First Hot Spring Plan

The Uchiha clan has been exceptionally lively lately.

Ever since various rumors began circulating a while ago, those members of the Police Force who had long felt suppressed by the village's upper echelons have been beaming with joy, occasionally even laughing out loud while patrolling the streets.

The villagers have also noticed that the Police Force members are no longer as cold and detached as they used to be; they wear smiles on their faces, and even when people gossip about the dark secrets of the village's big shots in private, the officers don't interfere at all, sometimes even wanting to join in.

"Genichi, you've come." Kohaku looked at Genichi, who had come to find his granddaughter, and nodded with a smile.

Genichi: "Old man, how has your health been lately?"

"Truly excellent, I feel more energetic by the day, as if I've returned to my youth. Even my Sharingan vision is clearer than ever, and my ocular power is far beyond what it was back then! What exactly was that solution from last time? Are there any more? Remember to prepare a portion for Mikoto as well." Reflecting on his physical condition, Uchiha Kohaku found it all incredible.

"It's nothing, as long as it's useful. As for Mikoto, don't worry, I will prepare the best for her." Genichi smiled faintly without offering an explanation.

In Genichi's view, suffering injuries and blood loss, then receiving a transfusion to save a life, was perfectly normal. But if he were to introduce the highly erosive Wood Style cells of Hashirama into Mikoto's body, he would always feel uneasy; he planned to arrange it for her only after further deciphering the secrets of Yang Release.

"Yes, Genichi said this serum still has a lot of potential to be developed, and he'll give it to me once he researches the best version." Seeing her grandfather's strength improve step by step, Mikoto felt a bit envious, and the Uchiha clan's innate competitive instinct began to stir.

If the fundamental logic for the Uchiha clan to improve their strength was to cultivate Yin Release to enhance ocular power, then the union of Yin and Yang, which could create all things in the universe, was simply the ultimate means for the Uchiha to elevate their power.

The effectiveness was a matter of course; after all, it was the best product of Orochimaru's research on Hashirama Cells at the time, not comparable to those defective goods used to fob off Danzō.

"Oh, right, have you heard about that matter recently? Do you think it's true?" Kohaku lowered his voice, as if he didn't want to be overheard by others.

Seeing the all-too-familiar opening move for spreading rumors, Genichi's mouth twitched. Recalling the content he had designed himself, he guessed: "Are you talking about Shimura Danzō seizing the Sharingan of the senior Kagami Uchiha? So many years have passed that it's almost impossible to find evidence. Even if it were true, he could claim that Kagami entrusted them to him before he died. I'm afraid it's very difficult to use this point to deal with Danzō."

Regarding the circumstances of Kagami's death, Genichi actually wasn't sure if it was voluntary or forced. Looking at Shisui's later performance, he guessed that Kagami Uchiha was also someone who loved the village; it wasn't impossible that he had chosen to stay behind to cover his comrades and die in the face of danger.

"Hey, I'm not talking about that; it's about that matter concerning Lord Madara!"

"Madara Uchiha?" Genichi was somewhat surprised. After repeatedly recalling and confirming that he had never fabricated any rumors about Madara Uchiha, he asked: "What happened to Madara Uchiha?"

Only then did Kohaku speak mysteriously: "Don't you know yet? The reason for Lord Madara's defection has been found.

Lord Madara and Lord Hashirama actually confessed their feelings to each other long ago and promised to spend their lives together, which is why they set aside the thousand-year feud between the two clans to build Konoha together.

Later, the First Hokage and Lady Mito had offspring and gradually grew cold toward Lord Madara. Trapped by his feelings, Lord Madara defected from the village in a fit of rage.

In the battle at the Valley of the End, Lord Hashirama accidentally killed his beloved, and after returning, he was filled with such grief that he followed him to the grave only a few years later."

Mikoto nodded while listening: "If Genichi had other women, I would also... wait, didn't he already..."

Thinking of this, Mikoto couldn't help but look at Genichi with a resentful gaze.

Genichi, who felt goosebumps from being stared at, felt a bit bewildered and hurriedly stopped Kohaku from continuing: "Ahem, it's all fake! And it's not very good to gossip about the village's elders like this."

Madara Uchiha was still hiding in some cave somewhere; if he heard the rumors about him and Hashirama and got hot-headed enough to storm the village, Genichi wouldn't be afraid, but Konoha would have to start its No. 1 Reconstruction Plan ahead of schedule.

After chatting about some other recent trivialities, as they parted, Mikoto got up to see Genichi out.

For his own—oh, no, to comfort Mikoto, who was inexplicably angry—Genichi said: "Mikoto, I recently built a large hot spring at my place. The scenery is beautiful, and it's very relaxing and comfortable to soak in. Would you like to come and experience it tonight?"

Having not seen each other for two years, her possessiveness toward Genichi gradually overcame her shyness, and seeing that Mikoto was about to nod in agreement:

"Impossible! You brat, don't even think about it." Kohaku, whose body had returned to its peak and whose hearing had become sharp, rushed out: "Genichi, I'm at ease with you and Mikoto, but having said that, some things can only be done after marriage. You wouldn't be thinking of taking advantage of her and not taking responsibility, would you!"

"Haha, how could that be? You've misunderstood." It seemed that Kohaku was an obstacle that couldn't be bypassed before marriage, Genichi thought to himself, then bid farewell and left.

He went to the Konoha Hospital to ask for Hana's opinion, but was rejected on the grounds that she was busy with work.

