Chapter 173: Mito Overhauls the Caged Bird, Tobirama and Uzumaki Shio

Tobirama searched for Uzumaki Shio for two days but couldn't find her. After asking around, he learned that recently, both Shio and Kushina had been undergoing special training under Mito's guidance to stimulate their sealing jutsu talents and the power in their bloodlines.

Tobirama hesitated for a moment, then went to ask Minato about the duration of their secluded training. Finding out there were only two or three days left, he decided against going to the Senju ancestral home.

Tomie wouldn't die if she waited a few more days; she had survived for so many years already.

At worst, he would just have to wash her blood a few more times when the time came.

Tobirama truly did not want to come into contact with Mito.

Even though his body and soul had been forged into one by 'Sukunahikona,' and Izuna's existence was known...

Tobirama just didn't want to be noticed by Mito again.

His sister-in-law's sixth sense was sometimes too bizarre!

He had finally obtained a relatively relaxed and free opportunity to research. Tobirama did not want to relive the days of being intermittently swept by the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

Moreover, he wasn't Hokage right now; he was just an ordinary Konoha genius, making it even harder to resist.

"I'll wait."

"From what Minato said, it's just these next two days." Thinking of this blond kid, Tobirama couldn't help but smile.

Ever since he took Danzo as his master, he had a legitimate reason to study the Flying Thunder God Technique and could openly exchange ideas with Minato.

They were both geniuses and had common ground, so the two of them got along very well now.

Tobirama, who rarely smiled, would occasionally be amused by Minato's natural airheadedness and naming sense during their chats, experiencing the long-lost feeling of equal communication between companions.

A Hokage stands too high, and Tobirama's governing style was hardline, so he didn't have many people he could just chat with back then.

He was, after all, the first Shinobi of Darkness turned Hokage.

While Tobirama was thinking about Mito and Uzumaki Shio...

In the Senju ancestral home.

Orochimaru and Tenzo Hyuga sat in the guest seats. The main seat was occupied by Mito, with Kushina and Uzumaki Shio beside her.

"Lady Mito, I'm truly sorry to bother you."

"Regarding the modification of the Caged Bird, we of the Hyuga clan have actually always had ideas, but suffered from an inability to realize them due to technical and intra-clan environmental constraints."

"Now the environmental issues have been resolved. Inspired by the will of Lord Hokage and the First Hokage, the clan members have reached a consensus. Therefore, I have shamelessly come to trouble you to take a look."

Tenzo Hyuga said with utmost sincerity.

But was this truly what he thought?

One could only say it was true now, but it wasn't a few days ago.

Back then, Tenzo still harbored thoughts that the Main Family would perhaps remain the Main Family for hundreds of years to come.

But after Hiruzen Sarutobi left, Orochimaru, under the instructions of a certain generous Hokage who preferred to remain unnamed, arrived with a smile to discuss the details of the Hyuga clan's reform with Tenzo.

This was, after all, a major event. The few words exchanged between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tenzo couldn't possibly finalize everything; they only provided a basic concept and framework to set the tone.

Orochimaru put it this way: "Commissioner Tenzo, since you have agreed to restrict the lethality of the Caged Bird, I think it's better to solve the problem once and for all."

"Sensei and I both believe that you wouldn't violate village rules and enforce extrajudicial punishment yourself."

"Because of various reasons, people's strength and treatment in the village might not be equal, but according to Sensei, personal dignity must remain as equal as possible."

"No one wants a time bomb in their head, even a dud, right?"

Tenzo Hyuga found it hard to refute.

After all, he had agreed to seal the memories of the other Main Family members regarding the Caged Bird...

Extending logic from that point was also reasonable.

There was a crucial issue regarding the Caged Bird for the village and the Hokage that couldn't be ignored.

The existence of this jutsu created a strong personal dependence between the controller and the controlled, one paid for with their lives.

Even though a large number of Branch Family members had now joined the Anbu, forming a balance that prevented the Main Family from targeting clan members directly under the Hokage and thereby protecting their relatives...

This was, after all, just a balance. The core issue hadn't been resolved, and changes could still occur in the future.

Tenzo Hyuga actually understood this.

Whether he would use the Caged Bird to raise a group of death squads wasn't the point.

The mere possibility was the most critical issue.

