Under Konoha’s Shadow

Chapter 27: The Wide-Sleeved Immortal Skirt

Yamamoto Ryusei immediately took out the clothes meant for Senju Miyuki and handed them over. Miyuki took the clothes, said, "Little Ryusei, you're the best," and ran to the back to change.

Ryusei handed the last set of clothes to Hashirama. "Teacher Hashirama, these are Teacher Tobirama's clothes. Please hold on to them for now."

Hashirama took the clothes and said happily, "Ryusei, did you design all these beautiful clothes yourself?"

They're clearly plagiarized... Ryusei blushed but shamelessly said, "Yes, I designed them."

Mito Uzumaki looked at the dress she was wearing and couldn't help but ask, "How did you think of these clothes? I've never seen them anywhere else."

Ryusei had no choice but to lie. "These are just things I come up with when I'm bored and letting my mind wander."

Hashirama asked doubtfully, "Then you just came up with Journey to the West too?"

"Yes, Journey to the West was also something I just came up with."

Only Madara Uchiha, remembering what Ryusei had said the day before, gave him a deep look. 'He definitely didn't just come up with this on his own. His vision is unexpectedly far-reaching. He must have a secret.'

Tap, tap, tap.

Senju Miyuki ran out from the inner room and appeared before them.

She wore cute hair ornaments, her long hair draped over her shoulders. She was dressed in a white pleated skirt with large, wide sleeves that hung down to her calves. It was the famous "fairy dress" from his previous life—the Wide-Sleeved Immortal Skirt. Wearing it, Miyuki looked exceptionally beautiful.

Mito Uzumaki's eyes went wide. She said, somewhat lost in a daze, "Is that a dress for one of the Seven Fairies?"

Ryusei confirmed it directly. "Yes. This dress is called the Wide-Sleeved Immortal Skirt."

Mito stroked her own dress and sighed, "It's truly beautiful." She then turned to Ryusei. "Ryusei, I want a Wide-Sleeved Immortal Skirt too."

Ryusei readily agreed. "Of course. I'll have one delivered to you, Lady Mito, once it's made."

Miyuki, however, couldn't wait. She pulled on Mito's arm and said, "Lady Mito, let's go out shopping!"

Mito's eyes lit up. "Alright!" She immediately dragged Miyuki out to show off.

Hashirama cleared his throat, picked up Tobirama's clothes, and said, "I'll go deliver these to Tobirama." He then slowly made his way down the street.

Madara also cleared his throat. "Ryusei, you can practice on your own today. I'm going to the Guard's headquarters to see if anything needs my attention." He then left as well. Ryusei continued to develop his taijutsu and use his shadow clones to practice chakra nature transformations.

Mito and Miyuki caused a huge commotion when they walked down the street. Envious gazes were constantly directed their way.

"Lady Mito, please wait." The person who called out to her was the wife of the Hyuga clan head. "Lady Mito, your dress is so beautiful! The style is so new, I've never seen it before. Where did you buy it?"

Mito said with a proud smile, "It was a gift from Hashirama's disciple, Ryusei."

The Hyuga matriarch pressed on, "Then where did he buy it?"

Mito smiled. "He made it himself."

"Oh, he made it himself," the Hyuga matriarch said with disappointment.

Miyuki took over the conversation. "It might be for sale. You can go to the Yamashita family's cloth shop and see if they're selling it."

"Really? Then, Lady Mito, I shall take my leave." The Hyuga matriarch left in a hurry, her speed not much slower than a run.

Mito asked with a puzzled look, "How did you know the Yamashita's shop would have it for sale?"

"It's all because of that Gothic Lolita dress," Miyuki said with some dissatisfaction. "A few days ago, a super cute Gothic Lolita dress appeared in the village. I wanted to buy it, but I found out it was sold out. Later, I learned that Ryusei had invented it and given it to Yuki. I was so angry that he was so thoughtless as to not give me one."

"Well, didn't he give you one today?" Mito had also seen that Gothic Lolita dress. "Ryusei is very thoughtful. How could the Gothic Lolita dress suit you as well as the Wide-Sleeved Immortal Skirt? That's something for little kids to wear. Besides..."

Mito teased, "Your dress and Yuki's both have names. Look at mine, Hashirama's, Tobirama's, and Madara's clothes. Do any of them have names?"

