Clang— The teacup in her hand fell to the ground and shattered. A faint herbal fragrance permeated the air. This was the medicinal tea Orochimaru had prepared for her, which had a calming and health-benefiting effect.
"Hiruzen, what did you just say?"
Uzumaki Mito put down the teapot and sat in her chair, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi. She hoped she had misheard.
"Grandma Mito... Uzushiogakure has been destroyed. When I sent Anbu there, Uzushiogakure had already been destroyed. Based on the bodies left at the scene, it was a joint operation by Hidden Mist, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure... Your intelligence as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has been leaked."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said gravely. He had considered concealing it from Grandma Mito, but then he thought that this matter couldn't be kept secret for long, as communication between Grandma Mito and Uzushiogakure would expose it. He couldn't risk forging letters. Rather than deceive Grandma Mito, he chose to tell her the truth.
Even now, he hadn't found out who leaked Grandma Mito's status as a Jinchuriki.
"I understand, Hiruzen. You can go if there's nothing else."
Uzumaki Mito closed her eyes, her voice a little hoarse, devoid of any emotion.
The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique... Uzumaki Mito knew very well why the Four Great Shinobi Villages would invade Uzushiogakure in this manner. She could perfectly seal the Nine-Tailed and had suppressed it for many years without it ever rampaging.
This alone was enough to make the Four Great Shinobi Villages harbor murderous intent towards Uzushiogakure.
Whether it was the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique or the Uzumaki Clan's bloodline... But... it was I who brought destruction to Uzushiogakure... it was I who became the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki... "Yes, Grandma Mito. I wish to take my leave. Once there is new information, I will inform you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and left, thinking of going home and having Biwako come to check on Grandma Mito, lest anything happen to her.
Uzumaki Mito sat quietly in her chair, her hands on the table, recalling her life in Uzushiogakure. Her heart ached as if being cut by a knife, and before she knew it, her face was covered in tears.
The Nine-Tailed sensed the sorrow in Uzumaki Mito's heart and dared not provoke her at such a time. Life was already difficult enough, and it didn't want to make its own life even harder.
(The Nine-Tailed was successively sealed within Uzumaki Mito and Uzumaki Kushina, truly suffering every single second. It was slightly better within Uzumaki Naruto. Many people online say that the Nine-Tailed killed Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina, and Uzumaki Naruto could forgive it... I find it strange. If the Nine-Tailed hadn't extended its claws, could they have lived?
One would die without a Tailed Beast, and the other's soul went into the Shinigami's stomach. They were going to die either way, so why blame the Nine-Tailed? The Nine-Tailed voluntarily took the blame, so the blame became the Nine-Tailed's?
Truly selective blindness!)
"Grandma Mito, crying is not good for your health."
A white handkerchief was offered to Uzumaki Mito.
"Orochimaru, why are you here?"
Uzumaki Mito took the handkerchief and wiped the tears from her face.
"Grandma Mito, there's something I hope you can keep a secret."
Orochimaru originally didn't intend to say it. Once the people of Uzushiogakure in the Land of Waves had recovered, news of their presence in the Land of Waves would surely spread to Konoha and the other Great Shinobi Villages. But upon seeing Grandma Mito so sad, she felt unable to bear it.
"What is it?"
Uzumaki Mito's voice was a little hoarse.
"You have to promise me first, then I'll tell you."
"Okay, I promise you."
Uzumaki Mito saw Orochimaru's seriousness, insisting on her promise, and realized that what she was about to say was definitely not an ordinary matter.
Could it be... Uzumaki Mito thought of Orochimaru's close ties with Uzumaki Chigusa, and a glimmer of hope arose in her heart.
"The survivors of Uzushiogakure are in the Land of Waves, at White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company."
"Orochimaru, is what you're saying true?"
Uzumaki Mito looked at Orochimaru with surprise. With Uzushiogakure destroyed, she had thought that all the people of Uzushiogakure had been killed by the Ninja from various villages.
"Grandma Mito, before I returned to Konoha, I went to Uzushiogakure... I sent them to White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company. Given my relationship with the company, they took in the survivors of Uzushiogakure."
Orochimaru nodded, saying. Everything she said was true, not a single lie.
"Orochimaru, you child!"
Uzumaki Mito excitedly hugged Orochimaru, thanking her profusely for extending a helping hand to Whirlpool Hidden Village, and was also very relieved.
If it weren't for Orochimaru, the people of Whirlpool Hidden Village would probably...
"It's nothing, this is what I should do, it's just..." Orochimaru put her finger to her mouth and continued, "Grandma Mito, you must remember your promise to me, don't tell anyone about this, and please don't interfere too much with the choices the people of Whirlpool Hidden Village make."
"I understand."