It was just that the long-standing inertia of controlling the Caged Bird and his old-fashioned mindset as clan head had dulled his clear perspective and sharp thinking when the issue landed on his own head.

He needed someone to give him a push.

"Commissioner Tenzo, Sensei offered the Hyuga Main Family a treatment comparable to diplomats of the Land of Fire. He understands the difficulty of the Hyuga clan's transition; that is his generosity."

"But as a Konoha Commissioner and Sensei's disciple, I must remind you that your ideology and perspective must also keep pace. Considering each other's positions and learning to empathize is the path to long-lasting success."

On that day, Orochimaru played the role Danzo usually played.

But his words were far more acceptable: "Sensei only set the framework. But if you proactively reformed the Hyuga with the Will of Fire, I believe such a commendable tale would make it into the Ninja Academy textbooks and be celebrated by the Hyuga clan for the next millennium."

"Your name would absolutely be remembered forever by the Branch Family, and Sensei would be delighted to see it. This is a profound manifestation of the combination of the Will of Fire and the Hyuga clan."

Orochimaru then shifted gears, adding: "You might feel that if the Caged Bird loses its restrictions, then both the Branch and Main families will be branded with this mark in the future, and there will be no distinction between them anymore."

"The diplomatic affairs with nobility handled by the Main Family might be taken by the Branch Family."

"But you must know, Sensei gave the Main Family a head start. Until the Caged Bird Jutsu is fully reformed, it will still be the Main Family in charge of this sector."

"If they can't establish a foothold and the work doesn't go smoothly, should we just let them keep doing it forever?"

"You must understand, if you want the Hyuga clan to exhibit vitality, positions must be earned through competition. Always thinking about handing a golden rice bowl to the so-called Main Family—what good result could that possibly lead to in the end?"

"Look at Hizashi. Coming from the Branch Family, see how fast he's progressing now? Then look at Hiashi and Ko. So what if they are from the Main Family?"

"The Hyuga clan shouldn't differentiate between Main and Branch to begin with. Hizashi and Hiashi are blood brothers."

"You are the head of the Hyuga. What you need is for the entire clan to prosper; your vision cannot be limited solely to the Main Family."

Orochimaru's rapid-fire arguments left Tenzo Hyuga speechless.

In truth, if one scrutinized it closely, the accusations that could be leveled against the Caged Bird Jutsu were simply too numerous.

And they weren't baseless accusations manufactured out of thin air.

They were tangible, undeniable hidden dangers that would elicit no sympathy from others.

After Orochimaru left, Tenzo Hyuga thought all night, breaking his decade-long habit of not smoking and chain-smoking until dawn.

He made a decision that went against his ancestors!

He would reform the Hyuga clan's Caged Bird!

He would completely eliminate the lethal aspect, turning it purely into a jutsu to protect the Byakugan. Furthermore, Tenzo decided that as long as Orochimaru and Mito could remove the hidden dangers of the Caged Bird...

He would be the first to take the lead and be branded!

"Motohito Kujo could sacrifice an ancient mirror symbolizing the legacy of the Land of Fire to the Madoka clan just to establish an unbreakable friendship with Lord Hokage. Is my resolve any lesser than a noble's?"

"It's just a mere Caged Bird!"

"Must I, Tenzo Hyuga, rely solely on the title of the Main Family to get things done? My diplomatic talents alone are unmatched by other shinobi!"

Tenzo Hyuga made his decision.

Of course, the comparison between Hizashi and Hiashi was also a factor.

As a Branch Family member, Hizashi had grown to be outstanding under the changing environment.

As a father, he didn't say it aloud, but he gradually acknowledged and felt proud of it in his heart.

And Hiashi?

He hadn't made any mistakes, but cooped up in the clan compound as a Main Family member, what great future could he possibly have?

Let alone someone like Ko Hyuga.

If it weren't for Lord Hokage's mercy, how could he have gotten such a good job in noble diplomacy?

If he could do it well, that's one thing. If he did poorly, he'd be out in a couple of years. Did he expect a free ride for life?

There are no such good things in the shinobi world!

Once Tenzo thought this through, it was as if a shackle had been undone, revealing a vast world of possibilities.

While the Caged Bird consolidated his rule, it would also draw the wariness of the Hokage or pro-Hokage factions.

But by offering it as a token of allegiance, the Hyuga clan could participate in far more affairs, and do so righteously, without any fear of others' suspicion.

