Chapter 31: The Embarrassed Hiruzen

When they returned to the Hidden Leaf Village, Uchiha Hikari was already waiting at home.

"You're finally back!" she said sharply, though her tone was warm. "If you didn't return today, I was going to fetch you myself!"

She stepped forward, placing a hand gently on Gin's shoulder. A soft pulse of chakra and mental energy surged from her fingertips, scanning his entire body with expert precision.

After a moment, she smiled—truly smiled—and ruffled his hair with rare tenderness.

"Perfect. Your life force has not only recovered... it's even stronger than before. You're healthy again. I've waited so long for this day."

"Heh-heh," Gin chuckled sheepishly. "I made you worry, Mom. But I promise—it's only going to get better from here. Now I can finally train again. I'll grow even stronger!"

"Yes!" Hikari nodded, then quickly changed gears. "Enough talking. Let's have breakfast first. Then we're going to visit the Senju Clan."

They sat down at the table together—Gin, Hikari, and Mikoto. As they began eating, Hikari glanced at the girl.

"Mikoto, are you going to the Academy today?"

"No need," Mikoto shook her head. "But I'm meeting up with Kushina. We're going shopping."

At this, Hikari raised an eyebrow. "Uzumaki Kushina?"

She nodded. "Yeah! We're good friends. Since she lives in the Senju compound, we thought we'd go together."

"I see..." Hikari's gaze sharpened. "That girl—keep a good relationship with her. She has potential."

Her words carried a subtle undertone. Although Kushina had not yet become the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, if Mito survived longer—especially with Gin's new medicine—her fate might change. The Uzumaki clan's vitality and longevity, when properly managed, could defy even the cruelest of destinies.

Mikoto, however, simply nodded. "Of course! Kushina's really kind."

She didn't catch the nuance in Hikari's tone. For her, Kushina was just a close friend who shared her energy and spirit.

After breakfast and some quick tidying, Hikari led Gin and Mikoto to the Senju Compound. It took them over ten minutes of walking before they arrived at a large, traditional courtyard surrounded by cherry trees and ancestral wards.

"Hikari, you're here!" came a warm voice.

Standing at the entrance were none other than Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade, smiling graciously.

"Welcome," Mito greeted. "We've been expecting you."

Two Anbu guards bowed respectfully. "Hikari-sama."

Hikari returned the greeting with dignity and stepped inside. Behind them, several Konoha shinobi tried to eavesdrop from a distance—but with a graceful wave of Mito's hand, the gates shut behind them. Layers of seals activated, erecting a soundproof barrier, anti-spy wards, and perceptual illusions that isolated the courtyard from all outside observation.

Meanwhile — Inside the Hokage's Office

In the dim-lit office of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen stared helplessly at his crystal ball, now displaying only static.

"Tch… That's unfortunate," he sighed. "I'll have to ask Mito-sama directly. Hopefully, everything went well…"

"Hmph!" Shimura Danzō snorted from across the room, arms folded beneath his cloak. "All this time you boasted about your 'Divination Orb'—and in the end, what does it get you? You're only good at spying on the women's bathhouse."

"You—!!" Hiruzen's face turned red.

Seeing Koharu Utatane spit out her tea and Homura Mitokado stifling a laugh, the Hokage hurriedly protested:

"Don't listen to Danzō! That's slander! When have I ever—?!"

He turned desperately to Koharu. "You've known me for decades! You know I would never!"

Koharu raised a brow and crossed her arms. "We've all known you for decades. And that's exactly why I believe it."

"Please don't tell Biwako," Hiruzen groaned, slumping in his chair. "If she finds out, I'm a dead man."

Koharu gave him a withering look, then turned serious.

"Enough. Back to business. What do you make of Mito-sama's condition? Has Hikari truly recovered?"

Hiruzen sighed, his voice low. "Nearly. Danzō and I have been observing for weeks. Even if she's not at full capacity, she's strong—far stronger than before. She's not dying anytime soon."

The others fell silent. That news was… inconvenient.

With Hikari's resurgence, their slow and subtle suppression of the Uchiha Clan would fail. She had already begun reinforcing the clan's losses, balancing their power in the village once more.

Koharu and Homura glanced at Danzō.

"It's true," he said, his tone bitter.

Koharu's brow furrowed. "Then… we'll have to pull back, at least for now. If Mito-sama and Hikari join forces, none of our strategies will succeed. We'd be forced to surrender every advantage."

Back in the Senju Compound

Inside the main hall, warm tea steamed from elegant porcelain cups. After exchanging pleasantries, Tsunade stepped out to fetch more refreshments, and Kushina headed off with Mikoto for their planned shopping trip.

Now alone, Uzumaki Mito turned her full attention to Hikari and Gin. Her sharp eyes studied the woman and her son with the focus of a seasoned kunoichi—and a master of life force.

"I expected you to be recovering," Mito said at last. "But Tsunade told me you were flourishing. And now I see it with my own eyes."

Her gaze narrowed slightly.

"Your physique… your vitality… they've both surpassed even your peak condition. Your soul resonance is clearer. Your chakra flow more refined. Even your Sharingan has stabilized."

She paused.

"If I didn't know you were a pure-blooded Uchiha, I'd have mistaken you for a Senju—or an Uzumaki. And your son…" She looked at Gin, who bowed slightly under her gaze.

"His life force… it's unnatural for someone his age. Not long ago, he was a weak child with congenital flaws. But now? Not only has he overcome them, he's stronger than many of his peers."

Mito leaned forward slightly.

"What happened during your time away? Can you tell me the truth?"