Once everything was done, all that remained was a moment of tenderness and warmth. Whether this warm moment lasted longer or shorter no longer mattered much.
So Mito Uzumaki could freeze her time on a single smile.
However, Mito's calmness couldn't soothe the panic and grief of others. Forget about how the four closest people felt at this moment—consider just the twelve Uzumaki shinobi hiding in the nearby woods; they likely felt as though the pillars of their lives had collapsed.
Under the bright blue sky, within the thick forest, lush leaves and morning grass covering the earth exhaled moist air. Cold, damp dew soaked the tired and disheveled bodies. Amidst this vibrant morning scenery, these Uzumaki shinobi stood like ill-fitting dry timber, frozen in place.
Some couldn't control their emotions—for example, the female ninja Mokkō, whose tears were already streaming from her eyes, leaving trails across her face.
As for Haseo, he simply stood in silence.
Nobody knew how long had passed when soft footsteps from behind startled him. Haseo turned around and saw three figures walking toward them from a distance.
Only the Third Hokage and his two Advisors.
"Hokage-sama..."
The Third Hokage arriving now wasn't meant to show any disrespect or neglect toward Mito Uzumaki—it actually made perfect sense. Any important matters must've already been discussed between Mito and the Third beforehand. If he appeared during this leftover time, it would become an interruption.
It was better for Mito to spend her final moments in personal emotions rather than official duty.
The Third Hokage merely stopped where Haseo stood. He looked as if he didn't dare take another step forward. Moreover, Haseo thought this "old man" appeared to be holding back tears... Perhaps exactly because of that, even though Haseo often found fault with the Hokage and picked on him here and there, he never truly considered this Hokage someone despicable.
"Let's go."
After waiting until the Third Hokage composed himself sufficiently to avoid losing composure, he finally whispered those two words.
Haseo silently nodded, preparing to order others to remain in place... Well, no need to order them; they'd stay there anyway. So Haseo simply followed behind the Third Hokage and the Advisors, step by step forward, entering that small wooden hut.
Upon arriving there, looking outward through the window, Haseo noticed outside Mito Uzumaki's window, perfectly visible were the flowers she once nurtured together with Kushina. Whether her last glance had settled there remained unknown.
Life must end someday. Among ninjas, perhaps Mito Uzumaki's ending could be considered a good one. Yet at this moment, in this scene, even if Sarutobi Hiruzen was the Hokage, what could he possibly say? In the end, weren't they all just helpless mortals?
Haseo circled around to Tsunade's side and silently took her hand.
Kushina's eyes carried a flicker of hollow daze. After that moment of emptiness, she hesitated over how much grief she should express now. But Tsunade was different—she probably had nothing left now except sorrow… not because of her age, but simply because she had already experienced such loss multiple times.
"Hokage-sama," someone finally broke the seemingly endless silence—after who knew how long. It was Uzumaki Shikou. Then came her continuing words: "I request that Lady Mito's remains be handed over to the Uzumaki clan for proper arrangements."
Shikou's request held some validity, yet wasn't entirely reasonable either, for the one most qualified to decide on Lady Mito's funeral matters was neither the Uzumaki nor the Hokage, but Tsunade herself.
Tsunade and Nawaki were Lady Mito's direct blood descendants.
Therefore, the Third Hokage couldn't directly answer Shikou. Instead, he first turned his gaze toward Tsunade. However, right now, Tsunade was leaning low against Haseo's shoulder. She seemed to have noticed none of Uzumaki Shikou's words at all.
Thus, everyone's gazes now fell upon Haseo.
Haseo considered briefly before speaking, "Let both the Uzumaki and Tsunade take part. If the Uzumaki clan still resided in the Land of Whirlpools, this matter would definitely require further discussion. However, since the Uzumaki have already relocated to Konoha, then Lady Mito can be born among them and return to them as well… returning to the Uzumaki means returning to Konoha. That would be appropriate.
Still, no matter what, Lady Mito will ultimately be buried together with the First Hokage."
It wasn't Haseo's decision to make, yet he voiced his thoughts nonetheless.
After his words faded, Tsunade softly nodded as well… She could indeed hear his voice. What could she do about it?
Therefore, the Third Hokage also gave a nod of agreement.
Because of her special status, although Mito Uzumaki's death wouldn't remain completely confidential, its announcement certainly wouldn't be widely publicized either.
Uzumaki Shikou's suggestion that the Uzumaki clan arrange Lady Mito's funeral was likely meant to ensure her body received appropriate handling, protecting her soul so it might rest peacefully without disturbance or desecration—forbidden techniques devised by an ex-Hokage notorious for dark experiments had truly caused unimaginable harm, disturbing both the living and the dead alike. That was exactly why people easily hated him.
It's understandable that she would worry; after all, even now there were still several elder souls from the Uzumaki clan bound by Impure World Reincarnation. Naturally, she feared such a fate might happen to Lady Mito too.
Fortunately, her request had now been granted.
That very night, Lady Mito's body left the small hut and entered the Uzumaki district.
Following that, the Uzumaki would place certain seals upon her remains, erase traces connected to her life, and ultimately cremate her body.
During this time, Tsunade remained with her throughout, and Haseo stayed by her side as well. Before the funeral ceremony, naturally, any children present would be forcibly sent away.
Meanwhile, unknown to Haseo and the others, discussions regarding Mito Uzumaki's passing inevitably arose elsewhere.
"Master Aruo, why did Lady Mito eventually return to the Uzumaki clan?"
"Lord Nawaki, because deep down she was always 'Mito Uzumaki' — a ninja born of the Uzumaki clan. Her blood has always carried the spirit of the Uzumaki lineage. It was destined fate, just as Lord Haseo once said: born among the whirlpools, thus shall one return to them. Everyone should have such a place of belonging."
"But... what about the Senju clan then?"
Given that "everyone should have such a place of belonging," the next question came naturally.
"The glory of the Senju far surpasses that of the Uzumaki, even surpassing the Uchiha and Hyuga clans. Yet today, the Senju have lost their name and quietly faded into oblivion. At that time, this decision might not necessarily have been considered wrong. However, it undoubtedly represents an enormous and irreparable loss."
"Master Aruo, then can't the dispersed Senju reunite again?"
"Lord Nawaki, when you're a bit older, you'll get it — once someone steps off the stage, no amount of past glory can bring them back. That's because others already stand upon that stage, and those newcomers will neither welcome the return of their predecessor nor ever give up their position."
"Then what should be done?"
The respondent only smiled before saying, "Lord Nawaki, I am merely an ordinary ninja, so I don't know how to answer that question. But believe me, you will surely find the right answer yourself someday."
The death of Mito Uzumaki and how the Uzumaki clan has reacted today serve as a powerful example for some people.
It's as if the Uzumaki clan is speaking to the remains of the Senju like this: Just as Nord souls are destined to return to Sovngarde (the legendary Nord afterlife), where, then, is the final resting place for those of the Empire?
PS:
1. I'm bringing up this painful topic again — asking once more for your support through subscriptions.
2. Friends, I'd really appreciate a few monthly votes to keep things going. Since last night, maybe just over ten readers have cast their votes for this book.
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