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.
And he needed an excuse to study it.
Seijuro didn't argue. He turned wordlessly, cloak swaying behind him, and walked away from the chamber.
The moment 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 merely smiled, as if those concerns were mere 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."
"...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 seemed 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."
Then slowly, he reached into his sleeve, pulling out a weathered scroll.
"He gave me... this," he said, voice quiet.
"A letter. From my father."
Kushina leaned closer. "From Reizan?"
"Apparently, it was meant for me—to be read only when I was ready. Aizen said... our father left it behind for me. 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.
"Still... I don't like him," she muttered.
"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 same face."
Hm. Okay. Good to know.
Tsunade's brow furrowed. She didn't believe it for a second, but something was off.
Seijuro would then open his mouth and say,
"He also promised to help me 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 assume you trusted his words because you found some 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...
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 some seals (and lowkey investigating Aizen), Seijuro and Kushina took some time 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.
Kushina slowed her steps.
Her eyes softened. She hadn't seen something 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 beamed.
Another little boy with fluffy hair whispered something 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 mean—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.
Hm, well... time to enjoy his stay in the village.
He could feel some ANBU watching him. His gaze remained on the kids playing.
All of the Uzumaki around seemed happy.
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