Miyuki's face turned red, then her expression fell. "Ryusei and Yuki are in a relationship now."

"So young?" Mito said with some surprise. "Then Ryusei is quite something."

Seeing Miyuki's low spirits, Mito asked, "Miyuki, do you like Ryusei?"

Miyuki denied it immediately. "I would never like a little brat like Ryusei! If I had to say I liked someone, I'd say I like Big Brother Liu Maoxing more."

Mito's worldview was shaken. She said in shock, "But that's Ryusei's shadow clone!"

Miyuki's eyes were firm. "What's wrong with a shadow clone? He's a shadow clone with a complete personality! He's handsome, gentle, considerate, and can cook delicious food. Many of the sisters who are learning to cook from him like him too."

Hearing that Miyuki wasn't the only one in the Senju clan who had a crush on Liu Maoxing, Mito's entire trigeminal nerve began to ache. The worldview of Uzumaki "My-Head-Hurts" Mito completely collapsed. It took her a good while to piece it back together. "Miyuki, do you like his cooking, or do you like him?"

Miyuki thought for a moment. "Both."

Mito couldn't help but ask doubtfully, "Then what do you plan to do in the future? Marry Liu Maoxing?"

Miyuki's face darkened. "How could that be possible? No matter what, Big Brother Liu Maoxing is just a shadow clone. I haven't thought about the future."

Uzumaki "My-Head-Really-Hurts" Mito could only let them be. They would give up on their own eventually. After all, there was only one Liu Maoxing... wait. Liu Maoxing was a shadow clone, which meant there could be many of them. At this thought, Uzumaki "My-Head-Really-Hurts" Mito evolved into Uzumaki "My-Head-Hurts-A-Lot" Mito.

After receiving envious compliments on her dress from the wives of the Nara, Akimichi, Inuzuka, Yamanaka, Sarutobi, and Shimura clan heads, Mito finally put the problem to the back of her mind and returned home with Miyuki, completely satisfied.

On his way to the Hokage's office, Hashirama also received many envious glances. However, out of respect for the Hokage's authority, no one came up to ask him about his clothes.

Arriving at the Hokage Tower, Hashirama pushed open the office door and saw Tobirama sitting at a small side desk, working without even looking up. Hashirama sat down in his own seat.

Tobirama had just finished processing a document. "Big Brother, you finally remembered you're the Hokage. And... what are you wearing?"

Tobirama was a bit dumbfounded. Seeing Hashirama wearing such handsome clothes he had never seen before, he couldn't help but want a set for himself.

"What do you think? Looks good, right? Ryusei made it for me," Hashirama said excitedly, tossing the package in his hand to Tobirama. "Don't be jealous. Ryusei made one for all of us. This one is yours."

Tobirama took the package but didn't open it, placing it on his desk to take with him later. "Us?"

Hashirama said excitedly, "Besides you and me, Madara, Mito, and Miyuki all got one. Madara's is similar to mine, just pure black. Mito's is a big red dress with gold trim; she looks especially domineering in it. The most beautiful one is Miyuki's skirt. It's a white pleated skirt with a nice name, the Wide-Sleeved Immortal Skirt. Miyuki looks just like a fairy in it. Tobirama, why don't you try yours on and see?"

Tobirama looked at Hashirama, speechless. "This is the Hokage's office. How can I change clothes here? And I thought you had finally grown a conscience and came to fulfill your duties as Hokage. Who knew you just came here to show off your clothes?"

Hashirama's expression froze. His eyes darted around, then he put on a serious face. "No. I came to find you to discuss something. Do you think Ryusei could become the Hokage?"

Hearing this, Tobirama forgot about his anger and fell silent, carefully considering Hashirama's words. Hashirama wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead. He had managed to distract him, thank goodness. Otherwise, it would have been really troublesome.

After thinking for a long time, Tobirama spoke. "He could. In terms of talent, having already invented several taijutsu techniques, his aptitude is top-notch. In terms of strength, no one in the younger generation is his match right now. In terms of love for Konoha, he has no less than anyone else. In terms of intellect, only the Nara clan's Nara Shikamei can compare with him. And he has no clan ties, so he holds no prejudice against other clans. His background is clean, and he has bonds in Konoha. His character is also quite good. As long as he doesn't go down the wrong path, with our support, he can definitely become the Hokage."