XX-level Hokage

A hovercar (Ninja Kingdom Technology) is speeding towards the palace.

Inside the car, Uchiha Hikaru, dressed in a white kimono and exuding a cool and aloof aura, was resting with his eyes closed.

Beside her, Bubbles, dressed in the same kimono but younger and more refined, looked out the car window at the bustling city below. "So many people..." Bubbles whispered, her hand unconsciously gripping Hikari's sleeve.

“Don’t be afraid.” Guangjing opened her eyes and took her daughter’s hand. “We’re going to see our family, not to go to the battlefield.”

On another road, an SUV painted with flame patterns was speeding. "Go!! Overtake that car in front!"

In the passenger seat, someone wearing a modified ninja combat skirt (which could barely be considered a skirt) was excitedly shouting.

In the driver's seat, Kushina, wearing sunglasses, floored the accelerator: "Hold on tight! The Uzumaki Express is about to accelerate! We can't be late for those Uchiha bastards!"

Two completely different forces, two pairs of people with vastly different personalities, are heading towards that grand feast that belongs to their family, each with their own expectations and determination.

Meanwhile, in the palace's banquet hall, the princesses, who were competing, showing off, and indulging in food and drink, were unaware that the final piece of the puzzle for this gathering was about to be completed.

“Foam.” Miko, who was discussing history with Flora, suddenly looked out the window with a slight smile, “Has that little sister who always hides in the shadows finally come out?”

As Chu Jian, who was sleeping with Xiao Nan, twitched his ears and smelled the familiar, fiery chakra scent in the air, like chili peppers. "That violent woman is here too. Looks like tonight's going to be a mess."

Bonus Chapter: Tea Party (Part 1)

Location: Ninja Kingdom, Imperial Capital (Former Konoha Village Expansion Area), Central Commercial Street "Rainbow Gate Avenue" Time: Thirty minutes before the start of the Royal Meeting

The midday sun pierced through the thin clouds, casting its rays onto the busiest main street in the capital.

Unlike the Hidden Leaf Village of fifteen years ago, which consisted only of wooden buildings and telephone poles, the Imperial Capital is now a modern metropolis that blends ninjutsu and technology.

A giant holographic projection screen floats in mid-air, playing the latest ninja tool advertisements and concert clips of popular idols; a tram named "Raysha" glides silently across the circular viaduct, its body adorned with a combined crest of swirling vortexes and fans; on both sides of the street, skyscrapers and traditional tiled-roof buildings are interspersed in a staggered arrangement, with bustling crowds reflected in the glass curtain walls.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, two strikingly different figures stood out like bold strokes in a painting, drawing the attention of countless passersby.

"Mother, so many voices..."

Uchiha Homo frowned slightly, her pale hands unconsciously tightening around her mother's sleeves. She was wearing a pure white embroidered furisode kimono with a wide black belt around her waist, and her long hair cascaded down her back. She looked like a delicate but fragile porcelain doll in a shop window.

Beside her, Uchiha Hikaru stopped in her tracks.

This "weapon from before the Warring States period" is currently dressed in a dark purple high-necked tribal robe, with a black haori over it. Her temperament is cold and austere, making her stand out from the modern people around her who are holding portable game consoles and drinking milk tea.

Standing beneath the giant holographic screen, watching the promotional video for the Mashiro Empire playing on it, a hint of melancholy and detachment flickered in his eyes.

"Is this... the Jade Age created by Mashiro?" Hikaru murmured to himself.

For fifteen years, she had been leading Bubbles in seclusion in the ancestral lands of the Uchiha clan, rarely setting foot in the core area of ​​the capital. Even when she did come, it was only for a brief visit.

Now, for her daughter's sake, she has no choice but to step back into this torrent of "prosperity".

"Don't be afraid, Foam." He reached out and gently patted his daughter's hand; those hands, once stained with blood, were now unusually tender. "There are just a few more people. If anyone dares to offend you, I'll handle it."

Although he said he would "handle" it, the fleeting red light of his Sharingan in his eyes startled several frivolous young men who had originally wanted to hit on him, causing them to take three steps back.

"Yo! Isn't this Hikaru-chan! Long time no see!!"

Just as the solemn atmosphere was about to freeze, a loud, energetic bang, seemingly capable of shaking the clouds, suddenly came from across the street. Hikaru's body stiffened, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

This title, this volume—there's only one person like this in the whole world.

She turned her head and saw a ball of red flame rushing towards her from the other end of the sidewalk. It was Kushina Uzumaki.

She wore a dark green sleeveless turtleneck top and smart ninja pants, with an apron tied around her waist (it seemed she had just taken it off). Her signature red hair was tied into a high ponytail at the back of her head, flying through the air as she ran.

Behind Kushina, a girl with red hair, wearing a modified ninja skirt—Uzumaki Pai—was slowly following behind, looking utterly dejected, carrying a large bag of local specialties she'd bought from who-knows-where.

"Kushina..." Hikaru sighed helplessly, his cold aura dissipating. "Please don't call me Hikaru-chan on the street anymore. I'm not a child anymore." "Oh, what's the big deal! We're comrades who watched these kids grow up!" Kushina rushed over and hugged him without any hesitation.

