Mito personally pushed two freshly brewed cups of tea in front of Uchiha Ling and Kushina.
"Thank you, Lady Mito." Uchiha Ling accepted the teacup with both hands, his fingertips feeling its just-right warmth. He didn't drink right away, instead inclining his head in thanks. His manners were impeccable.
Mito smiled faintly. Her gaze remained gentle, yet seemed able to see through appearances. "Kushina is a straightforward child, and she has quite a temper. I'm glad she's made a true friend at school, especially one from the Uchiha Clan."
Her words seemed to carry a deeper meaning.
Uchiha Ling's thoughts stirred. He knew the real topic might be coming.
He maintained a respectful posture and didn't rush to answer, simply listening in silence.
"Little Uchiha," Mito said, taking a small sip of tea. Her tone was as casual as if they were chatting about everyday matters, though her words soon grew more probing. "What do you think of Konoha?"
Here it came.
One of the key questions.
Uchiha Ling knew his answer was crucial.
This wasn't just a response to an old woman. It was a statement to one of Konoha's highest-ranking figures, to the Senju, and to a witness to the village's history.
Uchiha Ling paused briefly to gather his thoughts. Rather than reciting some textbook slogan, he spoke in a way that suited his age, yet carried a hint of gravity:
"Konoha is both a home and a fortress.
"It protects those of us who live here, and carries the dreams and sacrifices of countless predecessors.
"It's the place in the Shinobi World that comes closest to the idea of 'peace,' though that peace isn't absolute. Each of us must protect and strengthen it."
A trace of approval flickered in Mito's eyes, so faint it was almost imperceptible. She set down her teacup, her gaze seeming to drift into the distance. "Dreams and sacrifices... Yes. So much was given to establish this village.
"My husband, Hashirama Senju, dreamed above all of creating a world where children wouldn't have to go to war.
"He and your ancestor, Madara Uchiha, once fought side by side to make that dream come true."
At the mention of Madara Uchiha, the air in the tearoom seemed to still for a moment.
Kushina looked nervously at her grandmother, then at Uchiha Ling.
This was one of the most sensitive topics in Konoha's history.
Uchiha Ling felt a hint of pressure, but his expression didn't change.
"Yes." Uchiha Ling nodded, his voice steady.
"The records kept by my clan and the village's public historical accounts view that period differently. But no matter what, I believe the First and our ancestor Madara both wanted what was best for their clansmen and the future of the world. They simply ended up choosing different paths."
Mito looked at him intently. "That's a clear-eyed way of looking at it. Differences in the paths people take often stem from broken trust and a failure to communicate.
"Until the very end, Hashirama still regarded Madara as his closest friend and brother."
She sighed softly, her sigh filled with the weight of time and a hint of regret. "The Uchiha and the Senju were once sworn enemies. Yet, because of two men's dreams, they joined hands to establish Konoha.
"That hard-won alliance is the village's foundation.
"Yet over the years, the Uchiha Clan seems to have grown increasingly distant from the village's core."
At last, the conversation had reached its heart, and its most sensitive part—the divide between the Uchiha and the village.
Uchiha Ling's heart beat a little faster. He knew this was the real reason Mito had invited him today.
She wanted to assess where this 'different Uchiha' stood with the village, and what the future might hold for the Uchiha Clan.
He straightened up, his expression utterly serious. "Lady Mito, please forgive me for speaking frankly.
"The clan district's location and the Police Force's duties are circumstances shaped by history. The village leadership may have had its reasons, and perhaps the Uchiha themselves also bear some responsibility for failing to integrate better, by placing too much emphasis on bloodline and strength."
"But," he continued, his dark eyes shining with sincerity,
"I believe the Uchiha are an indispensable part of Konoha.
"The Sharingan exists to protect what matters, and Konoha is what matters most and deserves our protection.
"The clan's honor and the village's prosperity shouldn't be opposing choices. The village our ancestors joined hands to build shouldn't be allowed to develop an irreparable rift in the hands of their descendants."
Kushina listened, absorbed. She didn't fully understand all the political implications, but she could feel the sincerity and resolve in Uchiha Ling's words.
Mito listened quietly, wearing that same gentle smile, her true thoughts impossible to read. When Uchiha Ling finished, a brief silence settled over the tearoom.
After a long while, Mito finally spoke, her gaze especially profound. "Protecting what matters and finding a path to shared prosperity. That's a good idea.
"It's an ambitious goal. Child, do you know how difficult that path will be?
"You may face pressure from within your own clan, and you may find it difficult to earn the village leadership's complete trust."
"I know." Uchiha Ling answered without hesitation, his gaze unwavering.
"But even the hardest path needs someone to walk it. If we give up because it's difficult, the rift will only grow wider.
"I believe that as long as we're heading in the right direction, and keep communicating and proving ourselves, change will eventually come. At the very least, I'll do everything I can to try."
As Mito watched him, the scrutiny in her eyes gradually gave way to a complex emotion—a mixture of admiration and feeling.
She nodded slightly. "You have good spirit. Konoha's future needs young people with strength, open hearts, and foresight.
"If Hashirama and Tobirama could see a younger generation like this, I'm sure they'd be pleased."
Her words were almost an endorsement of Uchiha Ling's beliefs and ambitions.
Just then, Kushina returned with a plate of delicate sweets. The conversation grew much lighter after that.
Mito asked about amusing things at school, and Uchiha Ling obligingly told a few harmless jokes. They made Kushina laugh out loud, while Mito kept smiling warmly.
After sitting together for a while longer, Uchiha Ling decided it was about time and rose to take his leave.
Mito didn't try to keep him there. She simply said to Kushina, "Kushina, go see Ling out."
"Yes, Grandma."
Once they left the quiet residence and returned to the bustling street, Uchiha Ling finally felt the invisible pressure begin to fade.
Uchiha Ling took a deep breath without thinking.
"How was it? My grandma's very kind, isn't she?" Kushina asked proudly, seeming pleased that her grandmother had made a good impression on her friend.
"Yes. Lady Mito is a great ninja worthy of respect," Uchiha Ling said sincerely.
His brief meeting with Mito Uzumaki had given him a deep appreciation for the bearing and wisdom of a 'Hokage.'
"Right?" Kushina smiled even more brightly. "Grandma seems to like you too! She hardly ever talks that much."
Uchiha Ling smiled but didn't reply.
Perhaps she did like him a little, but more than that, she had been scrutinizing, assessing, and investing in him.
Mito Uzumaki had seen a possibility in him—a possibility that he might change the relationship between the Uchiha and the village.
And her conversation with him today had been both a subtle suggestion and a form of tacit support. At the very least, she had allowed Kushina to associate with him.
That was undoubtedly an important step in Uchiha Ling's plans for the future.
Gaining Mito Uzumaki's initial approval meant that he had, to some extent, gained the tacit acceptance of the Senju's lingering influence. It also laid a small stepping-stone for his future access to the highest levels of the village's power.
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