Chương 176: The Hokage’s Job Is Grocery Shopping

Inside a room at the Daifuku Inn, Kari sat stiffly with anxiety gnawing at her chest. Everything in Konoha felt alien to her—the streets, the villagers, the atmosphere itself. The only familiar face she had left was Uzumaki Kushina. Yet in Kari's memories, Kushina was still that loud, unruly girl who acted like the queen of every playground. She had no idea what the woman looked like now, after becoming a mother. Whether life had worn her down the same way it had worn down herself.

And "worn down" was putting it lightly. Her features were still beautiful, but years of sacrificing her own life force to heal Kusagakure shinobi, combined with miserable living conditions, had hollowed her out. Though barely in her twenties, she looked closer to a woman in her thirties. Little Karin wriggled free from her mother's arms and toddled toward the window, peering outside with wide-eyed curiosity. Everything here fascinated her. Then hurried footsteps thundered down the inn corridor.

"KarI! Kari!" The voice was unfamiliar... and yet strangely familiar at the same time. Kari trembled. That peculiar verbal tic instantly dragged her memories back to childhood, to days so distant they almost felt unreal. Suppressing the storm in her heart, she walked to the door and pulled it open. A woman stood there, cradling a child in her arms. Like Kari, she possessed vivid crimson hair—but hers cascaded far past her waist in a brilliant waterfall of red.

Unlike Kari, who had cut hers short long ago so people could bite her more conveniently. Now that they stood face-to-face, Kushina suddenly fell silent. The two women simply stared at one another, searching each other's faces for traces of the children they used to know. Kari found them first. Kushina was still the same person she remembered... only more mature now. Kushina found them too. But the little girl who used to trail behind them all those years ago—why did she look so haggard?

She was younger than Kushina herself. What kind of life had she endured?

"Kari... it really is you. You're alive. Thank goodness... you're alive." Kushina gently set little Naruto on the floor and stepped forward, pulling Kari into a fierce embrace. Feeling how frighteningly thin her childhood friend had become, Kushina's eyes reddened. Pure-blooded Uzumaki possessed monstrous vitality by nature. For someone like Kari to be reduced to this state... Kushina could hardly imagine the suffering required. Kari softly patted Kushina's back.

"It's me, Kushina nee-san. I survived." Karin stared curiously at the auntie with hair the same color as her mother's. Then she noticed another head poking out from behind her—a little blond boy staring right back at her with equal curiosity. His hair didn't match theirs at all. Where had this yellow-haired creature come from? Suddenly, sharp movements cut through the air. The ROOT shinobi accompanying Kushina moved to separate the two women.

"Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!" Minato Namikaze and Team Genma instantly intercepted them. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. The ROOT operatives halted. One of them spoke coldly.

"Lord Fourth, that woman is from another village. Allowing a suspicious outsider to come into contact with the Nine-Tails jinchūriki is absolutely unacceptable." Minato regarded them with icy calm.

"From this day onward, she is one of Konoha's people. I personally guarantee it in the name of the Fourth Hokage. Is there still a problem?" Kushina was even more direct. The instant she noticed fear flash through Kari's eyes, she transformed into a raging red-haired demon on the spot.

"Get lost. Keep yapping and I'll beat you to death." The ROOT shinobi exchanged glances before vanishing immediately. This matter had to be reported to Danzō at once. Two new Uzumaki had arrived in Konoha. That was intelligence of the highest priority. Kari knew nothing about Konoha's complicated internal politics, nor did she understand what a jinchūriki truly was. But she did understand one thing: This blond young man... was the Fourth Hokage.

And judging by appearances, he and Kushina were far more than acquaintances.

"Kushina nee-san... this is?"

"Oh right! Let me introduce you." Kushina beamed.

"This is my husband, Namikaze Minato. And this little guy is my son, Uzumaki Naruto." Relief finally loosened the knot in Kari's chest. Kushina's husband was the Hokage. That meant she and Karin probably wouldn't end up like they had in Kusagakure. She quickly pulled Karin forward and bowed deeply.

"Hokage-sama, my name is Kari. This is my daughter, Karin. Please take care of us from now on."

"Ahh, what pretty hair! Same as ours!" Kushina rubbed Karin's head lovingly before glancing at her own son.

"Then why isn't Naruto's hair red?" Minato scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Ahahaha... well, he is my son." Then he coughed lightly.

