Chapter 102: Uncle, why don't you come pick me up and take me to Konoha?

One hour earlier...

Inside the Raikage's office in Kumogakure.

A, the Third Raikage, gazed solemnly at Yugito Nii and Musai standing before him and spoke in a heavy voice.

"Half an hour ago," he began, "news came back from the frontlines. The advance scouting squad was ambushed by Hidden Mist ninja when landing on Oshima Island. Tokubetsu Jonin Saiei has fallen."

Yugito couldn't bring herself to believe what she'd just heard.

Tears silently streamed down her cheeks, and the world around her blurred into wavering shadows.

"Lord Raikage... my dad..."

Musai's mind went completely blank. Tears streamed down his face. He opened his mouth several times but no words came out—he didn't know what to ask or say.

His retirement papers had already been approved.

No longer a shinobi, he was suddenly summoned to the Raikage's office by Anbu.

On his way here, he'd imagined many possibilities and even steeled himself mentally.

But now, hearing the news of his father's death, he realized he wasn't nearly as strong as he'd believed.

"During the battle with the Mist shinobi," said Dodai, stepping forward, "Tokubetsu Jonin Saiei remained calm under pressure. He devised the most effective countermeasures, protected Kinoto Niqai—who had limited mission experience—and successfully rescued Toroi Jonin from peril. To give his teammates a chance to escape, he stayed behind to hold off the enemy, slowing their pursuit. In the end, he sacrificed himself bravely. He is a hero of Kumogakure—an outstanding ninja who embodied the Will of Lightning!"

Musai wept uncontrollably, repeatedly wiping his tears with his sleeve.

He remembered the pride on his father's face every time he'd admired him.

His heart ached more than ever.

Honestly, he didn't care much for heroes—he only admired his own father.

"Liar! You're all liars! Uncle promised me..."

Yugito whispered.

Like a helpless young beast that had lost its only source of support, she looked around in confusion and despair.

Surrounding her body,

the Two-Tails Matatabi's flame-like azure tailed beast chakra enveloped her completely.

Two tails formed of chakra swayed behind her.

The tailed beast chakra was clearly beginning to go berserk!

"Yugito! Calm down!"

The Raikage frowned, radiating the terrifying aura of a Kage-level expert.

But the Yugito of this moment could neither hear nor feel anything he said or radiated.

A sharp, tearing sound rang through her mind.

Her consciousness instantly sank deep into her inner world.

There, sitting atop the Two-Tails Matatabi's head, was a young man wearing a Konoha Jonin flak vest and sporting dazzling golden hair.

He was talking to the Two-Tails while smacking its head without hesitation.

The big cat, usually so temperamental in Yugito's mind, now crouched low on the ground, too subdued to resist.

When he saw Yugito appear,

his form stiffened for a moment before he slowly raised two massive paws to cover his face.

"...Uncle?"

Yugito tilted her head slightly to the side, speaking softly with a hint of uncertainty.

Fragments of sealed memories surfaced in her mind—endless flashes of sealing techniques, secrets for controlling the tailed beast, and training experiences kept flashing through her mind...

"Glad to know I'm not dead?"

Kei Yamanaka leapt down from the top of the Two-Tails Matatabi and stepped out of the cage formed by the ironclad seal. Walking toward Yugito, he ruffled her hair gently.

"You big cheater."

Yugito pouted sadly. She rose slightly onto her tiptoes, letting the sensation atop her head feel even more real.

"With the Two-Tails' power masking you, Lord Raikage won't notice anything out of the ordinary. But if this continues too long, eventually he'll sense something's wrong. There's a lot I want to say, but I'll keep it brief..."

Kei gently patted Yugito's head. This clone he left behind was formed using the existence of the ironclad seal, infused with a large amount of Yin Release energy combined with part of his memories. Although limited by his modest sealing skills and the less-than-ideal quality of the ironclad seal, its total quantity—estimated at a rough glance—wasn't as much as what Namikaze Minato had left inside Naruto in the original story.

However, thanks to mental fortitude significantly stronger than Minato's, its quality far exceeded his!

As long as she didn't squander this strength recklessly, it could stay with Yugito for a very long time.

Inside the Raikage's office, A—the Third Raikage—looked at Yugito, whose tailed beast chakra was quickly fading away, with hollow eyes and sighed lightly.

Yugito truly was a promising talent; Saiei was also a man of integrity. His previous reassignment orders were primarily intended to protect Saiei from external mission risks. He wanted him to remain behind and properly guide the jinchuriki's growth.

Who would've guessed Saiei would perish on his final mission.

"Cheater."

Yugito lowered her head again, muttering quietly under her breath. Without greeting anyone, she turned around, pushed open the door to the Raikage's office, and walked outside.

"Lord Raikage."

Dodai took one step forward, watching Yugito's receding form with visible nervousness.

"It's okay; she won't disregard Saiei's wishes."

The Third Raikage A's voice rang clearly in Yugito's ears.

The little girl hesitated for just a moment before continuing to walk outward.

"Heard that? The Raikage personally acknowledged you."

Kei Yamanaka's voice echoed within Yugito's heart.

"Uncle, I'm really nervous! Don't tease me like this!"

Yugito whispered silently within her mind. Keeping her head low so no one could see her expression, she walked wordlessly toward home.

"Lord Raikage, I will take my leave as well."

Musai wiped tears from his eyes and bowed respectfully toward the Third Raikage.

"...Live well."

The Raikage opened his mouth but finally said only four words.

As a ninja, Saiei had already fulfilled his duty admirably. And as a father, since Saiei wished for his son to live a peaceful life, then as the Raikage, he would choose to respect that wish.

He watched as Musai forced a smile, accepted the order, and then turned to walk out of the office door.

A, the Third Raikage, spoke again, issuing orders to Dodai standing beside him.

"Inform the Logistics Team. If necessary, prioritize purchases from their ranch."

"Yes."

Dodai nodded respectfully and quickly wrote this down in his notebook.

"Have the Sealing Team monitor Nii's condition today, and notify the family of the fallen ninja."

The Third Raikage stood by the window of his office.

Gazing out at the rolling clouds beyond the window, he instinctively tightened his grip on the railing.

The rail creaked ominously under his strength and began to twist and deform.

Kiri...

Ambushes in the dark, calculated provocations, preemptive strikes!

Very well!

If you don't even consider Kumogakure worth your respect, then we'll start with you!

Kumogakure – Block Two.

Nii quickened her pace, eventually breaking into a run as she made her way home.

After closing the bedroom door behind her, she threw herself under the blankets, burying her head deep inside.

Letting out a deep breath of relief, she puffed her flushed cheeks and muttered bitterly,

"Uncle~ I'm not good at acting at all. What if someone notices something later?"

"Ding ding ding~ Attention please, Uncle Kei's lesson begins now~"

Kei Yamanaka spoke in a strangely playful tone, narrating his years of disguise experience like a bedtime story for children.

At this point.

Even if Nii messed up and burst out laughing right then and there,

Most people would probably just think the poor girl was still too traumatized to act properly.

As for the future...

With him guiding her every step of the way, pretending wouldn't be a problem at all!

"Uncle, how about you come get me and take me to Konoha?"

Resting her chin on her hands, Nii voiced her innocent fantasy.

"What a great idea! Let me work hard and see how many years that might take."

"You're no fun, Uncle~"

"How about you focus on becoming the perfect Jinchuriki first, and then come find me?"

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