Mito Uzumaki's Good Intentions

Tsunade, who had been about to return to her room, stumbled and turned back in protest. "Grandma, what nonsense are you talking about?!"

"..."

That was a little hard to respond to.

Jingyi could only signal Tsunade with his eyes, telling her to hurry up and save the situation. Forget about changing clothes.

I really can't handle this old lady.

To stop her grandmother from saying anything more frightening, Tsunade could only run back to rescue him.

"Grandma, I brought him back. If you have something to ask him, just say it. He is, after all, a member of the Hyuga Clan. If he stays here too long, the Hokage Office Building definitely won't be able to sit still."

If you people didn't keep running to other people's homes every day, would this old woman need to do this?

Mito Uzumaki did not care what the Hokage Office Building might think.

Others might not be able to remain composed, but the Third Hokage was different. Even if he were anxious to death, he would wait patiently.

"Miko isn't feeling well today. Tsunade, prepare something to entertain our guest."

"Me?"

Are you sure you're not joking?

I can't even stomach my own cooking.

Tsunade's eyes widened as she pointed at herself.

"Should this old woman cook for you instead?"

Mito Uzumaki angrily tapped the ground twice with her cane. "Nawaki and Kushina will be out of school soon. Have dinner ready when they get back."

You might as well kill me.

I should've known better than to come home.

Wait!

My cooking tastes terrible, but isn't there a ready-made helper right here?

Tsunade glanced back at Jingyi, then grabbed his hand and headed for the kitchen.

"Wait, you want me to help?"

What kind of guest came over and then went straight to cook?

"Yes, you!" Without giving him a chance to object, Tsunade gripped Jingyi's hand and dragged him forcefully toward the kitchen.

"Isn't this a little inappropriate?"

"It's appropriate. Why wouldn't it be? If I, Tsunade, say it's appropriate, then there's no problem."

"..."

Why do I feel like I've been press-ganged into labor?

Did Mito Uzumaki want to see me just so I could help cook a meal?

That didn't seem right.

Jingyi was truly confused about what the old lady was thinking, yet she had not said why she wanted to see him.

So Jingyi arrived in the kitchen in a daze and stared blankly at the ingredients spread all over the floor.

It seemed... everything had been thoroughly prepared, and all they lacked was a helper.

The kitchen soon became busy.

Tsunade found an opportunity to slip away.

"Grandma, I brought him back. Now can you tell me why?"

"Would this old woman harm a child?"

Mito Uzumaki sat in her reclining chair, acting as though she had no idea what Tsunade meant.

"Grandma!!"

Tsunade grew anxious. "Your identity is already sensitive. Even the slightest movement can put the Hokage Office on edge. Jingyi may have earned our approval, but he is still a member of the Hyuga Clan. You invited him into our home; the old man will definitely overthink it."

"The Monkey won't."

Mito Uzumaki smiled confidently.

In his youth, the Third Hokage had been a qualified Hokage. He had strength, methods, patience, and magnanimity.

"Don't worry. This old woman has no other intentions. I merely want the house to be livelier. When people grow old, they fear an empty, lifeless home. The Monkey won't target this child over such a trivial matter."

"???"

That was it?

Just to make the house livelier?

Tsunade was dumbfounded.

The old man might not overthink it, but what about everyone else?

Tsunade knew very well what kind of oddballs F4 were.

Shimura Danzō, whose heart brimmed with ambition; Utatane Koharu, who was petty and narrow-minded; Mitokado Homura, who liked to stick his foot into everything.

Even if the Third Hokage could remain calm, those people would become nervous.

If they focused their attention on Jingyi, they would inadvertently bring him some trouble.

"Tsunade."

Mito Uzumaki took her granddaughter's hand and sighed. "Some things became unavoidable from the moment he appeared at your side. What's more, he is rather close to Kushina. Sooner or later, those people's eyes will fall on him. It is merely a question of when."

"This old woman is still alive and can still keep the situation under control. Do you understand?"

It was better to be watched sooner than later. If they watched him now, Mito Uzumaki was still here, and it would not lead to any serious trouble.

"Grandma, aren't you worried? After all, he is from the Hyuga Clan..."

Tsunade gestured vaguely, then ultimately gave up. She did not know what else to say, but Mito Uzumaki had a point. Since it could not be avoided, they might as well face it early.

With Mito Uzumaki here now, she could keep the Hokage Office in check. If this happened only after she was gone, it would truly be troublesome.

Mito Uzumaki believed she could hold on for a few more years. Those years would be Jingyi's period of rapid growth.

If, after a few years, once she was gone, Jingyi still needed someone to protect him, then it could only mean that she and Tsunade had misjudged him.

"Hyuga Tennin?"

A trace of disdain flashed through Mito Uzumaki's clouded eyes.

Him?

"He wouldn't dare. He would even take the initiative to distance himself, because that's just how the Hyuga Clan is."

"..."

The dignified head of the Hyuga Clan was dismissed as worthless in Mito Uzumaki's words.

"Grandma, we're back!"

Nawaki and Kushina came running home with little schoolbags on their backs, and Tsunade and Mito Uzumaki ended the discussion there.

"You're back? Come, let Grandma have a look."

Mito Uzumaki raised her arms happily. Nawaki instinctively wanted to throw himself into his grandmother's embrace, but before he could get close, someone grabbed his ear.

"Ow, that hurts! Sis, what are you doing?!"

"Get lost!"

Tsunade tugged Nawaki by the ear and snapped, "You're already so grown up, and you still want to burrow into Grandma's arms? Aren't you ashamed?"

Nawaki was dragged away, while Kushina, who was behind him, successfully threw herself into Mito Uzumaki's embrace.

"Did you have fun at school today? Did anyone bully you?"

Mito Uzumaki wrapped an arm around Kushina and asked happily.

Kushina raised her head with a huff. "Of course not, Grandma Mito. I'm very strong, you know. Whoever dares bully me gets a good beating!!"

Jingyi had led Kushina terribly astray.

Watching Kushina charge ever farther down the path of violence, Tsunade covered her face helplessly.