"Kushina, let's head home first. You two can talk after dinner. We can't leave Kari and Karin hungry, can we?"

"Oh! Right, food first!" Kushina grabbed Kari's hand excitedly, then turned around and shouted:"Minato! Go buy groceries! We're out of vegetables!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Kari's head filled with question marks. Wasn't the Hokage the most powerful person in the ninja world? Why was he the one buying groceries? Kusagakure definitely didn't work like this. Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi quietly read through the mission report. Dongye zhen had written it in meticulous detail. Certain matters couldn't be concealed anyway, nor was there any point trying.

And honestly, Dongye zhen believed that if anyone in Konoha dared treat Kari like a living blood bank, Kushina would personally punch their brains out. After finishing the report, Hiruzen seemed to be in rather good spirits.

"Well done, Zhen. No issues with the report. As for the Fūma Clan matter, your team handled it admirably."

"It was our duty, Third Hokage-sama."

"So this woman named Kari was the true source behind Kusagakure's medical recovery capabilities?"

"Yes. But she doesn't actually know medical ninjutsu. She heals people by sacrificing her own life force. If things had continued, her chakra would've dried up within a few years." Hiruzen exhaled a stream of smoke and sighed.

"What a tragedy. Fortunately, you rescued her in time. You're certain both she and Karin are members of the Uzumaki Clan?"

"Yes. Kari knew Kushina-sensei from childhood. I already informed my teacher after returning. They've likely reunited by now." Hiruzen studied Dongye zhen for a long moment before nodding.

"You handled this appropriately. I approve." At that moment, a hoarse voice sounded from outside the office.

"I do not." Shimura Danzō shoved open the door and strode inside.

"No matter whether she's Uzumaki or not, she's still an outsider. Allowing her to contact the Nine-Tails jinchūriki without proper screening—Dongye zhen, do you even have Konoha in your eyes?" Dongye zhen had no intention of giving the old hawk any face.

"I already investigated Kari's background thoroughly. There are no issues. Danzō-sama... are you questioning my intelligence-gathering abilities?"

"Hmph. You know nothing. Young people are easily deceived. What if she entered Konoha carrying out a mission?"

"Oh? Then what does Danzō-sama propose?"

"That woman must be handed over to ROOT. We'll conduct a full mental examination and verify she poses no threat to Konoha."

"Sure. I agree." Dongye zhen smiled pleasantly.

"If you're capable of taking her, go ahead." Danzō: "..." Hiruzen tapped the desk lightly.

"That's enough. The matter is settled. Zhen, you may leave."

"Yes, Third Hokage-sama." After Dongye zhen departed, Danzō snatched up the mission report without ceremony and began reading. Hiruzen didn't stop him. By the time Danzō finished, his eyes gleamed like a starving wolf discovering treasure.

"Such a unique Uzumaki constitution... and this is your arrangement, Hiruzen? What a waste."

"What exactly is wrong with it?"

"You should hand her over to me. I'll ensure her abilities are utilized to their fullest potential—for Konoha's strength."

"Oh?" Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.

"By draining the blood of some pitiful woman?"

"You think I'd be as foolish as those Kusagakure idiots?"

"Give it up, Danzō. The matter is decided. Let Minato handle it."

"Hiruzen, your weakness disgusts me. Sacrifices are necessary. She's merely an outsider. Everything I do is for Konoha." Hiruzen's expression darkened instantly.

"For Konoha? Or for yourself?" he thundered.

"I think you know the answer better than anyone, Danzō!"

"You—" Hiruzen drew a deep breath before speaking in a tired voice.

"Danzō... don't you understand yet? Our era is over. All we can do now is stand our final watch and leave the future to the younger generation." Then his gaze sharpened.

"A word of advice. Do not set your sights on those two Uzumaki women."

"Otherwise, no one will be able to save you. Understand?"

"Hmph. Foolish sentimentality." Danzō stormed out of the office, bitterness boiling inside him. You've sat in the Hokage's seat for decades, of course you can calmly claim your era has passed. But what about me? Left alone in the office, Hiruzen silently stared at Dongye zhen's mission report. He could have stopped Danzō from reading it. But he hadn't. He knew exactly what needed to be done before stepping down from power. He simply lacked the resolve to do it himself. In that case...

Perhaps it was best to let his old comrade walk toward destruction of his own accord.