Hokage Building.
Hokage's office.
"Uzumaki Kushina..." he murmured. "Lady Mito doesn't have much time left. In the end, she'll have to become the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
"She must put down roots in Konoha and find people she wants to protect, people she can't bear to leave behind. Only then can she truly become Konoha's shield, instead of merely a vessel for the Tailed Beast."
"If you can become Kushina's bond, then the Nine-Tails' power can truly be used for Konoha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi gazed intently at the scene in the crystal ball, lost in thought.
Konoha's most seasoned peeping tom, Hiruzen Sarutobi often turned his gaze toward the women's baths. But even more than that, he kept an eye on the village's affairs and the talented students at the Ninja Academy.
Today was Kushina's first day at the Ninja Academy. Mito Uzumaki didn't have much time left, and by his estimate, they would have to choose the next 'Nine-Tails Jinchuriki' within a few years at most.
As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Kushina was undoubtedly the best candidate to seal the Nine-Tails.
From time to time, Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Telescope Technique to watch and see whether Kushina could find a bond of her own.
A 'Nine-Tails Jinchuriki' with a bond had something to hold on to.
That would only help, whether in terms of keeping her under control or using her as one of Konoha's trump cards.
And today, he had happened to see Bai Lin display his strength. He couldn't help but be impressed.
Bai Lin had shown very little and hadn't used a single ninjutsu, but his speed alone was already not to be underestimated.
"Bai Lin? A true inheritor of the Will of Fire..." The Third Hokage murmured, lightly tapping his fingers on the desk. "What an interesting boy."
He had been keeping an eye on the boy for a long time. Bai Lin came from a good family, had lived in Konoha since childhood, and was extremely popular among the villagers.
He was upright, steady, and carried himself like a leader in everything he said and did, as though he had been born to stand above others.
If he hadn't failed to show any aptitude for being a ninja, he would undoubtedly have been the best candidate to inherit the Hokage Position.
"The Ninja World is becoming unstable." He gazed out the window, a stormy tension gathering beneath the eaves of the Hokage Building. "Sunagakure and Amegakure are stirring, and Hanzo of the Salamander's ambitions are becoming increasingly clear. After twenty years of recuperation, the other hidden villages are already eyeing the Land of Fire."
"The Ninja World is about to descend into chaos. Konoha has plenty of talented people, but..." The Third Hokage's voice was low and solemn. "Since you possess the Will of Fire and are hiding such strength, don't disappoint me."
"Show me what you're made of, boy. Let me see how much potential you have, whether you can shoulder Konoha's future, and what path you'll carve through the war that's about to come!"
With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a scroll from beside him and wrote Bai Lin's name on it.
What no one else knew was that beside the name he had just written were the names of Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru.
Hiruzen Sarutobi addressed the empty office in a low voice. "Send someone to Bai Lin's place. Once he and Kushina have parted ways, have him come to the Hokage's office."
"Yes, Third-sama." A shadow quietly emerged from the corner and knelt on one knee to receive the order. Then it disappeared into the shadows, as if it had never been there.
Late at night.
Because of the time, Bai Lin hadn't taken Kushina all around Konoha. They had only explored a small area.
The place where Kushina lived was somewhat far from the village, a secluded residence.
Senju?
Did Kushina live with Mito Uzumaki and Tsunade?
Bai Lin walked her to the gate and recognized the residence as Tsunade's home.
"All right, Kushina. It's gotten late, so I'll leave you here."
Bai Lin didn't intend to keep chatting. He turned to leave.
"Um..."
"Can I say a few more things to you?"
Kushina suddenly spoke, her voice soft as a mosquito's buzz. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, and her red hair fell over her shoulders, covering most of her face. "Brother Lin, thank you for helping me out today... and for telling me so much, and showing me around Konoha."
"I just wanted to tell you that today was the happiest day I've had since coming to Konoha."
"Mm. I'm glad you had a good time." Bai Lin nodded. "If there's nothing else, I'll be going."
"Brother Lin..." Seeing him turn to leave, Kushina hurriedly grabbed his sleeve. "Are we friends now?"
Bai Lin paused. At last, it was time for his Will of Phosphorus to come into play.
"Now that you're a villager of Konoha and Minato's classmate, of course we're friends."
Kushina's eyes lit up at once. "R-really? Can I come see you often from now on?"
Bai Lin furrowed his brows, pretending to hesitate.
"Is that not okay?" Seeing him frown, the light in Kushina's eyes immediately dimmed. Her fingers loosened on his sleeve, and her red hair drooped lower. Her voice filled with disappointment. "Am I too much trouble?"
"Longing is the emotion farthest from understanding."
"You and I have only just met. You don't necessarily know what kind of person I am. You probably just think I'm different from the people who bullied and mocked you."
"And to me, helping the villagers is my duty. All I saw in you was a little girl's vulnerability and confusion, so I chose to help you."
"My ambitions are too great for Konoha to contain. My gaze has long since turned toward the entire Ninja World.
Someone like you could never stay by my side through everything. It wouldn't be a good thing for you to get too close to me."
Bai Lin met her gaze without looking away. His eyes were calm, yet piercing.
"I can change!" Kushina said at once, her voice breaking. "I can become stronger, and I can do things for you! As long as you're willing to consider me your friend!"
"I'll become really, really strong—strong enough to walk beside you!"
"Mm." Bai Lin's voice softened. He reached out and gently ruffled her red hair. "In that case, show me a different Kushina."
"When you have nothing to do each day, you can come see me. I want to see you take another step toward me every day."
"Also, your red hair is beautiful."
Kushina's tears finally spilled over, but not from sadness. She was overwhelmed with joy and determination.
She nodded hard, her red hair swaying with the motion like a burning flame. "I will! Brother Lin, just wait! I'll show you that I'm not just a little girl who cries. I'm Kushina of the Uzumaki Clan!"
"Good. I'll be waiting." Bai Lin withdrew his hand and turned to leave, then added, "Remember to train hard. I have a feeling things won't stay peaceful much longer. War is about to begin."
Only after Bai Lin's figure vanished into the night did she open the gate and go inside.
Mito Uzumaki had been waiting beneath the veranda. Seeing Kushina's reddened eyes and determined expression, she paused, then asked with a smile, "Nana, it seems you've found the bond deep in your heart!"
"Grandma!" Kushina threw herself into her arms, her voice choked with emotion but full of excitement. "I want to become stronger! I don't want people to bully me anymore! Please teach me how to get stronger!"
I want to walk side by side with Brother Lin!