After graduation, Hana didn't want to return to the Hyuga clan, so Genichi asked Tsunade to find her a job at the Konoha Hospital. Relying on her excellent medical ninjutsu combined with the Byakugan, Hana had stepped up to become the director of the surgical department.

Hiashi, who had just become the head of the Hyuga clan, didn't say anything when he found out, giving face to Genichi and Tsunade. It was good to cultivate an excellent medical ninja; after all, who doesn't get injured or sick? Anyway, with the "Caged Bird" seal, members of the branch family would never betray, nor would they have the ability to do so.

The happy plan to have everyone soak in the hot spring together had failed. Genichi decided to take it one step at a time, carefully planning, beating around the bush, and taking a roundabout approach. At the very least, he had to succeed in inviting Kushina today.

"Kushina, are you there?"

Opening the door, Kushina hopped over happily and gave Genichi a warm hug:

"Genichi, you're finally here. Let me tell you, that stinky fox has been so annoying lately. Ever since you taught it how to play cards last time, it's been clamoring to play constantly."

At this stage, burying himself in hard training didn't have much effect on improving his strength, and with more and more free time in his daily life, Genichi would occasionally bring out entertainment methods from his past life.

"Don't worry about it; it's just bad at the game but loves to play. The cinema recently brought in some new films; would you like to go see one? Just the two of us, and we can grab a meal together in the evening." Looking into Kushina's eyes, Genichi gently stroked her soft red hair with one hand and extended the invitation.

"Okay!" Hearing that it was a date for two, Kushina readily agreed: "Wait for me to change my clothes, it'll be quick."

Before long, Kushina walked out slowly, wearing white open-toed ninja sandals, her long, fair calves showing, and a white dress with scattered pale yellow patterns. Her long red hair shimmered in the sunlight.

Kushina put her hands behind her back, leaned forward slightly, tilted her head up, and asked with a smile: "How is it? Not bad, right? I specifically..."

Genichi stepped forward, half-embracing Kushina, looking into her shy eyes: "Of course, it suits you perfectly. Our Kushina is so cute, you look beautiful in anything."

Time always passes quickly when you are with the person you like, doing the things you like.

After dinner, Genichi feigned a question: "Kushina, I recently thought of a special sealing jutsu. Would you like to come to my place tonight to take a look?"

Kushina remembered that the Eight-Trigrams Seal inside her was a theory proposed by Genichi, and curious about how special this new sealing jutsu was, she nodded in agreement.

Arriving at Genichi's house and seeing the hot spring in the courtyard, Genichi finally revealed his true intentions: "Look, Kushina, this is the hot spring I recently built. Isn't it beautiful? Shall we relax for a while later? You must be tired after walking around all day."

Hearing this, how could Kushina not understand? There was no special sealing jutsu; Genichi was just obsessed with the hot spring soak he had mentioned earlier.

"How much time has passed? It should be soon, she should be arriving shortly." Genichi soaked on the edge of the hot spring, muttering to himself.

After much pestering and coaxing, Kushina had finally agreed, saying only that she needed to go home to get her clothes.

Poor Kushina, completely bewildered by Genichi's honeyed words.

Finally, Kushina arrived at the edge of the hot spring, dressed in a yukata and feeling shy.

"Hurry and get in, it's very comfortable," Genichi urged eagerly upon seeing her.

Giving Genichi a light glare, Kushina slowly took off her yukata, and underneath, she was actually...

She was wearing a light blue one-piece swimsuit! Genichi wailed inwardly.

There were no wild fantasies that followed, nor did anything particularly "delightful" happen.

The two sat together holding hands, soaking in the hot spring while looking up at the sky, where the stars were scattered like glittering gemstones.

"Genichi, it was so good that you were able to catch up to me back then."

"Rest assured, Kushina, I will always protect you."

"If only it could always be this happy in the future."

"The future will only get better, I promise." Genichi looked at Kushina with deep affection: "Kushina, you've been in Konoha for over a decade now. Because of your status as a jinchuriki, you've been trapped in this village for all these years."

"The world outside is vast and wonderful. Once I become Hokage, we'll go see it together."

"Mm~" Kushina gazed back at Genichi with equal tenderness. Gradually, unable to suppress their emotions any longer, they both leaned in, willingly embracing one another.

Genichi lowered his head slightly, looking into Kushina's eyes, which reflected the starlight of the entire sky, making her look breathtakingly beautiful:

"Kushina, you are the last of the Uzumaki Clan in Konoha. Your heart must have been in so much pain all these years. But there are surely many other members of the Uzumaki Clan scattered throughout the Ninja World. When the time comes, I will find them and help you rebuild the Uzumaki Clan."

Breathing in the scent of the girl mixed with the steam, and looking at Kushina's face, which had turned red from the hot spring, and her luscious, delicate lips, Genichi could no longer hold back. He slowly lowered his head, sealing Kushina's response with his own.

If you were to ask what the Nine-Tails was doing at this moment, it was sitting honestly inside the Little Dark Room seal designed by Genichi, daydreaming about the future.

Ever since it watched a movie with Kushina that afternoon, the Nine-Tails, while uninterested in the plot of human films, had keenly realized that this medium could spread the heroic tales of it beating up Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju, and the other Tailed Beasts.

In exchange, it had cleared out to give Genichi and Kushina some private space, and once Genichi became Hokage, he would have to produce a custom movie exclusively for it.

Thinking of the Sage of Six Paths, the Nine-Tails muttered to itself: "It's not like my strength couldn't be improved a little more."