"Grandma, look."
Kushina stood in front of Uzumaki Mito, forming hand signs, and a faint golden glow gradually enveloped her body.
"Clank, clank, clank."
A pale golden Chakra chain slowly extended from her back, stopping when it reached ten meters in length.
She stood there, the chain swaying behind her, like… a long tail.
"Captured image of Kushina casting Adamantine Sealing Chains. Analysis available."
The message from his body filled Hyuga Arima with pleasant surprise.
Although he himself had no Ninjutsu talent, he could analyze his wife's… or wives' powers!
"Your Chakra reserves are sufficient. Once you become more proficient, you'll be able to manifest more," Uzumaki Mito nodded with satisfaction. "However, the requirements this time aren't high; you just need to master the key."
Kushina withdrew the Chakra chains, feeling uneasy: "What do I need to do?"
Uzumaki Mito said: "From now on, it will be inside you, so the final seal must be completed by you."
Kushina's small face turned deathly pale.
Hyuga Arima 's expression froze, and he had a guess in his heart.
They were likely talking about sealing the Nine-Tailed; Kushina was about to become the new Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki.
But he wisely kept silent, as it wasn't something he should know.
"Kushina, accompany Grandma for a stroll around the Village. Grandma wants to see Konoha one last time," Uzumaki Mito suddenly said.
"Okay."
Kushina wanted to push her wheelchair, but she stopped her: "Let a boy do such hard work."
She looked gently at Hyuga Arima : "How about it? Would you mind pushing this Old Woman around Konoha?"
"It's my honor."
Hyuga Arima unhesitatingly took the wheelchair handles.
Given Uzumaki Mito's status, countless Ninja would want to push her wheelchair.
Moreover, she was clearly warning the Third Hokage, giving him a protective talisman. How could he be so foolish as to refuse?
"Creak… creak…"
The Naruto World's productivity was all focused on Ninjutsu, and clearly not enough was invested in civilian life; even a wheelchair was made with difficulty.
Hyuga Arima pushed the constantly groaning wheelchair, and together with Kushina, accompanied Uzumaki Mito as they slowly walked down Konoha's main street.
"Lady Mito!"
"Lady Mito!"
"…"
At first, no one noticed, but once the first person recognized her, all the villagers on the entire street stopped and paid their respects.
Their gazes were filled with reverence and adoration, which was deeply moving.
Uzumaki Mito said nothing, only smiled kindly, looking at each person carefully.
Every plant and tree in Konoha, every building, every person, was taken in by her eyes, filled with deep affection.
Was this the peace that their generation had worked so hard to achieve?
"Do you think true peace will ever come?" she suddenly murmured.
Kushina walked beside her, and hearing this, she was momentarily bewildered: "Isn't it peaceful now?"
Uzumaki Mito shook her head regretfully: "It's merely a transition from the Sengoku period of clan conflicts to an era of Village rivalries. Not long after the First Ninja World War, the smoke of the Second Shinobi World War is already approaching."
Kushina had no concept of this yet and didn't know how to respond.
Uzumaki Mito, however, smiled again: "The future belongs to you. I hope you will see the day of true peace."
"It will," Hyuga Arima couldn't help but say, "Peace will definitely come."
This Old Man, at the brink of her passing, was still worried about the Village's future. He instinctively didn't want such a lovely person to leave with regret and worry.
Even if Konoha still had various problems, it was much better than the Sengoku period.
"Our predecessors ended the Sengoku era. We will also end the Village era in the future, entering a new era and achieving true peace," he said.
Uzumaki Mito smiled with satisfaction: "You are right. The new generation will eventually surpass the older generation and achieve what we wanted to do but couldn't. I don't need to worry about the future."
Actually, the subsequent generations were worse than the last… Hyuga Arima thought helplessly, yet his face remained impassive, nodding vigorously, looking full of ambition.
The three of them spent most of the afternoon roughly touring the entire Village, finally arriving at the cliff behind the Hokage Rock at dusk.
Hyuga Arima regretfully looked at the statue of the Third Hokage at his feet… Compared to standing on the cliff, he preferred to step on the Old Man Third.
"Konoha… is truly beautiful…"
Uzumaki Mito looked down at Konoha, spanning dozens of miles, and deep emotions surged in her cloudy eyes.
Hyuga Arima and Kushina simply stayed with her until the sun completely set…
This was an Old Woman on the brink of death, her last lingering attachment to this world.
