The Red-Haired Girl

"Tsunade, you're bullying Genma again."

Uzumaki Mito's gentle voice came from behind them, and she lightly tapped Tsunade on the head.

Tsunade ducked her head and obediently let go of Senju Genma.

Senju Genma reluctantly pulled away from Tsunade and noticed a red-haired little girl standing beside Uzumaki Mito.

"Lady Mito, who is this?"

"Let me introduce you. This child is Uzumaki Kushina. Kushina, this is Tsunade and Genma. Genma is older than you."

Uzumaki Kushina said timidly, "Big Sister Tsunade, Big Brother Genma."

Hearing the adorable child call him big brother, Senju Genma was delighted. He reached out and patted her little head.

Uzumaki Kushina gazed at Senju Genma's handsome face and shyly lowered her head.

"Uzumaki... Kushina?! Uzumaki!!"

Tsunade looked at Kushina as though she had realized something.

She wasn't a child. She was already twenty years old, a student of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, and one of Konoha's Jonin despite her young age. She wasn't ignorant of the world; she knew exactly what this child's arrival meant.

"Grandma, are you going to..." Tsunade didn't finish before Mito raised a hand to stop her.

Hearing Tsunade's words, Senju Genma also recalled the memories from his previous life.

Uzumaki Kushina was going to be the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, wasn't she?

And Uzumaki Mito was the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. For a Jinchuriki, having the Tailed Beast extracted meant death.

Senju Genma couldn't help feeling a little sad. Though they weren't related by blood, Uzumaki Mito's affection for him all these years had been genuine.

His eyes turned red, and the two Tomoe in them quickly became Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

"Hey! Your Sharingan's showing!" Tsunade jabbed Senju Genma in the side with her elbow.

"Ow! I know, I'll put it away. Don't go poking me! This organ is very important to me." Senju Genma held his side and concealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Uzumaki Mito looked at them affectionately and said gently, "Tsunade, don't dwell on it. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all part of life. I'll be with you for a few more years yet!"

"And Genma, you're a clever and talented child. You guessed what was happening after hearing Tsunade say just a couple of words, but you still need to learn to control your emotions."

"I told you a year ago: until you have absolute strength, it's best not to reveal your eyes in front of anyone but us. That goes for the other clan members, too."

"Also, from now on, the two of you will look after this child. Don't bully her!"

"We understand!" Senju Genma and Tsunade quickly replied.

That night.

Senju Genma and Tsunade led Uzumaki Kushina away from the Senju Clan Head Residence and back to their cozy little home.

Uzumaki Mito had specifically set aside this little house in the clan grounds for Tsunade and Senju Genma to live in. As for what Uzumaki Mito had in mind, Senju Genma honestly had no idea.

After settling Uzumaki Kushina in the spare room, the two returned to their own room to get some rest.

Senju Genma sat in front of the vanity, looking at the Sharingan reflected in the mirror.

His Sharingan had awakened in his third year after arriving in this world. After three years, he'd only managed to reach Two-Tomoe Sharingan. He hadn't expected that a moment of excitement over something Tsunade said would awaken his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

He thought it was probably because the Sage Body and Sage Eye complemented each other, making the Sharingan easier to evolve.

Senju Genma sensed his chakra.

There was no denying that the Sage Body and Sage Eye granted by the system were extremely powerful, even though they were both growth-type abilities.

In just six years, Senju Genma's physical strength and chakra reserves had already surpassed those of the clan's Chunin. However, he hadn't learned many ninjutsu. He only knew the basic Three Basic Jutsu, Wood Clone, Wood Substitution, and the basic Wood Release technique Wood Transformation, and he lacked combat experience, so his fighting ability was poor.

What's more, he'd noticed that as his Sage Body continued to grow, the rate at which his physical strength and chakra increased was accelerating.

"Today's been quite a haul." Senju Genma touched the corner of his eye.

Watching Genma gaze at himself in the mirror, Tsunade knew he was thinking about his Sharingan. She teased him softly, "I wonder which ancestor was capable enough to lure someone from the Uchiha into our Senju Clan. Good thing Great-Uncle Second isn't here, or you'd be in trouble."

Genma knew Tsunade was deliberately trying to change the subject so he wouldn't feel conflicted about having the Sharingan despite being a member of the Senju Clan. So he said, "Let's go to sleep!"

Six months later.

Autumn had arrived in the Land of Fire, and the breeze brought a faint chill.

Senju Genma and Uzumaki Kushina stood in the training ground in the Senju Clan Grounds.

Senju Genma had changed out of the white men's kimono that marked him as the young clan head, putting on a black combat outfit for a young ninja instead.

Uzumaki Kushina wore a combat outfit too, standing opposite him with her red hair tied into a ponytail with a ribbon.

The two faced off in the training ground, each holding a wooden Kunai. Then their figures began to dart rapidly past one another.

Clack! Clack!

The sound of wooden Kunai striking one another rang across the training ground.

Their movements were so fast that they seemed far too skilled for children their age.

At the edge of the training ground, a group of Senju children watched. Most were three or four years old, and they shouted, "Go, Big Sister Kushina!"

Senju Genma pursed his lips, feeling a little put out.

These little brats were so young, yet already captivated by a pretty face. He was the young clan head of the Senju Clan, after all.

Senju Genma pondered for a moment, then the two continued their Taijutsu match.

Uzumaki Kushina soon fell behind. Out of breath, she crouched on the ground, panting.

Senju Genma put away his Kunai and helped her up, asking with concern, "Are you all right?"

Feeling Senju Genma's body against hers, Uzumaki Kushina blushed and loudly answered, "I'm fine!"

Standing beside them, Tsunade applauded.

"Good! That's the spirit. Kushina has made great progress over these six months of training!"

She turned to Senju Genma and raised her fist.

"Genma, what's wrong with you? Didn't I tell you to hold back? You can't bully girls!"

"How did I bully her? I was already doing my best to hold back!" Senju Genma protested.

He was only helping Kushina train so she wouldn't get bullied when she was out and about. They weren't fighting to the death, and besides, Kushina was so adorable—of course he wasn't going to go all out.