Note: Don't Forget to join my Patreon.com/flokixy to get access to +40 Advance Chapters I have to stop if there is no support
Tsunade's concerns were not unfounded.
When the Nine-Tails was first sealed within Mito Uzumaki, she was in the prime of her life—youthful, strong, and brimming with vitality. Now, as age had taken its toll, her once-formidable strength had waned, and her chakra reserves were dwindling. Sensing this decline, the Nine-Tails within her grew restless, constantly attempting to break free from its seal, causing Mito no small amount of distress.
Tsunade had often thought that if the Nine-Tails hadn't been sealed inside her grandmother, Mito's robust Uzumaki lineage would have granted her a long and healthy life, perhaps even reaching a hundred years. Instead, her current state was one of constant struggle.
Slowly opening her eyes, the elderly Mito Uzumaki gave Tsunade a weary smile. Reaching out with trembling hands, she patted Tsunade's head affectionately, just as she used to when Tsunade was a child. Her voice, calm and soothing like that of an aged sage, reassured her granddaughter:
"It's alright. Don't worry. The Nine-Tails won't be able to break free."
Though Tsunade trusted in her grandmother's mastery of sealing techniques, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. After all, Mito was old now—not the indomitable force she once was.
"Little Tsu, is Kushina asleep already?" Mito asked softly.
"Yes, she's already asleep. She studied sealing techniques all day and was exhausted, so she went to bed early," Tsunade replied.
"Is that so? Kushina is such a good girl…" Mito murmured fondly.
The Kushina they spoke of was none other than Uzumaki Kushina—the future wife of Minato Namikaze and mother of Naruto Uzumaki. But at this moment, she was merely a young girl, far removed from the destiny that awaited her.
After Hiruzen Sarutobi had discussed matters with Mito regarding her declining health, he arranged for Kushina to be brought from Whirlpool Country and placed under Mito's care. Officially, it was framed as an opportunity for Kushina to learn sealing techniques from the legendary Mito Uzumaki.
But everyone knew the truth: Kushina was being groomed as the next Jinchuriki, destined to take on the burden of containing the Nine-Tails after Mito's inevitable passing. Teaching her sealing techniques was part of preparing her for that fateful role.
Both Tsunade and Mito understood this reality all too well. Out of compassion, Mito poured everything she had into teaching Kushina, while Tsunade did her best to care for the young girl.
As they spoke of Kushina, both women fell into a heavy silence.
Still young and fiery, Tsunade struggled to accept the harshness of the situation. Raising her head, she asked hesitantly:
"Grandma… In the future, will Kushina really have to…"
Mito didn't respond verbally, only nodding slowly.
Tsunade lowered her head, her voice weighed down with sorrow:
"But she's just a child. How can we ask someone so young to bear such a heavy fate?"
Mito looked at her despondent granddaughter, her lips parting as if to say something, but she remained silent.
Even with her vast experience, Mito found herself unable to offer comforting words. This was a moral conundrum—one without easy answers.
In that silence, Tsunade's resentment toward Konoha deepened further.
After a long pause, Mito finally spoke, her voice low and weary:
"Little Tsu, it's late. You should go rest. You have missions tomorrow, don't you? Don't worry about me—I'll be fine."
Tsunade rose to her feet and bowed deeply to her grandmother:
"Grandma, please call me if you need anything. I'll come immediately."
"Alright, go ahead," Mito said gently.
With that, Tsunade left, leaving the aging Mito alone once more in the empty, quiet house.
Mito didn't return to her bed. Instead, she remained seated on the tatami mat, immersing herself in meditation. With what little chakra she had left—faint and flickering like the last rays of a setting sun—she reinforced the seal binding the Nine-Tails within her.
The clock on the wall ticked steadily, its hands moving inexorably forward until they reached midnight. Twelve clear chimes rang out, echoing through the room.
But it wasn't the sound of the clock that caught Mito's attention. Somewhere along the way, a figure had appeared before her without warning.
Opening her eyes, Mito's once-dim gaze suddenly sharpened with a glint of recognition. Seated calmly on the tatami mat, she resembled a statue—a serene yet inscrutable presence as she gazed upon Uchiha Madara standing before her.
Madara had been there for some time, though precisely when he arrived remained unclear. What was certain was that he had been observing her silently long before she noticed him.
Seeing his old acquaintance, Madara allowed himself a rare smile, genuinely impressed by what he saw:
"Mito Uzumaki, as expected of you. Your mastery of the Uzumaki clan's unique sensory technique, the Kagura Shingan, has truly reached unparalleled heights. Even with my current abilities, I was detected the moment I stood here."
Mito closed her eyes again, her demeanor as still and composed as an ascetic monk entering deep meditation:
"Uchiha Madara… You've changed so much that I almost didn't recognize you…"
Madara chuckled lightly, pulling over another tatami mat and sitting cross-legged in front of her:
"People change, influenced by the environment and the times. Even I, Uchiha Madara, am no exception."
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it possible—someone reversing aging and cheating death. Yet here you are, still youthful while I grow frail with age," Mito remarked, her tone tinged with resignation.
"The mysteries of the world are profound, beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals. On this path, I have simply walked farther than you. That is why I have extended my lifespan, while you…" He paused, letting the implication hang in the air.
"I cannot fathom what has happened to you. Not only do you remain young, but your power…" Mito paused, her senses probing the overwhelming aura surrounding him. "Once, you were like a volcano, dormant yet terrifying in your potential. Now, you are like the ocean—deep, unfathomable, and utterly fearsome."
Madara let out a cold laugh:
"Enough with the mutual flattery—it grows tiresome. Mito Uzumaki, tell me: after all these decades, why do you think I've returned to Konoha?"
Mito opened her eyes again, their depths clouded with foreboding:
"I doubt it's for anything good."
"You're right—it isn't. But consider yourself fortunate, Mito. You won't live to see the devastation I plan for Konoha. For now, my first target is the Nine-Tails sealed within you."