Chapter 3: Where Did This Little Maid Come From?
"**Kushina… what's wrong…**"
In a luxurious mansion, inside a spacious bedroom bathed in dim yellow light, an elderly woman lay on a large bed. Her face was gaunt but kind.
"**Grandma Mito, waaah…**"
Kushina, who had been holding back her emotions, broke down completely under the gentle tone of the old woman's voice.
Kneeling by Uzumaki Mito's bedside, she buried her face in the bed and sobbed, "**I confessed, and it failed, waaah…**"
Mito struggled to lift her hand, placing it on Kushina's head and stroking gently. "**The boy you like—does he not like you back?**"
Kushina shook her head vigorously, choking through her tears, "**No… he… he likes me…**"
"**Then why did your confession fail?**" Mito asked, puzzled.
Kushina raised her head, her tear-filled eyes glistening. "**He… he…**"
She choked for a while before finally saying, "**He only likes the ambiguity, not a committed relationship, waaah…**"
Even at Mito's age, with one foot already in the grave, those words made her brain stall for a moment.
"**Only likes ambiguity?**"
She fell silent for a long while before speaking slowly, "**Kushina, what's the name of this boy you like?**"
"**He…**" Kushina started to answer but suddenly stopped, worry crossing her face. "**Grandma Mito, please don't be angry with him.**"
Mito shook her head slowly, her cracked lips curving into a smile. "**How could Grandma hurt the boy you like?**"
"**Oh…**" Kushina relaxed. "**His name is Hyuga Wuye.**"
"**Hyuga… Wuye? From the Hyuga clan?**"
Mito's gaze suddenly deepened. "**I see.**"
Kushina wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "**Grandma, do you know something?**"
"**Kushina,**" Mito patted her head, "**the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is a strategic asset to the village. Hiruzen won't allow a Jinchuriki to get too entangled with a major clan like the Hyuga. Compared to Hyuga Wuye, he'd probably prefer you to like a talented civilian ninja.**"
"**But I like him!**"
Kushina blurted out instinctively, then froze. "**You mean… Wuye breaking up with me wasn't his choice—it was Lord Hokage's order?**"
Mito nodded. "**It's very likely.**"
Kushina's pale face flushed visibly. "**I… I'm going to find him!**"
She stood up and turned, but Mito grabbed her hand.
Kushina looked back, confused. "**Grandma Mito?**"
Mito smiled kindly. "**It's already late. Are you sure you want to go find him now?**"
"**Huh?**"
Kushina's cheeks reddened.
Seeing her like this, Mito was reminded of her own youth.
That burning passion, amidst the chaos of war-torn days, was the only memory worth cherishing.
"**Kushina, dear,**" she said softly, "**have you truly decided he's the one for you, for life? Even if Hiruzen tries to stop you?**"
"**For life?**" Kushina blinked her sparkling eyes. "**I haven't thought that far…**"
Mito pulled her to sit by the bed, gently stroking her delicate hand. "**Three days from now, you'll become the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. After that, the village will protect you closely, and you won't have the freedom you have now…**"
Kushina's eyes reddened, and she gripped Mito's aged hand tightly. "**Grandma Mito, are… are you leaving me too?**"
Looking at Kushina's frail frame, Mito could almost see the lonely days awaiting her. A pang of sorrow flickered in her cloudy eyes.
"**Kushina, dear…**"
She spoke softly, "**A Jinchuriki's heart will develop a void. You need to find something to fill it—only then can you find happiness.**"
"**A void in my heart… finding happiness…**"
Kushina clutched her chest. The thought of her future as a Jinchuriki felt like a heavy stone pressing down on her, making it hard to breathe.
"**Grandma, what… what should I do…**" she asked, lost.
Mito's cloudy eyes seemed to reflect the image of the First Hokage. "**Kushina, dear… find the person who makes you feel at ease… they'll help you fill that void in your heart…**"
Kushina's mind spun, her thoughts adrift.
*Wuye, will you be the one to fill my heart? I'm so scared…*
---
The next evening.
After classes at the Ninja Academy, Hyuga Wuye, as usual, carried a bag of freshly bought groceries through the streets, heading back to the clan compound alone.
As the second-largest clan in the Leaf Village, the Hyuga occupied a vast area.
Of course, someone like him, without the Byakugan, was naturally relegated to the outermost edge of the compound, far from the core.
He didn't mind too much.
The Hyuga clan wasn't particularly kind or cruel to him. They acknowledged him as a member but couldn't stop the odd looks from others.
"**After all, in a clan full of cataracts, I'm the only one with normal eyes. It's natural to be envied and resented.**"
He often comforted himself this way.
**"Creak."**
Pushing open the gate, Hyuga Wuye stepped into his familiar small courtyard.
Even the edge houses spanned over a hundred square meters—a testament to the grandeur of a major clan.
Though, Hyuga Wuye often found it too spacious.
Living alone in such a house felt lonely.
"**I'm back… huh?**"
He was about to give himself a little welcome-home greeting when his attention was caught by a figure at the entrance hall.
A girl in a snow-white kimono knelt gracefully on the wooden porch, her demeanor gentle. Her voice was soft as she said, "**Young Master, welcome home.**"
Hyuga Wuye: "…"
He glanced back at the gate. "**Did I forget to lock it?**"
He quickly dismissed the silly thought.
In a world where ninjas leap around, what use was a lock?
"**Young Master, the clan elders sent me to take care of you,**" the girl said, her head bowed respectfully.
Hyuga Wuye looked her up and down. "**Oh? From weaning to age six, my mother, a main branch guard, was rarely around. The clan only sent me three meals a day and otherwise ignored me. Now that I can take care of myself, they send a maid?**"
The girl's body stiffened, and she looked up, her face full of surprise. "**You've been alone all this time?**"
Hyuga Wuye studied her curiously, noting her every move since she appeared.
Slowly, a playful smile curved his lips.
"**Get up,**" he said with a chuckle. "**What can you do?**"
The girl rose from the floor, her face brightening. "**I can cook, wash dishes, clean the floors, and tidy the house for you, Young Master.**"
"**Alright, then start by stewing this fish for me.**"
Hyuga Wuye handed her the bag he was carrying.
The girl, in her wooden geta sandals, clacked over with small steps and took the bag from him.
**"Slap."**
Suddenly, the fish's tail flicked against the bag, making a soft sound.
"**A l-live fish?**"
Her hand trembled, nearly dropping the bag.
Hyuga Wuye kept a straight face. "**Fish for stewing soup is, of course, fresh and alive.**"
"**Oh…**"
Her distressed expression made him chuckle inwardly.
"**Is there a problem?**" he asked, feigning confusion.
"**N-No, Young Master. Please wait—it'll be ready soon.**"
Watching her scurry to the kitchen with the bag, Hyuga Wuye shook his head with a smile. He leisurely changed into his own geta sandals, clacking slowly to the kitchen doorway.
"**Hey, wait, wait!**"
He glanced inside and couldn't help but speak up. "**Are you seriously about to toss a live fish straight into the pot to boil?**"
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