After a brief exge, Orochimaru and Jiraiya left, but Tsuayed behind.

  As Orochimaru departed, he cast another lingering g Shin.

  Shin didn't sense any malice, but he still felt uneasy.

  "What was that frontation with Uchiha Ryota about?" Tsunade inquired.

  Nawaki expihe situation, causing Tsuo frown.

  "The Uchiha are always causing trouble."

  Mikoto shifted unfortably. She ksunade wasn't referring to her specifically, but she still felt awkward. She was an Uchiha, after all.

  "Don't worry, I wasn't talking about you," Tsunade reassured her, notig Mikoto's disfort.

  She had a good impression of Mikoto, who seemed different from the other Uchiha.

  "By the way, I have to leave the vilge for a mission. It's an esission, should take about half a month."

  Tsunade informed them.

  "Oh..."

  Nawaki couldn't help but grin.

  Tsunade's smile vanished, repced by a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Nawaki, you seem happy about this?"

  "No, no, not at all!" Nawaki shook his head vigorously.

  "I'll deal with you ter. I have to go."

  Tsunade gred at Nawaki, then waved goodbye to the others before turning to leave.

  Nawaki breathed a sigh of relief once she was out of sight.

  "Nawaki, are you scared of your sister?" Shin asked.

  Nawaki scratched his head. "A little. She's really strict wherains me."

  "e on, weren't you going to show us around Konoha? We have some time before css. Let's explore the area."

  Shin looked at Mikoto.

  "Mikoto-san, want to join us?"

  "Oh, may I?" Mikoto looked surprised and pleased.

  "Of course." Shin smiled, and the four of them set off to explore Konoha.

  Shin and Kushina were unfamiliar with the vilge, so Nawaki acted as their guide, pointing out various ndmarks and locations.

  Sihey didn't have much time before their afternoon css, they only explored the area he Academy.

  It was good to familiarize themselves with the surroundings. Soon, it was time to head back for css.

  Ba their seats, Shin asked Mikoto, "Mikoto, that i earlier... It won't cause you any trouble, will it?"

  He had dropped the honorifics, a sign of their growing friendship.

  Mikoto shook her head.

  "I'll be fine. I'm practically invisible in the Uchiha o one will bother me over this. Actually, I should be the one apologizing." Mikoto looked at Shin and Kushina apologetically.

  "Mikoto, we're friends now. o apologize," Kushina said.

  Perhaps they were destio be best friends. Kushina, who had initially been hostile towards Mikoto, now seemed quite fond of her.

  The afternoon css was another lecture. Kushina wasn't ied in theory; she felt like falling asleep.

  Shihe same. If the lecture had been useful, he would have paid attention, but it was all stuff he already knew or found irrelevant.

  School let out early, a little after four iernoon.

  After school, they accepted Nawaki's invitation to explore more of Konoha.

  Back at the Senju pound, Shin refrained from practig Taijutsu or Kenjutsu. He didn't want to attract attention so soon after arriving in Konoha, so he focused on Chakra refi.

  He didn't know if the Sandaime had assigned Anbu to watch them, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

  Practig Taijutsu or Kenjutsu might reveal his true strength. Even practig Ninjutsu was risky. For now, he'd stick to refining Chakra.

  'Should I copy the Byakugan?'

  Shin thought of his Advanbsp;Replication Card. He had four cards in total: three on and one Advanced.

  The Advanbsp;Card could copy S-rank Jutsu, Kage-level Chakra and physique, and even Kekkei Genkai.

  The Byakugan, while seemingly less impressive than the Sharingan and Rinnegan, had powerful sensory capabilities and could even evolve into the Tenseigan.

  The Tenseigan was a dōjutsu on par with the Rinnegan, perhaps even surpassing it in offensive power.

  After some sideration, Shin decided against it. While the Byakugan's sensory abilities were useful, especially for deteg surveil would also turn his eyes pletely white.

  Walking around with those eyes would draw unwatention, especially from the Hyūga .

  'If only I had the Mind's Eye of Kagura... It's eveer than the Byakugan.'

  He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. He didn't know how to awaken it, or if it was even possible for him.

  As far as he knew, only Karin possessed that ability.

  <><><><>

  A feassed. Shin and Kushina's days were filled with school, expl Konoha with Nawaki and Mikoto, and Chakra refi.

  One day, they were summoo Uzumaki Mito's residence, along with Kai and Akiko.

  "I've called you here today to teach you the Uzumaki 's Sealing Jutsu."

  Shin's face lit up. This was great news! With Mito's guidahey would progress quickly in Fūinjutsu.

  Kai and Akiko were also excited.

  "We'll start with the most basic sealing formus," Mito said seriously.

  These childrehe st remnants of the Uzumaki , the Hope for its Revival.

  As a former princess of the , Mito wanted nothing more than to see it restored to its flory.

  She would teach them everything she could.

  How much they learned, however, depended oalent.

  From then on, their days were filled with school, followed by lessons in Fūinjutsu from Mito after dinner.

  Under Mito's tutege, Shin, already a genius, progressed rapidly.

  Kushina also learned a lot. She was talented, sed only to Shin.

  But Shin had warned her not to stand out too much. She should learsu, but pretend she wasn't as skilled as she actually was.

  <><><><><><>

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