If they even changed their millennial clan rules for the Will of Fire, who could be more loyal than them?

"My most perfect masterpiece, Kimimaro..."

"If he truly has the ambition and luck to succeed in Kirigakure..."

"The Hyuga might become Konoha's greatest contributor! After all, that is the merit of expanding the territory!"

"I also believe Lord Hokage won't hog that glory all to himself." Tenzo Hyuga thought to himself.

As always, Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation wasn't just hot air.

The preferential treatment for the Main Family and the pacification of the Branch Family were all tangibly implemented.

Of course, with this grand framework set, the subsequent supervision and details would be watched by multiple parties: Danzo, Tobirama, Orochimaru, and even Hanzo.

But Tenzo would still remember the Hokage's kindness.

On one hand, institutional supervision was necessary to begin with.

On the other hand, while his Byakugan couldn't read minds, it could see the Hokage's goodwill.

"However, I can't quite tell anymore..."

"Are Lord Hokage and Orochimaru really playing good cop/bad cop? Perhaps they actually aren't. Otherwise, why didn't he send the most oppressive one, Danzo?"

"Lord Hokage truly is a genuinely good person. If I get the chance, I should advise him..." A glint flashed in Tenzo Hyuga's eyes.

Taking the initiative to take this huge step forward also meant the day he could call the Hokage 'Big Brother' was rapidly approaching.

While Mito Uzumaki pondered, Tenzo recalled his conversation with Orochimaru in his mind.

He couldn't help but sigh. The Orochimaru of today truly possessed a hint of Lord Hokage's shadow.

A mini-Hiruzen!

"The Hyuga are indeed a millennial noble clan. This curse mark integrates profound techniques from multiple sealing jutsu; it is exceptionally intricate."

After carefully studying the Caged Bird scroll for a long time, Mito finally spoke with a sigh of admiration.

The Caged Bird seal formed a tight bond with the Byakugan.

Functionally speaking, the Caged Bird Jutsu was clearly successful.

When two branch family members branded with the curse mark had a child, the purity of their bloodline wouldn't be affected. The only negative effect brought about was the loss of a one-degree blind spot.

One degree out of three hundred and sixty.

And such a loss was actually acceptable. After all, in actual combat, a one-degree blind spot had almost no impact with just a little caution.

The problem lay in the Main Family's personal control over the Branch Family.

"If you want to break the Caged Bird curse mark, it's very difficult."

Mito pondered and spoke: "But if we make slight adjustments, eliminating its lethal module and reducing the blind spot to a certain extent, it's not impossible."

"But this requires time."

Mito smiled and said: "Hiruzen also wants me to help him research space-related sealing jutsu. I have an idea for modifying the Caged Bird, but the structures need to be tested one by one."

Kushina and Uzumaki Shio spoke in unison: "Lady Mito, leave it to us!"

During their days of special training here with Mito, both Shio and Kushina had grown rapidly.

Besides their primary motivation of wanting to work for the village, Kushina wanted to catch up with Minato's pace and didn't want to be a mere vase her whole life.

Uzumaki Shio hadn't thought it through entirely; it was more that after "Seisui" tactfully rejected her feelings, she felt somewhat lost for a time and wanted to numb her thoughts with rigorous training.

When you're busy, you think less.

But because of this, Mito also gained two reliable helpers in researching sealing jutsu.

Although she had the Nine-Tails' help and a renewed spirit, her physical age was still a reality. Many repetitive exploratory tasks were no longer suitable for Mito to do herself.

And the high threshold of sealing jutsu meant it was hard to find odd-job workers, so Mito had shelved her research ideas for a long time.

But now it was different!

These two girls were harder workers than the other!

They were both excellent research workhorses—assistants!

"About three to five years, I suppose. This matter cannot be rushed. The structural design of sealing jutsu requires not only deduction but also sparks of inspiration."

Every time Mito thought of the structure of the Caged Bird curse mark, she still clicked her tongue in wonder.

She truly didn't know what kind of eccentric genius the Hyuga clan produced in ancient times. Even if her father, the strongest sealing jutsu master, Ashina Uzumaki, saw it, he would probably be amazed.

He would probably call the Hyuga clan's ancestor the "God of Sealing Jutsu," wouldn't he?

"That's enough, that's enough!"

