Kushina stood quietly in the courtyard.
She and Hayashi had parted ways not long ago.
At this moment, the courtyard was shrouded in darkness. If the lanterns had been lit, one would have clearly seen the flush on Kushina's cheeks, her vibrant red ponytail making her look like a blushing tomato.
She pressed her palms against her face until the warmth faded, then slowly pushed open the small wooden gate before her.
This courtyard was among the most mysterious places in Konoha. Its security surpassed even the Hokage Building, and only a handful of people were ever allowed to step inside.
Kushina carefully entered. The yard wasn't large, but its walls and corridors were adorned with the crest of the Uzumaki clan. Several red lanterns swayed gently in the night breeze, casting faint shadows, giving the place a calm yet solemn air.
She walked up to a door and knocked softly.
A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing an elderly woman with white hair.
"...Grandma Mito, good evening."
Kushina's usual fiery demeanor melted away. In front of this elder, she behaved like a proper, polite young lady.
The old woman smiled kindly. "Kushina, finished with training?"
"Yes. Is Grandma asleep yet?"
"She's waiting for you. She knew you would come tonight."
Kushina bowed slightly. "Then excuse the intrusion."
She slipped inside.
Sitting within the room was a woman who appeared no older than her twenties. Her long, vivid red hair was tied up with elegant ornaments that swayed as she moved. A diamond-shaped seal rested on her brow, and she wore the formal white attire of the Uzumaki clan.
When she rose from her chair, her silver-embroidered skirt flared out like the petals of a blooming flower. Yet, when she spoke, her voice carried the wisdom and age of someone who had lived far beyond her youthful appearance.
"Kushina, are you back from your date?"
The calm expression Kushina had just managed to compose instantly shattered, her cheeks blazing crimson.
"Grandma!" she cried, eyes wide. "How can you tease me like that?"
The woman, Uzumaki Mito, chuckled softly, resting her chin on her palm. "But didn't you say you wanted a day off for a date?"
Kushina's face turned an even deeper shade of red. "Training doesn't count as a date! How could a ninja's work be called that?"
Her words tumbled over themselves, flustered, while Mito continued to watch her with an amused smile.
After enjoying the teasing for a moment, Mito sighed and leaned back in her chair. "Ah… I'm getting old. My body isn't what it used to be."
"Not at all!" Kushina hurried behind her and began massaging her shoulders. "Grandma is still so beautiful. You're the prettiest person in all of Konoha!"
Mito let out a soft laugh. "In my youth, I was considered one of the greatest beauties in the Land of Fire. Sometimes, I wonder what good fortune that fool Hashirama had built up in his past lives to end up with me."
She smiled faintly. "A simple man who loved planting trees… yet he won the hand of an Uzumaki princess."
Kushina puffed her cheeks, embarrassed, while Mito's eyes grew distant, as if she were gazing back into the past.
"Perhaps Hashirama was the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths' son. Otherwise, how could he have been so lucky?"
Kushina stuck out her tongue, used to her grandmother's eccentric humor.
After a brief pause, Mito tilted her head. "So, did you have fun today? What's his name?"
Kushina hesitated, fidgeting with her fingers. "…His name is Hayashi."
"Hayashi… from the Uchiha clan?" Mito's brow furrowed, her tone growing thoughtful.
Kushina's heart skipped. She knew the weight of that name—the bitter history between the Uchiha and the Senju was still too fresh, even now.
She rushed to explain. "Grandma, Hayashi is an orphan, just like me. He's… he's a good person."
Mito fell silent for a long moment, then smiled gently and patted her granddaughter's head. "The wars of the past are behind us. The Uchiha are part of Konoha now. I'm just an old woman recalling memories."
Relief washed over Kushina as Mito continued, her voice nostalgic.
"I still remember… on the day I married Hashirama, Madara's younger brother, Izuna, also had feelings for me. On the way to the wedding, he even tried to steal me away. A battle broke out, and Tobirama—who was in charge of security—used the Flying Thunder God Technique to strike him down. That was the battle where Izuna lost his life."
Kushina's jaw dropped. "..."
Indeed, Mito had lived through a brutal era, and her beauty had nearly ignited wars.
Now, though, she was like a flickering candle in the wind, her youth preserved only by the chakra sealed within her Yin Seal. She knew she could not hold on forever, which was why she had asked Hiruzen to search for other members of the Uzumaki clan.
Her gaze softened as she looked at Kushina, seeing a reflection of her younger self in the lively red-haired girl.
"Kushina," she asked gently, "what do you think of this village… of Konoha?"
Kushina paused, her expression thoughtful.
The question lingered in the air.
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