After several minutes had passed, Tsunade returned from her run.
She was holding a rice ball and taking a bite out of it as she walked over, mumbling with her mouth full, "Grandmother's having a meal. You'll need to wait a bit longer. I'll show you around our Senju clan compound first."
Without waiting for Akaba to reply, she turned and walked toward the house on her own.
Akaba hesitated, then muttered quietly, "Actually, there's no need to tour around. Sitting would've been just fine."
To a ninja like Akaba, that level of volume was perfectly audible, but clearly Tsunade had no intention of acknowledging him, continuing forward as his guide regardless.
With no choice, Akaba could only follow along.
Otherwise, staying here alone might make others think he was snooping around the Senju compound.
The two walked one after another along the path.
"The Senju clan's residence isn't that big. Were you surprised the first time seeing it?" Tsunade said smilingly.
"Not really."
Though Akaba simply replied "No," Tsunade acted as if he hadn't spoken at all. The little girl kept walking while chattering about family history nonstop: "Well, our family never had many people, and we don't insist on marrying within the clan either. So nowadays, the Senju clan only consists of a few households like this."
Akaba decided not to reply anymore.
"That biggest one over there is my grandmother's courtyard. I usually live there too, although actually I have my own private yard—it's this one right here."
Tsunade pointed things out one by one, practically covering everything worth mentioning.
However, Akaba noticed that although the Senju territory wasn't large, hidden within the houses were strange elements. At some inconspicuous spots, he often caught sight of tiny, special ninjutsu symbols.
Though unfamiliar with them, he easily guessed these must be Uzumaki sealing technique markings.
"Impressive!" Akaba thought to himself, feeling genuinely impressed.
One must never underestimate the power hidden within a great clan. Compared to the Sakuma clan, which appeared prosperous at first glance yet lacked unique ninjutsu inheritances or summoning beasts, [Kekkei Genkai] awakening rates inevitably declined over time, leading to their rapid decline.
"There's actually not much else worth seeing here, but since we can't meet Grandmother yet, we'll just wander around aimlessly for now."
Tsunade summed up the state of the Senju clan in just a few sentences.
Hearing this, Akaba felt slightly relieved and said, "Then we could find a place to sit down."
"No way. You're too lazy. Once you sit, you won't want to get up again. Since we finally got out, I insist on making you take a proper walk for better health."
Tsunade rejected mercilessly.
When someone offered good intentions like this, what more could he say?
Akaba sighed inwardly but accepted he wouldn't be resting anytime soon.
They wandered without purpose, randomly strolling around for half an hour before finally being joined by a Senju ninja who came to lead them toward meeting Mito Uzumaki.
Entering the courtyard, Akaba saw a figure lying on a reclining chair, gently reading a small book in hand.
The incredible vitality passed down through the Uzumaki bloodline, enhanced by the Yin Seal, gave Mito Uzumaki extraordinary resistance to aging. Looking now, she appeared more like a thirty-something beautiful woman rather than a legendary kage-level ninja from the same era as Hashirama Senju.
"So you're the Sakuma Akaba that little Tsunade spoke about? Sit down!"
Mito Uzumaki had set out two chairs beforehand—one close to her, and the other slightly further away.
Akaba naturally chose the more distant seat. Tsunade was about to walk over and take the closer one when Mito lifted her head slightly in mild surprise, saying, "Child, why are you sitting there? Come sit by Grandma."
"I'm fine right here."
Akaba felt a bit uneasy and straightened his posture.
Smiling warmly at him, Mito then said to Tsunade, "Little Tsunade, go sit over there. Let Akaba come sit with me, Grandma."
Tsunade hesitated for a moment, looking somewhat incredulous. This wasn't the plan at all!
Inside, Akaba sighed to himself. No matter why Mito wanted him close, sharing air with someone so powerful couldn't end well.
As a member of the Uzumaki clan, her mastery of Sealing Techniques and Sensor abilities was unparalleled. Sitting this close to such a master meant even the slightest emotional fluctuation might be detected—like being seated beside a living lie detector.
So when they swapped seats, both wore uneasy looks on their faces.
"Child, is your story set in the future?"
Mito asked while glancing through the pages.
"No, it's just a fictional tale I imagine."
He had repeated this line countless times already—so much so that he now believed it himself, making any slip-up impossible.
"A fascinating story indeed. I thought about it for quite some time last night. Many elements from the beginning deeply resonated with me, which is why I grew curious. That's why I sent Tsunade to fetch you—so we could speak face-to-face."
Mito gave Akaba a gentle smile. "Like how you described the Nine-Tails Beast in chapter one…"
At that moment, her expression briefly stiffened, and a ripple of chakra spread outward from her.
Sitting closest, Akaba felt the force immediately—not only the overwhelming pressure, but also a strange indescribable sound.
However, shortly after, she gently patted the sealed belly, and the ripple vanished.
Was that voice from the Nine-Tails?
Akaba mused thoughtfully. No wonder she only made it through one manga chapter yesterday—likely because halfway in, the Nine-Tails stirred. But Mito, true to her title as the First Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, silenced it with a single wave of her hand.
Badass!
"The Nine-Tails Beast is based on the original fox sealed by the First Hokage, with a few creative liberties of my own," Akaba explained.
"Hahaha! I knew you had great imagination. However, the real Nine-Tails is a bit gentler than what you wrote," Mito replied.
Then, pointing at The Fourth's stone statue among the Hokage carvings, she asked, "Is The Fourth Hokage part of your imagination too?"
"Yes. In fact, I based him on someone I saw in the village when I was in school, and built from his appearance."
"Mm-hmm, is Konohamaru Sarutobi the son of Shinnosuke?"
...
At first, Akaba felt nervous, suspecting Mito was testing him about deeper hidden aspects of the ninja world within the manga. But after a few exchanges, he slowly realized—
Wait… Isn't this just a fan from another world wanting spoilers?
Initially displeased, Tsunade eventually started listening attentively as well, her face gradually lighting up with curiosity and excitement.
"Oh, by the way—does Naruto become Hokage?"
"It still came to this..."
Mito Uzumaki didn't finish the second half of her sentence, but the implied meaning was obvious enough without further explanation.
After figuring it out, Redfeather naturally wouldn't answer obediently. He lightly coughed and said, "Granny Mito, this involves future plot developments, so I won't answer."
"Hmm?"
After a slight moment of surprise, Mito Uzumaki said, "It's fine, just tell me alone."
Was she about to kick him out of the audience?
Hearing this, Tsunade immediately snapped, "Granny, how could you do that!"
"Granny Mito, if I tell you what happens next, where's the fun in listening?"
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** on the weekend!