After returning to Konoha, Kageyama Kokugetsu sent his three subordinates back to the ANBU base, settled Uzumaki Koume in an inn, and headed for the Hokage Building.
After the aides announced him, he soon stood before Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama, the mission report."
Hiruzen took it and read carefully. When he reached Uzumaki Koume's name, his pupils widened with delight. Seeing her ability, he couldn't keep the smile off his face.
Even without a special ability, an Uzumaki would mean much to Konoha, to say nothing of their being the best jinchūriki candidates. If Konoha could foster a small Uzumaki branch family, that would be ideal.
After he finished, Hiruzen's face shone with approval. "Bringing someone out of Kusagakure—well done.
"Kokugetsu, this is great merit."
"This is only my duty," Kokugetsu said with a smile.
Hiruzen liked the steady humility. This was how a future pillar of Konoha should be.
"How is your Eight Gates training?" Hiruzen asked after a pause.
Kokugetsu moved his heart a beat, then frowned a little. "Not much progress. It's extremely hard."
In truth, it was going well. Even with his laid-back approach, his body's steady metamorphosis meant he could already open the first two gates. He had underestimated the Ōtsutsuki-level physique of his body. Without relentless self-abuse, simple evolution let him bear the load.
Hiruzen nodded. He had trained the art himself and knew its difficulty.
"You've earned great merit. I'll permit you to choose one more technique from the Scroll of Seals.
"And the standard ninjutsu archive is now fully open to you. Pick anything that fits your chakra nature," Hiruzen said, eyes smiling.
He was grooming him as future leadership. Full access to the archive was no small thing.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Kokugetsu said, bowing, face alight with genuine and feigned emotion alike.
Hiruzen dipped his brush, wrote two passes, stamped them, and handed them over with a reminder.
"Kokugetsu, ninjutsu is good, but don't drown in it. Don't reach for the sky. Choose what suits you and train it well."
"I'll remember your teaching," Kokugetsu said gravely, taking the slips.
"This time I won't have the Scroll brought here. Exchange with the ANBU custodians yourself.
"Where is Uzumaki Koume now?"
"I judged her presence should be kept quiet, so I didn't bring her here. She's in a nearby inn."
"Good. The Hokage Building is crowded and leaky.
"A leak isn't the end of the world, but Konoha must be ready first. We can't repeat what happened to Kushina back then."
"Hokage-sama, what happened to Kushina-senpai?" Kokugetsu asked, feigning curiosity.
"She was secretly abducted by Kumogakure. Fortunately Minato discovered it and brought her back," Hiruzen said with a small smile.
In truth, Konoha had already shadowed and surrounded those Kumo shinobi; they gave Minato the chance so Kushina would bond more deeply to the village. It had worked perfectly. Kushina's loyalty was firm, and Minato had surpassed all expectations.
Come to think of it, the boy before him was showing shades of Minato lately, perfect in his own way. Given time, he wouldn't reach Minato's height, but he would be a famed powerhouse of the shinobi world.
"Kumogakure will do anything to grow stronger. Petty thievery is their habit."
"Exactly. The Third Raikage was like that. The Fourth won't be much better.
"Back to business. Do you have suggestions for arranging Uzumaki Koume?"
Hiruzen truly asked for his view.
"She should be placed at Konoha Hospital to learn medical ninjutsu so she can master and develop that special ability.
"She should also study fūinjutsu. No village ever has too many sealers.
"And her housing should be near Kushina-senpai for a sense of safety, so she can integrate quickly."
"Good. Thoroughly considered," Hiruzen said with a nod and a smile.
"Take Koume to Kushina's home. Let her arrange food and lodging, expenses on the village. I'll visit after work."
"Yes. If there's nothing else, I'll see to it."
"Go."
Kokugetsu left the Hokage Building, went to the inn, changed clothes, and took Uzumaki Koume straight to Kushina's.
Kushina headed the Sealing Corps and was free today. She opened the door at once.
"Kokugetsu. And this is…?"
Kushina's smile bloomed, then froze as she stared at Koume's short red hair. Koume stared back at Kushina's long red hair, full of tangled feeling.
"Uzumaki Koume. I heard a trace on a mission in the Land of Grass and slipped her out of Kusagakure.
"The Hokage knows.
"He asked me to tell you this: you handle her food and lodging, expenses on the village, and she'll later intern at the hospital.
"He'll come by this evening."
Uzumaki. Kushina's eyes reddened in an instant. She had thought herself the only Uzumaki orphan left. To find a clanswoman still alive—she had longed for this even after finding her home in Konoha. From today on, she had kin.
"I'm Uzumaki Kushina. Koume, come in."
She grabbed Koume's hand and pulled her in, overflowing with warmth. Koume relaxed at once.
"Hey, Kushina-senpai, are you shutting a benefactor out on the step?" Kokugetsu said, mock-annoyed.
"Ah—sorry, sorry. I'm too happy.
"Kokugetsu, please, come in," Kushina said, thumping her forehead and waving them inside.
They stepped into a neat, cozy three-room home. They sat on the sofa and Kushina hurried out three cups of tea.
"Is Minato-senpai home?" Kokugetsu asked, taking the steaming cup.
"The village has a mountain of backlogged missions.
"He's swamped and rarely home," Kushina said, helpless.
The Flying Thunder God was too useful; high-difficulty missions piled on him and he flashed around the world.
Kokugetsu laughed inwardly. Since Minato had learned the Flying Thunder God, he had been a born workhorse. Kokugetsu could fly too, but with an Elephant-Shift clone, life was easy.
"I see. I can't idle either. I'll finish this tea and go."
"So soon? I wanted you to stay for dinner."
"Next time. You two must have much to say."
"All right.
"Kokugetsu, you've done the Uzumaki a great kindness. If you ever need help, just ask," Kushina said solemnly.
That was the line he wanted.
"Within my power. I couldn't stand by. The Konoha uniform bears the Uzumaki emblem."
"Kokugetsu, you're a good man," Kushina said, moved.
"…"
Why the sudden good-guy card?
He drained his tea, took his leave, stopped by the ANBU base, then went home.
He took a little from the fridge, summoned a flock of birds, and scattered the food. It was routine after long trips. But this time, every bird collapsed on the sill.
His pupils tightened. A quick check showed they weren't dead, only drugged.
He flared the Byakugan and swept the surroundings.
With a range far beyond the Hyūga standard, he caught a Hyūga shinobi slipping away.
Open blades are easy to dodge. Hidden arrows aren't. Good thing he'd been cautious.
The Hyūga had kept quiet for a long time and suddenly pulled this.
Heh. Time to turn up the pressure on the Hyūga.
Being on their mind like this wasn't going to fly.
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