"No, Mikoto, you came at just the right time!" Bai Lin said, holding Kushina in one arm and reaching out to invite Uchiha Mikoto closer.
"Lin, you're such a flirt. Your feelings for me aren't pure anymore."
"I'm going to create a world where only..." Uchiha Mikoto began coldly, about to say something that would sever their relationship.
"Mikoto, don't you want the Uchiha Clan to become a full part of Konoha?"
"I'm working hard to make that happen. Do you want all my efforts to go to waste?" Bai Lin said with unwavering conviction.
"I haven't seen you working toward that. All I've seen is your womanizing."
"If that's what you call 'working hard,' then the Uchiha have no need for this kind of integration!"
Uchiha Mikoto's voice was as cold as ice. The Scarlet Tomoe spun frantically in her pupils, as if they might evolve at any moment.
"Mikoto, you've been by my side for so long. Don't you know what kind of person I am?"
"Even if I've wronged heaven and earth, I've never once thought of wronging you."
"Take a good look at what's around you, and think it through. What you see with your eyes isn't necessarily the truth." Bai Lin's voice was steady and strong, his words heartfelt.
Around me?
What's around me?
Uchiha Mikoto's scarlet Sharingan swept across the surroundings. She saw only a forest encircling them, a table in the middle, Tsunade with her fists clenched, and Kushina in Bai Lin's arms.
What was there?
What exactly was Lin trying to say?
What could possibly help the Uchiha become a full part of Konoha?
Tsunade? Kushina?
The Senju? The Uzumaki?
Oh, I get it. If the Senju, the Uzumaki, the Uchiha, and even more clans were truly bound together around one person, forming an unbreakable bond—
If they were all part of one another, then the Uchiha could finally shed the label of "outsiders" and truly become part of Konoha!
"Mikoto, neither your Uchiha Clan nor the Hyuga Clan has ever truly become part of Konoha. I'm willing to sacrifice my own reputation and serve as a bridge between Konoha's clans."
"Then our children will share the closest of blood ties. They won't be separated by clan—only connected by their bonds with one another!"
"Over time, they'll gradually replace the stubborn old clans, forming new clans of their own, all descended from the same person and bound together like interlocking horns."
"Then the Uchiha will be Konoha, and Konoha will be home to every clan!"
He saw the light of understanding gradually return to Mikoto's eyes and continued, "Our bloodlines will weave together like a net, and our bonds will come together like a wall. The next generation's connections will make every stubborn prejudice and narrow clan boundary vanish!"
Uchiha Mikoto's Sharingan finally stopped spinning. The scarlet faded, leaving only the glimmer of tears.
So he wasn't a flirt. He was trying to build a bridge of shared blood between the clans in his own way.
He would use the next generation's bonds to dissolve the divisions of the previous one.
What a grand and tragic sacrifice!
Even if it meant ruining his reputation and bearing the blame for being a flirt, he had never forgotten what he'd promised her.
Lin truly was one of the rightful inheritors of the Will of Fire.
At that realization, Uchiha Mikoto forgot all about his womanizing and threw herself into Bai Lin's arms, beside herself with emotion.
Tsunade was stunned by the scene. She thought of how her second grandfather had dispersed most of the Senju clansmen outside her father's branch, even making them change their surnames and blend into the civilian population.
Even that hadn't erased the divide between Konoha's clans and its civilians. The only thing that had disappeared was her own Senju Clan.
The other clans still guarded their own territories and customs. The Hyuga's Caged Bird, the Uchiha's isolation, the civilians' awe of the great clans... These invisible walls had never truly vanished.
That showed her second grandfather's policy hadn't been the right one. Maybe it wasn't impossible for someone to succeed where he'd failed.
Tsunade pursed her lips, her thoughts unreadable.
Bai Lin, Kushina, Uchiha Mikoto, and Tsunade sat cross-legged on the ground.
The sun wasn't scorching today. If anything, it was pleasantly warm.
Bai Lin had long since made a plan for getting the women to coexist peacefully. He only needed to work with each of their weaknesses to smooth things over.