He put his arm around Guang's shoulder, and the overly familiar enthusiasm made Guang shrink back a little uncomfortably, but in the end he didn't push him away.

"Honestly, you're still the same as ever, always wearing that long face, like someone owes you hundreds of taels of silver." Kushina patted Hikaru's back broadly. "Since you're in the capital, cheer up! Look, even Bubbles are more lively than you!"

Kushina lowered her head, looking at Bubbles hiding behind Hikari, and her smile instantly became incredibly kind: "Oh my, this must be Bubbles, right? You're so pretty, you're looking more and more like Hikari. Here, Auntie bought you the new limited edition Raimon Burger from the Imperial Capital, it's still warm!"

As she spoke, Kushina, as if by magic, pulled a beautifully packaged hamburger box from the large bag she was carrying and stuffed it into Foam's hand.

“Thank you… thank you, Aunt Kushina.” Foam was a little overwhelmed, holding the hamburger with both hands, a faint blush appearing on her pale face. “Mom! That’s mine!” the person in the back row protested.

"Stop eating so many! You've already eaten three! Aren't you afraid of getting fat?!" Kushina yelled as she turned around, her gentle face instantly transforming into a shrew with her red hair flying wildly.

Shrinking back, he could only turn to the foam for help.

Foam paused for a moment, then did something that surprised even Light. She broke the hamburger in her hand in half and handed one half to him.

"Give me half, that's enough," Foam whispered.

His eyes lit up, he threw the big bag on the ground, and took half a hamburger: "Wow! Foam, you're so great! Unlike my mom, she's a tyrant! My name is Whirlpool, let's be friends!"

"Um... I am Uchiha Hobo."

Seeing their two daughters, despite their vastly different personalities, unexpectedly sharing food harmoniously, Hikaru and Kushina exchanged a glance, Hikaru's eyes softening slightly: "It seems that coming out this time was the right decision."

"See? I knew it!" Kushina said smugly, hands on her hips. "Let's go! The palace is still a ways away, let's talk as we walk! I'll tell you, there's a new beauty salon that just opened in the capital that's really good, let's talk about it another day..."

"I have no interest in beauty treatments," Guang coldly refused.

"Don't say that! Even if the Uchiha are naturally beautiful, they still need to take care of their skin!" The two walked side by side on the scenic avenue leading to the royal camp.

Although they all had cars, they chose to walk so that their daughters could see more of the scenery (mainly at Kushina's suggestion).

With Bubble walking ahead and the two mothers following behind, the changes in the capital city are truly astonishing.

The former ninja academy has now become the "National Ninja University," with a huge school emblem hanging on the towering teaching building. The Hokage Rock still stands in the distance, but next to it, there is an even more magnificent tower symbolizing the "Emperor." "Sometimes, looking at all this, I feel very unreal."

Hikari suddenly spoke, her gaze falling on a group of children carrying backpacks, laughing and playing as they walked home from school. In their hands, they were not holding kunai, but ice cream and comic books.

“In my time, children this age, if they didn’t learn how to kill, they would be killed.” Hikaru’s voice was soft, yet heavy with the weight of time. “Back then, the Uchiha would sacrifice everything for power. And now… look.”

She pointed to a billboard on the side of the road, which had the Uchiha clan's fan symbol printed on it, but the advertisement read: "Uchiha Security Company, providing you with the most professional home security services."

“Even the Sharingan has become a tool for making a living.” Hikaru gave a wry smile. “The peace is so great that it’s making me feel a little lost.”

Upon hearing this, Kushina remained silent for a moment. She looked at the row of red-haired girls in front of her, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

“I understand that feeling,” Kushina said softly. “I come from another timeline. In that world, I died, Minato died, and Naruto was an orphan from a young age, suffering all kinds of prejudice. But here… although I am not Naruto’s biological mother in this world, I can see him become Hokage, see him smiling foolishly in every scene, and have such a lovely daughter.”

Kushina took a deep breath, the air filled with the aroma of takoyaki.

“Hikari, we are all people abandoned by the times. You are a ghost of the old era, and I am a passerby in a parallel world, but,” Kushina suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Hikari seriously, “that is why we cherish the present more than anyone else.”

She pointed to the foam in front of her.

“Look at the bubble, she’s smiling. It’s shallow, but she’s smiling, and that’s enough, isn’t it?” Guang followed her gaze.

The foam in front of them was being pulled to watch a street magic show.

They shouted excitedly, while Bubble, though standing quietly, now reflected colorful light in its usually empty eyes.

A slight upturn at the corners of her mouth revealed a hint of curiosity and liveliness typical of a girl her age.

"Yes." A corner of Guang's long-frozen heart seemed to melt in the midday sun. "As long as she can live in the sunlight, and not end up like me... that's enough."

"But speaking of which," Kushina suddenly changed her tone and whispered gossipily in Hikaru's ear, "I heard there are quite a few rivals coming from the other side of the sea this time. That woman named Hancock, I heard she's even more arrogant than you? And that Nami, I heard she controls Mashiro's and the Ocean Kingdom's little treasury?"

