"I suddenly understand why Kushina is so attached to you. Even I have to see you in a new light... though, unfortunately, you're still a bit small."

After a moment of silence, Tsunade suddenly said something that made no sense.

"???"

What are you talking about?

Small?

Are you teasing me?

Can I let this slide?

Takuya raised an eyebrow and gave Tsunade a once-over from head to toe.

"Don't worry, it'll grow. Besides, I prefer them bigger."

"Get lost!!"

Tsunade's smile froze, and in the next second, she lashed out with a kick.

Boom!!

The riverbank collapsed, and rocks and dirt tumbled into the water below.

Takuya jumped onto a nearby tree, wiping the cold sweat from his brow.

That was brutal!

If that kick had connected, even if I survived, I'd be in a world of hurt.

"Keep it up, Tsunade. I'm rooting for you—there's room for more growth."

Hahaha...

Leaving Tsunade fuming with anger, Takuya disappeared into the forest.

Tsunade chuckled through her irritation. "That cheeky brat."

But... is it really getting bigger?

Could this become a burden?

Instinctively, Tsunade glanced down.

On her way home from school, Mikoto Uchiha was suddenly pulled aside by Takuya.

"Takuya, what's going on?"

"Did something happen? You look so serious."

Takuya tried to put on a serious face, but his young age betrayed him.

Even with his serious expression, he just looked blank, making Mikoto want to laugh.

Alright, that didn't work. Clearly, this isn't the right age for pulling off something like this.

Takuya sighed and raised his hand. "Tsunade came to see me today. She told me there's a good chance she'll be my jōnin instructor."

"How can that be..."

Isn't there still some time before graduation?

Why is the village leadership already making assignments?

"But you and I won't be on the same team, right?"

Mikoto quickly understood why Takuya had been trying so hard to look serious—and why he failed.

"Pretty much."

Takuya opened the fridge, took out two bottles of milk, handed one to Mikoto, and took a few sips from the other. Frowning, he said, "I have no idea what the Hokage is thinking, making these decisions so early. Minato might end up under Jiraiya's instruction."

"Minato too?"

Mikoto was already surprised that Takuya was being assigned so early.

Who would have thought Minato was also being singled out?

"Never underestimate Minato. He's only been held back by his circumstances, but he's someone who's good at creating miracles—as long as he has the right guidance and support."

Minato's future achievements are well-known. All he lacks is time to grow and access to the Flying Thunder God technique.

As long as he gains enough experience, learns some sealing techniques, and masters the Flying Thunder God, Minato will soar.

"So, the reason you pulled me aside today is because..."

"Hmm~ What are you doing?"

Before Mikoto could finish her sentence, Takuya reached over and playfully pulled on her cheek, leaving faint finger marks on her pale skin.

"It's because I regret to inform you, Mikoto Uchiha, that you might not be able to accept the village's team assignment."

"Why?"

Mikoto pushed his hand away, rubbing her cheek in annoyance as she looked up at him.

"Because you're going to form a two-person team with me."

"I turned down Tsunade's offer. If we can't be on the same team, then your staying back a year and my skipping ahead will have been meaningless. I'd rather skip the assignment altogether and form a two-person team with you."

"And with our skills, it's not like we'd starve."

Takuya snapped his fingers, his expression relaxed.

"You…"

Mikoto wanted to call him an idiot, but before she could, Takuya cut her off.

He pulled her up from her chair and gently pushed her toward the kitchen.

"No need to say anything sentimental or scold me. I'm making a huge sacrifice here, so you're cooking tonight. I'm taking a break."

A smooth path?

Others would wish for a stable support system, but Takuya didn't need one.

His support system was himself.

Takuya was confident that in a few years, it wouldn't be clear who was supporting whom.

Why get caught up in the Hokage faction's whirlpool?

Why get dragged into the power struggles between the Third Hokage and Danzo?

It's exhausting just thinking about it.

"Are you really going to form a two-person team?"

Over dinner, Mikoto seemed worried.

She still thought it would be better if Tsunade became Takuya's jōnin instructor.

"A two-person team isn't bad, right? No one to bother us, and we can do whatever we want."

Takuya gave her a knowing look, which made her blush. She rolled her eyes at him and focused on her food, not saying another word.

"Does Minato know about this?"

"I didn't plan on telling Minato. I'm afraid he might do something rash."

After thinking it over, Takuya decided to keep this from Minato for now.

If Minato got carried away and decided to ditch the village's team assignment to join Takuya, it would cause a lot of trouble.

Takuya had no way of getting Minato access to the Flying Thunder God technique.

To learn that jutsu, Minato would need Jiraiya's help.

Given Takuya's sensitive position, no matter how much he contributed, the Third Hokage and Danzo would never let him choose a technique from the village's sealed jutsu scrolls.

The most likely scenario would be getting some token rewards and being brushed aside.

This isn't just baseless suspicion. Throughout the village's history, how many members of the Uchiha clan, despite their contributions, were freely allowed to choose jutsu from the scroll of seals?

Takuya could say with confidence: almost none.

Maybe Kagami Uchiha was an exception.

Even though he wasn't considered a true member of the Uchiha clan, he still had Uchiha blood.

The Third Hokage and Danzo wouldn't hesitate to guard against him because of that.

And now that Takuya had refused the village's team assignment, would the Third Hokage still go out of his way to nurture him?

It's just not possible.

Tsunade hadn't told Minato anything either, probably because she wasn't close to him.

Minato wasn't aware that his assignment had already been decided and was still eagerly wondering who he'd be teamed up with.

His ideal team would be Takuya, Mikoto, and himself.

But if that were the case, Kushina would be left out.

"Takuya, do you think the village will assign us to the same team after graduation? And if they do, what about the extra person?"

Seriously?

You're worried about something that far ahead?

We haven't even graduated yet, and you're already thinking about team dynamics.

"Don't worry, Kushina won't be chosen."

The most likely scenario for Kushina is either being held back a year or graduating and then living quietly in the village.

After all, she's a jinchūriki; she can't just leave the village whenever she wants.

"Why?"

Will Kushina not be able to graduate?

That shouldn't be the case. Even though she's struggled in some subjects, she's been working hard lately.

Graduating shouldn't be a problem.

Why would she be excluded?

"Well, there are some things you don't need to know right now. We'll talk about it later. Maybe Kushina will tell us herself eventually."

Patting Minato on the shoulder, Takuya spoke earnestly: "Minato, I know what you're thinking, but it's best if you stay away from Kushina for a while. Otherwise, you might get beaten up."

Whether it was fate or not, Minato had gone from being afraid of Kushina to gradually, almost unconsciously, getting closer to her.

It was clear he was developing feelings for her.

"Ahem, no, I'm not! You're just making stuff up."

Minato's face turned red as he quickly shook his head, denying it.

I don't like Kushina at all, definitely not.

Yeah, right!

Takuya couldn't be bothered to respond. It's practically written on your face, and you're still trying to deny it.

By the way, when did the ninjas from the Hidden Cloud Village sneak into Konoha to kidnap Kushina?

Those sneaky bastards always like to play dirty.

Just as Takuya predicted, Kushina had been in a bad mood lately—a really bad mood.

With graduation approaching, Takuya and the others would soon be moving on to the next phase of their lives.

But as the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, she couldn't leave the village so easily.