Under the guidance of a maid, Maki and Naori were led to a traditional Japanese-style room.
Maki ignored the young maid and instead focused on the middle-aged kunoichi who greeted them.
She looked sharp—literally. Her chin could probably stab someone to death. Her cold and stern expression screamed ninja.
"I'm Taohua. From now on, I'll be in charge of your daily routine, Miss Maki," she said coolly.
"Huh? Daily routine?" Maki tilted her head, confused.
"You'll be staying here from time to time for training," Taohua explained.
"Got it. I accept the bed."
"No," Taohua narrowed her eyes. "What I mean is, while you're in this house, everything you do is under my supervision. You follow my rules."
She sounded serious. And like someone hard to get along with.
"So... do I need your permission to poop?" Maki asked, genuinely curious.
Taohua's face didn't budge. "Let's go," she said flatly.
The maid stepped aside as Maki and Naori followed Taohua down the hall.
"Now that you're Mito-sama's disciple, you represent the Senju clan," Taohua lectured. "Your image—both inside and outside this home—must reflect that."
"I once saw the First Hokage get kicked out of a casino. Tsunade laughed her head off," Maki said casually.
Taohua stopped walking for a second.
"You are not Hashirama-sama!" she snapped. "In short, don't bring shame to the Senju name!"
"This sounds like a pain," Maki muttered, stopping in her tracks.
Taohua turned around, confused. "What is it?"
"I don't want to be a disciple anymore," Maki said, turning to leave.
"…What?"
Taohua hurried forward and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Something else?" Maki asked.
Taohua stared at her, trying to keep her composure. Then, suddenly, a polite smile bloomed on her face. "It's nothing."
"I'm going home."
"Wait!"
"Hm?"
"Mind the setting!"
"Hm?"
"Don't get cocky!"
"Hm?"
"This is the Senju Clan's domain! Show some respect, brat!"
"Hm?"
"…Do as you like," Taohua finally sighed.
"So I can leave?"
"Come back here, you little demon!"
"Go ahead."
"…Thanks."
Naori blinked. Taohua's whole vibe had deflated, like someone who just realized their life's work was futile.
"I swear, this is why I never wanted kids," Taohua mumbled, walking ahead of them without even glancing back.
She had failed to control Maki, and the road ahead looked bleak.
Tsunade was one thing.
But this girl?
A disaster waiting to happen.
Whether Mito-sama could handle her… well, Taohua wasn't sure.
This house was going to be rubble by the end.
—
They walked through a long corridor, eventually arriving at the main room. Taohua opened the paper sliding door.
"Maki is here, Mito-sama."
"Thank you, Taohua," Mito said kindly.
"I'll excuse myself."
"Wait. Bring the book I prepared."
"Yes, ma'am."
Taohua left, and Maki and Naori stepped inside.
"Come here, little genius. Let me have a look at you," Mito said with a warm smile—though her attention quickly shifted to Naori. "And who's this adorable little guest?"
"She insisted on coming," Maki replied.
Naori blinked. That wasn't true—they had made plans to hang out after training.
"Why's that?" Mito asked, curious.
"No one wants to play with Naori," Maki said bluntly. "We were supposed to go on an outing today."
"Oh, I see. I'm sorry for delaying your plans," Mito said gently. She looked at Naori. "Don't you have many friends?"
Naori shook her head. "No one dares play with Maki."
Mito chuckled softly and looked at Maki again. "I see. I interrupted your date with your friend."
"…Why is she here?" Maki asked, looking at the other girl in the room.
Hyuga Hitomi.
She sat politely on her knees, quiet and proper. A shy girl, clearly uncomfortable under pressure.
The Hyuga clan had made their move.
Even though she was just a branch family member, sending her here was a statement.
But it was a poor bet.
By all logic, Tsunade was the obvious next Hokage.
But logic meant little if Tsunade herself wasn't reliable.
Giving her a chance didn't guarantee anything.
And frankly, that chance was being wasted.
"You're classmates, so I won't bother with introductions," Mito said with a smile. "She's become my disciple, just like you."
"We'll support each other and get along from now on!" Mito added warmly.
"Yes!" Hitomi responded with bright energy.
Mito waved her hand, a little annoyed. "Really, there's no need to be so stiff in front of me. That Tennin guy turned you into such a robot! Hitomi, treat me like someone you're close to."
Her eyes flicked briefly to the cursed seal beneath Hitomi's bangs, and a shadow of emotion crossed them.
You're going to have to break free, Hitomi.
"Yes," Hitomi replied softly.
"And you, Maki—did you hear what I just said?" Mito turned to her next.
"I heard you, Grandma Mito." Maki casually plopped down on a cushion, legs crossed.
Mito let out a short laugh, half amused and half exasperated. "You're so rude!"
What really bothered her was how Maki sat—no sense of a "proper young lady" posture. Just like Tsunade.
Honestly, it gave her a headache just looking at it.
And Tsunade herself wasn't even here. Probably ran off to the Third Hokage's office again.
Mito didn't expect much of a response from Maki anyway. She already knew the girl's character, and all three elders plus the Hokage had warned her.
Don't get worked up. Don't try to control her. She'll drive you up the wall.
Genius came with its own rules.
And that was fine. Mito had long accepted that. You don't love someone only when they're easy to love.
"Naori, come here and sit too," Mito said kindly.
Naori nodded and took a seat next to Maki.
Mito looked at her for a moment, then smiled. "You're adorable."
Naori blushed.
"And Hitomi's cute too," Mito added.
"Thank you, Grandma Mito," Hitomi murmured shyly.
"You're so polite. No need to thank me for something like that—Tsunade never did," Mito chuckled, gently patting Hitomi's head.
Poor girl. So much pressure on such small shoulders.
Then she looked at Maki again.
"And you? Why don't you take off your mask so I can see your face?"
"No," Maki replied.
"Why not?"
"Have you ever seen what an Aburame looks like?"
Mito paused. "...No, I suppose not."
"Exactly."
Maki turned her attention elsewhere. "So, when does training start?"
"Don't be in such a rush," Mito said, letting the moment pass. She looked at the three girls thoughtfully. Then her gaze settled on Naori.
"Naori, do you have any dreams? Any ideals?"
Naori blinked, thinking for a moment. "I don't really have any, Grandma."
"No dreams? Like… conquering every casino in the world, like Tsunade?" Mito teased.
"Huh? That counts as a dream?" Naori asked, genuinely surprised.
She always thought Tsunade was just joking.
"Of course it does," Mito laughed. Then she pointed to Maki. "She wants to fly to the sky and stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun."
Hitomi's eyes widened.
Naori, though, didn't even flinch. That sounded just like Maki.
Mito then pointed to Hitomi. "And Hitomi wants to become a bird and fly freely in the sky."
She turned back to Naori. "So? Do you want to fly with them?"
Naori looked at the other two, then smiled softly.
"Then I have a wish too," she said.
Mito leaned in. "What is it? Flying in the sky?"
"I want to stay in the village with everyone forever," Naori said. "If Maki ever gets tired of flying, I want to be here waiting when she lands."
"…I see."
Mito's smile deepened.
"Would you like to be my disciple too, Naori?"
"Eh? Can I?"
"You can."
Mito looked pleased.
One disciple, two disciples—it didn't matter. Originally, she just wanted someone to team up with Maki. Most kids their age couldn't keep up with her.
But these two? They were good friends.
And in time, even the Uchiha would fully become part of the village.
It wouldn't be easy… but that was Hashirama's dream.
And Mito intended to see it through.
____________
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