Facing Mito Uzumaki Again

Qingyun chuckled at Kushina's pout after he pushed her away. He ruffled her hair and asked, "What brings you here today? Where's Nawaki?"

"I heard from Minato that you're planning to graduate. Senior Orochimaru called Nawaki away to train today, to prepare for the graduation assessment."

Kushina answered with her lips still pursed, her nose twitching as she breathed in Qingyun's pleasant scent.

"That's right. What's wrong?"

Qingyun was not surprised by her question.

With the war going on, students at the Ninja Academy had to pass a rigorous assessment before they could graduate.

It was nothing like Naruto's generation, when knowing just one of the three basic techniques was enough to graduate.

"What am I supposed to do if you all graduate?"

Kushina looked at Qingyun unhappily.

Qingyun froze at her words, then fell silent!

Kushina's status was unusual. Although she had graduated without trouble in the original story, that had only happened after she completed all six years at the Ninja Academy.

And even after graduating, Kushina had never gone to the battlefield. After all, she was the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Getting her assigned to the same team as them would probably be no easy task.

"Qingyun, can you really bear to leave me behind?"

When Qingyun remained silent, Kushina raised her voice, sounding close to tears.

"Big brother, why not let Kushina graduate with us? She's not weak."

Unable to bear seeing Kushina like this, Minato Namikaze immediately tried to persuade him.

A bitter smile appeared on Qingyun's face. Minato Namikaze did not know about Kushina's future responsibilities. If he did, he probably would not have said that.

"Qingyun, I hate you!"

When Qingyun still said nothing, tears streamed from Kushina's eyes. She shouted through her sobs, then ran off.

Earlier that day, when Kushina learned that Minato Namikaze had submitted graduation applications for himself and Qingyun, she had gone with him to submit her own.

But when classes ended that afternoon, Iruka Umino told Kushina that her application had been rejected. No matter how she begged him, he refused to tell her why, so she had come with Minato Namikaze to ask Qingyun for help.

Yet after hearing her out, Qingyun had simply fallen silent. Thinking of how he would leave the Ninja Academy and become a full-fledged ninja, leaving them with even fewer chances to see each other, Kushina suddenly felt engulfed by loneliness. That was why she had lost control of herself.

Watching Kushina run into the distance, Qingyun felt his heart clench. "Minato, go after Kushina. Tell her I'll find a way for her to graduate with us."

After giving Minato Namikaze those instructions with an expressionless face, Qingyun used Lingbo Micro-Step and raced toward the Senju Clan Compound, determination in his eyes.

Before long, Qingyun reached the Senju Clan Compound and knocked on the door. Soon, a middle-aged servant in his fifties opened it and gave him a puzzled look. "Can I help you?"

"Sorry for the trouble, but could you let Grandma Mito know that Qingyun is here to visit? Thank you!"

"Of course. Please wait a moment."

This was not Qingyun's first visit to the Senju Clan Compound, but he had always left immediately after escorting Kushina to its outskirts. The servants at the Senju Ancestral Estate therefore did not know him.

Soon, the servant opened the door again and invited Qingyun inside.

Qingyun followed the servant to the main hall, where Nawaki, Tsunade, and Mito Uzumaki were eating.

"Qingyun, is something wrong? Where's Kushina? It's so late, and she still hasn't come home. Didn't she go to find you?"

Mito Uzumaki looked at Qingyun in puzzlement and asked where Kushina was.

Qingyun had never visited the Senju Ancestral Estate before. His sudden arrival told Mito Uzumaki that he needed something from her. And Kushina had not returned with him—had something happened?

"Grandma Mito, please don't worry. Kushina is fine. I sent Minato after her. I came today to ask you a favor."

Seeing the worried looks on Mito Uzumaki's and Tsunade's faces, Qingyun quickly explained.

"What is it? Tell me. If it's within my power, I'll help you."

After observing him for over a year, Mito Uzumaki had gradually come to accept Qingyun. She no longer minded his Uchiha bloodline either, so she readily agreed when he said he needed a favor!

Although she had retired, there were very few things in Konoha beyond her power.