"Arima , can I… can I go home with you tonight?"
In front of the Senju family mansion, the girl's face was as red as a tomato.
Hyuga Arima 's mouth fell open: "Go home with me?"
Are you preparing to be placed in this position and that position, first this way then that way, and finally, um, um?
"Aren't you afraid of Hokage-sama catching us?" he suddenly chuckled.
Kushina's small face turned even redder: "But… but we didn't do anything like a couple today…"
"Stay with Grandma Mito properly."
Arima reached out and stroked her head.
"Oh."
Kushina responded softly, turning away with a dejected expression.
"Eh?"
But then, a strong hand pulled her back.
Kushina stumbled into Arima 's arms, her back pressing against his chest.
Hyuga Arima embraced her from behind, holding her arms and body together.
An unusual warmth enveloped her whole body…
Kushina's face immediately turned red, and her disappointment vanished.
Her body felt as if it had been infected by that warmth, hot and soft, almost melting… So this is what it felt like to be hugged by the person you liked.
"It will be fine," Hyuga Arima whispered softly in her ear, "It will be fine later."
The young girl's delicate body in his arms was full of youthful charm, soft as water.
He held her small hands and slender waist tightly, his nostrils filled with her sweet scent.
The Village night was quiet, so quiet that they could hear each other's heartbeats.
Their chests and backs were pressed together, their posture extremely intimate, yet the atmosphere was unusually beautiful.
"Go."
Arima slowly released his hands.
"Mm…"
Kushina almost darted through the courtyard gate, fleeing in a hurry.
Hyuga Arima chuckled, watched her disappear, and then turned to leave.
"Catching an affair…"
Suddenly, a figure wearing a Hokage hat appeared in front of the courtyard gate.
"What's there to catch now…"
He glanced inside, chuckling to himself: "Lady Mito has given me such a difficult problem. If the future Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki is held by the Hyuga Clan, the Konoha high-level's foundation of rule will become a mess, sigh…"
…
"You are, hmm… Hyuga Arima ?"
Not far after he left, a female figure suddenly appeared in front of Arima … Yes, Tsunade-hime, just 21 years old.
Could it be that she's delivering herself? Planning to be first this way, then that way by me?
"Lady Tsunade," Hyuga Arima immediately bowed, his face showing no hint of any messy thoughts, "That is my name."
"You are from the Hyuga Clan, why don't you have the Byakugan?"
Tsunade took two steps forward, examining his clear black and white eyes, looking very curious.
As she spoke, she suddenly reached out and measured his height.
"Four years younger than Nawaki, but as tall as him."
Discovering that Hyuga Arima 's head already reached her chest, Tsunade mumbled again.
"???"
Hyuga Arima was full of questions… What exactly was she waiting here for?
"I also don't know why I don't have the Byakugan," he shook his head and asked, "Lady Tsunade, do you need something from me?"
"Nawaki said you are from the Hyuga Branch Family?" Tsunade continued to ask, ignoring him.
Hyuga Arima nodded.
"Don't Branch Family members usually have the Caged Bird seal engraved at age three?"
She bent down and peered at Arima 's smooth forehead, bringing with it the fragrance of a young woman.
"Because I don't have the Byakugan," Hyuga Arima said as if it were obvious.
As he spoke, he subtly took a step back, avoiding seeing any inappropriate scenery through her loose collar.
"Uh."
Tsunade clearly choked for a moment, then murmured: "Interesting…"
Hyuga Arima : "???"
"I'm here to express my gratitude," finally noticing Hyuga Arima 's confusion, Tsunade composed her expression and said solemnly, "Thank you for accompanying Grandma all afternoon."
Hyuga Arima blinked: "It's what I should do."
"Go home early."
Tsunade nodded, then waved her hand.
Well, I thought she'd give some benefits as thanks, but it was just a single sentence?
Hyuga Arima directly walked around her and headed back.
Forget it, I'll get the benefits myself later…
Tsunade turned and watched his back disappear around the street corner.
"A Hyuga Branch Family brat, yet without the Byakugan. If I…"
"Hmph, Kaguya that fellow would be furious… Maybe I could even get back the bets I lost, hmph hmph…"
She crossed her arms, muttering something to herself.
Then she looked back at the Senju family mansion and sighed softly.
"Grandma is only keeping Kushina by her side now… Even Nawaki and I are not allowed near…"
"Is it really the final moments…?"
"…"