Uzumaki Mito was already advanced in age, and maintaining the seal within her body had become a tremendous burden.
After all, the Nine-Tails was the most fearsome of the Tailed Beasts. Sealing it was no simple task.
"Grandmother, this is all my fault. If I were stronger, you wouldn't have to endure this pain," said Isamu, guilt evident in his expression.
Mito's efforts to keep the Nine-Tails sealed came at great personal cost—daily pain and exhaustion. The beast constantly thrashed against the seal, yearning for freedom.
If not for Mito's unwavering determination to safeguard the Senju Clan, she might have already urged the village to find a new Jinchūriki and ended her suffering. But now, the Senju Clan faced mounting suppression from the village leadership. Uzumaki Mito was the only reason the pressure had been kept in check, her role as the Nine-Tails' host was the clan's final shield.
Once she was gone and the village secured a new Jinchūriki, the Senju would lose their last bargaining chip, and their situation would only grow direr.
"Damned old hag, let me out already!"
Within Mito's mind, the Nine-Tails roared and thrashed, slamming against the barriers of its cage.
The lines on Mito's aged face deepened in pain. In her youth, her unparalleled mastery of Uzumaki sealing techniques had kept the Nine-Tails subdued without effort. But as her strength waned with age, maintaining the seal had become a constant struggle.
"Jiraiya has great potential. Building a good relationship with him might secure the Senju Clan's future," Mito remarked, ignoring the Nine-Tails' tantrum. "I plan to share some advanced sealing techniques with him. Coupled with the jutsu developed by Tobirama, those two assets should ensure that, once Jiraiya rises to the upper ranks of the village, he'll look out for the Senju."
Isamu hesitated. "Grandmother, this is our clan's issue. There's no need for you to share the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques."
Over the years, the Senju had already asked much of Mito. The idea of her giving away the Uzumaki Clan's secrets weighed heavily on Isamu's conscience. Moreover, the village leadership had long coveted Mito's sealing techniques, but she had resolutely refused to share them.
The village dared not push her too far—her death or a deliberate release of the Nine-Tails would spell disaster for Konoha.
Now, Mito's willingness to entrust her knowledge to Jiraiya was entirely unexpected.
The Uzumaki Clan's sealing arts were unmatched in the ninja world. Their very mastery of these techniques had led to the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools, as the great nations had feared their power.
"Whirlpool Country has already fallen, and many of our sealing techniques have been lost," Mito said with a faint smile. "I can't let the ones I know disappear too. I must find a worthy successor, and Jiraiya is a good choice."
Then her expression turned solemn.
"I once promised the village that I would not pass these techniques to the Senju. I will not break my word, so do not blame me for this."
"Grandmother, we would never blame you," Isamu said quickly. "We know you're protecting us. If you passed on the sealing techniques to our clan, along with the forbidden jutsu left by my grandfather, the village would only grow more distrustful of us."
It wasn't that Mito didn't want to pass down the Uzumaki sealing arts to the Senju, it was that she couldn't. Doing so would only worsen the clan's precarious position once Mito was gone.
Even the Senju understood this. The Uzumaki's sealing techniques, powerful as they were, were also a double-edged sword. Receiving them would only paint a target on their backs, as evidenced by the Uzumaki Clan's tragic fate.
But Jiraiya was different. He was the student of the Hokage, and if Mito shared her knowledge with him, the village leadership would welcome it.
"Go and bring Jiraiya here," Mito instructed as she sat down.
Nodding, Isamu left the room.
"Grandmother wants to see you," Isamu told Jiraiya as he arrived at the training grounds, where the young shinobi was coaching Senju Nawaki.
Jiraiya raised a brow. He knew precisely who "Grandmother" referred to—Uzumaki Mito, the wife of the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama.
The Senju Clan's survival in Konoha was largely thanks to her. But why had she summoned him now?
"Practice as I've taught you," Jiraiya told Nawaki before following Isamu.
"What does Lady Mito want with me?" Jiraiya asked.
"It's good news. Grandmother thinks highly of you," Isamu replied, unable to hide a tinge of envy. Learning the Uzumaki's sealing techniques would elevate Jiraiya's strength immensely. In time, he might even reach the level of an elite jōnin—or perhaps even achieve Kage-level power before turning twenty.
With someone like Jiraiya supporting them, the Senju Clan's fortunes would undoubtedly turn around.
Isamu's steps quickened with excitement. As the clan head, seeing a path to escape their predicament filled him with hope and relief. Perhaps he could finally abandon his exhausting efforts to "preserve" the clan's legacy, a task he had long grown weary of.
"Grandmother, I've brought Jiraiya," Isamu said as they entered the room.
"Leave us," Mito instructed.
Once the others had exited, only Jiraiya and Uzumaki Mito remained in the room.
"It's an honor to meet you, Lady Mito," Jiraiya said respectfully. He could sense the oppressive malice radiating from her, undoubtedly the influence of the Nine-Tails sealed within her.
'The situation must be dire,' Jiraiya thought. 'She's struggling to keep the Nine-Tails in check.'
Mito's voice broke his thoughts. "I called you here to ask for a promise. When you rise to the ranks of the village leadership, do not oppress the Senju Clan. And should you encounter any surviving Uzumaki scattered across the lands, I ask that you bring them to Konoha and protect them."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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