Clothes lay scattered across the room — one piece draped squarely over Senju Moriki's head.
An hour passed.
Then another.
Soft, breathless, unmistakably intimate sounds drifted through the room — sounds so close and yet so unreachable that each one carved a new wound into Moriki's already crumbling sanity.
Only when the faint rustle of clothing being put back on finally ceased did Moriki regain movement. His Senju–Uzumaki vitality kept his body strong, but psychologically, the night had aged him years.
With trembling fingers, he lifted the garment covering his face. Light poured in through the window, leaving the figure seated at the bedside a silhouette — but her gaze found him.
Cold. Flat. Utterly dismissive.
Like she was staring at a stain on the roadside.
"Five-Element Seal."
"Tongue-Curse Seal."
Two swift spiral-pattern seals flared from Uzumaki Minako's fingertips. The first locked away his chakra; the second sealed his tongue, ensuring not a single word about last night could ever escape him.
Her voice was calm — ice-calm.
"Moriki-san, I think… I may already be pregnant with Tsunade's little brother."
She stepped past him without a glance.
"I really must thank you."
She had not erased her memories. She remembered everything. And she chose her path freely.
Minako left the foul-smelling room and entered the bath. Her steps were faintly unsteady, but her expression remained tranquil as she wiped the remnants of the night from her skin.
Her eyes softened only when they settled on the Flying Thunder God kunai resting gently by the bathtub's edge.
[An-san… I'll support you from within the Senju.]
[I may never stand openly beside you, but everything I am belongs to you.]
[I'll teach Tsunade, guide her, help her trust you. When she draws close to you, the feud between our clans will fade.]
As fragments of last night's embrace drifted across her mind, Minako sank into the warm water, pressing her hands to her blushing cheeks. She could hardly believe the feverish, ravenous woman she had been was… herself.
"Haa… yesterday's nightmare is over. From today onward… my new life begins."
Minako released bubbles under the surface.
Meanwhile, in another wing of the compound, Uzumaki Mito, who had not slept at all, had sensed everything through her terrifyingly precise chakra perception.
She approached Moriki — now a shivering heap — didn't bother inspecting Minako's seals, and simply dragged him outside.
"Send him to the Blood Prison in Hōzuki City. At once."
Attendants paled and obeyed.
Morning sunlight fell over her, but Mito's heart was heavy with dread.
What if Minako had lost herself? What of Tsunade? What of the Forest Senju?
Should they abandon the Senju name entirely and assimilate into Konoha…?
She exhaled shakily, remembering Hashirama's kindness… and Tobirama's warnings.
Not long after, Minako appeared — clean, dressed, serene — stepping out with light, decisive footsteps.
Before Mito could speak, Minako gently interjected.
"Mito-sama, let's leave yesterday behind. I'll check on Tsunade, we'll have breakfast, and then I'll head to the Hokage Tower."
Mito's lips trembled. She didn't know whether to grieve or sigh in relief.
Her thoughts were a tangled haze as she wandered into the Hokage's office.
"Secretary Mito?"
Minamoto Kaori, the most obedient member of the household, had arrived thirty minutes early and was already working. She set aside a half-read document and looked at Mito with gentle concern.
"Are you feeling unwell?"
"Thank you, Kaori-hime… I just need a moment."
Kaori nodded and lowered her gaze. On her lap rested a chubby orange cat — Juno, tail flicking lazily in his sleep.
The cat purred with bliss.
Only in such moments did the world feel peaceful.
Later, after breakfast, Minako cupped Tsunade's soft cheeks, trying to erase the lingering fear in her daughter's eyes.
"Mother… are you really okay?"
"I'm fine. Last night was just one of your father's terrible jokes."
Tsunade bit her lip. "But last night—"
"Tsunade… do you trust Mother?"
"…I do."
"Good girl."
She stroked her daughter's golden hair.
"Your father has to leave for a secret mission today. If you feel lonely, you can find me… or Mito-sama… or even Teacher Soren."
Tsunade blinked. "Why Teacher Soren?"
Minako's smile turned warm and true.
"Because Teacher Soren will be the one who treats you best — besides Mother."
Tsunade nodded seriously.
"I understand."
"Then hurry to the Advanced Division. You're a genin now — follow the rules. Never be late."
Tsunade groaned but ran off toward the renovated shinobi academy at the village's heart.
Meanwhile, in the Uchiha compound, Soren's real body had summoned Uchiha Rai, Uchiha Baru, and Uchiha Naka.
A shadow clone was already headed toward the Advanced Division.
"You three wish to travel and break through your limits. Good ambition." Soren said. "Where did you intend to go?"
The sharp-eyed Uchiha Naka replied:
"The Land of Lightning, Young Lord. Only chaotic lands breed the harshest battles."
"A fair thought," Soren agreed. Then his tone shifted.
"But you're still shinobi of Konoha. You follow Konoha's rules."
He folded his arms.
"Soon, I'll announce missions tied to the Land of Lightning. If you go then, you'll gain far more."
His voice deepened with certainty.
"That region will become the battlefield for wandering shinobi of Lightning, Wind, Earth, Water — and the Land of Fire. Anyone below Kage-level."
"Go now, and you may find no worthy opponents."
The trio exchanged glances. Then the boldest, Uchiha Baru, asked:
"Young Lord Soren… when will this begin?"
Soren smiled.
"Two or three days."
"If you're bored, I'll issue a mission shortly. Go to Amegakure."
"There's someone there who's a very good match for the three of you."
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