The next day, Seiya and the others set off, speeding back to the village.
Ten days later, they arrived in Kumogakure and headed directly for the Raikage Building.
The building was constructed on the mountainside.
The mountain body was hollowed out, and a huge spherical structure was erected as support.
The spherical surface was covered with one-way transparent glass, shining with dazzling light in the sunlight, like a small sun.
"It's so magnificent!"
Karin gazed at the majestic Raikage Building, unable to help but sigh in admiration.
A village like Kusagakure probably couldn't build a single building like this with ten years of financial revenue.
Uchiha Mikoto secretly praised it. Kumogakure's geographical conditions were uniquely blessed.
The Kage's building could be constructed within the mountain, making it much more imposing than Konoha's, which was built on flat ground.
They passed through the winding streets and rode the elevator through the Raikage Building until they reached the top floor.
Yugito Nii knocked on the door of the Raikage Secretary's office and led the group inside.
Behind the desk sat a young woman with a pleasant appearance, dark skin, and silver, shoulder-length hair.
Time flies like a white steed flashing past a crack. Mabui had been the Raikage's secretary for nine years and now handled village affairs with ease. The fountain pen for approving documents spun rapidly between her fingers.
"Seiya-kun, did your B-rank mission to the Land of Grass go smoothly?"
Mabui stood up, smiling, and subtly scrutinized the two unfamiliar faces next to the young man.
Seiya shook his head, "Not very smoothly."
Mabui's expression tightened, "What happened?"
"We were chased by Uchiha Itachi and approached for recruitment by Uchiha Itachi's accomplice."
Seiya then briefly summarized the events.
Mabui frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and said, "This is no small matter. I will report it to the Raikage in detail."
Seiya nodded, then turned and introduced Karin, "Mabui-neesan, this is Karin, a former Kusagakure Shinobi. I rescued her when she was being chased. She has excellent stamina and is skilled in chakra sensing. Her current sensing range is ten kilometers."
Mabui nodded slightly.
A flash of unusual light crossed her eyes.
She glanced at the girl's red hair and asked, "You are a descendant of the Uzumaki clan, aren't you?"
Karin's breathing hitched. Her eyes were terrified. She shrank back, fearfully grasping Seiya's wrist.
Her mother had repeatedly warned her before she died never to reveal her surname to outsiders, or she would surely die.
She had managed to hide it well in Kusagakure all these years, yet she was recognized as soon as she arrived in Kumogakure!
Will I be killed?
Karin was very afraid, wanting to completely hide behind Seiya, to escape the gaze of the sharp secretary in front of her.
"No one here will hurt you, don't be afraid," Seiya said gently to comfort her.
Mabui's face showed a very friendly smile, and she agreed, "Seiya-kun is right. On behalf of Kumogakure, I promise to treat you well."
Karin timidly glanced at everyone, finally cautiously hiding behind Seiya.
Only this position could make her feel safe.
Seiya thought for a moment, took her hand, squeezed her palm, and gave her an expression that said, 'I've got this.'
Karin immediately calmed down, her hand no longer shaking, as if she had taken a calming pill.
Seiya then continued the introductions, "Mabui-neesan, this is Uchiha Mikoto, a former Konoha Shinobi. She and Karin both wish to join our village."
Mabui nodded slightly, showing a genuine smile, and said formally, "We warmly welcome your recognition of Kumogakure! However, immigration is no trivial matter. Kumogakure needs to have a sufficient understanding of both of you to make a cautious decision. This is not only responsible for the villagers of Kumogakure but also for the two of you who wish to become villagers of Kumogakure. I hope you can understand."
Uchiha Mikoto nodded her chin in agreement.
Karin looked at Seiya, then softly uttered, "Mm."
After a while, Mabui finished her inquiries and led Uchiha Mikoto and Karin downstairs to process their resident permits.
Afterward, Mabui immediately went upstairs to the Raikage's office to report.
Seiya, however, rushed home.
He missed his mother dearly after being apart for half a year.
Now that he was back in his hometown, he couldn't wait another moment.
"Still a child."
Yugito Nii sighed softly, watching the young man's swiftly running figure.
She glanced at Uchiha Mikoto next to her, then led the three of them to the Tojo residence in Fourth Generation Street.
In recent years, Megumai's vision had worsened considerably, making it difficult to see things up close.
As a result, she no longer went to work.
The work at the Shinobi Hospital was entirely handled by Atsui.
Megumai typically stayed at home, having entered early retirement.
She spent her days listening to music, watching videos of her son as a child, and managing her assets.
When Seiya returned home, Megumai was sitting cross-legged on the living room sofa, only simply covered in a silk bathrobe, her curves graceful.
"Seiya-kun, you're back. Come, let Mom see if you've lost weight from exhaustion."
Megumai heard the sound, quickly put down the financial report in her hand, and waved to her son.
Seiya obediently sat on the sofa, close to his mother, allowing her to see clearly.
Megumai touched his cheekbone, nodded in satisfaction, and smiled, "Yugito and Samui took good care of you."
"We haven't seen each other in half a year. Did you miss Mom?"
"Yes!"
Seiya happily hugged Megumai, quietly savoring the happiness of having his mother so close.
After a long while, Seiya released his embrace and said worriedly, "Mom, you must have been bored alone at home, right?"
Megumai smiled and shook her head, "Mom recently designed a villa. The location is the best spot in the Cloud Thunder Gorge. I allocated the funds a month ago, and it should have some semblance of a shape now."
"You can build a house in Cloud Thunder Gorge?" Seiya expressed skepticism.
Megumai raised her chin slightly, "Mom is not building illegally. I already applied for construction and residency rights from that girl Mabui beforehand. The documents have all been approved."
Seiya sighed, "Mom, you've bought quite a few properties in the village already. Even if you moved once every half a month, you wouldn't be able to live in all of them."
"Only a few dozen places. It's far from enough."
Megumai was unconcerned.
She straightened her son's collar and said leisurely, "Seiya-kun, you will marry many wives and raise many children in the future. By then, the village will probably have to allocate several mountains for our family."
"..."
Seiya silently swallowed.
Megumai smiled and patted his head, "Don't feel pressured. Just take it step by step. Life is long. Take one step at a time."
Seiya lowered his head, silent, not knowing what to say.
Megumai's eyes flickered.
She crouched down to meet her son's gaze, deliberately teasing, "Seiya-kun, you wouldn't be thinking of being devoted to one woman and spending your life with her, would you?"
Seiya subconsciously shook his head, then realized, and looked up into his mother's ambiguous smile.
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