Mito Uzumaki's Weariness

Mito Uzumaki felt a pang of sadness at Chiyu's wariness toward her.

She had watched how Chiyu had treated Kushina Uzumaki over the past few years.

Mito Uzumaki was both gratified and helpless.

She was gratified because Chiyu and Kushina Uzumaki shared a very close bond, but helpless because it seemed that neither Chiyu nor Kushina Uzumaki had anyone but each other.

Chiyu had no other friends, and neither did Kushina Uzumaki.

Moreover, when Chiyu had come to see her before, he had already moved house. After Hiruzen Sarutobi visited Chiyu at Konoha Ninja Hospital, the villagers of Konoha had stopped openly mocking and ridiculing him.

So Mito Uzumaki asked Chiyu, "Chiyu, do you feel like you belong in Konoha now?"

Chiyu's answer had been, "Konoha will always be where I belong."

But Mito Uzumaki could clearly sense that Chiyu was lying. At the same time, she could sense... the malice Chiyu held toward Konoha.

Only then did Mito Uzumaki realize that Chiyu had always hated Konoha deep down.

Of course he did.

Because of the Uchiha Clan's persecution, he had nearly died in the womb.

His parents had been forced to defect from Konoha and had even been hunted by the Anbu.

After his parents died and he returned to Konoha, not only had the Uchiha Clan refused to acknowledge him, but he had also endured countless cold stares.

How could he not hate Konoha?

Chiyu had simply been disguising himself all along. Ever since he returned to Konoha at the age of four, he had kept up that disguise, and even now, he was still pretending.

Chiyu had borne pressures and hardships no one his age should have had to bear.

Mito Uzumaki wanted to help Chiyu, but she lacked the power to do so.

On one side were her husband's clansmen; on the other was Konoha, the village her husband had founded.

Mito Uzumaki wanted to tell Chiyu not to hate Konoha.

But she could not bring herself to say it, nor did she have the right to say it to him.

Kushina Uzumaki seemed to sense that something was off and tugged on Mito Uzumaki's sleeve. "Grandma Mito, what's wrong?"

Mito Uzumaki forced a smile. "Nothing, Kushina. I'd like to speak with Chiyu alone for a moment. Is that alright?"

The innocent Kushina Uzumaki immediately agreed. "Of course!"

Just as Kushina Uzumaki was about to leave, Chiyu suddenly grabbed her hand and said to Mito Uzumaki, "Lady Mito, Teacher Orochimaru has given me quite a heavy workload. I'll talk with Kushina for a moment, then take my leave."

Chiyu felt that whatever Mito Uzumaki wanted to discuss with him alone would definitely be troublesome.

He also did not think he had anything to talk about with Mito Uzumaki.

Mito Uzumaki wanted Kushina Uzumaki to become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, so he and Mito Uzumaki were naturally on opposing sides.

No matter how carefree Kushina Uzumaki was, she had now noticed that something seemed to be wrong between Chiyu and Mito Uzumaki.

Caught in the middle, Kushina Uzumaki looked troubled. "Chiyu... Grandma Mito..."

Mito Uzumaki sighed. "Chiyu, I'm not asking to speak with you alone as a member of Konoha. I'm asking as Kushina's elder. Is that not alright either?"

Chiyu frowned slightly and glanced at Kushina Uzumaki.

Seeing Kushina Uzumaki's troubled expression, Chiyu's frown deepened.

After releasing Kushina Uzumaki's hand, Chiyu said, "I understand. Kushina, go wait outside for me. I'll finish speaking with Lady Mito soon and come find you."

After Kushina Uzumaki left, Chiyu looked at Mito Uzumaki and asked, "Lady Mito, what did you wish to discuss with me?"

Mito Uzumaki said gently, "Chiyu, you are a member of my husband's clan. In a sense, I am one of your elders."

Chiyu lowered his head slightly, his voice still distant. "Lady Mito, I do not have a surname."

Mito Uzumaki gave a bitter smile.

No surname... Did he not acknowledge himself as a descendant of the Senju Clan either...?

Mito Uzumaki shook her head helplessly, then said, "Chiyu, I can rest easy leaving Kushina to you in the future..."

Hearing Mito Uzumaki's words, Chiyu raised his head and looked at her again.

The corners of Mito Uzumaki's bitter smile curved upward slightly. It seemed only Kushina Uzumaki could make Chiyu reveal his true feelings. Still, that also showed just how important Kushina Uzumaki was to him.

Mito Uzumaki continued, "Nearly all of us in the Uzumaki Clan possess special constitutions. We are born with immense Chakra and powerful vitality. What I'm about to tell you is one of Konoha's secrets..."

Just as Mito Uzumaki was about to continue, she suddenly sensed the increasingly intense malice rising from Chiyu.

Although Chiyu's expression did not change at all, Mito Uzumaki was certain that his malice was entirely directed at her.

Mito Uzumaki did not understand at all. If Chiyu felt malice toward her after she revealed what she was about to say, she could understand.

But she had not said anything yet. Why had Chiyu suddenly developed such intense malice toward her?

Mito Uzumaki's gaze sharpened.

Could it be... that Chiyu knew something?

Of course Chiyu knew.

Mito Uzumaki had first mentioned the Uzumaki Clan's constitution, then said it was one of Konoha's secrets.

What she was going to tell him next was, in all likelihood, about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Chiyu noticed Mito Uzumaki's scrutinizing gaze.

Chiyu's heart skipped a beat. Had Mito Uzumaki noticed something?

That should not have been possible. He had always been quite good at managing his expressions.

Chiyu suddenly shuddered, his expression turning unpleasant.

He had forgotten something very important!

The ability Mito Uzumaki possessed as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

The ability to sense malice.

No wonder Mito Uzumaki had said earlier that there was no need for him to be so wary of her. She had sensed his wariness toward her.

What an annoying ability. In that case, his disguise was completely useless before Mito Uzumaki.

Chiyu let out a long breath and calmed himself down.

Since he could not disguise himself before Mito Uzumaki, there was no need to keep pretending.

Sensing the change in Chiyu's attitude, Mito Uzumaki looked seriously into his eyes. "As expected, Chiyu, you know about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. You also know why Kushina came to Konoha, don't you?"

"Lady Mito, I had no way of knowing."

Even though Chiyu was no longer pretending, he did not lay everything out in the open. It was one thing for Mito Uzumaki to guess it; it was another for Chiyu to admit it himself.

Mito Uzumaki frowned slightly. "Yes, you had no way of knowing, yet you do know. Then is your malice toward me because Konoha intends to make Kushina a Jinchuriki?"

Chiyu replied in a formulaic tone, "Lady Mito, this is Konoha's decision. I have no right to question or interfere."

Mito Uzumaki felt truly exhausted talking to Chiyu. This boy was utterly impossible to reason with.