To put it bluntly, given her standing, most clan heads would agree even if she wanted to oust Hiruzen Sarutobi. When he first became Hokage, undercurrents had stirred throughout Konoha. It was her firm support that had helped him secure the Hokage position.

Qingyun gave Mito Uzumaki a grateful look, then explained that Kushina wanted to graduate with them.

"Big brother..."

Excitement lit up Nawaki's face at Qingyun's words. He was about to speak when Mito Uzumaki sealed his mouth with a Sealing Jutsu. He looked at her in grievance.

Mito Uzumaki ignored Nawaki's aggrieved gaze, however, and fixed her weathered eyes on Qingyun.

"You know what Kushina's future role will be. Why are you still doing this?"

After a long silence, Mito Uzumaki spoke calmly.

"Because Kushina is my closest friend. I don't want her to be unhappy. And I can promise you right here that I'll stake my life on protecting her. As long as I'm alive, no one will hurt Kushina."

As he spoke, Qingyun abruptly activated his Sharingan. His internal force erupted, sending a powerful aura pressing toward Mito Uzumaki.

This was the first time Qingyun had revealed his full strength.

"Your aura is decent. But it's not enough."

Mito Uzumaki's pupils contracted as she felt his aura. She had fought Qingyun over a year ago, but back then, he had been nowhere near strong enough. Even without using Sealing Jutsu, she could have killed him effortlessly.

Now, although she had yet to see his actual strength, the eruption of his aura already gave her a faint sense of danger. It was slight, but considering her caliber as a ninja, making her feel even a trace of danger was enough for Qingyun to take pride in.

"Tell me what it will take for you to let Kushina graduate with us."

"Hold out against me without losing."

Mito Uzumaki spoke calmly.

Qingyun's pupils contracted. Hold out against Mito Uzumaki without losing? Could... could I really do that?

Uncertainty flickered in Qingyun's eyes, then gave way to resolve. If I'm afraid of even this, how can I protect Kushina in the future? How can I change the tragic fate awaiting her and Minato Namikaze?

"I agree. Where will we fight?"

"Follow me!"

With that, Mito Uzumaki swiftly left.

Qingyun's gaze sharpened as he watched her go. Ignoring Tsunade's hesitant expression, he used Lingbo Micro-Step and followed close behind Mito Uzumaki.

Soon, the two arrived at the Training Ground in the Senju Ancestral Estate, one after the other, and stood facing each other.

Tsunade and Nawaki arrived afterward and silently watched the pair face off. Neither spoke. Of course, Nawaki wanted to, but with his mouth sealed by a Sealing Jutsu, he could not.

Qingyun stared quietly at Mito Uzumaki. Suddenly, a fallen leaf drifted down. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes spun as he circulated his internal force, pushed Lingbo Micro-Step to its limit, and charged toward her.

Mito Uzumaki was far stronger than him. Naturally, Qingyun would not wait for her to attack first.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Tornado!"

In less than a second, he unleashed an A-Rank Fire Release technique. But he was not finished. After casting Fire Dragon Tornado, Qingyun split his focus, forming hand seals with his left hand while gathering a Lesser Shang Sword.

As Qingyun used Lingbo Micro-Step, his afterimages filled the field—leaping, running, swinging a sword, and forming hand seals. For a moment, even Mito Uzumaki could not tell which was his real body.

A flicker of admiration crossed her eyes. Mito Uzumaki drew her sword, and her chakra burst forth.

Boom!

Mito Uzumaki cut apart Qingyun's Fire Dragon Tornado with a single slash. A razor-sharp Sword Aura hurtled toward him.

"Lightning Release: Lightning Strike Tornado!"

"Lesser Shang Sword!"

A silver bolt of lightning shot toward the Sword Aura. Close behind it came the Lesser Shang Sword, infused with fire-nature transformation.

The silver lightning spun through the air, forming tornadoes of electricity that shredded the Sword Aura before charging straight toward Mito Uzumaki.

"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

Thick golden chains appeared across the field.

Qingyun's pupils contracted at the sight of the golden chains. He could no longer spare any attention for what his Lesser Shang Sword might accomplish, much less dare maintain his connection to it. He pushed Lingbo Micro-Step to its limit, even incorporating part of the Body Flicker Technique as he repeatedly dodged the golden chains.