Chapter 110: The Weight of Legacy
Akatsurugi considered the idea. It did require a discussion with Uzumaki Mito, but he foresaw no major obstacles.
"Understood. Is there anything else?" he asked Tsunade directly.
She shook her head, and with a wave of his hand, she turned and left.
After her departure, Akatsurugi gathered his things and headed for the Senju compound. While the Senju clan had largely dispersed into Konoha's civilian population, the direct line of Hashirama Senju remained. Tsunade was his granddaughter, and though Hashirama's own son had fallen in battle two years prior, his grandson, Senju Nawaki, still lived.
It had to be said that Akatsurugi's influence had altered fate itself. Nawaki, who in another timeline would have died before Kato Dan, was alive and well, his life preserved by the shifts in history Akatsurugi had caused.
When Akatsurugi appeared in the Senju grounds, he found Nawaki there, who had matured significantly from the boisterous boy he once was, likely tempered by the wise guidance of his grandmother, Uzumaki Mito.
"Lord Hokage!" Nawaki greeted him with deep respect. Akatsurugi acknowledged him with a slight nod and proceeded into the courtyard.
In the sun-dappled garden, Uzumaki Mito sat peacefully, her face serene despite her years. Noticing Akatsurugi's arrival, she offered a gentle, welcoming smile.
Akatsurugi approached and bowed respectfully. "Lady Mito."
Uzumaki Mito looked at him with mild surprise. "To what do we owe the honor of the Hokage's visit?"
"I heard from Tsunade that you were unwell," he explained. "I came to see how you are faring."
Understanding dawned on her face, and a flicker of gratitude shone in her eyes. "I am managing, thank you. I have a few years left in me. However, the matter of the next Jinchūriki is one that requires your urgent attention."
Akatsurugi was silent for a moment, fully comprehending her concern. Yet, he shook his head. "There is no need to look further, Lady Mito. I will be the next Jinchūriki."
Uzumaki Mito was taken aback, but after a moment's consideration, she gave a slow, deliberate nod. She knew the extent of his power, and she herself had taught him the deepest sealing arts of the Uzumaki. Containing the Nine-Tails would be well within his capabilities.
"But have you truly considered this?" she pressed. "There is no precedent for a sitting Hokage to become a vessel."
Akatsurugi offered a confident smile. "Others are prone to instability. Sealed within me, the beast will have no chance to run amok."
Uzumaki Mito fell silent, and a heavy, contemplative quiet settled between them. The atmosphere grew thick and somber.
Finally, she was the one to break the silence, her voice hesitant. "Lord Hokage... might I ask a favor of you?"
Hearing this, Akatsurugi straightened his posture, his expression turning serious. "Name it, Lady Mito." He owed her a great debt. It was Uzumaki Mito who had taught him the Yin Seal and the profound sealing techniques of her clan. Her guidance had been instrumental in his mastery of these powerful arts, and he was honor-bound to fulfill her request.
"Please," she began, a hint of embarrassment in her tone, "take a wife from the Uzumaki clan."
Akatsurugi was stunned. He hadn't expected this.
Uzumaki Mito sighed deeply. "The Uzumaki's unique heritage makes us a target for every nation. The Land of Water's determination to destroy Uzushiogakure is proof enough. I know that if it were Sarutobi in your place, he might have sacrificed us. You are the only one who can guarantee our safety. While I still have a few years, I wish to use my influence to persuade a branch of my clan to migrate to Konoha, to bolster the village's strength and secure their future."
A glint of understanding flashed in Akatsurugi's eyes. By marrying an Uzumaki, he would become kin to the clan. It would give Mito the perfect pretext to bring her people to Konoha, strengthening the village while ensuring their protection. It was a strategic move for the survival of her bloodline.
"I understand," he said after a moment. "If I find one who captures my heart, I will give it serious consideration."
Uzumaki Mito's face brightened immediately. It was not a refusal. It was a promise to be open to the possibility.
Of course, she understood his unspoken condition. "Captures his heart" undoubtedly meant a woman of notable beauty. She immediately began planning to write to the current leader of the Uzumaki clan, instructing him to gather the most talented and comely young women and send them to Konoha for the Hokage's consideration.
Unaware of the matchmaking whirlwind he had just set in motion, Akatsurugi exchanged a few more pleasantries with the elder matriarch before taking his leave.
After Akatsurugi departed, Nawaki hurried in. "Grandmother, what did the Hokage want?"
Uzumaki Mito didn't elaborate, instead picking up a brush and beginning to write. Soon, she sealed a scroll and handed it to Nawaki. "Nawaki, have this delivered to the leader of the Uzumaki clan. With all haste."
"Okay!" Seeing his grandmother's firm demeanor, Nawaki asked no further questions and set off to fulfill his task.
Upon returning to his office, Akatsurugi finally turned his attention to the Flying Thunder God Technique. After years of sporadic study, he had gradually pieced together its principles, but had never found the uninterrupted time to master it. Now, with affairs of state settling into a rhythm, he could finally dedicate himself to the intricacies of space-time ninjutsu.
Meanwhile, the Konoha envoys, led by Hatake Sakumo, had arrived at Sunagakure. The young Third Kazekage received the news with deep confliction. He was well aware of the fates of Iwa and Kumo. He had hoped that his early retreat would spare him Konoha's wrath, but it seemed the Blaze God was not so easily evaded. This visit boded ill.
Steeling himself, he prepared to meet his old rival. The man who had held the Sand front against their full might—the formidable White Light of the Leaf, Hatake Sakumo.
"Lord Kazekage," Sakumo stated, his voice calm but firm as he presented a sealed scroll. "A message from our Hokage. He awaits your prompt decision."
Though Sakumo did not know the letter's exact contents, he had a strong suspicion. As one of the Hokage's most trusted operatives, he was privy to the general shape of Konoha's new, uncompromising foreign policy.
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