"Toying with..."
"My life?"
Kushina Uzumaki stood frozen, staring blankly after hearing Yuzuru Uchiha's final words.
Something seemed to click in her mind—but everything still felt like a tangled blur.
Seeing her dazed expression, Yuzuru quietly rose and brewed her a cup of hot tea.
When the rising steam had finally faded, Kushina lifted her empty eyes toward him.
"Yuzuru, what... what you said... what does it mean?"
Seeing Kushina Uzumaki's pitiful appearance, a sense of pity rose in his heart.
For a girl whose lifelong dream was to become Hokage and earn the village's recognition, the cruelty of the truth was almost unbearable.
But Yuzuru couldn't afford to be softhearted now.
After a short silence, he spoke again. "The Third Hokage always preaches about 'bonds.'"
"Human emotion is complex. We care deeply for those close to us."
"Parents would die for their children, lovers would give their lives for one another, comrades would risk everything for their friends…"
"You mentioned before that you wrote to the Third Hokage, saying you didn't want to become the jinchūriki, right?"
"I believe that's exactly why Hiruzen Sarutobi orchestrated this kidnapping."
As Kushina's eyes dimmed, Yuzuru gave his final verdict.
"All his kind concern, all his little manipulations—like having Minato play the hero to rescue you—it was all to make you, the future Nine-Tails jinchūriki, stay in Konoha willingly and sacrifice yourself for the village."
Like the final straw crushing a camel's back, Kushina closed her eyes in despair.
'So… the life I thought was real was nothing more than a carefully crafted lie?'
"Why? I already decided to accept it—to become the Nine-Tails jinchūriki. Why did he still have to do this?"
Yuzuru sighed. "Kushina, if the Third hadn't been so impatient, if he'd just waited for you to tell him yourself, we might never have seen his true nature."
"Here. Drink some tea."
She took the cup and sipped slowly before asking nervously, "Yuzuru… if this was all the Third's plan, then you—by ruining it—you're in danger. I dragged you into this, didn't I?"
Yuzuru shook his head. "Don't say that. Even if I had to choose again, I wouldn't stand by and do nothing."
"What's more... Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others have always been very hostile towards us Uchiha clan. Even without this incident, my image in their eyes wouldn't have improved."
"Hostile?" Kushina gave Yuzuru a surprised look. "Yuzuru, isn't the Uchiha clan that founded the village a highly respected and powerful clan?"
"You're too naïve, Kushina," Yuzuru said with a faint snort. "Konoha's darkness runs deeper than you can imagine."
"Just watch. If I'm right, Hiruzen Sarutobi will make his move very soon."
Looking at the confident Yuzuru, Kushina couldn't help but feel emotional. "Yuzuru, you've really changed so much."
"If it weren't for you, I might have been kept in the dark for my whole life."
Yuzuru smiled. "That's because these eyes of mine can see through everything."
With memories of his past life, he understood nearly all the hidden truths of the shinobi world.
To him, Konoha's history was like an open book—schemes that once seemed unsolvable were transparent from his god's-eye view.
Kushina couldn't help but smile faintly, her spirit lifted by his calm certainty.
"So, Yuzuru," she asked, "what should I do now?"
After the kidnapping incident, she no longer trusted Hiruzen at all. The fragile sense of belonging she'd built toward Konoha had completely vanished.
But even knowing the truth, she had no power to resist.
How was she supposed to go on from here?
"Kushina," Yuzuru said slowly, "if one day I decide to leave Konoha… would you come with me?"
Her heart skipped wildly. His serious gaze sent warmth rushing through her, coloring her cheeks from her neck to her ears.
'This… this is definitely a confession, right?'
'When did Yuzuru start feeling this way about me…?'
"Kushina?"
His voice brought her back to herself. She looked down shyly. "Yuzuru, I—I would, of course. But… what about Mikoto?"
"Mikoto?" Yuzuru blinked. "She'd come too, of course."
"What?!"
Kushina shot to her feet, staring at him in disbelief.
"Yuzuru—you… you… you scumbag!"
With that, she turned and bolted out of the room.
Yuzuru stood there, utterly baffled.
'What? We were talking about serious things—how did I suddenly become a scumbag?'
———
"Yuzuru!"
Not long after Kushina's dramatic exit, Fugaku Uchiha's voice came from outside.
Yuzuru got up and opened the door. Fugaku's face was dark. "What is it?"
"Yuzuru, it's just as you predicted. The Third Hokage rejected our proposal."
Moments ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi had formally turned down their request to recruit ninja from other clans or civilians into the Police Force, clearly stating that—except during wartime—the Uchiha were only to handle the village's internal security.
That decision had completely destroyed what little trust Fugaku and Tarou still had in the village leadership.
If the upper ranks truly had nothing to hide, wouldn't they welcome such cooperation?
Yuzuru wasn't surprised. "Fugaku, I expected that. From now on, gather information on both the conservative and radical factions within the clan."
Fugaku frowned. "Yuzuru, do you already have a plan?"
Yuzuru nodded. "You don't need the details yet. Just do as I said."
"Understood."
Fugaku hesitated, then added, "By the way, the Third Hokage sent Anbu to summon you. He wants to see you in his office."
"Yuzuru, should I go with you?"
Knowing what Hiruzen and the council were really like now, Fugaku couldn't help worrying for him.
Yuzuru wasn't just the clan's rising genius—he was their hope for the future.
Yuzuru patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. I'll handle it."
He wasn't surprised that Hiruzen wanted to see him. After all, he had sabotaged the man's scheme. Of course the Hokage would take action.
But whatever Hiruzen tried, Yuzuru wouldn't flinch. With twin Kamui at his command, there was nothing to fear.
Watching Yuzuru's departing figure, Fugaku suddenly realized something.
'Wait a second… how did I end up feeling like this kid's subordinate?'