The Yellow Flash

"How are things with Kurama, Kushina?"

"Not bad. If that stinky fox cooperates, I can enter Nine-Tails Chakra Mode. That state is terrifyingly powerful." Kushina said happily, "That old geezer Danzo came by with a group of people earlier and said the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki should be under the village's control and not be allowed to go wherever she pleased."

"I could feel the malice in his heart, so I teamed up with the stinky fox and turned into a streak of golden light. In no time, I sent all those Root ninja running with their tails between their legs."

"After seeing that I could use the Nine-Tails' power reliably, that old geezer Sarutobi didn't say much. He just told me I couldn't leave the village. Haha! He also said I'd far surpassed an ordinary jonin and gave me a title—the Yellow Flash. I'm amazing, right?"

"Yellow Flash? Wait, if you're the 'Yellow Flash,' then Minato..." Genichi couldn't help blurting out.

"What's that effeminate guy got to do with anything? Oh, speaking of Minato Namikaze, he's come by several times asking about you. It seems he's learned that 'Flying Thunder God Technique' thing and wants to compete with you. He's always going on about, 'I've finally caught up with you, Genichi.'"

Because of her first impression of Minato when they were children, Kushina had called him an effeminate guy ever since.

"Caught up with me? Maybe." Feeling the abundant power within him, Genichi held his index finger and thumb almost together in front of his eyes and studied them carefully, as if they contained a miniature universe. Then he said, "Minato and I are only this far apart now."

Hearing that, Hana, who didn't know the reference, couldn't help rolling her eyes at Genichi.

In his last letter, he'd said things like, "My strength is enough to convince the Hyuga clan, so don't rush. We'll talk about breaking the Caged Bird Seal when I get back." He'd also said, "Aside from Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, no one in the world can match me. Life is as lonely as snow; it's cold at the top." And, "Even after suppressing the Nine Tailed Beasts with one hand and shouldering all of Konoha, I remain invincible in the Ninja World."

And now, all of a sudden, he was being so humble.

Hana, whose Byakugan meant it was impossible to miss her eye roll, heard Genichi say, "Actually, I've already got a few ideas about the 'Caged Bird.' Have you ever heard of the Tenseigan?"

Hana and Kushina looked completely bewildered. At this point in history, probably only Genichi and the uncertainly informed Black Zetsu knew about the Tenseigan on the Ninja World's mainland.

"The Rinnegan, Sharingan, and Byakugan are known as the Ninja World's three great dōjutsu. In practice, the Byakugan is geared toward support and utility, making it far inferior to the Sharingan, let alone the legendary Rinnegan."

"But there's a reason they're grouped together. You've heard of the White Snake Sage, right? It's lived for over a thousand years. I learned from it that the Sage of Six Paths' brother—the ancestor of the Hyuga clan—possessed an evolved form of the Byakugan: the Tenseigan."

"The Caged Bird can control the Byakugan, but compared to the Tenseigan, it's probably nothing."

It was like listening to a myth. The Sage of Six Paths had really existed? And he had a brother? Hana and Kushina exchanged disbelieving looks.

"I think that's true. If you had the old man's and his brother's power, that tiny seal could be broken with a flick of the wrist." Now that Kurama and Kushina had established a basic level of trust, he could usually sense what was happening outside and speak through his Jinchūriki.

But Kurama had only heard the Sage of Six Paths mention his brother. By the time the Tailed Beasts were born, Hamura Otsutsuki had already gone to the moon to be with their mother.

"In a couple of years, I'll take you to the moon." As he considered the plan in his mind, Genichi promised Hana.

Some feelings developed gradually. At first, Genichi had merely felt sorry for Hana, trapped by the "Caged Bird Seal," and wanted to cultivate her as a medical ninja who could assist him.

But after so many years together, they had slowly come to understand each other. When Genichi was young and still unpracticed at strengthening his body with Lightning Release, he often got hurt. Hana had always cared for him tenderly, dressing his wounds with meticulous care.

Now only the "Curse Mark" stood between them, keeping them from expressing their feelings openly.

