Chapter 8: Meeting the Family
"**Burp, Wuye, why is Uncle Torikaze so nice to you?**" Kushina asked, letting out a satisfied belch.
"**Stuffed, huh?**"
Hyuga Wuye instinctively reached out to rub her belly.
It wasn't until his hand met her warm, soft stomach that he realized what he was doing and quickly pulled back.
By then, Kushina had already turned her head away, her face flushed, too embarrassed to look at him.
"**Cough,**" Wuye covered his mouth with a light cough. "**You noticed, huh? Uncle Torikaze wanting to start a business with me was just an excuse to give me money. I don't even know why he's so good to me…**"
"**I used to wonder if he was my real dad,**" he said with a self-deprecating chuckle, "**but sadly, he's not.**"
It really was a pity, because Akimichi Torikaze treated him incredibly well.
"**The first time I met Uncle Torikaze was when I was three, I think,**" Wuye recalled. "**Konoha's usually spring-like year-round, but that year had an unusually heavy snow. Maybe that's why no one from the clan brought me food all day. I was starving, so I went out to find something to eat…**"
"**So… so pitiful…**" Kushina murmured.
Wuye shook his head, a faint smile on his face. "**But as soon as I stepped outside, I ran into Uncle Torikaze. He stuffed me full—probably about as much as you are now.**"
He looked up at the bustling crowd around them, his voice soft. "**To this day, I can't figure out why he was right outside, like he was waiting for me.**"
"**Maybe it's fate,**" Kushina said quietly, "**like… like us…**"
*We're not exactly fate…* Wuye thought to himself, but he nodded anyway. "**Yeah, like us—fate!**"
Kushina slipped her small hand into his, glancing aside. "**What should we do this afternoon?**"
Wuye squeezed her soft hand, interlocking their fingers.
"**How about… we go to the training grounds for a spar?**" he suggested after a moment.
That way, he could analyze more of Kushina's ninjutsu… *cough*, okay, maybe that's a bit scummy. On such a nice day, he should take her home, do this and that, and then… *ahem*!
"**What?! Who fights on a date?!**"
Kushina's red hair seemed to blaze with indignation.
"**Dates are all about fighting—just depends on where,**" Wuye chuckled under his breath.
Kushina clenched her little fists.
*Alert, alert! The little pepper's temper is about to blow!*
"**Kidding,**" Wuye said gently. "**We'll do whatever you want, go wherever you like.**"
"**Really?**"
Kushina looked up, her eyes shimmering.
Wuye felt a twinge of unease, but the words were out, so he nodded. "**Yeah.**"
"**Then come home with me—I want you to meet Grandma!**" Kushina grabbed his hand and took off running.
"**Huh?**" Wuye blurted, stunned. "**Meet the family?!**"
"**I-It's not exactly m-meeting the family…**"
Kushina's face was bright red, but her grip didn't loosen as she darted through the streets and alleys.
"**Grandma Mito!**"
Wuye was dragged along, following her into a sprawling Japanese-style mansion that covered at least a thousand square meters.
As the widow of the First Hokage and a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Mito's status and treatment were akin to a national matriarch.
"**Huh? Where's Grandma?**"
Kushina stared at the empty bedroom, puzzled.
"**Look over there.**"
Wuye stood at the doorway, pointing to a five-story tower on the right.
Kushina ran out and looked up, spotting Mito sitting at the top, smiling down at her kindly.
Two Anbu ninjas—one in fox mask, the other in bear—stood behind her, carefully guarding.
"**Swish, swish!**"
Mito must've said something, because the Anbu helped her down with Body Flicker, settling her into a prepared wheelchair before vanishing again.
"**Grandma, why'd you go up to the tower?**" Kushina asked, letting go of Wuye's hand to grab the wheelchair handles.
"**Grandma wanted one last look at Hashirama's legacy, so I can tell him what Konoha's like now,**" Mito said with a smile.
Kushina's eyes welled up. "**Grandma…**"
Mito patted her small hand, then looked at Wuye. "**This is the boy you've chosen?**"
"**Greetings, Lady Mito!**" Wuye quickly bowed.
He held deep respect for this woman who'd stood by the First Hokage since the Warring States era and single-handedly suppressed the full Nine-Tails.
"**Come, give me your hand,**" Mito said suddenly.
Though puzzled, Wuye obeyed, extending his hand. Her aged palm grasped it.
A faint red chakra seemed to flicker in her cloudy eyes before fading. She soon released him.
"**This little one's young, but his mind's heavy with hidden malice,**" Mito said slowly.
Wuye's heart jolted… *The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's ability to sense malice?*
But where did he have malice? Toward the Third Hokage, maybe?
Not really—he understood that a nuclear weapon like Kushina had to be kept away from major clans. Any Hokage would instinctively want control.
"**Grandma…**"
Kushina called out, worried.
"**Don't worry,**" Mito's wrinkled brow smoothed. "**Everyone has malice in their heart—it's just a matter of how much.**"
"**Kushina, once you master the Nine-Tails' power, you'll see malice radiating from everyone around you. You'll need to learn tolerance, because that's just how people are,**" she said kindly.
"**Yes, I understand.**"
Kushina relaxed.
Mito paused to catch her breath, then turned to Wuye. "**This child's chakra is like a flame—hot and warm. Kushina, you've got a good eye.**"
"**If you love each other, leave room for one another—don't let the future bring regrets,**" she advised.
In the Naruto world, where people married at thirteen or fourteen, kids dating at eight or nine was perfectly normal.
So Mito's attitude didn't surprise Wuye.
He nodded solemnly. "**Yes, Lady Mito.**"
"**No need for 'Lady.' Call me Grandma, like Kushina does,**" Mito said with a gentle smile.
Wuye blinked. "**G-Grandma?**"
Did that make him Tsunade's peer? Was Grandma Mito being a bit *too* considerate…?
"**Good child,**" Mito nodded warmly, then turned to Kushina. "**How's your Adamantine Sealing Chains training going?**"
"**I…**"
Kushina sneaked a glance at Wuye, her face flushing. "**I can only manage one chakra chain.**"
"**One…**" Mito mused. "**That should be enough. Show Grandma.**"
Wuye's ears perked up instantly.
*The Uzumaki clan's exclusive sealing technique! Wonder if I can analyze it.*
If he could pull *that* off…
This body's mysterious talent would be downright godly!
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