Uzumaki Mito's face showed a kind and gentle smile as she stroked Orochimaru's head, only then realizing that she had gotten a little smaller than before, from 18 to 16 years old, not just a little bit.
"Orochimaru, how did you get smaller?"
Uzumaki Mito surprisingly pinched her arm and then her cheek; this wasn't a Transformation Technique, but her body had actually shrunk.
"It might be because of Sage Mode; I become a bit more mature when I enter Sage Mode."
Orochimaru exited Sage Mode, her figure had indeed shrunk a bit, but she hadn't returned to her 14-year-old appearance, but rather 16.
"Orochimaru, you already know about the existence of Tailed Beasts. What do you plan to do with the Zero-Tailed that has been sealed?"
Uzumaki Mito's mood had improved considerably, thinking of the Zero-Tailed sealed by Orochimaru with the Two Extremes Sealing in a thermos cup.
In Whirlpool Hidden Village, Two Extremes Sealing is also called Yin-Yang Sealing and requires two casters to perform. It is a relatively special Sealing Technique where one caster uses Yang Release Chakra to form a Yang Sealing Jutsu formula, and the other caster uses Yin Release Chakra to form a Yin Sealing Jutsu formula.
The Two Extremes Sealing, formed by the combination of Yin and Yang Sealing Jutsu formulas, is a Sealing Technique whose sealing power does not weaken over time, but its sealing effect is not as good as Four Symbols Sealing, and it requires casters who are skilled in using both Yang Release Chakra and Yin Release Chakra.
Therefore, in Whirlpool Hidden Village, very few people master this Sealing Technique.
At that time, when she was teaching Orochimaru Sealing Technique, she didn't expect Orochimaru to be able to master Two Extremes Sealing.
"Grandma! I'm hungry!"
Two-year-old Nawaki, like a little radish, stumbled into the hall, his eyes lighting up when he saw Orochimaru.
"Big Sister Orochimaru!"
Nawaki sped up, almost performing a flat-ground fall in front of Orochimaru.
Orochimaru reached out and caught Nawaki, who was about to fall to the ground, and poked his cheek, saying, "Nawaki, I've told you many times, don't run around in the house."
"Hehe..."
Nawaki bared his teeth, revealing a smile identical to Tsunade's when she was little, and quickly noticed Orochimaru's difference from usual.
"Big Sister Orochimaru, what happened to you?"
"After some time, I've grown."
"Grown?"
Nawaki tilted his head, not yet fully understanding these overly complex words.
"Grandma Mito, don't worry, I'm just interested in the Zero-Tailed's enormous vitality." She was slightly interested in that guy Shinno's Regeneration Technique.
Orochimaru put Nawaki down without saying the second half of her sentence.
She had summoned quite a few snakes to search the ruins of the Air Fortress for anything related to Forbidden Technique, right under the noses of the Anbu and Root Ninja.
She was quite interested in how Shinno created the Zero-Tailed using a part of the Nine-Tailed's flesh and blood, and even more interested in how to utilize the Zero-Tailed's immense vitality and Chakra.
Figuring all this out might allow her to use the Zero-Tailed's vitality to replenish Uzumaki Nano's life force deficit.
She could also conduct some experiments with the Zero-Tailed to accelerate her research in biotechnology.
It must be said, the Zero-Tailed was a great treasure.
Hokage Building, Hokage Office.
"The Zero-Tailed has been sealed by Orochimaru, could it be... you want to..." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, who had suddenly brought up the matter of the Zero-Tailed.
"The destruction of Whirlpool Hidden Village is already a wake-up call for us. Konoha needs to increase its strength as soon as possible. How long can this barely maintained peace last?"
Homura Mitokado wanted to use the Zero-Tailed to enhance Konoha's strength. Just thinking about how Shinno, using the Zero-Tailed, managed to hold off the four of them, even if they had consumed a lot of Chakra earlier to push the Air Fortress out of Konoha, the fact that he fought them alone for so long was undeniable.
"Hiruzen, I agree with Homura on this point. Last time... when Second Hokage Tobirama-sama was still alive, the Various Ninja Villages of various countries jointly attacked Konoha... This time's operation, who can guarantee that their next operation won't be another joint attack on Konoha?"
Utatane Koharu knew very well that with Whirlpool Hidden Village destroyed, it wasn't the time to say these things, but for Konoha, some matters had to be considered.
"You two talk to Orochimaru. I cannot force her to hand over the Zero-Tailed."
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew very well what they were worried about, but even as Hokage, how could he force Orochimaru to hand over the Zero-Tailed?
Not to mention Orochimaru destroyed the Sky Ninja's Air Fortress, eliminating Konoha's biggest threat, and also sealed the Zero-Tailed. The reason why there weren't too many casualties in the Village this time was also due to the rebirth pill she developed.