Kushina thought she was the last surviving member of the Uzumaki Clan. Once she heard that other clan members had survived—and considering that he was the person she relied on most here—she would be quick to forgive his womanizing.
Mikoto belonged to the Uchiha Clan, and the Sharingan was the mirror of the soul, bearing love, hatred, anger, and obsession. Once she fell into darkness, it would be hard for her to escape.
Her dream was for Bai Lin to help the Uchiha become part of Konoha. All he had to do was let her see that he was working toward it. That extreme emotion could both develop her Sharingan and help her find peace within herself, making her willing to accept everything Bai Lin did.
Tsunade was already mature and clear-minded. It would be hard to win her over in a short time, so he could only gradually change her opinion through small gestures.
Bai Lin wasn't some shut-in who'd blush just because someone touched his hand, then secretly flirt with someone else, manufacture a conflict, and end up with a harem out of desperation.
He'd already rehearsed the situation in his mind. Even if a few things went wrong, they wouldn't affect his plan.
"From now on, you're all my students. The Ninjutsu I specialize in isn't suitable for most people to learn; it requires an exceptionally high level of talent. I probably won't be able to teach you much in that area."
"But I can help you with anything else you need. Remember, when you're out and about, don't make me look bad. Understand?"
Tsunade spoke slowly, looking a little unhappy.
As she looked at the three of them, all beaming with joy, she felt as if her team was becoming rather improper.
"I'm Tsunade. There's no need to say anything about my strength. I specialize in Medical Ninjutsu."
"I look forward to working with you."
After finishing, Tsunade nodded toward Bai Lin, indicating that it was his turn to introduce himself.
"There's not much else to say. You all know me already."
"I don't need to tell you what foods I like, either. If someone I like makes it for me, I'll think it tastes good no matter how awful it is."
"I don't need to tell you who I like, either. She's close at hand, yet far away. A sensible woman should know to decide for herself whether she fits the bill."
"My dream..."
The three women reacted in different ways, but all blushed at his words.
Kushina was the most straightforward. She glared at him, her face red, though she couldn't hide the happiness in her eyes. Clutching the hem of her clothes, she muttered, "Who, who's going to cook for you... But if you dare say it tastes bad, I'll..."
She threatened him, but the corners of her mouth kept twitching upward.
Mikoto lowered her eyes, her long lashes fluttering softly. "Am... am I really that bad at cooking? Why else would you say 'no matter how awful it is'?"
"Brat!" Tsunade gave a light cough, but held back.
"My dream is world peace!" Bai Lin stood up and shouted.
"I've even come up with a slogan:"
"Since you've asked so sincerely,"
"I'll answer you with great mercy,"
"To prevent the world from being destroyed,"
"To protect the peace of the world,"
"To uphold love and justice's evil—no, wait, goodness,"
"We're charming and captivating heroes!"
"I've assigned a line to each of you," Bai Lin said excitedly, clapping his hands as he pointed to the three of them and handed out their lines. His eyes sparkled.
The three women were speechless. Even Kushina couldn't help punching him with a dark look on her face. Those lines were shameless beyond belief.
"No! Absolutely not!" X3.
The three voices rang out in unison, brimming with resistance. They looked at Bai Lin as if to say, "Have you lost your mind?"
Kushina rushed forward and clapped a hand over his mouth. Her red hair nearly stood on end. "Stupid Lin! How did you even come up with lines that embarrassing? If people hear about this, how am I ever supposed to show my face again?"
Mikoto shook her head repeatedly, her gentle features full of refusal. "I thought Might Duy was already invincible, but I never expected you to..."
Tsunade simply raised her hand and rapped Bai Lin on the head. It was no gentle tap. "Brat! Instead of doing anything useful, you're thinking up all this nonsense! If you say anything that stupid again, I'll sew your mouth shut."
"Fine. Next, Kushina!" Tsunade said coolly, regaining her composure.
"I'm Kushina Uzumaki. The person I like most is—hehehe. My favorite food? Whatever Big Brother Lin likes!"
"My dream is to live with Big Brother Lin, and... to find the surviving members of my clan and help the Uzumaki Clan flourish again!"
Kushina said resolutely.