The next day, Konoha was still basking in the afterglow of its feverish celebration.
The streets remained crowded, with an endless stream of people coming and going.
"Kushina, why aren't you with Wuye today?"
At a roadside drink shop, Kushina listlessly held a straw between her lips, propping her head up as she watched the crowds outside. The juice in her cup had not gone down even a single centimeter for ages.
Hearing Uchiha Mikoto's question, she slowly raised her lashes and looked over with a gaze that sent chills down one's spine.
Then, in a slow voice as emotionless as a machine, she said, "Because his sister and teacher have taken him over, and I can't beat them..."
Uchiha Mikoto shivered at her icy tone, but she was also curious. "How did they take him over?"
Kushina stopped speaking sarcastically, spat out the straw, and dejectedly pressed her forehead against the edge of the table. "Teacher Kaguya said yesterday that she wanted to assess Wuye's training results. Sister Tsunade said today that she wanted to teach Wuye Monster Strength."
"With their positions, it really would be hard to turn things around..."
Uchiha Mikoto reached out and stroked Kushina's red hair. "How pitiful..."
"Hmph... hmpf..."
Kushina gave two weak hums and collapsed fully onto the table.
Uchiha Mikoto chuckled softly at the sight, holding her straw in her mouth as she looked at the flow of people outside the window.
Not seeing Hyuga Wuye while accompanying Kushina did not disappoint her much.
On the contrary, she felt slightly relieved.
She was now a member of the Uchiha Clan, so naturally, she could not openly comply while secretly defying the mission assigned by the Great Elder.
But using her friendship with Kushina to get close to Hyuga Wuye truly did not