"Shin, what's going on here?"

  Mikoto, seeing Tanaka-sensei scolding Kai, asked Shin for an expnation.

  "Well, it's a bit plicated, but I'll give you the short version."

  Shin cleared his throat.

  "Kai likes Akiko, but Akiko seems to have a thing for Minato. So, Kai, in a fit of jealousy, punched Minato."

  "Wow, Kai likes Akiko? Poor Akiko," Kushina said, shaking her head.

  "By the way, your matded so quickly. Who won?"

  Mikoto asked curiously.

  "I did, of course. Nawaki is no mate. I could take him down with one hand tied behind my back."

  Shin g Nawaki, but he wasn't exaggerating. He really could defeat Nawaki with one hand.

  "You're so mean, Shin! You bribed me! If you hadn't, I would have crushed you!" Narotested.

  "Yeah, right. You'd be the oing crushed," Kushina scoffed. If Shin used his full strength, Nawaki wouldn't stand a ce.

  "It's satisfying to see Kai get scolded," Shin said with a smirk.

  Kai was severely reprimanded and forced to apologize to Minato.

  Minato readily fave him.

  "He fave him just like that? Shouldn't he at least try to get even?" Shin remarked.

  "Uzumaki Shin!!!" Kai roared.

  "What? Want to fight me? I'll break your ."

  Kai, who had been fuming, felt a phantom pain in his leg and backed down.

  The other students were surprised. Why was Kai so afraid of Shin?

  Shin was good, but he wasn't that much better than Kai. What was going on?

  "Alright, no fighting! If I catch you brawling, you'll be punished!" Tanaka-sensei warned.

  "That cludes today's test. Css dismissed. Minato-san, go get those injuries treated."

  Cheers erupted as the students celebrated their early dismissal.

  "Shin, don't fet you owe me Yakiniku," Nawaki reminded him.

  "Don't worry, you'll get your meat. Let's go."

  Shin, Kushina, Mikoto, and a hopeful Nawaki headed towards a Yakiniku restaurant.

  ????

  At the Senju pound, the Sandaime Hokage stood outside Uzumaki Mito's residence.

  "Mito-sama, Sarutobi Hiruzen requests an audience."

  "Ah, it's little monkey. e in."

  Hiruzen blushed at the niame. Thankfully, they were alo would have been embarrassing otherwise.

  "Mito-sama, you summoned me?"

  Hiruzen hadn't e of his own volition; Mito had sent for him.

  "Hiruzen, I called you here to discuss the ails Jinchūriki." Mito had stopped calling him "little monkey," much to his relief.

  "This...?"

  "I'm old, Hiruzen. I don't know how much longer I hold on. We o choose a new Jinchūriki soon."

  Hiruzen was silent for a moment. "What are your thoughts, Mito-sama?"

  "The ails Jinchūriki should ideally be an Uzumaki. Only their stitution properly suppress the Kyuubi. Otherwise, it might go on a rampage or even break free from the seal."

  Mito's voice was grave. The ails was a force to be reed with. Without Hashirama, Konoha would struggle to tain its power.

  "I agree."

  Hiruzen was also cautious when it came to the ails. Its importance was undeniable, and the Uzumaki were the most suitable didates for being its Jinchūriki.

  "Do you have anyone in mind, Mito-sama?"

  "I only gestions. The final decision is yours, Hiruzen."

  "First, I reend Uzumaki Shihe most suitable didate. Then there's Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Akiko."

  "What about Uzumaki Kai? He seems quite talented."

  Mito shook her head. "He is talented, but he's also ed by hatred and jealousy. He's not suitable to be the ails Jinchūriki."

  Any Uzumaki was teically suitable, but Kai's personality made him a poor choice.

  "Uzumaki Shin?"

  Hiruzen frowned. He had gathered information on the Uzumaki survivors. Uzumaki Hikaru was out of the question; he was an adult and harder to trol. Hiruzen didn't trust him.

  As for Shin, his performa the Academy wasn't as impressive as Kai's. Why was Mito reending him?

  'Is this for the Senju ?' Hiruzen wondered.

  Shin was close to Tsunade and ractically sidered a Senju. Perhaps Mito was trying to secure an advantage for the Senju.

  Hiruzen's guess was pletely off the mark. Mito reended Shin because of his immense life force, which could suppress the ails pletely. He would be the safest choice.

  "The Kyuubi is votile, filled with hatred. I think a female Jinchūriki would be better. Perhaps we use love to tame the beast. Uzumaki Akiko seems like a good choice."

  Hiruzen lowered his head.

  Mito looked at him, disappoi clouding her eyes. Hiruzen had ged.

  His thoughts were transparent to her.

  She uood why he wasn't choosing Shin or Kushina. It was because of their close ties to the Senju .

  "Mito-sama, what do you think?" Hiruzen asked, a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

  The ails was too important. He couldn't allow any single to trol it.

  "You've already made up your mind, Hiruzen. Do as you see fit. I'm tired. You may leave."

  Mito waved him away, her disappoi evident.

  "Then I'll take my leave. If you need anything, Mito-sama, please don't hesitate to send for me."

  Hiruzen bowed a.

  Outside, his guilt was overwhelming, but then his expression hardened.

  "Five me, Mito-sama, but the ails Jinchūriki is too important. No single Konoha should have trol over it."

  Shin and Kushioo close to the Senju. Kai's personality was unsuitable. That left Akiko.

  Hiruzen didn't want to see the Senju rise to pain.

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