Chapter 032: Descendant Chat Group (^_-) — The Nine-Tails Has the Highest Seniority!? (Please Support with Data)
The mission to the Land of Waves was to escort Tazuna back home.
But the real goal wasn't him—it was the profit to be gained from the Land of Waves.
After all, would they really have made such a long trip just for a small country like the Land of Waves, or because it didn't have its own ninja?
Kitahara Kaede's group had taken possession of Gato's assets and even earned the goodwill of Kirigakure. Though returning with a future Mizukage made them stand out, it was still an overwhelming success.
Only Gato got hurt in this world's version of events.
"Kakashi, huh—"
"As expected from you. Fast mission turnaround—"
When they returned to Konoha, the two gatekeepers greeted them.
Konoha was structured in a circular area, somewhat like a basin, surrounded by walls with only one entrance and exit.
The ones guarding that entrance were two Chūnin.
Izumo and Kotetsu.
The two of them were in the same generation as Kakashi, but… Kakashi was a genius. No matter what they did, they couldn't catch up. Now Kakashi was an elite Jōnin, while they were still Chūnin.
"Ha… yeah," Kakashi replied indifferently.
"Eh?"
Izumo felt like something was off with Kakashi's demeanor.
"And Kakashi's squad…"
"Hmm…"
"Go on in then—"
Izumo recognized Naruto, being the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki from the village.
Though not openly discriminated against, Naruto was still different from ordinary ninja. But now that he was Kakashi's student, their lips were sealed tight.
Moreover…
Uchiha Sasuke was also there.
The last survivor of the Uchiha clan.
And this golden-eyed kid… must be that Kitahara Kaede Iruka drunkenly mentioned—the one holding back his true strength.
Then they noticed Terumi Mei behind Kaede.
Terumi Mei identified herself.
"Wait a second…"
"A candidate for Mizukage…"
"Hold on…"
"We need to report this."
"The Third Hokage will come shortly," Kotetsu said, surprised. He then told Izumo to stay put while he went to report it.
"…," Terumi Mei shrugged helplessly.
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
[Senju Tobirama]: Even just a Mizukage candidate needs to be received by our village's Hokage himself?
[Senju Tobirama]: Konoha really has lost its spine.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: ?? I don't think it's that bad? She's the future Fifth Mizukage, so technically she is a Kage.
[Senju Tobirama]: Big brother, you don't get it.
[Senju Tobirama]: A weak nation has no diplomacy.
[Senju Tobirama]: Because we're weak, we must grovel.
[Senju Tobirama]: This village is really in bad shape…
With Tobirama's sighs, Kaede and the others finally returned to Konoha.
Because of Terumi Mei, Kakashi, as the Jōnin accompanying her, needed to wait for the Third Hokage to come and officially receive her.
This meant it had been elevated to a Kage-level diplomatic meeting.
But for the juniors like them, it didn't really matter.
Inter-village diplomacy and relations were distant concerns for Genin.
However…
"Are you sure this is okay?" Kaede asked.
As the next Mizukage, Terumi Mei was now a public figure in Konoha.
Which meant… she couldn't move around freely or come see him casually.
While Kaede wasn't particularly narcissistic, he could tell the reason Mei was here—was likely because of him.
So, revealing her identity so directly made things inconvenient.
"My actions were calculated," Mei said as she brushed a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear, revealing a delicate ear.
She said softly,
"And with the Third Hokage coming, it's perfect timing—I brought the Treaty of Alliance and Friendship with Konoha."
In other words, she was here on official diplomatic business as the future Mizukage.
Her village also needed to establish peace with other villages in order to recuperate.
So her actions were perfectly reasonable.
"Also, you just finished a mission, and you probably want to unwind a bit too, right?" Mei added with a gentle smile, switching into her big-sister mode.
"So I won't bother you."
"Keeping a little distance builds connection."
"Clinging too much only becomes a burden, right?"
She took Kaede's right hand and gently held it, warmth spreading through his palm.
"You might think I'm calculating," her jade-green eyes looked into his.
Her tone was warm and sincere.
"And I am calculating. I won't deny it."
"Kaede-kun, I trust my instincts when it comes to people. You're going to become someone everyone will look up to."
"And before others realize that… I want to be the person you can trust."
"I hope you'll give me that chance."
Saying this, she let go of his hand.
"…" Kaede.
He had to admit, this was the same woman who held up the broken Kirigakure in the original story.
She was incredibly meticulous, leaving no room for error.
And while her sweet big-sister act might have been partially a performance… it was still really impressive.
"Ahem…"
But before Kaede could respond, Izumo—the Chūnin still waiting for the report—froze in place.