Tenzo Hyuga nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, Lady Mito!"

As long as children born from now on no longer had the Caged Bird branded on their heads, that was enough.

After all, three to five years was exactly the age when these children would just be entering the Ninja Academy. Since it didn't involve leaving the village, there was no need to apply the Caged Bird for protection yet.

As for the existing Caged Birds on the older branch members, that was indeed a difficult historical legacy issue to solve immediately, but at least some measures had been taken.

One could only say: new rules for the new generation, old rules for the old.

They would have the Main Family use their 'sales' commissions to offer material appeasement first, and promise to implement the solution as soon as it was available.

The memories of the other Main Family members regarding the Caged Bird had been erased, leaving Tenzo as the only one who mastered the old version.

And Tenzo, currently riding high as a Konoha Commissioner and looking forward to showcasing his skills in the Amegakure and even Kirigakure projects, was terrified of getting any dirt on his reputation.

Naturally, he wouldn't use extrajudicial punishment.

If there truly were disobedient clan members, the status of Konoha Commissioner was much more useful now than that of Hyuga Clan Head.

Orochimaru nodded obediently, echoing Mito's words.

In front of this person, Orochimaru inevitably felt somewhat nervous. After all, her near mind-reading sensory abilities and immense seniority were right there.

As a staunch "Tobirama Faction" researcher, Orochimaru naturally knew of some of Mito's legends.

"However, Sensei really is determined to make me Hokage..." Orochimaru thought, the corners of his mouth curling up imperceptibly.

In his view, Hiruzen Sarutobi clearly could have solved this problem himself, yet he left it to him.

The reason was self-evident.

He wanted him to get a piece of the pie, so that the Hyuga Branch Family wouldn't only remember the Hokage's kindness, but also remember that it was Orochimaru who stepped in and facilitated the major reform of the Caged Bird.

This way, when he became Hokage in the future, his base of support would expand to include the Hyuga, allowing him to sit more securely.

"I suddenly feel a bit sorry for Sensei..."

"Because he wasn't supported by Lord Tobirama back then and hastily took over the position of Hokage, he suffered a lot, and he doesn't want me to go through that suffering again."

Orochimaru sighed inwardly.

Sensei truly treated him like his own flesh and blood!

Not only that, this was also leading by example as Hokage, honing him through these events.

Any mature Hokage can't just play the good cop; they must also learn to play the bad cop first.

Only this way, after taking that seat, would they know how to continuously accumulate reputation and prestige upon themselves, preventing them from being deceived by those working beneath them.

But this was only part of what Hiruzen Sarutobi was thinking.

Having Orochimaru do these things seemed to slightly disrupt the rhythm of his scientific research, but it was actually necessary.

If Orochimaru were allowed to focus exclusively on scientific research without touching core decision-making, over time, he might inevitably develop other ideas.

After all, Danzo had always been working on the front lines, exposed to a wider range of people and situations.

Especially after Tobirama-sensei became his "disciple," his methods would naturally become much more brilliant, which might bring some pressure to Orochimaru.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had to maintain this balance.

Tobirama buffed Danzo, so he had to level the playing field for his beloved disciple.

"Tenzo, you are very good."

"Having the courage to change the Hyuga clan's millennial rules and actively embrace the Will of Fire... I think if Hashirama saw this, he might just cry from excitement."

Mito said with a light laugh: "If you have any troubles or problems in the future, I might not necessarily be able to help, but you are very welcome to come vent your frustrations to me."

Tenzo's Byakugan instantly lit up, and he nodded repeatedly: "I understand, Lady Mito!"

After learning that Isshin had subtly boasted about "Seisui" having once gained Mito's approval, Tenzo had fallen into a period of anxiety.

This was the second most useful golden signboard in Konoha, right after the Hokage!

But there was no helping it. The Hyuga clan had no overlapping business with Mito. God knows how Isshin managed to get the Uchiha involved with Mito.

But things were different now!

Tenzo had, through his own efforts, gained Mito's approval and extremely high evaluation!

This was hugely beneficial to the entire Hyuga clan.

"When I get back to the clan compound tonight, if Hizashi isn't on duty, I must call that brat over for a chat!"

"I have to tell him..."

"Your old man is still your old man! How many years has he even understood the Will of Fire?"

