The peaceful and carefree days did not last long.
Only two days after enjoying her relaxed life, Uchiha Tsukiko received an unexpected summons from the Uchiha Clan Leader.
The heavy wooden sliding door closed slowly behind her with a dull sound, cutting off the bright midday sunlight outside.
Inside the room, the atmosphere felt serious.
Uchiha Fugaku sat cross-legged behind a wide wooden desk. His dark blue clan leader robe was perfectly ironed, without even the smallest wrinkle. A ninjutsu scroll rested in his hands, but his eyes were not truly reading it.
Instead, he was quietly watching the girl who had just entered.
Tsukiko.
"Sit down, Tsukiko. No need to be so formal," Fugaku said calmly.
Although his voice remained steady, there was a trace of warmth hidden in his gaze.
"I heard that you have been staying at the Hokage's house recently?"
Tsukiko walked over casually. After giving a quick salute, she sat down directly on the thick cushion in front of the desk.
Without hesitation, she grabbed a tea snack from the table and tossed it into her mouth.
Crunch.
"Yeah," she said while chewing. "Sister Kushina insisted I stay and take care of her. I didn't really have a choice."
She swallowed the snack and tilted her head slightly.
"Uncle Fugaku, you called me here so suddenly… don't tell me the Military Police are cutting my New Year bonus?"
Fugaku almost laughed.
"You child… is money the only thing on your mind?"
He shook his head with a small chuckle before placing the scroll aside.
Then his expression became more thoughtful.
"I also heard something from Mikoto," Fugaku continued slowly. "She mentioned that Kushina has been in a very good mood lately."
"And that you have been accompanying the Fourth Hokage… encountering some very extraordinary things."
Tsukiko paused.
Just for a moment.
Then she immediately understood what had happened.
Kushina.
With Kushina's personality, there was no way she would keep something exciting like that secret. She must have happily bragged to Mikoto about her "genius little sister" learning the Flying Thunder God Technique.
And Mikoto, of course, would tell her husband.
Which meant…
Fugaku now knew.
Tsukiko sighed inwardly.
There was no point hiding it.
And honestly, she never planned to hide it anyway.
"Oh, you mean the 'poof-and-disappear technique'?" Tsukiko said casually while brushing snack crumbs from her hands.
She looked straight at Fugaku with confident eyes.
"Yeah. I learned it."
"Big Brother Minato said my talent is amazing. It would be a waste not to learn it."
"So he taught me the basics of the Flying Thunder God Technique."
She spoke as if it were no big deal.
In a clan like the Uchiha, hiding power only created suspicion.
But openly displaying talent?
That earned respect.
And maybe a little fear.
Fugaku's fingers tightened slightly around his teacup.
Originally, he had only suspected the possibility.
But hearing Tsukiko confirm it so calmly left him stunned.
"Flying Thunder God Technique…" he repeated slowly.
Then something surprising happened.
The serious expression on Fugaku's face slowly melted away.
Instead…
A genuine smile appeared.
"Good!" Fugaku said firmly.
"As expected of a child of the Uchiha!"
His eyes shone with pride.
"For Lord Minato to teach you such a technique means something important."
"It means he does not treat you… or the Uchiha clan… as outsiders."
Tsukiko secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Fugaku looked relieved rather than angry.
That meant things were still manageable.
Recently, the Uchiha clan had been under a lot of pressure. The elders constantly gathered under the Naka Shrine, discussing dissatisfaction with the village leadership.
Fugaku was trapped between the clan and the Hokage.
But now…
Tsukiko might become a bridge.
Fugaku stood up and walked toward the window.
From there, he could see the entire Uchiha district.
Children running through the streets.
Shinobi patrolling.
Families living their ordinary lives.
"Tsukiko," Fugaku said quietly.
"You must remember something."
"You are no longer just Tsukiko of the Uchiha clan."
"You are also the disciple of the Hokage."
His voice carried a heavy meaning.
"I will deal with the conservative voices within the clan," he continued.
"You just focus on growing stronger."
"Stand proudly beside Hokage-sama."
"As long as your relationship with Lord Minato remains stable…"
"The rumors and suspicion surrounding the Uchiha will disappear."
He turned back and looked directly at her.
His eyes were filled with expectation.
"If anyone in the clan dares criticize you…"
"Come directly to me."
"Your strength is the greatest contribution you can make to the Uchiha."
Tsukiko watched him silently.
Inside her mind, she couldn't help but think:
What a clever old fox.
He wants to use me as a bridge between the Hokage and the clan.
But honestly?
She didn't mind.
As long as no one touched Kushina.
"Relax, Uncle Fugaku," Tsukiko said cheerfully.
"I'm very good at making people look good."
She jumped off the cushion and stretched her arms.
"If that's all, I'm heading out."
"Big Brother Minato asked me to come to the Hokage Office this afternoon for a 'heart-to-heart talk.'"
She had just reached the door when Fugaku suddenly called out.
"Wait."
"There is one more thing you must take."
Tsukiko turned around.
Fugaku walked back to his desk and pushed aside a thick stack of documents.
From a hidden compartment underneath…
He pulled out an old scroll.
The scroll was black with dark golden edges.
It looked ancient.
