Mikoto's Lunchbox

When Mirai Uzumaki arrived at school, the first familiar face he spotted was someone he knew.

"Oi! Zhili! What are you doing standing at the school gate?"

Across from him stood a tall girl with long black hair. Who knew what Izumi Uchiha had been eating over the past three years—she was now 1.65 meters tall!

She was a whole head taller than Mirai Uzumaki!

That left him rather indignant. Three years ago, they had all been about the same height, hadn't they? So why was he now a head shorter than everyone else?

And if girls developed earlier, then why wasn't Kushina this tall?

Kushina: ...Thanks a fucking lot!

Zhili had no idea that so many thoughts had flashed through Mirai Uzumaki's mind in the span of a glance.

She handed him a lunchbox, her voice cool yet pleasant. "My sister asked me to bring you this grilled salted salmon lunch. Take it!"

"Well! You're as cold as ever, Zhili." Mirai Uzumaki accepted the lunchbox.

"Shut up! In practical combat class later, I'm challenging you!" Izumi Uchiha clenched her fingers, a barely noticeable flush flickering near her ears.

Her voice was cool, but it was obvious that her heart was anything but calm.

After throwing down those words, Izumi Uchiha turned and left. She was afraid that if she stayed with Mirai any longer, she wouldn't be able to stop herself from blushing.

"Mirai..." Feeling Kushina's grip on his hand growing tighter and tighter, Mirai Uzumaki couldn't help turning to glance at her.

Kushina Uzumaki pouted and looked at him with the same pitiful expression.

"I'm your girlfriend. Don't eat Zhili's lunch, okay?"

Ever since Kushina had been kissed by Mirai three years ago, she had initially been a little shy. Later, though, she had become addicted to the feeling of kissing.

She immediately began calling herself Mirai Uzumaki's girlfriend and chased off countless little girls who wanted to get close to him.

But Izumi Uchiha wasn't among them.

Because Zhili had never revealed her feelings. It was as though she merely regarded Mirai as a target to surpass in becoming stronger.

Kushina Uzumaki had nowhere to start.

But when she saw Izumi Uchiha bringing Mirai a lunchbox, she still couldn't help feeling a little wronged.

"Didn't we bring the eel rice lunch Mito Grandma prepared?"

Mirai Uzumaki's lips curled up. "It's still a kind gesture from Zhili's sister. It's fine, I've got a good appetite. I can eat two portions later."

"Hmph, I'm ignoring you, stupid Mirai!" Kushina pinched him hard before running off.

She was obviously worried that Zhili's sister—that bad woman named Mikoto Uchiha—had ulterior motives. That was why she didn't want Mirai to eat her lunch. Yet stupid Mirai didn't appreciate it and insisted on eating it.

And he said he had a good appetite? Was this even about eating lunch?

Mirai Uzumaki pretended to bare his teeth in pain, as though it hurt terribly.

But Kushina hadn't actually used much force. If he put on a show now, it would be easier to coax her later.

Mirai Uzumaki glanced at the lunchbox in his hand. After graduating, Mikoto had joined the Konoha Military Police Force like most of the Uchiha Clan instead of going out on missions!

Still, that was fine. The Police Force had its internal conflicts, but at least it was safe.

Meanwhile, at the Senju Clan Compound's main house.

Today's atmosphere was entirely different from its usual cold stillness.

Every person standing in the courtyard could make Konoha tremble just by stepping outside.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat to one side of the main seat. The glow of his massive pipe flickered as smoke curled around his deeply furrowed brow.

The Hokage's advisor, Danzo Shimura, stood by the window leaning on his cane. His single eye was half-closed, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Senior advisors Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado sat side by side, both wearing rare expressions of gravity.

The current Ino-Shika-Cho Trio—Ino Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, and Choza Akimichi—stood slightly behind them.

Beside them were the current Uchiha Clan head, Yamamoto Uchiha, along with the heads of the Hyuga Clan and several other clans.

Among the younger generation, Tsunade leaned in a corner with her arms folded, her lips pressed white.

For once, Jiraiya hadn't gone to peep at the women's bath. He stood obediently beside Tsunade, his usual frivolity nowhere to be seen.

Orochimaru leaned against the doorframe, his expression calm. His snake-like eyes occasionally flicked toward the main seat.

In the main seat sat the aged Mito Uzumaki.

She was far thinner than she had been three years ago, and her once-plump cheeks had sunken in.

But her eyes remained clear and gentle, as though they held an entire autumn within them.

She slowly swept her gaze across everyone present, then spoke.

"I called everyone here today for only one matter."

Her voice wasn't loud, but the entire room fell silent.

"This old woman's time is nearly up.

I'm sure you've all seen the medical unit's diagnostic report.

At most, I can hold on until the end of this month. The Nine-Tails must be transferred to the next Jinchuriki."

Tsunade's fists clenched sharply, her nails nearly digging into her palms.

Jiraiya's face was solemn, carrying a faint but unmistakable sorrow.

Would a fallen leaf ultimately return to its roots?

"Lady Mito..." Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but it ultimately became only a sigh.

Torifu Akimichi stood in a corner, his eyes already red.

He was a few years younger than Hiruzen and Danzo. Back when he had studied under the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, Mito had always looked after him.

Hearing those words now, he felt as though he had returned to his youth, his chest painfully constricted.

"Don't all look so miserable," Mito said with a smile, no different from the one she wore while drinking tea beneath the corridor eaves.

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are simply part of life. Hashirama has been gone for so many years. This old woman has already gotten more than enough time."

She paused, her gaze falling on Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Hiruzen, the urgent matter is choosing the next Jinchuriki.

We can't wait until I'm about to close my eyes before hurriedly picking one. If something goes wrong then, all of Konoha will suffer with us."

The Nine-Tails was a matter of immense importance. And Konoha was no longer in the era when Hashirama was alive. Once the Nine-Tails went out of control, the losses would inevitably be devastating.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded and turned his pipe once in his hand. "Lady Mito is right. Then... let's vote now.

The Jinchuriki candidates are Mirai Uzumaki and Kushina Uzumaki."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said nothing more. He merely picked up a pen, wrote a name on a slip of paper, folded it, and handed it to Ino Yamanaka beside him.

Ino Yamanaka took it, unfolded it, and glanced at it without changing expression before announcing loudly, "Lord Sarutobi's vote—Mirai Uzumaki."

This result surprised no one.

The Third Hokage had always favored Mirai. Over the past three years, observation reports on Mirai had piled up and filled an entire cabinet, nearly all of them positive.

The occasional bad review was only for things like not paying attention in class. As for unity, friendship, and carrying out the Will of Fire,

Mirai Uzumaki had satisfied Hiruzen Sarutobi immensely.

This was the inheritor of the Will of Fire he had set his sights on!

He truly couldn't have been more suitable as the Nine-Tails' vessel.