Takahashi Yū's reaction actually made Uzumaki Shui Ling laugh.
"Takahashi Yū, you brat, you don't care about the scroll-you just want to watch an argument, don't you? Don't you know Konoha is bound to covet this scroll?"
"Mizuki is a legitimate Uzumaki successor. She already built her foundations in the clan; she simply never had time to study further."
In other words, whoever tried to take it would have no leg to stand on, including Kushina Uzumaki.
Now that was what it meant to have a legitimate claim.
An inheritance bestowed by possibly the most respected member of the surviving Uzumaki Clan.
That was impeccable pedigree, a true heir to a distinguished lineage!
As for Mito Uzumaki? What a joke. She had long since been struck from the Uzumaki Clan's rolls.
Did that mean there was more to come? Much of Takahashi Yū's frustration faded, and he began imagining himself taking charge of what came next.
"Hehe, this is what an old fossil like you doesn't understand. What I, Takahashi Yū, love most is taking the moral high ground and pointing fingers."
Having both strength and right on his side-what was that if not invincibility?
Takahashi Yū looked excitedly at Mizuki and said:
"Mizuki, just focus on learning from now on. Outshine Kushina Uzumaki. Who knows, if something goes wrong with the Nine-Tails, they might even come begging you for help. Then you can really rub it in their faces."
As Takahashi Yū spoke, he could no longer hold back his laughter. Fantasy time, activate!
"Kushina Uzumaki! The Nine-Tails?" ×2
As though they had heard some trigger words, both redheads nearly lost control of their expressions.
"Huh? You didn't know? Didn't Konoha bring back a redhead before the Land of Whirlpools fell?"
Takahashi Yū was a little puzzled too. Hadn't the Uzumaki entrusted an orphan to them?
His appetite for gossip stirred, Takahashi Yū hurriedly motioned Mizuki over and sat up properly himself.
Go on, go on.
At Takahashi Yū's gesture, Mizuki Uzumaki sat cross-legged on a cushion beside the low table as well. She composed herself and slowly began:
"Kushina and I were classmates in the clan. We were both students of Lady Shui Ling and the other elders, but Kushina seemed to be a descendant of Lady Mito's branch."
"No need for 'seemed.' Kushina Uzumaki belongs to a collateral branch of Lord Uzumaki Ashina's family. By blood, she would have to call Mito Grandma!"
Uzumaki Shui Ling interrupted Mizuki's account. Hearing Kushina's name and the Nine-Tails had already returned her to the gloomy mood she had been in on the road.
"Konoha! Mito! You've gone too far!"
Even when the Land of Whirlpools was about to lose its clan and its people, she had not forgotten to arrange the next Jinchūriki.
What profound love you had for Konoha, Mito Senju!
And from her own collateral branch, too. How could she bear to make a little girl who called her Grandma into a Jinchūriki?
"Making the Uzumaki sacrifice for Konoha while standing by and watching the Land of Whirlpools perish-no, I'll fight them to the death!"
Watching the old woman tremble with rage before him, Takahashi Yū repeatedly told her to calm down.
"Calm down, calm down. A great man knows when to yield and when to stand tall. You're alone and outnumbered. Don't act rashly."
Uzumaki Shui Ling shook with fury. Beside her, Takahashi Yū was a little frightened, afraid she might drop dead on the spot.
"No, I can't swallow this. I'm going to give that ungrateful wretch Mito a proper tongue-lashing."
Holding her cup, Uzumaki Shui Ling gritted her teeth for a long while before forcing those words out.
Takahashi Yū perked up at that.
"Sure, sure. Call me when you go confront her. If they get embarrassed and lash out, those old arms and legs of yours could leave you at a disadvantage."
Uzumaki Shui Ling rolled her eyes at Takahashi Yū. Mito was clearly older.
But it was true that she could not beat her.
As a former princess of the Land of Whirlpools, Mito Uzumaki had enjoyed the very best talent and resources, and she also had the Nine-Tails inside her.
Now she was effectively Konoha's retired emperor. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi had to act like an obedient grandson before her.