Considering Orochimaru's contributions to Konoha, forcing her to hand over the Zero-Tailed would be extremely foolish, and he couldn't bring himself to do such a thing.
"I just hope Orochimaru can see the crisis Konoha is facing and will be willing to hand over the Zero-Tailed."
Utatane Koharu was also unsure in her heart. To be honest, she didn't want to sour her relationship with Orochimaru either.
"Let's try..."
Homura Mitokado was also well aware of Orochimaru's contributions to Konoha.
Compared to the Zero-Tailed, Orochimaru was clearly more important.
Soon after, Orochimaru walked out of the Hokage Building, her cold face slightly gloomy. How could she, who wanted to research the Zero-Tailed, possibly hand it over?
One could guess with their toes what they were thinking—nothing more than having witnessed the power Shinno displayed using the Zero-Tailed, and wishing that power could be used by Konoha.
Orochimaru didn't care what they thought. The Zero-Tailed in her hands could only be her possession. If they wanted to forcefully make her hand over the Zero-Tailed... given the Zero-Tailed's irreplicability, Orochimaru was already prepared to pack up and run away.
Using the Flying Thunder God Technique to place her forehead protector on the Hokage's desk, she, Orochimaru, would no longer be a Ninja!
Leaving Konoha this way, who could call her a Rogue Ninja?
Who would dare to call her a Rogue Ninja?
I'm not even a Ninja, so what kind of Rogue Ninja am I?
Land of Water, Hidden Mist Village.
Third Mizukage looked at the books and scrolls his Ninja had risked their lives to retrieve from Whirlpool Hidden Village. There were no books or scrolls recording the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Technique, only books that recorded some theories of Sealing Technique.
Based on these alone, developing a Sealing Technique capable of sealing a Tailed Beast inside a Jinchuriki still had a long way to go.
Even so, Third Mizukage believed this operation was not too much of a loss. However, why did all the elite Ninja sent this time die in Whirlpool Hidden Village?
He had sent not only elite Ninja, but also powerful Ninja from the Kaguya Clan who had developed the Shikotsumyaku Bloodline Limit to a certain extent, as well as Ninja from the Hozuki Clan, to which Second Mizukage Hōzuki Gengetsu belonged.
Could it be... Third Mizukage thought of the friction between Various Ninja Villages. Although Hidden Mist had never participated, it couldn't be ruled out that the Ninja who died in Whirlpool Hidden Village this time were sabotaged by Ninja from other Various Ninja Villages.
Hidden Cloud and Iwagakure also didn't fare well. They didn't get any of the Uzumaki Clan's scrolls containing Sealing Technique, only books and scrolls recording Sealing Technique theories. They also suspected whether the people who died in Whirlpool Hidden Village were deliberately killed by Ninja from other Various Ninja Villages.
After all, all the Ninja sent to invade Whirlpool Hidden Village were elite Ninja. How big was Whirlpool Hidden Village? Even if Whirlpool Hidden Village was a much larger Shinobi Village, it would have been annihilated in a short time.
Land of Wind, Hidden Sand Village.
In the Kazekage Building, Third Kazekage felt that the books and scrolls his Ninja had risked their lives to retrieve were not worth it at all.
Most of the Ninja sent on this mission were puppet Ninja and some Wind Release Ninja, chosen specifically for their survival abilities.
As a result, none of them returned alive; all died in Whirlpool Hidden Village.
Why did I send them to join the fun?
Third Kazekage believed it was a problem with his own decision-making that led to those Ninja dying in Whirlpool Hidden Village, in exchange for some worthless items.
If only he had known, he should have just put on a show; why be greedy for Whirlpool Hidden Village's things?
As a result, he tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice.
Sunagakure already had a small population, and every Ninja lost was one less. He couldn't even begin to describe how heartbroken he was now.
What's more, in terms of Jinchuriki, Sunagakure already had a Jinchuriki, who was currently locked up in prison, completely useless!
Third Kazekage thought of Iwagakure and Hidden Cloud, who had always been at odds with Sunagakure, and suspected that Iwagakure and Hidden Cloud had killed the Suna Ninja. Hidden Mist might have also been involved.
Otherwise, with the survival abilities of puppet Ninja and Wind Release Ninja, how could they have died so easily in Whirlpool Hidden Village, with none returning alive? Clearly, they were silenced!
Thinking of this, Third Kazekage clenched his fists in anger, feeling that Sunagakure had been made a scapegoat by other Various Ninja Villages, and he no longer believed the claims of other Various Ninja Villages.
They say all the Ninja sent died in Whirlpool Hidden Village. I think my Suna Ninja were sabotaged and killed in Whirlpool Hidden Village by you. Not only did you take the biggest benefits, but you also killed all my Suna Ninja to silence them!
Is this the cooperation you wanted?!
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