Uzumaki Mito felt a tinge of sadness as she faced Sora's wary demeanour toward her.

  She had silently observed everything Sora had done for Uzumaki Kushina over the past few years. Mito found herself torn—both happy and helpless.

  She was happy because the boween Sora and Kushina was undeniably strong. Yet, she felt helpless because both seemed to have no one else but each other. her Sora nor Kushina had made any other friends, isoting themselves in their own little world.

  Moreover, when Sora had visited her previously, Mito learned he had ged his reside was als that visit that Sarutobi Hiruzen had goo Konoha's Shinobi Hospital to che Sora. Despite this, the vilgers seemed indifferent to Sora's quiet icism toward them.

  During their versation, Mito had asked him, "Sora, do you feel a sense of belonging to Konoha now?"

  Sora responded, "My belongings will always be Konoha."

  But Mito could tell he was lying. Beh his words, she could sense his suppressed malice toward the vilge.

  It was then that Uzumaki Mito fully uood: Sora harboured a deep-seated hatred for Konoha.

  And how could he not?

  He had nearly died before birth due to the persecution of the Uchiha . His parents were forced to defect from Konoha, relentlessly hunted by Anbu. They had both died in the process. When Sora eventually returo the vilge, he was not only unweled by the Uchiha but met with cold indifference.

  How could he not hate Konoha after all that?

  Since his return at the age of four, Sora had been wearing a mask of deception, cealing his true feelings. Even now, he tio hide behind that facade, enduring pressures and hardships far beyond what any child his age should bear.

  Mito wanted desperately to help him, to ease his burden, but she felt powerless. She was torween her husband's d the vilge he had founded. She wao tell Sora to let go of his hatred for Konoha, but she couldn't bring herself to say it. After all, she felt unworthy of making such a request.

  Sensing a shift imosphere, Uzumaki Kushina tugged on Mito's sleeve. "Grandma Mito, is something wrong?"

  Mito forced a gentle smile. "It's nothing, Kushina. I'd like to speak with Sora alone for a moment. Is that okay?"

  The ever-i Kushina nodded cheerfully. "Of course!"

  As she turo leave, Sora suddenly grabbed her hand, his expression unreadable. He spoke to Mito, his tone calm but firm. "Lady Mito, the coursework Lord Orochimaru assigned me is quite demanding. I only stopped by briefly to speak with Kushina."

  It was clear Sora had no desire to speak with Mito aloo him, any versation with her seemed burdensome and unproductive. After all, he was well aware of Mito's iions to make Kushina the Jinchūriki of the ails. That puts them on opposing sides, no matter how cordial the iions may seem.

  Even Kushina, oblivious as she often was, began to sehe tensioweewo.

  Uzumaki Kushina, caught iense exge, felt a little embarrassed. She gnervously between them. "Srandma Mito…" she stammered.

  Uzumaki Mito sighed softly. "Sora, I don't want to speak to you as a member of Konoha but as Kushina's elder. Is that not acceptable?"

  Sora frowned slightly, his gaze shifting to Uzumaki Kushina. Her troubled expression deepehe furrow in his brow. After a moment, he released her hand.

  "I uand," Sora said at st. "Kushina, you go ahead and wait for me outside. I'll speak with Lady Mito briefly and join you afterwards."

  Relutly, Kushina nodded a, casting a ed gnce over her shoulder as she walked away.

  Once alone, Sora turned his attention back to Uzumaki Mito. "Master Mito," he said, his tone calm but distant, "what is it you wish to discuss with me?"

  Uzumaki Mito's voice was gentle as she replied. "Sora, you are part of my husband's , and I am also your elder."

  Sora lowered his head slightly, his voice remaining cold. "Master Mito, I have no surname."

  The words stung, and Mito's expression softened into a bitter smile.

  No surname… And he doesn't aowledge himself as a desdant of the Senju …

  Mito sighed and tinued. "Sora, I am reassured knowing that Kushina has you by her side. I trust you to take care of her iure."

  Sora's gaze lifted at her words, his expression unreadable. Mito couldn't help but notice the faint flicker of emotion in his eyes—a rarity that seemed to appear only when Kushina was involved.

  With a trace of sadness, Mito thought Only Kushina could draw out his true feelings. This proves how important she is to him.

  Mito pressed on. "Our Uzumaki possesses a special stitution. We are born with vast chakra reserves and incredible vitality. What I am about to tell you is a secret of Konoha…"

  Before Mito could tinue, she felt it—an overwhelming wave of malice emanating from Sora. His face betrayed nothing, but Mito was certain his hostility was directed at her.

  Her heart sank in fusion. She hadn't even revealed the secret yet—so why was he so hostile?

  Could it be… Does Sora already know?

  Of course, he did.

  The moment Mito began to speak of the Uzumaki 's special traits and framed it as Konoha's secret, Qianyu had guessed where the versation was headed. It would iably lead to the ails Jinchūriki—and Kushina's role in it.

  Qianyu noticed the way Mito's sharp eyes examined him, and his heart skipped a beat. Could she see through me?

  No, impossible, he thought quickly. I've always trolled my expressions perfectly.

  But then it struck him. He had overlooked something critical. The abilities that came with being a Jinchūriki of the ails.

  She sense malice.

  Realization dawned, and his expression turned grim. No wonder she said there was o be so defensive around her. She must have sensed my feelings all along. What a troublesome ability.

  He exhaled slowly, f himself tain posure. Sihere was no use maintaining a facade in front of Mito, he decided there was o keep pretending.

  Sensing the shift in Sora's demeanour, Mito looked him directly in the eyes. "As I thought, Sora, you already know about the ails Jinchūriki and the real reason Kushina was brought to Konoha, don't you?"

  Sora's tone was carefully ral as he replied. "Mito-sama, I have no way of knowing such things."

  Though his words feigned ignorance, his attitude made it clear he had little i in hiding the truth. It was ohing for Mito to make assumptions—it was another for him to firm them ht.

  Mito frowned slightly. "True, you had no way of knowing. But you figured it out, didn't you? Is your malice toward me because Konoha intends for Kushina to bee the Jinchūriki?"

  Sora replied meically. "Mito-sama, this is Konoha's decision. I have no authority to question or interfere."

  Mito's heart sank at his detached response. She was beginning to feel the weight of their versation. Talking to Sora was exhausting—his emotional walls were imperable, and his guarded nature made every word feel like a battle.

  He really is insufferable, she thought with a weary sigh.

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  You read advanced chapters here: patreon./GregariousLion

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  Hey everyone, just a quick update! I have exams this week, so I won’t be able to upload as regurly as usual. But I’ll still try my best to post whenever I . Thanks for your patiend support—I’ll be back tur uploads soon!