Still, judging from the original story and Uzumaki Shui Ling's sensing, her time would be up within the next few years.
If Uzumaki Shui Ling confronted her and caused a big enough scene that Kushina Uzumaki refused to become a Jinchūriki, that would be entertaining.
"Damn them! They could have taken the Uzumaki Clan's children, they could have taken the old and weak, but instead they brought back just one little girl!"
"They mean to make her family Jinchūriki for generation after generation! I already viewed Mito in the worst possible light, but even then, I underestimated her viciousness!"
Listening to Uzumaki Shui Ling, Takahashi Yū was stunned. Holy shit, you could spin a conspiracy theory like that?
But thinking it over carefully, that did seem to be the result. This way, Konoha would have an established Uzumaki lineage and never lack Jinchūriki.
After all, it was not as though the Senju Clan could not become Jinchūriki. They had abundant chakra and vigorous life force.
It was just that nearly all Uzumaki Clan members had an aptitude for sealing jutsu, and they could also awaken the bloodline ability that countered tailed beasts-Adamantine Sealing Chains.
The risk of a tailed beast going berserk was reduced to practically nothing.
They simply had not expected the blond's bloodline to be so strong that it turned the red hair blond in a single generation.
The more Takahashi Yū thought about it, the more he felt that "Konoha" was synonymous with "devouring people."
"Maybe I should just tell the neighbors on Hot Springs Street to pack up and leave Konoha."
Takahashi Yū could not help muttering to himself.
If they stayed any longer, they might be schemed against without even knowing it.
Wind and Earth are definitely out. That only leaves the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water. The Land of Water is even more chaotic than Konoha, and its damp climate makes rheumatism more likely. That just leaves the martial-minded Land of Lightning. Their beef is exceptional too. Hmm~
With his arms folded across his chest, Takahashi Yū was also considering his final fallback.
At worst, I'll conquer a small country. It's not like I can't hold it! Besides, the Shinobi World is so big, with so much undeveloped land. Nothing to fear!
After thinking it through, Takahashi Yū decided it was no big problem. He looked up at Shui Ling, who was still sulking, and said:
"We'll talk tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll go find Sarutobi first and cash in my merits. Then you can look for a chance to confront Mito in front of Kushina."
With that, Takahashi Yū walked toward the bedroom on the first floor. After sliding the bedroom door halfway open, he turned back to the two redheads and said:
"Remember to call me, all right? I'll be pissed if you don't."
With that, he slammed the door shut.
He lay on the bed he had not enjoyed in so long, savoring its long-missed comfort.
"Ahh~ Who invented mattresses? This thing feels so damn good to lie on."
After the door closed, the two redheads, young and old, fell silent in the living room for a while.
Stillness seeped through the entire living room, and the gentle lamplight shone in Konoha for the descendants of the Uzumaki Clan.
"Lady Shui Ling, I..." Mizuki began hesitantly, fiddling with the cleaning rag.
"Say no more, Mizuki. Staying with Takahashi Yū is the best choice for you all. He doesn't want anything from us Uzumaki, and he's strong enough. Only by following him can you live in the sunlight."
Uzumaki Shui Ling interrupted, cradling her teacup.
After speaking, she could not help sighing again.
"But the fact that he wants nothing makes it hard to feel entirely at ease..."
Soft lamplight passed through the windows, quietly casting its glow outside. The moon shed its clear radiance, mingling with the light from the house.
The streets lacked the bustle of daytime. Occasionally, a dog's bark could be heard in the distance, or the footsteps of someone returning home late.
Lying in bed, Mizuki Uzumaki greedily savored the sense of safety she had not felt in so long. She turned to look at her two younger sisters, fast asleep in the bed beside hers.
At thirteen, Mizuki had already experienced upheavals an ordinary person might never experience in a lifetime.
A faint happiness, absent for so long, filled the heart of this easily contented girl.
This is good too...
Stars dotted the sky, the Milky Way clearly visible. The twinkling stars seemed to be telling ancient stories.
Before you continue