"Wherever we go, we'll go together. This time, Genichi, don't even think about leaving us behind." Mikoto Uchiha emerged from the kitchen, where she'd been bustling away.

If you wanted to win a man's heart, you first had to win his stomach. Mikoto had worked hard to hone her cooking since childhood, hoping to prepare a lavish feast to welcome Genichi home.

Looking at the sumptuous feast before him and the three beautiful girls beside it, Genichi's appetite stirred. During the past two years of training in Ryūchi Cave, the three Snake Princesses had prepared food with care, but they weren't actually human, and their cooking couldn't quite satisfy him.

"Grandpa's missed you terribly these past few years, Genichi. When you have time, go visit him at the Uchiha Clan Compound."

"I'll go when I can. Is the old man still in good health?"

"He's got more and more energy these days. He hadn't trained in years, but recently, for some reason, he's gotten enthusiastic about it again." Mikoto asked curiously, "What was that medicine you had Lord Orochimaru send over? How did it work so well?"

"That? It's a secret. I'll tell you when I become Hokage."

"You want to become Hokage, Genichi? Then Grandpa and I will definitely support you. But it seems Clan Head Fugaku also wants to run for Fourth Hokage, and most of the clan members will probably support him." Mikoto looked both happy and worried.

"Don't worry. The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is the village's secret weapon, and I'll support you too, Genichi. And Tsunade—she's been pretty down since the war ended and doesn't seem to want to become Hokage. I'll persuade her to support you as well." After saying this, Kushina seemed to think of something else.

"When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming Konoha's first female Hokage. But if Genichi becomes Hokage, that'd be fine too."

"It's all right, Kushina. Once I become Hokage, you'll be the woman who became Hokage too." Genichi leaned close to Kushina's ear and whispered.

Ninja hearing was incredibly sharp. Even though Genichi had spoken quietly, everyone had probably heard him. At the thought, Kushina bashfully closed her eyes. One hand instinctively found Genichi's waist, pinched it, and twisted.

"Ow!"

Watching the three of them fool around, Hana felt helpless and envious. The "Curse Mark" kept her from letting go of her worries, and the Hyuga Branch Family had little say in the Hokage election. Only then did she speak.

"Speaking of Hokage, White Fang was recently awarded the Hokage Half-Sleeve. He might be a tough competitor."

"No, it'll probably be hard for him to become Hokage." Genichi shook his head. In the original story, Hatake Sakumo had been hounded to death by rumors. He was probably the kind of ninja with a bit of a samurai's spirit, a combat specialist who had no desire to become Hokage.

"Chefs have their talents, and leaders have theirs. Sakumo is a fairly straightforward ninja. Even if he could abandon a mission without punishment after encountering the Konoha White Fang, earning him that name, some people among the village's leadership probably wouldn't trust him. They wouldn't let him become Hokage."

"Enough about Hokage. It's too soon to talk about that. Things are stirring up again in the Ninja World, and the next war probably won't be far off." Genichi thought that Konoha's White Fang had still killed Sasori's parents, so Sasori would probably assassinate the Third Kazekage after all, setting the Third Shinobi World War in motion.

"Another war? The last one only ended a few years ago." No one liked war, and the thought of it worried them all.

"This time, I won't stay hidden in the village by myself. We'll fight side by side. I can help you too, Genichi." Kushina spoke with determination, as though she'd thought of something.

"Then we'll show the other villages what our four-person, blood-pumping combo can do." Genichi replied, then suddenly remembered seeing an advertisement on the commercial street on his way into the village for a newly opened mixed-bathing hot spring.

"Uh... does everyone have plans tonight? I heard a hot spring just opened on the commercial street. How about we go soak and relax?"

At the thought of the scene he imagined, Genichi felt a rush of excitement.

"A hot spring? Hmm..." Hearing the suggestion that they all go together, the others grew bashful and fell silent.

"Haha, well, we can talk about it another time." No one answered, and Genichi felt awkward, so the idea was dropped.

It wasn't that they wouldn't go. The time just wasn't right.