Thinking of his cold-faced son's expression when he heard about his proactive abolishment of the Caged Bird and being praised by Mito, Tenzo couldn't help but want to laugh.

If Amegakure and Kirigakure produced results...

Tenzo really wanted to set up a table of fine wine and good food and flaunt his merits in front of Hizashi!

Of course, the essence of doing this was also to repair their father-son relationship.

They were all working for the village, after all!

After Orochimaru and Tenzo left, Mito smiled and said to Uzumaki Shio and Kushina: "See?"

"Everyone in Konoha is working hard! Even Yamato is diligently building his foundation."

"If you want to keep up with Minato's pace, the best way is to continuously improve yourself, making yourself a person of value to the village and to him, someone with your own ideals and aspirations, rather than just an accessory."

Mito laughed lightly, her eyes carrying the unique confidence of the former strongest kunoichi in the shinobi world: "Although my husband is the God of Shinobi, during the Warring States Period, even without that identity, I earned the respect of the vast majority of people, even Madara Uchiha!"

Mito wasn't exaggerating.

During the great war between the Uchiha and Senju back then, her arrival essentially completely reversed the overall situation.

The countering effect of the Fire Sealing Method, the overbearing nature of the Adamantine Sealing Chains, the detection of the Mind's Eye of the Kagura—more thorough than even the Byakugan—and her unreasonable sixth sense...

It almost fried Izuna's brain!

Prediction plus x-ray vision plus combat ability... was there any logic left?

Tobirama had a great time back then, because anything that suppressed Izuna was good.

However, after the village was founded and his research was monitored by Mito, he too experienced the pressure Izuna felt.

One could only say they truly were a pair of ill-fated brothers with a lot in common.

Kushina nodded solemnly; she had clearly taken it to heart.

Nicknamed the Red-Hot Habanero, she had once aspired to become Hokage during her time at the Ninja Academy!

Although Kushina didn't intend to compete with Minato anymore, it didn't mean she wanted to be just a housewife. She still wanted to possess her own power as much as possible and become a strong kunoichi.

Kushina had never forgotten the humiliation of being abducted by Kumogakure.

Uzumaki Shio nodded blankly; she hadn't actually understood much.

Her days since leaving Kusagakure made her feel that every day in Konoha was incredibly fulfilling. Even if she and "Seisui" didn't have any further romantic destiny, weren't they still addressing each other as brother and sister?

"Seisui" had told her that his lover was Konoha and he had no thoughts in that direction.

Uzumaki Shio also expressed her understanding.

"Try these structures first. You two go implement them. Don't be afraid of making mistakes."

"Hiruzen told me that the supply of raw sealing scrolls will be opened up in large quantities. As long as it's not wasted and is used to improve proficiency, you can use them without any misgivings."

Whenever Hiruzen Sarutobi was mentioned, Mito's expression became noticeably kinder.

Not only giving preferential treatment to the Uzumaki, but even thoughtfully handling the logistics for sealing jutsu... he was indeed Hashirama's good disciple!

Kushina and Uzumaki Shio replied in unison: "Yes, Lady Mito!"

"You two have been training hard lately. Once today's work is done, go home."

"From now on, just come to my place during the day." Mito smiled and nodded.

The previous intensive training was to solidify their foundations, test them, and anchor their future development directions.

Returning to her bedroom.

Mito looked at the photo of Hashirama, a hint of nostalgia flashing in her eyes.

"I was actually thinking... if Konoha develops very well one day, should I use Tobirama's jutsu to summon Hashirama back from the Pure Land, letting him see the current village with his own eyes?"

"It seems Tobirama's forbidden jutsu aren't just for fighting enemies; they have merits in other areas too!"

However, although Konoha's current development was rapid, in Mito's heart, it still wasn't perfect enough.

Or rather, Mito wanted to see Hashirama return from the Pure Land and, upon seeing every corner and every change in Konoha, jump up and down in excitement, chattering endlessly like a child.

Only then would it be worth Mito convincing herself to reincarnate her lover using the Impure World Reincarnation.

"Are you still continuing that bastard Hashirama's ideals?"

The Nine-Tails' voice sounded from within Mito Uzumaki's body.

"A part of them."

Mito said faintly: "Seeing the Will of Fire become a reality, blossom, and bear fruit is also my ideal."

