Jinchuriki, those who hold the tailed beasts, are usually tied to a village leader, a Kage, either the current one or someone from the past.
Right now, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha is Senior Sakumo. Uzumaki Kushina isn't related to him by blood. This could mean she might end up alone, without family, for the rest of her life. If someone wanted to marry Kushina, they'd need to be on Senior Sakumo's side, politically speaking.
Namikaze Minato had been worried the village elders might try to force Kushina to marry Sarutobi Ryo. But now, that worry seems to have disappeared.
This is really … great… Minato thought, feeling incredibly relieved.
Kushina understood what this meant, too. If she married Minato, she'd need a noble status to avoid causing political problems within the village.
"Minato, does this mean we can be together?" Kushina asked, her face a little flushed, a happy smile on her face. Her eyes sparkled, and Minato felt a surge of love in his heart.
"Yeah…" Minato replied, gazing at her.
I guess … he thought. Even though I didn 't become Hokage, Kushina and I will still be together.
Beside them, Uzumaki Mito sat quietly in her chair, lost in her thoughts. Earlier that morning, Koharu and Homura had come to discuss this very matter. Taking Kushina in as an adoptive granddaughter wasn't a problem, of course. But this idea had come from Sarutobi Ryo.
According to Koharu and Homura, Sarutobi Ryo had even suggested that Minato become Senior Sakumo's adopted son! Mito knew both suggestions were meant to help Kushina and Minato be together. Still, she couldn't help but wonder about Sarutobi Ryo's motives. He's so cunning, she thought. What is he really planning?
When Minato and Kushina finished talking, they both turned to Uzumaki Mito.
"Lord Mito, is something bothering you?" Minato asked.
"Yes, there are some things I'm concerned about," Mito said bluntly. She didn't directly say she didn't trust Sarutobi Ryo.
Mito's reaction made Minato's smile fade. He started to think about what she might be worried about.
----
Soon after, Tsunade heard the news.
"What?! Grandma is adopting Kushina as her granddaughter?!" Tsunade exclaimed, her eyes wide with shock. But then, she thought, Well … the Uzumaki Clan only has Kushina left. Uzumaki Mito was thinking about her own family, which was understandable.
"Hmm… Adoptive Sister…" Tsunade mused, finding the idea of suddenly having a sister quite interesting. Thinking of a sister reminded her of Nawaki, and her eyes grew sad. "Right… Sarutobi Ryo…"
Tsunade looked at the ninja who'd brought the news. "I haven't thanked you for something yet…"
It was about Sarutobi Ryo moving Kato Dan's grave back from the Uzumaki Country. It had been a while, and she felt she should thank him properly. This was also why she had been so helpful with Sarutobi Ryo's Yin Seal training.
Sarutobi Ryo, waiting to be thanked, nodded eagerly. I'll make sure you thank me properly … Princess Tsunade… he thought.
Looking at her beautiful face and amazing figure, he felt certain desires stirring within him. Just as Uzumaki Mito suspected, Sarutobi Ryo had darkness inside him.
Sarutobi Ryo certainly had those kinds of thoughts. But so what? As long as it didn't interfere with his goals.
Just as they were about to continue talking, Jiraiya arrived.
"What brings you here?" Tsunade asked, not thinking he'd come to confess his love again. After all, she'd rejected him countless times. Jiraiya wouldn't want to embarrass himself.
"Ha, Sarutobi Ryo's here too…" Jiraiya said, walking over and pouring himself some tea. "Well, I just experienced something interesting…" He smiled. "I… felt the passage of time…"
Kakashi had told him that Obito was having troubles with love. This meant the younger generation was growing up.
"Minato is my student, Obito is my grand-student… my grand-student is already worried about love…" Jiraiya shrugged, feeling old. He was almost a grandfather! He glanced at Tsunade. She looked beautiful, not old at all. That must be some secret technique, he thought, like Lord Mito's.
"You came here just to tell me this?" Tsunade asked, surprised. Obito, Rin, and Kakashi were teenagers; wasn't it normal for them to be dealing with love?
"Not really…" Jiraiya said, his expression turning serious. "Tsunade, I just thought that we're getting older, and some things should be considered now, so we don't have regrets… so…" He was planning to confess to Tsunade again.
"I'm not interested in a playboy like you…" Tsunade said, rejecting him. Drinking in brothels and writing R-rated novels - how could she ever be interested in someone like that?
Jiraiya wasn't embarrassed by being rejected again. In front of Sarutobi Ryo, he just shrugged, as if he'd expected this.
"Even so, Tsunade… are you really going to waste your youth completely?" Jiraiya asked, standing up. "You can reject me, but aren't you being too hard on yourself? Such a good youth, such a beautiful face, wasted in vain. Are you really going to be alone for the rest of your life? Besides, if you don't get married, what about Shizune? Dan's niece, are you going to have her serve you forever? When Shizune gets married, who will take care of you?"
Jiraiya's heartfelt words only made Tsunade angry. She told him to leave. But she knew he was right.
Younger Brother is gone, she thought. Dan is gone. What can I do? I can't let go of the past.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Shizune quickly went to see Jiraiya off. The room fell into a strange silence.
Sarutobi Ryo picked up his teacup and took a sip, unaffected. "The tea is good…" he commented.
This kid has time to drink tea? Tsunade thought.
"Your childhood sweetheart is nice. You and that Yamanaka girl have made it this far in such an ordinary way."
"That's not necessarily true…" Sarutobi Ryo said, seeing Tsunade was about to get upset. "We were on the battlefield back then, and it was terrible. Minato's two teammates died. My Jonin instructor died too…"
Sarutobi Ryo's words about the war silenced Tsunade. Nawaki and Dan had both died in that war. Both she and Sarutobi Ryo had experienced its cruelty. So, those who survived were both strong and lucky. Being safe and sound was already a blessing.
Unable to vent her anger, Tsunade could only feel sorry for herself. She couldn't continue to say hurtful things to Sarutobi Ryo.
Then, Sarutobi Ryo said to her, "Some things… Lord Tsunade, wouldn't you like to try… living again?"
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[T/N:
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 252 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
This and the next Chapter are bonus chapters for today's release
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]