not get married?"

"Listen to me. You have to marry a man who loves and cherishes you."

Seeing Tenka Uzumaki's shy expression, Senju Fujima assumed she was blushing because he'd brought up marriage. He didn't think much of it and laughed.

"But I want to marry the young master. Is that even possible?"

That was what Tenka Uzumaki was thinking, though a flicker of sadness crossed her eyes.

Senju Fujima had never considered making Tenka Uzumaki his woman. After all, she was part of his own clan, and he believed one shouldn't pursue someone close to home. So he had never thought that far ahead.

After who knew how long, the two of them finally arrived at the school gates.