After putting on a masterpiece in gaslighting, he allowed his brother to leave. The glaze was good enough for now.
As far as he was aware, Seijuro Kurama was soft-hearted—he wouldn't let anything happen to his friends.
Plus, that Karma was looking nice.
Very nice indeed.
And he needed an excuse to study it.
"You may leave."
Seijuro didn't argue. He turned wordlessly, cloak swaying behind him, and walked away from the chamber.
The mont the doors closed behind him, one of the elders finally spoke.
"Lord Aizen... why let him go?"
Another elder added, more pointed, "He's unpredictable. He could expose the truth to outsiders."
Aizen rely smiled, as if those concerns were re children's tales.
"No," he said smoothly, confidently.
"I know him. He wouldn't."
He clasped his hands behind his back, stepping toward the shadows.
"Let him stay here longer. Let him see this village. Let him see the children. Let him feel what peace looks like."
A pause.
"...Eventually, he'll agree."
The elders didn't fully trust that answer. But they trusted him. Their savior. The man who gave everything to bring their people back.
So they said nothing.
Scene: Residential District – Seijuro's Temporary Quarters
Later that evening, as Seijuro entered his lodging area, he saw them—Mikoto and Kushina.
Hm. They seed very worried about his safety and well-being.
"You okay, Seijuro?" she asked softly.
"That guy... Aizen. What did he want from you?"
Mikoto's tone was sharper, more suspicious.
"You were in there a while. Alone."
Seijuro paused.
Then slowly, he reached into his sleeve, pulling out a weathered scroll.
"He gave ... this," he said, voice quiet.
"A letter. From my father."
Both girls blinked.
Kushina leaned closer. "From Reizan?"
He nodded.
"Apparently, it was ant for —to be read only when I was ready. Aizen said... our father left it behind for . He just wanted to return it."
There was a brief silence. The answer made sense. Reasonable. Enough to dull the edge of their suspicions.
Mikoto leaned back slightly.
"...Okay."
"Still... I don't like him," she muttered.
Kushina snorted.
"Yeah. He's too calm. And those eyes..."
"Too smug," Mikoto added.
Seijuro smirked faintly.
"I'm right here, you know. And I have the sa face."
"You are cuter."
....
Hm. Okay. Good to know.
Tsunade's brow furrowed. She didn't believe it for a second, but sothing was off.
Seijuro would then open his mouth and say,
"He also promised to help master this mark of mine. After a quick glance, he figured out that this mark is like a backup... the more I use it, the more my body changes to the species of that thing. And when I reach 100%, he takes over."
Tsunade's brow furrowed deeper.
Wait. That was dangerous.
So truly, there was nothing free about free power.
"And I assu you trusted his words because you found so truth in them?" she said to her student, to which he nodded.
"I can feel his presence in the back of my mind—"
"Like I do with Kurama?" Kushina asked, confused.
"Kind of like that... but I know that once I run out of chakra, he can take control over my body. And last I checked my DNA... I was 99% human... and 1% unknown."
Oh... okay. So there was an actual threat here.
Tsunade didn't want to trust Aizen. However, as things stood, he was the best—and she repeated, best—seal master in the world.
She had gone to Kumo to see the seals she'd heard about, and this bastard quite literally made reality his bitch with a seal.
The other option would be...
Diddymaru.
Who was currently in jail.
But would be getting out soon.
Hm... okay. So Seijuro should avoid using that mark of his.
Well, they were in the Uzumaki village for a while. So... let them enjoy their rest.
Scene: Market District – Late Morning
With Mikoto off looking for so seals (and lowkey investigating Aizen), Seijuro and Kushina took so ti to explore the village.
They didn't say much at first.
Until they wandered into a quiet plaza—stone-lined, with a central fountain and small flowerbeds. Dozens of children were running about, kicking balls, drawing with chalk, shouting with joy.
Peace.
Kushina slowed her steps.
Her eyes softened. She hadn't seen sothing like this in years.
She sat down on the edge of a planter. Her eyes sparkled—not with tears, but awe.
"...I haven't felt this since... before I was taken to Konoha."
Seijuro stood next to her, silent.
A red ball rolled up to them.
Kushina blinked, gently picking it up.
A young girl—maybe five—ran up and looked at her with wide, adoring eyes.
"Thank you, miss!" she bead.
Another little boy with fluffy hair whispered sothing into the girl's ear.
The girl laughed a bit, before giving Seijuro the greatest lob known to mankind.
"Are you his girlfriend?"
Kushina's face exploded into red.
"W-Wha—n-no! I an—w-well—I—h-hush!"
The girl just giggled again and ran back to the others.
'Hm... her face can indeed get redder than her hair,' he thought to himself as Kushina was currently beet red.
Almost looked adorable.
Shit was cute.
How nice.
Hm, well... ti to enjoy his stay in the village.
He could feel so ANBU watching him. His gaze remained on the kids playing.
They seed happy.
All of the Uzumaki around seed happy.
And glad to be back.
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