Although their conversation lasted only an hour, Uchiha Ran answered all of Uzumaki Mito's questions sincerely and without hesitation. However, almost imperceptibly, he kept drawing closer to her — as if slowly erasing the boundaries between them.
An ordinary person would probably have just felt comfortable in his presence without giving it a second thought.
But Uzumaki Mito? Her experience and ability to read people were truly exceptional. How could she not notice the subtle way Uchiha Ran was edging closer?
Yes, she trusted Kurama's judgment on good and evil emotions, and she was confident that, overall, she had understood Ran's character.
But still... her foolish granddaughter... with such a deep and calculating person so close... Was it a blessing or a curse?
"Grandmother, what are you thinking about?" Tsunade frowned as she noticed the expression on Mito's face.
"Nothing special," Uzumaki Mito smiled faintly. "I just wanted to say: Uchiha Ran feels the most kindness toward the Namikaze family, especially towards the younger brother, Namikaze Minato. This feeling runs deep. Perhaps you could use this."
Tsunade's eyes immediately lit up.
Maybe it would work after all?
Circumventing everything by a long shot — if Minato accepts her, the rest would be a matter of technique.
"But what's surprising," Mito continued, "is his hatred towards Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzo, and Utatane Koharu... It's so strong that it exceeds all his hostility toward the rest of the world."
"Especially towards Koharu. This is no longer just hatred… it's suppressed rage, in its darkest form. If given the chance, he would kill her without hesitation. And I still can't understand where such deep malice comes from."
"I know something," Tsunade spoke quietly, and she told Mito about the constant humiliations and mockeries Koharu had subjected Ran to — cold, biting, and merciless, lasting for years.
After listening, Uzumaki Mito didn't know what to say.
Could it really be the same Koharu — the obedient, polite girl who once followed Tobirama... who had become like this?
It turned out that to understand a person, one must not just listen about them but interact with them.
If not for Kurama's help, she wouldn't have dared to trust Uchiha Ran so quickly.
"It seems the mark Koharu left on him can't be erased," Mito finally said.
"But, Tsunade, helping Ran… it may not be as impossible as you think," she added. "He's not hostile to the village. He has no grievances against the people in Konoha."
"But the village's leadership…" Mito hesitated. "There's a risk that one day he could become our enemy."
"Can we blame Ran for that?" Tsunade, already losing her neutrality, couldn't hold back. "It all started with Uncle the Second. He was the first…"
"By the way, how much does he hate Tobirama?"
"That's what surprised me," Mito squinted. "It turns out... not much. Far less than Koharu. Even less than Danzo and Hiruzen."
That truly astonished her.
She had been sure that Ran's greatest hatred would be for Senju Tobirama, since he was the root of all his troubles.
But it turned out that Ran... almost didn't feel anything for him.
And Ran himself didn't realize: since he inherited Tobirama's talent, the benefits had gradually dulled that very rage.
Now, criticizing Tobirama had become more of a habit than genuine malice.
"Why is that?" Tsunade asked, surprised.
"Maybe... because of you?" Mito smiled lightly with a hint of mockery.
"He... he can't stand me right now! How could I be the reason..."
"Maybe because you've been together for so long — your feelings have changed," Mito explained gently. "So, Tsunade, I want to ask you one last question."
Tsunade swallowed and nodded tensely.
"Will you be able to hold onto Ran?"
"I… until today, I was sure," Tsunade said quietly. "Recently, we've become closer. But now... I don't know."
"But..." she added, "if I act together with his younger brother, I think I'll manage."
"But even if you manage to hold onto him... if the Teacher and Utatane Koharu continue to try and eliminate him, keep pouring oil on the fire, what then?" Tsunade asked, voicing her true concern.
"Grandmother, will you be able to convince them?"
Uzumaki Mito shook her head with a bitter smile:
"I'm just an old woman, long retired. They, of course, don't dare to show disrespect. But everything they do in my presence is just for show. Hypocrisy has become their everyday life."
"Power... It's like a knife with an exposed blade. Seven years have passed, and I can barely recognize them anymore. But never mind. Since we've come this far, call Ran. During our conversation, I realized: he has a goal. If I can hold off Hiruzen Sarutobi even a little, he might find his own way to salvation."
When Uchiha Ran returned to the inner courtyard, the three of them — he, Tsunade, and Uzumaki Mito — held a long secret conversation.
And in the end, it was Uchiha Ran himself who proposed a way to turn the situation around.
Tsunade was stunned: she hadn't expected him to have such a strategic mind.
But Uzumaki Mito took it calmly — she knew well what a person was capable of when fighting for their life.
Based on how he answered her questions, she had no doubt: at his core, this boy wasn't evil.
But the fact that even in such a situation he not only survived but also, years ago, began playing his own game through Tsunade… could he not have a backup plan?
Exactly. Uzumaki Mito understood: Uchiha Ran had used Tsunade as a means to break through.
But she wasn't angry.
With her experience, she knew already: Ran truly had feelings for Tsunade.
But what kind of feelings were they? Twisted love?
"Let it be," Mito thought to herself. "The fate of children is in the hands of the children themselves."
So, this time, she chose to remain silent.
---
The next morning, Uzumaki Mito personally went to the Hokage's office.
She told Hiruzen Sarutobi that in recent days, Uchiha Ran had been developing three medical ninjutsu techniques — techniques that had never existed in history before.
She also mentioned that Uchiha Ran had promised to pass these techniques on to Tsunade as part of their knowledge exchange as ninja medics.
When Tsunade had told her about it, Mito had been overjoyed, so she decided to inform Hiruzen personally.
Of the three techniques, one was almost complete — the one he had used during his contest with Tsunade.
But to complete the other two, he needed certain materials — old medical techniques.
Mito came to ask for access to those that weren't classified as highly secret.
She also stated that as soon as Tsunade mastered these techniques, she would immediately begin training new medical ninjas for the village.
Hiruzen, of course, was thrilled.
Tsunade — a true "purebred" in the line of Hokage, his personal pride and student.
If she mastered these three ninjutsu, then Konoha would master them as well. Wasn't that perfect?
Hiruzen, of course, wasn't about to miss such an opportunity. He even began eagerly awaiting the result.
And with that... the idea of eliminating Uchiha Ran was postponed.
If Ran could be useful to Konoha, why remove him now?
After all, he was just a medical ninja with no combat power. What could he do?
Moreover, rumors had already spread in Konoha about the relationship between Uchiha Ran and Tsunade.
And if they really became a couple, would anyone object to Ran staying in the village?
Wouldn't it be good if he continued to be useful?
Without Hatake Sakumo's reports, without that crucial piece of information, Hiruzen just couldn't figure it all out.
And Tsunade received an invitation from Utatane Koharu at noon — to come again to the pharmaceutical department.