Notes:
The Land of Whirlpools was located on an island off the coast of the Land of Fire and was the Uzumaki clan’s origin. It was eventually destroyed and its survivors scattered across the Shinobi World
Long before the founding of the hidden villages, during an era of endless war, Otsutsuki Kaguya consumed the fruit of the God Tree and became the first wielder of chakra on Earth, later merging with the tree to become the Ten Tails
“Have so many people that have been with Tonan already died?” Uzumaki Kushina stepped forward and hunkered down to rub Uchiha Tonan’s hair, wanting to comfort him. Shortly afterward, she frowned, thinking of something.
“That doesn’t add up. If your theory is correct, then why has nothing happened to Minato, Kakashi, or me?” After a short pause, seeing Tonan not answering, Kushina felt she had found a breakthrough and continued to probe, “Why aren’t you talking? Did you discover something?”
Tonan curled up even more and replied in an indifferent tone, “You might not completely acknowledge me… I can feel that you and Minato-sensei are subconsciously wary of me. We are limited to being acquaintances. There are no deep feelings.”
Kushina was stunned. She stuttered as she said, “No… it’s not like that… what about Kakashi?”
On the mention of Kakashi, Tonan became silent for a long time and he finally replied, “That’s why I intentionally kept my distance from him after I fulfilled White Fang-sama’s last wish. I’m going to make him hate me. I don’t want anything to happen to him.”
It looked like Tonan made Kakashi hate him, not only to stimulate his growth but also to protect him. Kushina thought of another person and asked, “What about Hokage-sama?”
Tonan paused and shook his head, “Don’t ask about sensei…”
The answer made Kushina come back to her senses. Ever since the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed, Sarutobi Hiruzen was not as kind as he looked on the surface. She was deeply vigilant of him and now it seemed that Hiruzen didn’t consider Tonan as his own either.
The two remained silent for a while. Kushina’s thoughts were all over the place. In a situation like Tonan’s, any regular person would know these things had nothing to do with the person but Tonan was the kind that liked to take everything on himself.
“I truly don’t know what to say,” Kushina sighed but another idea popped in her head and she softly said, “Tonan, do you want to make a bet with me?”
Tonan shrunk and said indifferently, “Not interested.”
Kushina did not expect such a rejection but she held back her temper, “I’ll tell you the truth. Minato and I like you very much. It’s just that it might not be very deep as yet. But starting today, Minato and I will completely acknowledge you. And as long as we don’t die, you must not think that you are an ominous person.”
Tonan, however, resolutely maintained, “I won’t bet.”
Kushina secretly clenched her fists. The smile on her face was also a little stiff. But she continued to be as gentle as possible, “Let me tell you a secret, I’m Kyubi’s jinchuriki. You would know about the tailed beasts, right? Do you think anything is more brutal or eviler than the Ninja World’s tailed beasts? With such an existence sealed in my body, what else can curse me?”
Tonan seemed to be shaken, and he weakly asked, “Kushina-senpai, are you telling the truth?”
Kushina smiled brightly and replied, “Of course.”
Tonan slowly raised his head. The moment he saw Kushina’s face, the hypnosis seal in his mind activated. In the deep and dark spiritual space, a cluster of spiritual fire ignited, instantly dispelling the darkness.
Tonan’s eyes flashed with closeness as he quietly looked at Kushina and said, “Kushina-senpai…”
“Tonan.” Kushina gently extended her hand, a step at a time…
Namikaze Minato too walked out of the darkness seeing that Tonan’s mood had stabilized. After coming over, he also similarly extended his hand with a gentle smile.
“Minato-sensei.” Tonan looked at the two people in front of him, and his eyes were full of emotion. “Get up,” Minato said with a smile.
“Thank you…” Tonan rubbed his eyes, holding back tears. He extended his hands and placed them on the hands of Kushina and Minato.
In Kushina’s sealed space, Kurama was confused, “This is too strange. Someone’s spirit can actually change from extreme darkness to extreme brightness instantly on seeing a certain individual.”
As the jinchuriki, Kushina could hear the Nine Tails’ words. She looked at Minato, her eyes filled with pride. The moon opened its eyes, gently watching the village and field below, like a shining copper plate.
Under the warm yellow street lamp, Kushina and Minato led Tonan down the quiet street. “Tonan, you didn’t eat anything just now. Would you like to have some supper together?”
“Kushina-senpai, now that you mention it, I truly feel a little hungry.”
“Something happened to your Jiro-san, are you going to visit his house later?”
“Almost all clan members hate me, so I won’t go. I’ll secretly send a bouquet after Jiro-san is buried.”
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
“It’s alright, I’m used to it.”
“Kushina-senpai, Minato-sensei.”
“Hmm?”
“You two won’t leave me, right?”
“We won’t.”
Late at night, Tonan returned home with a bulging stomach. Although he had experienced too many things today, and he felt a little tired, the homework to be done should still be done. Under the dim light in the bedroom, he took out a book and began to read it.
Reading could calm people and they would be able to reflect on themselves and notice their flaws. Tonight, Obito’s remark, ‘Tonan, you are so hypocritical’, had been lingering in his mind. He was not annoyed. Other people were like a mirror.
To other people, Obito’s sentence was him talking nonsense. But for him, this was Obito pointing out his flaw. Perhaps, Tonan had never been a boorish man who only had strength in his eyes. Therefore, even though he was already powerful, he was still as cautious as before, and he kept belittling himself.
But now, he had a series of achievements. If he continued to excessively belittle himself like that, that wouldn’t be modest, rather…
The direction was not wrong, but everything should be grasped to a degree. Furthermore, this degree was not set in stone.
Tonan looked at ‘Advanced Guide to Spy Camouflage’ in his hand and sighed.
“I’ve really slacked off lately. I’m not making the kind of effort I used to. Life needs continuous learning, progress, and striving for ideals. In this world filled with competition, victory or defeat is the reality. If you don’t keep up with other people, you will be eliminated, sooner or later.”
“Even if my current strength is enough to survive, I can’t relax. I must be alert in peacetime and take preventive measures. I have to quell every little fire that might endanger my life in time. I’ve to be worried…”
“After all, only about twenty years are left before the appearance of the Six Paths leveled powerhouses. Kaguya must reappear in the world. She is the ancestor of chakra. If she is used for breeding… I guess the average combat power of the Ninja World will improve greatly. This would be a great deed that would benefit the common people.”
