Kazuki's ears twitched slightly as he listened from the tree.
So Hiruzen Sarutobi had really done it.
Root—dissolved.
Danzo Shimura—removed from authority.
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane—forced into leave.
Kazuki hadn't expected such decisive action.
But then again—
Hiruzen was only around fifty right now.
Not the aging, soft-hearted Hokage from later years.
Younger.
Sharper.
Still capable of cutting decisively.
Danzo had tried to control him—
And instead, lost everything.
For now.
Kazuki wasn't naïve.
Darkness like Danzo didn't disappear.
It retreated.
Mikoto's News
"Really?" Kushina asked, wide-eyed.
Mikoto leaned closer.
"My father told me."
Fugaku Uchiha.
Head of the Uchiha clan.
If he knew—
The whole clan knew.
Kushina suddenly grinned mischievously.
"Mikoto… are you and Fugaku-san together?"
Mikoto flushed faintly.
"Our families think so."
"But I'm still young."
"Getting married without falling in love first… it feels strange."
Kushina squeezed her hand.
"If you don't like it, you shouldn't force yourself."
Mikoto sighed.
"It's not that simple. Fugaku is the future clan head."
Then she brightened slightly.
"Anyway, tomorrow's my birthday. Will you come?"
"Of course!" Kushina said immediately.
Then she looked up.
"Right, Kazu?"
System Prompt
[Ding. Choose:]
Option 1: Refuse. Stay home and relax.Reward: Icha Icha Paradise — First Edition
Option 2: Accept invitation. Attend with Kushina.Reward: Forbidden Technique — Harem Technique
Kazuki stared internally at the options.
System.
You really pick your moments.
Harem Technique?
Was that a hint?
He almost laughed.
Of course he wasn't taking a romance novel reward.
[Ding. Option 2 selected. Forbidden Technique — Harem Technique acquired.]
Knowledge flooded in instantly.
Multi Shadow Clone.
Transformation refinement.
Seduction overlay technique.
It was essentially a packaged combo.
Naruto's infamous move.
The realism requirement was interesting—
The more vivid the imagination, the stronger the illusion effect.
Which meant…
Experience mattered.
Kazuki coughed lightly.
He definitely did not request such a strange technique.
Political Implications
After Mikoto left, Kushina excitedly dragged Kazuki to tell Mito about tomorrow's birthday party.
Kazuki already knew.
This wasn't just a birthday.
This was politics.
Uchiha clan invites Uzumaki.
The last recognized Senju bloodline attends.
In Konoha—
That wasn't a small signal.
Other clans would overthink it instantly.
Senju and Uchiha aligning?
Hashirama and Madara once stood together.
The founders of the village.
If their legacies reconnected—
It would shake the internal balance.
Kushina didn't see that yet.
She was still straightforward.
Mito did.
She was silent for a long moment.
Then she nodded.
"Go."
"Kazuki, go with her."
"I won't be at ease if Kushina goes alone."
Kazuki blinked.
She agreed?
No warning?
No hesitation?
Mito had already reached her conclusion.
Avoiding suspicion hadn't saved the Senju.
Scattering the clan hadn't preserved it.
Backing down hadn't protected them.
Root still attacked.
Conspiracies still formed.
So why retreat?
Better to stand tall.
Uchiha were feared.
But the man who defeated Uchiha Madara was feared more.
If alliances were necessary—
So be it.
Kazuki had the strength.
He'd crushed ten Root elites alone.
Even if he wasn't at Hiruzen's level yet—
He was easily top-tier in the village.
And Kushina—
With time—
Would become a powerful support.
Mito only said one thing in the end.
"Go early."
"Come back early."
Quiet Resolve
As night settled over the Uzumaki compound, Kazuki lay on the roof.
Tomorrow wasn't just a birthday.
It was a political appearance.
Uchiha territory.
Clan leaders watching.
ANBU watching.
Possibly Danzo's remnants watching.
He smiled faintly.
Good.
Let them watch.
The Senju name wasn't dead.
It was simply… waking up.