"Grandma Mito, you teach Kushina. I'll rest for a bit."
With that, Kazuki lightly leapt onto the tree beside the courtyard and lay back against a thick branch.
Mito frowned.
"Kazuki, don't become arrogant. No one is beyond learning."
"I'm not being arrogant," he replied lazily. "I'll just observe."
Kushina crossed her arms and huffed.
"Grandma Mito, ignore him. I don't believe he can master everything just by watching."
Mito gave Kazuki a meaningful look.
Pride leads to stagnation.
Maybe letting Kushina outshine him a little would humble him.
She turned back to Kushina and continued explaining the Four Symbols Seal in detail.
Up in the tree, Kazuki opened his status panel quietly.
Status Panel
Name: KazukiStrength: Quasi-KageRank: GeninCharacter Card: SSS – Hashirama Senju (25.01% Fusion)Bloodline: Wood Release (God-tier)Techniques:
Flying Thunder God – Lv3
Edo Tensei – Lv3
Chidori – Lv3
Omote Renge – Lv3
Yin Seal – Lv1
Four Symbols Seal – Lv1
Reaper Death Seal – Lv1
Twenty-five percent.
He had officially crossed into quasi-Kage territory.
The funny thing?
On paper, he was still just a genin.
The shinobi ranking system really was strange.
The Legendary Sannin were once labeled "elite jōnin."
Yet their combat level was near Kage.
Rank meant little.
Power spoke louder.
Kazuki closed the panel and watched quietly as Mito demonstrated the Four Symbols Seal.
He already had the technique through the system.
And the Reaper Death Seal as well.
The technique Minato would one day use.
The one that cost a life.
Interesting.
With full Hashirama fusion and those sealing arts…
Could he suppress the Nine-Tails alone?
Maybe.
But that was for later.
For now—
He played the lazy observer.
A Visitor Arrives
A clan guard entered the courtyard.
"Lady Mito, someone is here to see Kushina."
"Who?" Kushina asked.
"Mikoto Uchiha."
Mito smiled gently.
"Let her in."
"Kushina, take a break. The Four Symbols Seal is difficult. Don't rush it."
"Yes, Grandma Mito."
Mito left discreetly.
Young people should have their time.
Mikoto Arrives
Mikoto Uchiha entered cheerfully.
The two girls hugged immediately.
Laughter.
Energy.
After a moment, Mikoto looked around.
"Where's Kazuki? I heard he moved in."
Kushina pointed upward.
"Behind you."
"…Behind me?"
Mikoto turned around, looked up, and saw him lying on a branch.
"…What are you doing up there?"
"Resting."
She rolled her eyes.
"Weird."
She pulled Kushina aside and began whispering.
Kazuki didn't try to eavesdrop.
He didn't need to.
At quasi-Kage level, their whispers were practically announcements.
"So… I heard you're going to marry Kazuki?" Mikoto teased.
Kushina froze.
"W-What?! That's not decided!"
"Not decided yet? So it's close?"
"Mikoto!"
Kushina glanced secretly at Kazuki, cheeks pink.
Then she lowered her voice even more.
"He's kind of cold sometimes…"
"But… he was amazing that day."
"You didn't see it! He used Wood Release and crushed those jōnin instantly!"
Mikoto grinned.
"I heard you fainted."
"I did not faint!"
Kazuki nearly laughed out loud.
She absolutely fainted.
From illusion.
In his arms.
And didn't wake up until everything was over.
Humans really did exaggerate when bragging to friends.
It was universal.
The Political News
After their teasing slowed down, Mikoto's expression turned serious.
"Kushina, do you know?"
"The investigation into Danzo and Root is finished."
Kushina blinked.
"What happened?"
Mikoto lowered her voice.
"Root has been officially dissolved."
"Danzo Shimura has been removed from authority."
"And both advisors—Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane—have been put on leave."
Even Kazuki's eyes sharpened slightly.
That was decisive.
Hiruzen hadn't hesitated.
Root disbanded.
Danzo stripped.
The advisors sidelined.
The balance of power in Konoha had shifted overnight.
Kushina looked stunned.
"Really?"
Mikoto nodded.
"My father said the Uchiha clan is watching closely."
"There was also… an issue about a Sharingan user inside Root."
Kushina's expression changed.
Kazuki remained quiet in the tree.
The seed had taken root.
Danzo recruiting Uchiha secretly—
That would not be forgotten.
Quiet Reflection
Mikoto eventually left.
The courtyard grew peaceful again.
Kushina glanced up at Kazuki.
"You heard everything, didn't you?"
He smiled faintly.
"I didn't need to try."
She puffed her cheeks.
"You're impossible."
He dropped down lightly from the tree.
"No."
"I'm practical."
Root was gone.
Danzo weakened.
The advisors shaken.
The village stabilizing.
And his fusion rate—
Still rising.