Mito Uzumaki's Request

Hearing the anger in Kushina's accusation, Mito Uzumaki smiled and teased her with a show of sadness. "Oh my, our Kushina has forgotten all about Grandma now that she has a little boyfriend. You're even angry with me. Grandma is so hurt!"

Kushina froze at her words, then a blush quickly spread across her fair cheeks. "Grandmother, what are you talking about? Qingyun and I are just good friends! It's not what you think!"

Seeing Kushina's embarrassment, Mito Uzumaki's timeworn eyes filled with amusement.

"Uchiha boy, don't you want to ask what just happened?"

After teasing Kushina, Mito Uzumaki turned to Qingyun, who sat on the ground catching his breath, and asked him.

After sitting on the ground for a while to recover, Qingyun shook his head at Mito Uzumaki's question. "Your appearance already gave me the answer.

"In fact, I noticed something was wrong as soon as I arrived. With the speed of the Body Flicker Technique you just used, you could have easily killed me without resorting to anything else. But you didn't. Instead, you kept attacking Kushina, leaving me no time to think through the details. I could only follow your lead.

"It wasn't until you appeared that I figured out why you did it."

Qingyun paused before continuing. "You love Kushina deeply, so you must pay special attention to anyone who comes into her life. All the more so when I belong to the Uchiha Clan, whose members are known for their extreme temperaments.

"Even though I've left the Uchiha Clan, that doesn't change the Uchiha blood flowing through my veins.

"So you arranged this test specifically to find out how I feel about Kushina. Am I right?"

Mito Uzumaki gave Qingyun a long look when she heard that. What a clever boy.

"When did you awaken your Two-Tomoe Sharingan?"

Mito Uzumaki had looked into Qingyun's background before, but there had been no mention of him awakening the Sharingan. Clearly, he had kept it well hidden.

Qingyun thought for a moment. Deciding that Mito Uzumaki probably meant him no harm, he answered frankly, "The day my parents died."

Mito Uzumaki's pupils contracted. If she remembered correctly, Qingyun had only been three years old when his parents died!

He had awakened the Sharingan at three, and it had been the Two-Tomoe Sharingan from the very beginning. Surely no one in the entire history of the Uchiha Clan could match such talent!

"Then why didn't you tell the Uchiha leadership that you had awakened the Sharingan? With your intelligence, you must know that they would have devoted their resources to training you as soon as they found out.

"You would have lived very comfortably."

Mito Uzumaki looked at Qingyun in confusion.

"Because only the people who still care about you and look after you when you're down truly care.

"I've been lonely since I was little, but even so, I have no interest in affection traded for benefits."

Qingyun gave her a casual excuse.

The Uchiha Clan was destined to be destroyed, and he had no energy to spare on saving that proud, arrogant clan. One could call Qingyun selfish, but most people were like that.

Originally, Qingyun had only wanted to focus on his training, hoping that once he became strong enough, he could find a way home.

It was only after Minato Namikaze appeared that Qingyun found a new goal: to protect his friends and avert Minato Namikaze's tragic fate in the original story.

After hearing Qingyun's answer, Mito Uzumaki gave him a long look. Then she turned, took out a pill, and handed it to Kushina. "Kushina, take this pill and you'll recover. After that, head to the Ninja Academy first. I'll treat Qingyun's injuries."

Kushina took the pill without thinking much about what Mito Uzumaki meant. She nodded, swallowed it, then gave Qingyun a concerned glance before turning and running toward the Ninja Academy.

Qingyun looked calmly at Mito Uzumaki. He knew she wanted to speak to him alone. Though puzzled, he did not ask first. Instead, he gathered internal force in his hands and used the Mystical Palm Technique to heal his wounds.

Before long, Qingyun finished treating himself and slowly stood up. Looking at Mito Uzumaki, he said, "Whatever it is, please tell me directly. If it's something I can do, I'll do my best."

Seeing the sincerity on Qingyun's face, Mito Uzumaki nodded. "There is something I want to ask of you."

"Please take good care of Kushina and protect her in the years to come."

"I would do that even without you asking. Apart from Minato, Kushina is my only friend. I won't let anything happen to my friends."

Qingyun shook his head and gave Mito Uzumaki his assurance.

"You don't know what Kushina will face in the future. Do you know about the tailed beasts?"

Mito Uzumaki neither agreed nor disagreed with his promise, instead asking him about the tailed beasts.

Naturally, Qingyun knew about the tailed beasts. He even knew that Kushina would become a jinchūriki in the future. But such secrets were not something a child like him could know, so he shook his head with a puzzled expression.

Mito Uzumaki was not surprised. Recalling the past, she began telling Qingyun about the tailed beasts.

"The tailed beasts are a group of immensely powerful monsters. Every one of them possesses the power to destroy the world and an endless supply of chakra..."

Mito Uzumaki slowly explained the tailed beasts to Qingyun.

Qingyun listened calmly to her account.

"And there is a tailed beast inside me—the Nine-Tailed Fox, the strongest of the nine tailed beasts. People like me are known as jinchūriki."

Mito Uzumaki fixed her gaze on Qingyun, speaking each word distinctly.

At last, Qingyun's calm expression changed, and he looked at Mito Uzumaki in surprise.

He was not pretending this time. He truly was astonished. He had never expected Mito Uzumaki to tell him such a closely guarded secret.

"One day, Kushina will succeed me as Konoha's next jinchūriki. The Nine-Tailed Fox is extremely powerful, and exceptionally skilled at manipulating people's hearts. If Kushina falls under its control, she will lose control of herself and deal a devastating blow to Konoha.

"If that happens, everyone in Konoha will reject her. Do you know what that would mean?"

Ignoring Qingyun's surprise, Mito Uzumaki told him that Kushina would succeed her as a jinchūriki, then looked at him gravely.

"I won't let that happen."

Qingyun looked at Mito Uzumaki with unwavering resolve.

Seeing the determination in Qingyun's eyes, Mito Uzumaki looked relieved. His talent was extraordinary. If he continued improving at this rate, he would surely become one of the strongest people in the world. Moreover, his Sharingan was a natural counter to the tailed beasts. He would undoubtedly be able to protect Kushina in the future, and she could go to the Netherworld to see her husband with peace of mind.

"Qingyun, you're a good boy. If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to come to me. Also, don't tell Kushina about what happened today. She's still young and shouldn't have to bear that pain. I can hold on for her for a few more years."

Mito Uzumaki affectionately rubbed Qingyun's head as she gave him these instructions.

Qingyun said nothing, only giving a quiet nod.

"All right, you should head back to the Ninja Academy too! I still have some things to take care of."

"Wait, um... could you keep my Sharingan a secret? I don't want to draw too much attention."

Seeing Mito Uzumaki form hand seals, Qingyun hurriedly made his request.

Mito Uzumaki glanced at Qingyun, then smiled and nodded. "I don't know what you're afraid of, but I promise. From now on, you can call me Grandma, just like Kushina!"

"Thank you, Grandma."

Qingyun looked at Mito Uzumaki gratefully.

Mito Uzumaki patted Qingyun's head, then flickered away.