Chapter 11: Chika
Uzumaki Mito looked at Qianxia with a gentle smile, knowing full well that convincing her was as futile as ever.
With a sigh, she approached Qianxia, gazing into her eyes. "My time as an old lady is over, but yours is just beginning. When you've thought it through, come talk to me."
With that, Mito led Tsunade into the inner room, leaving Qianxia standing there, watching them go before quietly slipping away.
Qianxia was stubborn, but when it came to Lady Mito's requests, she always gave her all to fulfill them perfectly. She understood Mito's nature—fair and unbiased. Even if she was just an adopted child, she wouldn't be treated any less.
So when Lady Mito asked her to tidy up the house, she did it with the same care as she would for Tsunade.
Inside, Mito flicked Tsunade's forehead with a playful grin.
"Ouch!" Tsunade rubbed her reddened forehead, looking at Mito in confusion.
"Little Tsunade, you need to work on your poker face. You looked like you were about to burst out laughing."
Tsunade felt a bit guilty but tried to play it cool. "Come on, Grandma, you're too old to be picking on kids..."
Before she could finish, she braced herself for the scolding she was sure was coming. But when nothing happened, she peeked open an eye to see Mito watching her with a knowing smile.
"Alright, put your hands down. I have something important to discuss."
Relieved, Tsunade lowered her hands and sat up straight, ready to listen.
"I didn't adopt that child today to be your playmate. As the leader of the Senju line, you can't be so naive."
"Now, tell me, why do you think I adopted him?"
Tsunade, destined to become the Fifth Hokage, was no fool. The harsh realities of the ninja world had forced her to mature quickly. Mito's words snapped her back to clarity.
"Uchiha Xingliu is obviously from the Uchiha Clan, and he's an orphan. Did you adopt him because he's an Uchiha?"
Mito nodded approvingly. "Exactly. The village is pushing the Uchiha away. If we don't address this, it'll be a huge problem for future generations. By adopting an Uchiha, I'm sending a message to the village to change their attitude."
"The village is Hashirama's legacy. I can't let his hard work go to waste."
Just as Tsunade was basking in the praise, Mito's tone shifted, making her wish she'd run while she had the chance.
"Since you're so smart, you'll join me this afternoon to learn sealing techniques."
Tsunade's brief moment of joy was crushed. Her talent was undeniable, destined to become a powerhouse, so learning basic sealing techniques wouldn't be an issue. But she dreaded it because it was tedious, and advanced techniques felt like deciphering ancient scripts.
And with a strict teacher—who happened to be her grandmother—failure meant facing the wrath of a sealing master.
Mito didn't care about Tsunade's reluctance. Learning sealing techniques was for her own good. Besides, she'd seen Tsunade's antics at Yakiniku Q and with Qianxia. Tsunade thought she'd gotten away with it, but Mito had been biding her time.