Meeting with Uzumaki Mito
Inside the Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood before the wide window, pipe in hand, watching the late-afternoon sun spill over the Hidden Leaf Village. Beside him was Orochimaru, his enigmatic protégé, and standing off to the side, silently listening, was Chiyu.
Orochimaru tapped his chin, golden eyes flickering with thought. "Sensei, are you planning to send me to the Land of Rivers to intercept the Sunagakure forces?"
At those words, Chiyu's heart skipped a beat.
He wanted battlefield experience—desperately—but not yet. If Kumogakure made a move against Konoha, and he was away, Kushina might be attacked. Even if he could fly, he wouldn't make it back in time.
She wasn't safe yet.
But Hiruzen's next words eased the tension in Chiyu's chest.
"For now, there's no need to worry about Sunagakure. The shinobi stationed at the border of the Land of Rivers are enough to hold them off. Orochimaru, I need you here. We'll be revising our military doctrine and counter-strategy together."
It made sense. Orochimaru had proven himself invaluable during the Second Shinobi World War, leading squads to near-impossible victories with ruthless precision.
Konoha's situation was precarious. Their enemies circled like wolves. Strategy—not brute force—would decide the next stage.
Orochimaru bowed his head slightly. "Understood, Sensei."
Chiyu exhaled quietly. He could stay in Konoha—at least for now.
After a while, the conversation wound down. Hiruzen returned to his desk, shrouded in tobacco smoke and thought. Orochimaru gestured for Chiyu to follow as they exited the Hokage Tower.
They walked in silence for a stretch until Orochimaru suddenly asked, "You heard our conversation. Hypothetically—if the other major villages coordinated an attack on Konoha, how would you respond?"
Chiyu blinked. That was...a loaded question. He didn't have intimate knowledge of the alliances forming in the shadows. He'd studied the Second War, sure, but the Third hadn't exploded yet—just simmered.
Still, he thought carefully. "The only reason the four major villages would unite is profit. Every Shinobi World War has revolved around resources—missions, land, political leverage."
He met Orochimaru's gaze. "If profit can unite Iwa and Kumo, it can also divide them."
Orochimaru's thin smile betrayed a flicker of amusement. "And how would you propose we drive that wedge?"
Chiyu grimaced. "That... I don't know."
He shook his head. "We don't even know the terms of their cooperation yet. If we knew what each side wanted, maybe we could offer something better to one of them. But right now? Iwa and Kumo see Konoha as ripe for plunder. Why would they betray each other for scraps when they're planning to gut us together?"
Orochimaru nodded. "A wise answer. You're right not to guess blindly."
He looked ahead, hands behind his back. "I'll be busy soon—deep work in the labs and in strategy. I won't always be at the base. You'll have a day off today. Rest, if you want. Tomorrow, we visit Ryūchi Cave. You'll begin forming a contract... and I'll set a solo training regimen for you."
He glanced at Chiyu. "After that, I'll arrange missions—but you'll carry them out alone."
A genuine smile flickered on Chiyu's face.
Orochimaru caught it and smirked. "Go on, then."
"Thank you, Orochimaru-sensei!" Chiyu turned and took off down the street, energy returning to his limbs with every step.
---
At the Uzumaki Residence
Standing in front of the traditional gates of Mito Uzumaki's estate, Chiyu felt a strange flutter in his stomach.
It had been a month since he last saw Kushina.
He raised his hand and knocked.
Within moments, he heard fast-paced footsteps rushing toward the entrance. The door burst open, and a flash of crimson hair blurred his vision.
Before he could react, Kushina Uzumaki launched herself at him, arms thrown wide.
Chiyu caught her instinctively, hugging her close, fingers threading into her long hair.
"Missed you too, Tomato Queen," he murmured, voice low. "It's been too long."
Kushina pulled back, pouting. Then—bam—she punched him square in the chest.
"Idiot! You took forever! I thought you forgot about me!"
Chiyu flinched. Why is her punch getting stronger? He rubbed his chest with a sheepish grin. "How could I forget you? You'd haunt me in my dreams."
He added, "Training with Orochimaru-sensei has been intense. Missions, simulations, chakra work... I barely had time to breathe. He gave me the day off today."
"Then I'm first on your schedule, right?" Kushina folded her arms.
Chiyu raised a brow. "Always."
"Oh—and I knew you were coming. Mito-baachan told me!"
Chiyu blinked. "She sensed me?"
"Yup! Mito-baachan can sense chakra across half the village! She said you were heading this way like a little fox with something to hide!"
So she used Kagura Shingan. Chiyu nodded silently. The advanced sensory ability of the Uzumaki was no joke.
"Come on, let's go see her! She misses you too!"
Kushina grabbed his hand and took off running.
...I just wanted to hang out with you. Alone. Chiyu sighed inwardly, but didn't resist.
---
Meeting Mito Uzumaki
Mito Uzumaki sat quietly in the central hall, back straight, hands folded neatly in her lap. Time had crept into her posture, her hair now streaked with white, her aura gentler than before—but still commanding.
Chiyu bowed deeply. "Lady Mito."
Mito's eyes studied him closely. "You've changed, Chiyu."
There was warmth in her voice, but something more—recognition of the weight he now carried.
Chiyu's demeanor was calm, formal. "In your presence, I'm still just a child."
Mito smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"You've killed, haven't you?"
Chiyu didn't answer, but his silence said enough.
She sighed, more to herself than to him. "You don't need to be so guarded around me."
Chiyu kept his gaze down. "You are an elder. I only mean to show respect."
But his tone was clipped, deliberate. Mito picked up on it easily.
She gave a soft, tired chuckle. "So formal… even now."
As the former jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, Mito's perception wasn't merely instinctual—it was spiritual. The beast within her had heightened her senses for decades. She could read people the way others read chakra signatures.
The first time she met Chiyu, she'd felt it—a cold calculation beneath his politeness. A defensive wall, neatly constructed.
And now? It was the same. Even sharper. Like a blade being honed.
"I suppose... you've seen too much already," she murmured.
Chiyu said nothing. He wasn't sure how to respond.
But in that silence, something settled between them. Not quite trust. Not yet. But recognition.