The wax seal carried the proud Uchiha fan crest.
"This," Fugaku said seriously, "is the Fire Release Essentials of the Uchiha Clan."
Tsukiko blinked.
He placed the scroll in her hands.
"It contains all standard Fire Release techniques of our clan," Fugaku explained.
"From C-rank to S-rank."
"Along with the insights of many Uchiha ancestors who awakened the Sharingan."
Tsukiko looked down at the heavy scroll.
Her usual teasing expression softened slightly.
"Uncle Fugaku… are you investing in me?"
Fugaku smiled faintly.
"Even if it is an investment…"
"It is an investment in you."
"And that will never be a loss."
He took a sip of his now-cold tea.
"You are the most talented Uchiha I have ever seen."
"If you wish to protect Lord Kushina and the Hokage…"
"Then having another trump card is never a bad thing."
Tsukiko grinned.
"Got it."
"If I can't beat them, I'll burn them."
"If I can't burn them, I'll run away."
"Tactical flexibility!"
She stuffed the scroll into her clothes.
The weight felt satisfying.
Flying Thunder God for teleportation.
Sharingan for control.
And powerful Fire Release techniques for destruction.
With these abilities combined, Tsukiko was becoming terrifyingly powerful.
"Alright, I'm leaving!" she said.
"Next time, when Itachi finishes his shuriken training, I'll come back and collect my reward."
Before Fugaku could respond…
She ran away.
Fugaku watched her disappear.
Then he leaned back slowly.
His tired expression returned.
"I hope… this child can become the light that breaks the deadlock between the Uchiha and the village…"
---
Tsukiko quickly left the clan compound.
Several Uchiha patrol members greeted her respectfully.
Clearly…
Her reputation had already spread.
The Hokage's disciple.
A genius of the Uchiha clan.
Even the elders who once criticized her were now silent.
She ran all the way to the Hokage Building.
But as soon as she reached the entrance…
She noticed something unusual.
Several ANBU operatives rushed past her.
The atmosphere felt tense.
Tsukiko frowned slightly.
But she shrugged and pushed open the office door anyway.
"Big Brother Minato! I'm here—"
She froze.
Inside the office were not only Minato…
But also three very unpleasant figures.
Danzo Shimura.
And the two advisors.
Homura Mitokado.
Koharu Utatane.
The room felt cold.
Minato sat behind the desk silently.
Danzo stared directly at Tsukiko with a dark expression.
"Hm."
Danzo's voice was hoarse.
"So this is the warm-hearted Uchiha brat you mentioned?"
"I heard you secretly taught the Flying Thunder God Technique to this child."
He narrowed his eye.
"Do you understand what that means for the stability of the village?"
Tsukiko felt the malicious gaze immediately.
But instead of reacting with fear…
She pretended to shrink slightly.
"Big Brother Minato…" she whispered weakly.
"Who is this scary old man?"
She tilted her head innocently.
"Did the village hire a new door guardian?"
Minato nearly burst out laughing.
Danzo's face instantly turned black.
The room fell silent.
Then…
Danzo's eye twitched violently.
"Watch your words, Uchiha child."
Tsukiko stepped forward confidently.
Then suddenly—
She slammed the Fire Release scroll onto the Hokage's desk.
"Grandpas and Grandma," she said loudly.
"If you think I'm unreliable…"
"Then let's do this."
"I'll stop learning the technique."
"And I'll donate this Fire Release scroll to the village!"
"We can all study how to burn enemies together!"
The advisors were furious.
"This is about discipline!" Koharu shouted.
Tsukiko pointed directly at Danzo.
"Then how about a spar?"
"I'm still learning Flying Thunder God…"
"But I'm really good at running away."
"If you can't even catch an underage brat like me…"
"Then maybe you shouldn't talk so much about village security."
Danzo's face turned green.
Then purple.
Minato finally stepped forward.
"Enough."
He stood beside Tsukiko.
Protecting her.
"The decision was mine," Minato said calmly.
"Tsukiko's talent is extraordinary."
"And her strength will help protect Kushina."
"The safety of the Jinchuriki is important."
Tsukiko grabbed Minato's arm dramatically.
"Exactly!"
"I'm working hard to protect Sister Kushina!"
"You people just sit here drinking tea all day!"
"If you're so capable, go catch an S-rank rogue ninja!"
Danzo's patience finally snapped.
"You will regret this."
He turned and left the office.
Tsukiko waved happily.
"Goodbye, Mr. Door Guardian!"
The door slammed shut.
Silence returned.
Minato sighed deeply.
"You really won't stop until you give them heart attacks."
Tsukiko grinned.
"That would save the village a lot of hospital money."
Minato laughed helplessly.
Then he rubbed her head gently.
"What reward do you want?"
Tsukiko thought for a moment.
"From now on…"
"No one is allowed to stop me when I enter the Hokage Building."
"And you must prepare special tea and snacks for me!"
Minato laughed.
"Fine."
"You little privileged brat."
Tsukiko smirked.
"You're becoming more and more like Kushina," Minato added.
Tsukiko swallowed her candy.
"Is that a bad thing?"
Then she smiled mischievously.
"I'm going to tell Sister Kushina you said that."
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