"What's wrong, Nine-Tails? Even without Hashirama, you alone wouldn't have an easy time against me at my peak, don't you think?" Mito's tone carried a hint of cheerfulness.

"Tch!"

The Nine-Tails snorted heavily, but didn't refute.

The reason this woman, Mito, was worthy of its respect was only partly due to her identity as Hashirama's widow. After all, Tailed Beasts didn't care about such human pleasantries.

Could a dead Hashirama jump out of the Pure Land to beat it up?

Ultimately, it was Mito's strength, personality, and other comprehensive factors that forced the Nine-Tails to genuinely offer Mito that damn respect.

Whenever it encountered a hard-to-answer question, the Nine-Tails smoothly changed the subject: "That thing you mentioned, does it still count?"

This referred to a proposal by Mito.

The Nine-Tails would provide a portion of its chakra to be injected into Kushina or Uzumaki Shio, making them partial Jinchuriki and granting them the power of a Tailed Beast.

The reference subjects were the Gold and Silver Brothers of Kumogakure.

Although Uzumaki Shio and Kushina didn't have the savage constitution of those two brothers to bite off raw Nine-Tails flesh, swallow it, and forcefully digest it...

A similar effect could be achieved through the Nine-Tails' proactive provision and the enhancement of sealing jutsu.

And in return.

Mito would use sealing jutsu to control the Nine-Tails' berserk Tailed Beast chakra. While gradually teaching it the mechanisms of ninjutsu, she would also give it "cultural lessons," telling it stories about shinobi.

Mito wasn't worried that as the Nine-Tails grew smarter, it would develop any ulterior motives.

Because she harbored no malice. As they say, truth becomes clearer through debate. In today's shinobi world, even Tailed Beasts truly didn't possess enough capability to protect themselves.

Joining an organization and receiving equal treatment was absolutely a good thing.

If the two sides cooperated well.

Mito promised she could help the Nine-Tails use a method similar to a Shadow Clone: the main body would sleep while releasing a mini Nine-Tails.

With Hiruzen Sarutobi's approval, it could roam freely in the village.

This way, it would be no different than the Nine-Tails' main body being out and about.

The combination of a Tailed Beast's self-hibernation and a Shadow Clone was just that magical.

The Nine-Tails didn't fear the backlash after a Shadow Clone disappeared, nor did it fear running out of chakra.

In a sense, the Shadow Clone jutsu was practically tailor-made for it.

"Naturally, it counts."

"However, you'll have to wait. Even if it's not your main body, bearing Tailed Beast chakra requires courage."

"Kushina and Minato are getting married, and they might have a child later. They were planning to claim the subsidy."

Mito's tone was leisurely: "And Shio, she's still very lost. I can't feel her conviction. A shinobi who hasn't figured out their own life and how they want to realize their self-worth, even with Tailed Beast chakra, won't be able to exert true power."

"Right now, there's no need for her to waste your chakra."

The Nine-Tails nodded silently.

It liked hearing those words!

Even if it had plenty of chakra, it wasn't cheap goods to be casually given away.

"Then tell me, will Uzumaki Shio want to gain power and become stronger?"

The Nine-Tails frowned: "How about letting me try?"

"Even if you succeed in tempting her, her mind still won't be at a level to harness that power. A bit of berserk Tailed Beast chakra won't be of any help to the village."

Mito shook her head: "That child, Shio, is very talented. Her constitution is rare even among the Uzumaki clan, and her aptitude in other areas is also excellent."

"It's just that her drive is a bit lacking, which is related to her background."

"Let's see if anyone can change her!"

Mito didn't want to proactively try to change Uzumaki Shio, because doing so often remained superficial.

If the desire to become an independent, strong person didn't come from deep within, forcing her would be useless.

At most, it would cultivate a barely usable mediocrity.

But the current Konoha wasn't in a hurry, so Mito could afford to wait and see if any person or event could ignite Uzumaki Shio's ambition and excavate her massive potential.

In Mito's view, Uzumaki Shio, possessing super-strong vitality, was a rare Uzumaki shinobi capable of gathering all three elements: Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Adamantine Sealing Chains, and Tailed Beast chakra.

...

That evening.

Uzumaki Shio came out of the Senju ancestral home and walked past two streets.

She found an Uchiha youth waiting for her.

"Seisui!"

Uzumaki Shio spoke with surprise and a hint of delight: "Why are you here?"

