Chapter 30: Mito Uzumaki's Passing—Birth of the Second Nine-Tails Jinchuriki
April 1st.
The Ninja Academy opened a new school year again. Yoru's class advanced to fifth grade.
Starting this day, Yoru and Kushina Uzumaki no longer attended with their real bodies, only sending shadow clones to handle school matters.
Yoru stopped pretending!
The signal transmitted by that enormous scroll proved certain behaviors had been witnessed by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mito Uzumaki.
Using shadow clones to replace himself and Kushina for exams had definitely caught Hiruzen's attention too.
No need for Yoru to hide anymore.
Moreover, he had an excellent reason to "skip class" together with Kushina.
Namely: teaching Kushina ninjutsu, enriching her arsenal, raising her strength.
Yoru no longer even concealed the Rasengan.
Since those important figures had decided to invest in him, he needed to show them high returns.
After Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Yoru demonstrate a seal-less technique, his determination to nurture him strengthened further.
Such ninjutsu talent, such Body Flicker talent, plus this hair color and appearance... Hiruzen seemed to see Tobirama-sensei's reflection in Yoru.
If it were Yoru, perhaps he truly could learn the Flying Thunder God Technique that no one in Konoha had mastered since Tobirama-sensei.
Once Yoru mastered the Flying Thunder God, Konoha would gain another layer of protection. Even if Kushina lost control, he could transfer her from central Konoha before she fully transformed.
However, before teaching Yoru the Flying Thunder God, Hiruzen had to brand him, ensuring he was "one of us."
Otherwise, a Nine-Tails jinchuriki losing control plus a Flying Thunder God user—the very image felt terrifying.
Daily two-person training time with Yoru completely healed Kushina Uzumaki's heart.
The girl who'd once feared sleep, frequently suffering nightmares reviewing clan destruction scenes—starting from early this year, she gradually stopped waking from sleep startled.
Instead, she often displayed sweet smiles while sleeping soundly. Clearly having pleasant dreams.
Mito Uzumaki witnessed all her changes, filling the elder with boundless comfort.
She'd originally planned to take Kushina on a trip, giving this clan member and "junior" a lesson.
Now it seemed that was no longer necessary.
...
May 10th.
Tragic news suddenly spread throughout all Konoha, rapidly broadcasting across the entire shinobi world. Countless people breathed sighs of relief.
This tragic news: The First Hokage's wife had passed away.
In ordinary people's eyes, the First Hokage's wife had died of natural causes. Another representative figure from the Warring States period had disappeared.
But in the eyes of those who knew Mito Uzumaki was the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, they'd dismantled a ticking time bomb.
Especially the several nations that destroyed the Land of Whirlpools—they could finally relax.
They'd dared attack the Land of Whirlpools precisely because they knew Mito Uzumaki had aged. Any further action would be her final battle.
After destroying the Land of Whirlpools, they worried Mito would choose to fight desperately, randomly selecting one village to "self-destruct" in.
Fortunately, this elder chose Konoha's future over revenge.
Mito Uzumaki's death meant Konoha had successfully transferred the Nine-Tails.
Thus various forces mobilized intelligence agencies, wanting to dispatch spies into Konoha to discover the second Nine-Tails jinchuriki's identity.
Regarding Mito Uzumaki's passing, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt somewhat sad, but more relief.
Not only because a mountain above his head had disappeared, but because aged jinchuriki had actually lost their suppression power over tailed beasts.
Other villages' jinchuriki, once aged, either transferred the tailed beast early or moved residences into barriers.
Only Mito Uzumaki could remain in central Konoha with no one daring the slightest objection.
Now that Mito had passed, Hiruzen Sarutobi officially ascended to the pinnacle of power.
The first action Hiruzen took after consolidating power: fully activate the barrier that had begun deployment the day Kushina Uzumaki entered Konoha.
An invisible barrier enveloped all of central Konoha.
Henceforth, Kushina Uzumaki's activity area was restricted to central Konoha.
The ANBU monitoring and protecting Kushina increased from one to two.
"Yoru, Lady Mito is gone. My last clan member is gone too. Waaah..."
The grand funeral had just concluded when Kushina found Yoru, throwing herself into his embrace and crying loudly.
"People coming to this world will eventually leave someday. What we must do is live happily during this process without any regrets." Yoru embraced Kushina, speaking with maturity completely unsuited to his age. "I believe Lady Mito left with a smile."
"You... how do you know?"
Kushina momentarily forgot her tears, staring blankly at Yoru.
"Because Lady Mito had no more regrets." Yoru spoke softly. "Witnessing her granddaughter become an independent shinobi with her own eyes, her grandson also becoming an official genin, plus you—the clan member inheriting her legacy. Her final years were complete."
"Is... is this why Lady Mito chose to transfer the Nine-Tails after her birthday?" Kushina murmured. At her young age, she still couldn't fully comprehend this.
Yoru asked with worried expression: "How is your condition?"
"I'm fine."
Kushina shook her head, placing her hand on her abdomen. "Before leaving, Lady Mito sealed her final chakra inside me to restrain the Nine-Tails. This chakra can last several years."
If Yoru could enter the mental space where Kushina and the Nine-Tails communicated, he'd see the Nine-Tails wasn't imprisoned in an iron cage but rather pinned to a wall by an enormous black iron spike, its entire body wrapped in chains.
If not pinned to a wall but embedded in a stone sphere, the Nine-Tails' current appearance would resemble the Fire Monk from certain movies.
"I see."
Yoru showed slight realization. Several questions from the original series now made sense.
In the original series, Kushina Uzumaki had definitely become the Nine-Tails jinchuriki before being captured by Cloud ninja.
If Mito Uzumaki still lived, Hiruzen Sarutobi definitely wouldn't dare scheme against Kushina, much less gamble with the only Nine-Tails vessel.
Those two Cloud ninja wouldn't have even reached the First Hokage's mansion before being discovered by Mito Uzumaki with her good-evil sensing.
But twelve-year-old Kushina couldn't even handle two Cloud ninja. Where would she get the ability to suppress the complete Nine-Tails?
Now, hearing Kushina's words, Yoru finally understood.
Mito Uzumaki had sacrificed herself early, buying Kushina several years of growth time.
"Then we need to work twice as hard these next few years." Yoru stroked Kushina's head, smiling.
"Yes!"
Kushina nodded vigorously, eyes filled with determination.
Not just for herself, but for Yoru and Lady Mito, plus this village she'd gradually come to love—she absolutely wouldn't allow that monster to steal control of her body.
***
20+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces