An Unassailable Identity

That night, the three generations of the family enjoyed a lively dinner before returning to their respective rooms.

That was right—Uzumaki Mito truly doted on Chishima Chiba as if he were her own grandson. Chishima Chiba was handsome, his bloodline was pure, he spoke sweetly, and he knew how to cheer people up. In her old age, Uzumaki Mito simply could not resist.

Old people loved companionship, and Chishima Chiba's arrival happened to fill the small void of familial affection in Uzumaki Mito's heart. Everything fell naturally into place.

With Uzumaki Mito protecting him from now on, there was only one person in Konoha who would dare provoke Chishima Chiba: Senju Tobirama.

What had to come would always come.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock sounded at the door. Before Chishima Chiba could respond, Senju Tobirama pushed the door open and walked in.

"Hokage-sama!"

Chishima Chiba jolted upright, threw on his coat at top speed, put on his shoes, and stood before Senju Tobirama.

Senju Tobirama wore only one expression—a calmness so chilling it made people shudder. He silently looked Chishima Chiba up and down.

Chishima Chiba was nervous. He stood rooted to the spot, not daring to move, much less raise his head.

After a long while, Senju Tobirama squeezed out two words. "Sit."

"Yes, Hokage-sama!"

Chishima Chiba obediently sat on a small stool, with only half his butt on the seat. His posture was impeccably proper.

Senju Tobirama glanced at Chishima Chiba again. A glint flashed through his eyes as he silently sat opposite him.

"Chishima Chiba?"

"Here!"

"There is no need to be so nervous. I called you here today only to ask you a few questions."

Senju Tobirama lightly tapped his fingers against the tabletop. Each faint sound was like a heavy hammer striking Chishima Chiba's heart again and again.

Senju Tobirama's presence was simply too overwhelming!

Among Konoha's Hokage throughout history, Senju Tobirama was undoubtedly the most outstanding. The many policies he enacted had laid the foundation for Konoha's strength and prosperity.

Sitting with such a shrewd man while enduring his scrutiny and questioning, anyone would have to tread carefully as if walking on thin ice—let alone Chishima Chiba, who had something to hide.

"As far as I know, your father, Chishima Masao, lived an unremarkable life without anything particularly outstanding about him. The same was true of your mother.

"But when it came to you, everything changed. It is both baffling and surprising."

Senju Tobirama's voice was soft and his pace slow, yet an invisible force seemed to envelop Chishima Chiba, causing the pressure on him to surge for no apparent reason.

"I would like to ask: is there anything you wish to explain?"

"Hokage-sama, I have nothing to explain." Chishima Chiba took a deep breath. "My life was given to me by my parents. I have never doubted whether there was anything abnormal about my bloodline."

"Even so, in my view, this is a serious problem." Senju Tobirama continued tapping the table. "Because you are lying, Chishima Chiba."

The finger tapping the table abruptly stopped. Chishima Chiba's expression turned dazed for a moment. He had clearly fallen victim to one of Senju Tobirama's little tricks.

"I'm not lying!" Though dazed, Chishima Chiba still spoke up in rebuttal.

"Then what is going on with the bloodline in your body?" Senju Tobirama pressed.

"Because of Tsunade..."

"Tsunade?" Senju Tobirama froze for a second. "What does the abnormality in your bloodline have to do with Tsunade?"

"I like her... and she likes me." Under Senju Tobirama's influence, Chishima Chiba had begun speaking the truth. "That is why I have the same bloodline as her."

Tsk.

Senju Tobirama clicked his tongue in frustration, but most of the doubts in his heart had already dissipated.

He was very confident in the method he had just used. It was a Genjutsu frequently employed in interrogations; using it against Chishima Chiba, who had yet to become a shinobi, was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

Although Chishima Chiba's answer was absurdly bizarre, Senju Tobirama did not find it strange. Even if it left a sour taste in his mouth and made him want to slap Chishima Chiba senseless, anyone with experience could clearly see Chishima Chiba's feelings for Tsunade.

Likewise, Tsunade felt something special toward Chishima Chiba as well. It was not much, but the signs were already there.

Raising a hand to rub his brow, Senju Tobirama wanted to confirm things once more.

"Why do you think Tsunade is the reason?"

"Because she likes me, I can possess the same bloodline and talent as Tsunade. And the more Tsunade likes me, the stronger I can become." Chishima Chiba's eyes were vacant. "If I can marry Tsunade, I will become the strongest man in the Shinobi World. There will be no equal."

"..."

Senju Tobirama suddenly did not feel like speaking. He had heard plenty of declarations of love before, but this was the first time he had heard one so outrageous and childish.

You could grow stronger because of emotional factors? What, did you think you were an Uchiha?

Based on Chishima Chiba's answers, Senju Tobirama no longer had doubts about Chishima Chiba's background. But now he faced an even bigger problem.

How old was his granddaughter Tsunade this year?

And how old was this brat Chishima Chiba?

Not only were they dating too early, they had already fucking started thinking about marriage!

He needed to drag the brat out and beat him to death!

Knock, knock, knock.

Senju Tobirama knocked on the table. Chishima Chiba suddenly snapped awake, instinctively covering his mouth as he looked at Senju Tobirama in horror.

"No need to cover it. You've already said everything that needed to be said."

Panic rose in Chishima Chiba's heart. It's over. He thought Senju Tobirama was about to...

Crash.

The next second, Senju Tobirama stood up. Chishima Chiba also sprang from his seat and assumed a stance, ready to fight to the death.

But a large hand ignored Chishima Chiba's clumsy defense, grabbed him by the collar, and lifted him before Senju Tobirama's eyes.

"Kid, you had better behave yourself. If I find out that you did anything improper to Tsunade before she comes of age, I'll break all three of your legs!"

For once, Senju Tobirama's expression shifted. He issued Chishima Chiba a harsh threat, tossed him aside, and slammed the door behind him as he left.

Still shaken after escaping disaster, Chishima Chiba sat on the floor in a daze. Once he came back to himself, he bitterly smiled and climbed to his feet.

Chishima Chiba did not know what exactly he had said just now, but judging from Senju Tobirama's reaction, Tsunade had apparently become his shield.

That was close...

Tsunade, bless me.

The only flaw in his identity had been patched up. Chishima Chiba was now beyond reproach, and the days ahead...

"Hehe."

After chuckling happily a few times, Chishima Chiba no longer felt burdened. He lay down on the bed and fell asleep within three seconds, utterly carefree.

Over at Uzumaki Mito's place.

"Finished asking?" Uzumaki Mito asked without even raising her eyelids.

"Finished." Senju Tobirama still wore his eternally unchanged poker face. "There is nothing wrong with Chishima Chiba. He can remain by my sister-in-law's side."

"You still remember that I'm your sister-in-law?" Uzumaki Mito raised her head and shot Senju Tobirama a glare. "Everything can be faked, but how can bloodline be faked? You really are... overly cautious!"

"With the way you handle things, how is Little Chiba supposed to get along with you as his Second Grandfather in the future? No wonder Tsunade is so afraid of you and does not dare get close to you."

Senju Tobirama did not respond. He merely sighed softly in his heart.

It was simply his nature. Even if he wanted to change, he could do nothing about it—and he had no intention of changing anyway...

Only after Uzumaki Mito had scolded him enough did Senju Tobirama take his leave. Before leaving, however, he truthfully told Uzumaki Mito every answer Chishima Chiba had given.

"I could already tell that Little Chiba was fond of Tsunade. I just never expected that, even under the influence of Genjutsu, he would still be thinking of Tsunade—to the point that even his own constitution issue..."

"Haha."

Uzumaki Mito smiled indulgently. "This is good. Very good!"

"A union between families, haha..."