Kushina's eyes flickered.
"Relax. There aren't any Anbu Ninja around."
"You don't need to say something like that so loudly just to cover it up. Nobody's listening in."
"You little brat—"
A sharp smack rang out.
Kushina slapped Chiba on the back of the head, nearly knocking him out cold.
"That wasn't a cover-up. I really have been fed up with them for a long time."
"They're always so timid."
"Even though there's news that a Jinchuriki is active on the Kumogakure front, they still insist on keeping me cooped up in Konoha."
"Who knows how many people have died on the front lines because of that?"
"And besides, didn't I tell you? I have a lot of faith in you."
"I really do want to resolve the problems between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan."
Chapter 56
Kushina Uzumaki wasn't just saying it. She really meant it.
She was following Minato's example, hoping to resolve the Uchiha Clan's problems in her own way.
Though, from Chiba's perspective, her approach was a little too aggressive.
Still, that was how she did things.
After all, she hadn't earned the title "Bloody Habanero" for nothing.
She wanted to truly help her husband fulfill his duties as Hokage.
She had never doubted who would become the Fourth Hokage.
The fact that she, a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, could marry Namikaze Minato was proof enough.
Nor did she need to worry that her actions might affect Minato's chances of becoming the Fourth Hokage. Given the current situation, unless Minato died, nobody else could become Fourth Hokage.
"Clan Leader Fugaku, no matter what, I want the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha to be resolved during my husband's term."
Kushina didn't hide her intentions.
She often visited the Uchiha Clan, and naturally, she went most often to her best friend's home.
Kushina knew her friend's husband well.
And she knew the Uchiha Clan, too.
They were nothing like the unapproachable people other clans in the village made them out to be.
The Uchiha were far friendlier and more approachable than anyone imagined.
In truth, before this, Kushina hadn't understood much about the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha.
After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen had been willing to support Minato's rise to power, and he had also agreed to take on an Uchiha as his student.
It was only after her recent meeting with Chiba, and after seeing the clash between Chiba and Sarutobi Hiruzen at the memorial, that Kushina realized something.
The relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha wasn't as simple as she had thought.
Fugaku merely shook his head.
"I don't think it'll be that simple!"
"I agree," Chiba chimed in.
Kushina looked helpless.
"You two have so little faith in our Minato?"
"It's not a question of whether we have faith in him—"
Chiba didn't know how to explain it.
The problems between Konoha and the Uchiha had been there since the village was founded.
They had lasted through the Third Hokage's rule, for more than forty years.
Time was a terrifying thing.
The higher-ups' hostility toward the Uchiha had become so routine that the other clans took it for granted.
Over time, the other clans had even formed a fixed impression of the Uchiha.
And that impression couldn't be changed in a short time.
More importantly—
Even if Namikaze Minato became Hokage, how much say would he have?
Even if he wanted to change things, he might be powerless.
The political battlefield was even crueler than a real one.
Just then, Itachi, standing beside Fugaku, tugged at his father's sleeve.
"What is it, Itachi?"
"Is the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha really that bad?"
Fugaku smiled.
"Itachi, at least it hasn't reached the worst point yet."
"The Uchiha are still part of Konoha."
"Itachi, I want to ask you something."
Chiba paused, then spoke up. As a friend, he felt he had to ask.
"What is it, Chiba?"
"If one day... the Uchiha turned against the village, who would you point the blade in your hand at?"
Itachi froze.
Chiba had suddenly forced a choice on him.
The village or the Uchiha?
It was the choice he would face years later in the original story, but Chiba had brought it up several years early.
So, what choice would the young Itachi make?
But before Itachi could answer—
Kushina slapped Chiba on the back of the head.
"You little brat, why would you ask my nephew such a ridiculous question?"
Kushina shot Chiba a glare.
Chiba didn't answer. He only spoke quietly.
"You don't understand, Kushina. If your friend were trapped in the depths of darkness, would you try to pull him out?"
"Of course."
"So, your answer is—?"
Chiba looked straight at Itachi.
Seeing how serious Chiba was, Itachi fell silent.
Chiba was always saying profound things that kept him thinking for a long time.
But this time seemed different.
Itachi drew a deep breath, then slowly let it out.
"Chiba, are you willing to trust me?"
"As your friend, no matter what happens, I'll stand by your side."
Hearing that answer, Chiba paused.
"I see... I understand."
"So, Aunt Kushina."
Itachi suddenly looked at Kushina Uzumaki.
"Can I become your student?"
"Oh? Do you want to learn Sealing Jutsu, too?"
"I want to go see the battlefield with Chiba."
At that, Kushina gave Chiba a strange look, then looked at Itachi.
Her expression was fascinating.
"You two... something's not right here."
"But if you want to come, I don't mind. The village has always been pretty lax about assigning me duties. The two of you could probably make a good team!"
Itachi smiled, his face bright with happiness.
It had been a long time since he'd smiled like that.
"I can team up with Chiba again."
Just then, Chiba quietly moved beside Itachi and whispered.
"Itachi, do you know what I meant by 'the depths of darkness'?"
"I told you, didn't I? Your weakness is that you think too much."
"When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back at you. You can look, but don't stare for too long."
Another cryptic remark.
But this time, Itachi seemed to understand.
It was Chiba's answer to Itachi's clumsy reply.
In the end, Itachi hadn't chosen between the village and the Uchiha.
Instead, he had handed the choice to Chiba.
And yet Itachi smiled again.
"It's all right."
"Because when that time comes, Chiba... you'll pull me out."
The Itachi of this moment was startlingly pure.
Chapter 57
"Are you confident about the graduation exam in three days?"
Uchiha Fugaku and Itachi left first.
Kushina should have taken Chiba as her student first, yet Itachi had beaten him to it and become her student instead.