"I came to ask for your help."

Tobirama cut straight to the chase: "I need your constitution to save the life of a Konoha shinobi! Can you help me?"

In that moment, Izuna within Tobirama chuckled internally.

Recently, while researching the specific Parasitic Destruction Insects, his Mangekyou Sharingan's observational powers had also contributed greatly. Thus, he hadn't returned to the Pure Land much, existing in the real world in a state that consumed relatively less ocular power.

His chakra and compatibility matched "Seisui" perfectly in every aspect, so the impact wasn't significant.

But there was also a crucial reason for this...

Izuna really wanted to watch the drama!

He didn't want to miss it.

Returning to the Pure Land felt like full anesthesia; his consciousness was forced to dissipate and stagnate. Where was the fun in that compared to watching this show?

"There's nothing wrong with what he said; it is indeed to save a comrade's life..." Izuna couldn't help but comment internally.

"Of course, Seisui!"

Uzumaki Shio looked at Tobirama's face, a slight blush appearing as she nodded: "I told you, I am willing to use my constitution to help Konoha shinobi. That is something I have always been willing to do."

"Mm, that's good then."

Tobirama nodded: "Tomorrow, come find me at Konoha's R&D Division."

After saying that, he turned and left crisply.

Uzumaki Shio agreed, watching Tobirama's retreating back and pondering in her heart.

Who was he trying to save?

"After tactfully rejecting me, Seisui practically walks the other way when he sees me, as if afraid I'll delay his work for the village."

"It must be someone very important to him, right? A shinobi who has achieved merits for the village?" Uzumaki Shio thought to herself, couldn't help but look forward to tomorrow.

Being somewhat prone to romantic fantasies, she even imagined if this was a chance to break the ice between her and Tobirama.

Even if not romance, shouldn't they at least have some normal interaction?

After all, they had escaped that hellish Kusagakure together...

The next day.

Uzumaki Shio arrived at Konoha's R&D Division.

Guided by relevant personnel, she was taken to the operating room prepared for Tomie.

Upon entering, Uzumaki Shio was somewhat surprised at first.

She noticed that the people here were basically all prominent figures in Konoha!

Orochimaru, Tsunade, Hiruko...

"Hello, Commissioners..." Uzumaki Shio greeted them nervously.

Even though she spent day and night with Mito, Mito was Mito, and she was she.

Uzumaki Shio could still distinguish that clearly.

"Kid, is this what you meant by a method to maintain vital signs during a massive blood transfusion?" Tsunade looked at Uzumaki Shio, her expression a bit strained.

The matter between Shio and Tobirama was a relatively well-known piece of gossip in the village...

Tsunade's mind couldn't help but race.

What kind of play was this?

"Could it be that Seisui is so overwhelmingly in love with this girl named Tomie? That he's using such a ruthless move to publicly declare his separation from Uzumaki Shio?"

Tsunade's teeth ached slightly: "Only an Uchiha brain could come up with such an extreme method! Second Grandfather was right, some Uchiha brats are truly born evil!"

Tsunade felt somewhat displeased.

No matter what, Shio was still Mito's clan member, and could be considered a distant relative of hers...

Wasn't this treating her just like Kusagakure did!

Orochimaru smiled without speaking. He looked like he was there to conduct an experiment, but he was actually there to relax.

Watching the drama...

He had just finished another task for Tenzo.

He contacted Kakuzu to have him and the Hyuga clan conduct a survey of the nobles' assets, and was feeling a bit tired.

Occasionally watching the twisted little romantic dramas of young people was also helpful for adjusting his mood.

Orochimaru could also observe Uzumaki Shio's special constitution up close.

"Kid? Tsunade actually called me a kid. The world has truly turned upside down!" Although Tobirama controlled his expression, he couldn't help but feel a trace of displeasure.

Uzumaki Shio was just about to open her mouth to console Tobirama, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Tomie sitting up on the hospital bed, gazing at the boy saving her with eyes full of tender affection.

Uzumaki Shio felt as if she had been struck by lightning!

"This is..."

"I'm Seisui's good friend, hello." A smile stretched across Tomie's pale face.

Even she didn't know how to face Shio.

It was a bit complicated!

"Are you ready?" Tobirama glanced at Uzumaki Shio: "I'm going to start saving her!"

☆☆☆

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