Because…
Terumi Mei had just declared herself as the future Mizukage—that meant she held status comparable to the Hokage.
And she was… currently fawning over a newbie Genin from Konoha!
But what shocked him more was that while Mei was acting so kindly, Kakashi's squad showed no reaction at all.
Was he the only one under a genjutsu?
"Just get used to it."
"And wait for the Third," Kakashi said. "Don't spread what doesn't need to be spread."
"Uh… understood, Kakashi-senpai!" Izumo quickly nodded.
Yeah.
If word got out that the Mizukage was trying to seduce a young Konoha Genin… he'd be finished.
Thus, after the interruption, Kaede's Team 7 disbanded.
Except Kakashi, who stayed, Kaede, Naruto, and Sasuke scattered.
Now that they had some money, Sasuke and Naruto went to the ninja tools shop together.
They invited Kaede too.
But Kaede refused.
After all, Black Hinata would cover all his tool needs.
If he went with them, he'd get:
"What? You went out with Sasuke and Naruto instead of asking me?"
Or even:
"So now you're close with men too?"
"Do you want Sasuke and Naruto… or do you want me?"
That would be a nightmare.
"…" Kaede.
Honestly…
Naruto's behavior had been weird lately. What he said in the Land of Waves almost sounded like a confession.
So keeping some distance was probably best.
Boom!
Kaede returned to his apartment in just 10 minutes.
Then—
"…"
"…"
He locked eyes with a pure white rabbit. Even its eyes were clear and snow-like.
This bunny was ridiculously cute, with red-tipped paws.
It looked elegant yet sinister.
Its usual lack of expression made it seem aloof and icy.
The rabbit was sitting on the windowsill.
When Kaede stepped inside, it turned to face him.
"Oh!"
"Greeting me on your own, huh?"
"Missed me these past two days while I was gone?"
"Finally remembering you have an owner?"
Kaede used the Body Flicker Technique to appear before it.
He reached out—
Poof!
The rabbit vanished from in front of him and reappeared calmly on the table behind him.
Turning his head, he saw it quietly resting there.
"…," Bunny.
Its little white brows seemed to furrow.
It noticed—Kaede had gotten faster again.
"So unfriendly," Kaede said. "But I'm in no rush. I've got all the time in the world to train you."
"…," Bunny.
The rabbit shot him a cold glance, seemingly rebuking his arrogance.
Kaede gave up on petting it and opened the fridge.
"Oh…"
"Just as I thought…"
"If food's not placed directly in front of you, you won't touch it."
He took out pre-sliced carrots.
He had already prepped them before leaving, but the bunny wouldn't eat unless served directly.
Kaede placed the carrots in front of it.
This time the rabbit accepted them gracefully with its paws and took a few elegant bites.
"By the way," Kaede said. "They say the Tailed Beasts are made of chakra."
"What do you think would happen if all the Tailed Beasts were gathered together?"
Kaede looked at his ninja rabbit.
"...!"
"…"
The rabbit visibly froze for a second, then quickly returned to its indifferent expression.
Kaede continued to stare.
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Kaede's bunny is still as aloof as ever.
[Senju Tobirama]: Indeed.
[Minato Namikaze]: Eh, Kaede-kun turned down Naru-baby's invitation? Is he trying to distance himself from him?
[Minato Namikaze]: Naru-baby finally made a friend…
[Minato Namikaze]: Eh! Eh! Ehh!!
[Minato Namikaze]: Sigh (Minato sighs three times in a row)
[Senju Tobirama]: …
[Senju Tobirama]: Minato, calm down. Rejecting an invitation once is no big deal.
[Senju Tobirama]: If they stuck together all the time, that'd be weird.
[Senju Tobirama]: Don't you think what Naruto said to Kaede in the Land of Waves was a bit… off?
[Minato Namikaze]: Eh? Was something wrong with it?
[Senju Tobirama]: …
Tobirama was speechless.
Are both father and son this dense?
Ding!
At that moment, the system issued a new notification.
[Senju Tobirama]: Another new member?
[Senju Tobirama]: I used to hope it'd be the Fifth or Seventh Hokage… but now…
[Senju Tobirama]: This group has fewer and fewer Konoha people…
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Yeah…
Ding!
[Welcome "Yang Kurama" to the Descendant Chat Group (^_-)]
[@Kurama, you now have the highest seniority here.]
Come say hi to your juniors.
There are some familiar faces here too.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: ??
[Senju Tobirama]: ?? Kurama!? Highest seniority!?
[Minato Namikaze]: Yang Kurama? Isn't he supposed to be sealed in Naru-baby!?