Chapter 22

"Grandma Mito, why don't you go teach Kushina for a bit? I'm going to take a short break!"

With that, Takayama Haru leapt up into a nearby tree.

Uzumaki Mito responded sternly, "Haru, you can't get cocky! If you stop learning, you'll never grow!"

"Got it, Grandma Mito. I'll just watch from here."

Kushina huffed, "Hmph! Alright, Grandma Mito, but I don't believe he can just watch and still learn something."

Uzumaki Mito glanced at Haru and nodded to herself. Maybe it was time to humble him a little. Pride leads nowhere good.

After all, Kushina wasn't lacking in talent either. Let her show him up a bit—keep that ego in check.

With that thought, Mito turned away from Haru and focused on instructing Kushina again.

Meanwhile, Haru was smiling internally as he browsed the rewards from his system.

A-rank Sealing Technique – Four Symbols Seal

S-rank Advanced Sealing Technique – Reaper Death Seal

He was thrilled.

During the Chūnin Exams, the Third Hokage had used the Reaper Death Seal to seal Orochimaru's arms.

And during the Nine-Tails attack, Minato Namikaze had used the same jutsu to seal half of Kurama's chakra.

Now Haru had both the Four Symbols Seal and the Reaper Death Seal.

His fusion rate with the Hashirama character card had even hit 100%.

Could he really seal the Nine-Tails himself now?

He opened his [Status] panel:

[Name: Takayama Haru]

[Strength: Quasi-Kage]

[Rank: Shinobi]

[Character Card: SSS Rank – Hashirama Senju (Fusion Rate: 25.01%)]

[Kekkei Genkai: Divine Wood Release (tied to Character Card)]

[Ninjutsu: Flying Thunder God Lv3, Earth Rebirth Lv3, Lightning Chidori Lv3, Great Forest Crack Lv3, Yin Seal Lv1, Four Symbols Seal Lv1, Reaper Death Seal Lv1]

With his fusion rate at 25%, Haru had officially reached Quasi-Kage strength.

Previously, his strength was about on par with the Legendary Sannin—but still within the realm of elite jōnin.

Reflecting on the power tiers in the Naruto world was always strange.

The Legendary Sannin were elite upper-tier jōnin, and later Konohamaru also became one… kind of absurd, right?

Haru stayed put in the Uzumaki courtyard, watching as Mito trained Kushina. The courtyard gates remained shut.

Mito had warned him: the village wasn't safe right now. Better not to go out.

A few days passed.

Though Haru hadn't left, someone did come to them.

"Grandma, someone's here asking for Kushina."

Kushina blinked. "Who is it?"

"It's Uchiha Mikoto from the Uchiha clan."

Mito smiled. "Ah, Mikoto. Let her in."

"Kushina, take a break. The Four Symbols Seal is a bit tough—don't push too hard."

Kushina wiped the sweat from her brow and nodded.

"My old bones won't be joining your girls' get-together," Mito said as she walked off with a chuckle.

A moment later, Uchiha Mikoto stepped in.

Best friends reunited—naturally, they hugged and giggled, chatting away happily.

Then Mikoto glanced around the courtyard.

"Where's Haru? I heard he's been staying here."

Kushina looked up slightly. "Behind you."

"Huh?"

Mikoto turned and saw a tree. Looking up, she spotted Haru perched in its branches.

"What are you doing up there?"

Haru grinned. "Just relaxing."

"So weird!" Mikoto muttered, ignoring him as she pulled Kushina aside for some girl talk.

Haru's ears twitched—he couldn't help but hear them. Not because he was eavesdropping, but because their voices weren't exactly quiet.

At Quasi-Kage level, hearing whispers was easy.

"Hey, Kushina! I heard you and Haru are getting married?"

"Wha—! Who told you that?"

"So it's not official yet, huh? Wow, you're moving fast! When are we getting the sweets?"

Kushina sneaked a glance at Haru in the tree, cheeks flushing red. "Stop saying nonsense!"

Then she leaned closer and whispered back, "He's so cold sometimes!"

"But seriously, he's so handsome. That day, he used Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence and wiped out those jōnin who ambushed us!"

"Haha, Kushina! I heard you fainted—how would you even know? You totally pretended to faint, didn't you?"

Kushina's face turned crimson. "No way! I just blacked out for a moment, then came right back. I wasn't faking!"

Haru smirked from above. His strength didn't lie.

That day, Kushina had been hit by a genjutsu and had fainted in his arms. She hadn't opened her eyes once from start to finish.

Now she was out here bragging like a hero.

Yep, humans really do love to exaggerate.

After chatting for a bit longer, Mikoto suddenly turned serious.

"Kushina, did you hear? The investigation into Root and the Foundation has concluded. The Hokage's ordered Root to be disbanded, Danzo has been removed, and both advisors are now on forced leave..."