Hikari's eyes instantly regained their coldness, even carrying a hint of murderous intent: "Rivals in love? I don't need that kind of thing. If Mashiro dares to neglect Homo because of them, I'll let her know."

"Hahaha! This is the light I know!" Kushina laughed.

Just as the two mothers were discussing the dangerous topic of "how to suppress the pirate rivals," their two daughters in front seemed to have encountered a little trouble.

"How do I do this?" Holding a brand-new "Ninja Communication Bracelet," he poked at the screen with a look of utter dismay. "It's supposed to be able to send messages remotely and track chakra, but why does the screen go black as soon as I input chakra?"

"Is it... that the amount of chakra is too much?" Foam suggested in a low voice. "The instructions say that only a tiny amount is needed."

"Trace amount? What does that even mean? I've already used only one ten-thousandth!" Pai scratched her head in frustration. As a member of the Uzumaki clan, and with a physique that mimics a tailed beast, "trace amount" was indeed a technical feat for her.

"Let me see." Bubble reached out and carefully took the bracelet. Her fingertips glowed with an extremely faint chakra light, a subtle control unique to the Uchiha clan.

The bracelet lit up, and a holographic interface popped up.

"Wow! Foam, you're amazing!" Pai hugged Foam tightly. "From now on, you'll be my technical advisor! In exchange, if anyone dares to bully you, I'll tie them up like a dumpling with my Diamond Lock!"

Foam was being squeezed so tightly she could hardly breathe, but she didn't push it away. She just nodded, her face flushed, and said, "Mm." Hikari and Kushina came up from behind.

"What is this?" Guang frowned as he looked at the light screen floating in the air. "Do ninja tools no longer require hand seals?"

"This is called a scientific ninja tool." Kushina didn't quite understand the principle, but in order to maintain her sense of superiority as a "modern person" in front of the light, she pretended to know a lot. "It's... um... you store chakra in it, and then whoosh, you can use it! Ugh, anyway, it's just a toy for kids!"

“A toy…” He stared thoughtfully at the bracelet. “If something like this had existed back then, perhaps I wouldn’t have had to kill so many people.”

"Don't dwell on the past!" Kushina pulled Hikaru along. "Look ahead! We've arrived at the Imperial Palace!" After passing through the bustling commercial street, the magnificent main gate of the Imperial Palace finally came into view.

The massive vermilion gate was open, flanked by a joint guard of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans.

Above the main gate, the "True Banner," a symbol blending the chakra of the nine tailed beasts with the Haki of One Piece, fluttered in the wind. Even Kushina, who had lived in the capital for many years, felt a surge of pride every time she saw this palace.

"So this is the country that guy built," Kushina exclaimed. "Only a madman like Mashiro would dare to forcibly combine two completely different worlds."

“She’s not crazy.” Just looking at that flag, a rare look of worship and dependence appeared in her eyes. “She is a god, the god who pulled me out of hell, gave me a name, and gave me my family.”

"Oh my, so you're already protecting your husband?" Kushina teased. "You'd better keep this attitude when you see Hancock later."

"Of course." Hikari straightened her collar, resuming her aloof goddess demeanor. "The Uchiha clan has never feared any challenge." At this moment, Homo had already run to the front door.

"Mom! Hurry! I smell something delicious inside! It smells like barbecue!" shouted the person in front of the line.

"Slow down! Mind your manners! You're a princess now!" Kushina shouted as she chased after them, her steps faltering slightly as she looked at the three figures behind them.

She looked up at the azure sky above.

"Mashiro..." she murmured the name, "Now that you've brought us all together, let me see just how well you can manage this family."

Then, she strode forward, her black haori tracing a sharp arc behind her, and stepped through the gate that symbolized a new era. The moment she entered the palace, a whiff of aromas—a mixture of roasted meat, seafood, perfume, and… burnt wood—wafted towards her.

In the distance, on the main hall plaza, one could vaguely see a scene of devastation (the damage caused by the enlarged glass had not yet been completely cleaned up), as well as residual fluctuations from the collision of various chakra and Haki.

"Looks like...it's gotten pretty lively." Kushina's lips twitched slightly. "Hikaru, are you ready? I think we might not be here for tea, but rather to break up a fight."

Looking at the giant wooden table (Wan Hua's work) broken in two in the distance, and the pieces of paper flying all over the ground (Xiao Nan's work), a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes, but more than that, there was a sense of eagerness.

Bonus Chapter: Tea Party (Part Two)

Location: Ninja Kingdom, Imperial City, Top Floor "Cloud Terrace" Time: Forty minutes after the start of the Royal Meet-and-Greet

If the martial arts arena is the battlefield where the younger generation pours out their sweat and hormones, then the "Cloud Terrace" located at the highest point of the palace is the invisible battlefield for mature women.

The view from here is expansive, overlooking the bustling cityscape of the entire capital and the noisy training ground below. The terrace is surrounded by cloud trees from the Sky Island, and the table is set with the finest sake from the Land of Fire, red wine from the Land of Waves, and special fruit tea from Alabasta.

At that moment, the air seemed to freeze. *Gulp!*