Transcribing the Seal
Chi Yu withdrew from Miyuki Uzumaki's consciousness and returned to reality.
Miyuki lay unconscious on the ground, but the tailed beast chakra that had been enveloping her had dissipated. She had returned to normal.
Minato Namikaze immediately rushed to her side, his face tense with worry as he gently lifted her into his arms.
Chi Yu turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and said, "Lord Hokage, it's done. The seal transfer was successful."
Hiruzen let out a long breath of relief and nodded. "Bring Mito-sama's remains back to Konoha. Minato, I'm entrusting Miyuki to you. The rest of you, erase all traces of our presence. This operation is strictly classified—an S-class secret of the village."
The surrounding Anbu swiftly moved to carry out the order, concealing any sign of what had transpired.
As the mission wrapped up, Danzo Shimura turned to leave with his Root operatives. When he passed by Chi Yu, he gave a rare nod of approval. "Well done."
Minato, following behind with Miyuki in his arms, also paused beside Chi Yu and offered a heartfelt, "Thank you, Chi Yu."
Chi Yu responded flatly, "I was simply following orders."
With the matter settled, Chi Yu quietly returned home.
Upon entering, he found Kushina Uzumaki sitting silently in the darkened living room. She hadn't even bothered to turn on the lights.
"Chi Yu, you're back. It's over, isn't it?" Her voice was quiet, trembling.
Chi Yu nodded. "Yes. It's over."
Kushina hesitated, her voice breaking. "Then... Mito-grandma...?"
"She's gone."
Kushina's entire body trembled. She fell silent, biting her lip in an effort to remain composed. "I see…"
Chi Yu stepped forward and embraced her. "You can cry if you need to. You don't have to hold it in with me."
Kushina buried her face in his chest and began to sob quietly. But the dam soon broke, and her sobs turned into wails. She clutched at his clothes as if she might fall apart without him.
Chi Yu held her wordlessly, his hand gently rubbing her back in comfort.
For Kushina, Mito Uzumaki had been like a grandmother in every sense. As the previous Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Mito had served as a mentor and sole familial anchor in Kushina's new life in Konoha. Though their relationship had its complications, Kushina had always considered her family.
And now she was gone.
Kushina cried herself to sleep in Chi Yu's arms.
Once she was resting, Chi Yu quietly activated his system. A notification appeared:
> [You witnessed the death of Mito Uzumaki. Reward: 5,000 Witness Points. You altered the fate of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Bonus reward: 15,000 Witness Points.]
Chi Yu's total Witness Points now stood at 60,000, excluding those already spent.
---
A Few Days Later
Mito Uzumaki's funeral was held in secret.
Because of the sensitive nature of her identity as a Jinchūriki, the ceremony was not made public. Only a handful of individuals attended: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki, Chi Yu, Miyuki Uzumaki, and Tsunade Senju, who had returned from a mission outside the village. A few others from the Uzumaki clan's younger generation were present as well.
Kushina stood beside Chi Yu, her eyes red as she gazed at Mito's tombstone.
After the rites concluded, Chi Yu approached Miyuki.
"Can we speak privately?" he asked.
Miyuki glanced at Minato, who gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll wait for you over there."
Chi Yu turned to Kushina. "I'm just returning a favor. Wait for me here."
Kushina blinked, then understood what he meant. "Alright."
Chi Yu led Miyuki to a secluded area nearby.
"How's your body?" he asked.
Miyuki shook her head slightly. "Apart from my chakra not flowing smoothly yet, I feel fine. What did you want to talk about?"
Chi Yu's Mangekyō Sharingan activated, spinning slowly.
"Kushina and I are deeply grateful to you. I want to give you something in return."
"Sealing Technique: Myriad Rejection."
A single line of blood trailed from Chi Yu's left eye. In that instant, his Mangekyō Sharingan's pattern flashed in Miyuki's left eye before disappearing.
She winced and covered her eye. "What... was that?"
"It's a visual sealing technique," Chi Yu explained. "Using my Mangekyō, I imprinted a seal onto your eye. This technique, Myriad Rejection, will activate automatically under a specific condition."
"And that condition is?"
"When your life is in immediate danger," Chi Yu said, "the seal will trigger, releasing Myriad Rejection. For three minutes, it will negate all external chakra techniques—ninjutsu, genjutsu, even dōjutsu—except your own. It won't solve everything, but it can buy you time to survive."
Miyuki stared at him, then sighed. "Chi Yu, you and Kushina don't owe me anything. We agreed to this. It was a transaction."
He shrugged. "Maybe it started that way. But you and Kushina are friends now. That makes you my friend, too. So, it's no longer just a deal."
"You took her place as the Jinchūriki. That's not something I take lightly. This is our thanks—and our apology. I'll offer more compensation in the future."
Miyuki smiled gently. "I really don't need it. I'm content. I have peace, stability, and someone who loves me. That's enough."
Chi Yu shook his head. "Let me do this. It'll put Kushina at ease. And it'll keep your friendship strong. That's what matters."
Miyuki chuckled. "You really love her."
Chi Yu smiled in return. "I do. I'd do anything for her."
He turned to leave. "Alright, that's enough sentiment for one day. Minato is waiting, and so is Kushina. Goodbye, Miyuki."
Chi Yu waved casually and walked off.
Miyuki watched as Chi Yu and Kushina departed together. He only ever smiled like that around her. Kushina's expression was equally soft, filled with quiet joy.
Miyuki looked toward Minato, who stood patiently in the distance. Her heart settled.
She had her own happiness now.
There was no need to envy anyone else.
---
Two couples—Chi Yu and Kushina, Minato and Miyuki—walked their separate paths, returning to the lives that awaited them.
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters