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Horyu's mind was a whirlwind of questions and theories, trying to reconcile the discrepancies between the anime's history he was certain of and the reality he now faced. Ever since arriving in this world, he had witnessed changes that deviated from the original storyline, yet the foundational events seemed to remain untouched. Mito Uzumaki's presence here, alive and well, contradicted everything he thought he knew. In the anime, during the Uzumaki Clan's massacre, Mito was far away, safeguarding the Nine-Tails within the Hidden Leaf Village. Sending her to aid the Uzumaki against an onslaught by three other villages would have been equivalent to handing over the Nine-Tails on a silver platter—a risk Konoha would never take.
From what Horyu knew about the anime, the history he'd landed in was supposed to follow a certain path. Mito Uzumaki, sealing the Nine-Tails within herself and later passing it to Kushina, was part of that unchangeable history. Yet, here she was, alive and in front of him, making him second-guess everything he thought he knew. His mind raced, trying to piece together this anomaly. "How did Mito Uzumaki end up here? Is this some kind of alternative space?" he wondered silently, careful not to let his thoughts show too much on his face.
Mito Uzumaki, noticing the whirlwind of emotions playing across Horyu's face—from disbelief and shock to a masked attempt at neutrality—couldn't help but be slightly amused. "You seem familiar with my name, more so than a stranger should be," she observed, her tone laced with curiosity.
Horyu quickly composed himself, his expression settling into something more neutral. "Uzumaki Mito-sama, it's an honor to meet you," he said, maintaining a respectful distance. "Your name is known beyond the confines of this village. Your contributions and the legends surrounding the Uzumaki's sealing techniques have reached far."
Mito chuckled, her hands gripping her cane tightly. The marks of age were evident, yet her presence commanded respect. "Honored, are you? A thief Uchiha stands in my presence and claims honor?" Her smirk was all the confirmation Horyu needed; she was well aware of the world outside her sealed domain.
He was now certain of a few things. First, the Uzumaki Village should had been destroyed decades ago, long before Shisui could have been born. If so, Mito must have been sealed here since then. Yet, she called Horyu a thief, which meant she knew about the Uchiha Clan's take over of the Leaf. Secondly, Tsunade's sealing abilities. When Orochimaru marked him with the Cursed Seal, Tsunade managed to suppress it with surprising ease. Initially, Horyu had thought Tsunade's sealing ability, unlike her Anime-self, was just a quirk of this alternate timeline. However, when he visited Tsunade again with Hinata and Ino, it became clear Tsunade's abilities were far beyond what was known in the world. Even Shisui suspected they were Mito's seals. This implied Tsunade was aware of Mito's survival, likely visiting this sealed space to learn from her grandmother.
Piecing all this together, Horyu's initial shock subsided, replaced by a calm curiosity. "You divided your body into two?" he asked, aiming for clarity rather than accusation.
Mito's eyebrow quirked up, her interest piqued. She gestured with her hand, signaling him to explain further.
Taking a moment, Horyu organized his thoughts. His inadvertent slip about knowing too much for his apparent age meant he needed to tread carefully. "My fascination with seals led me to study the best—the Uzumaki Clan. I learned about Uzumaki Mito, the first lady of Konoha, who helped Senju Hashirama against Uchiha Madara and sealed the Nine-Tails within herself. After the Uzumaki Clan was supposedly destroyed, you passed the beast to Uzumaki Kushina, the Fourth Hokage's wife. This means, when this village was sealed and the clan was 'destroyed,' you were in Konoha. This leaves two possibilities: either you came here after passing the Nine-Tails to Kushina, or you divided your body in two—one part stayed in Konoha with the Nine-Tails, and the other part remained here."
Mito looked genuinely impressed. "And why did you dismiss the first option?"
Horyu's smirk was faint but confident. "The chakra in the seal matches yours. Now that I'm here, I can confirm it myself."
His conclusion drew a nod from Mito. "Sharp. You've figured out more than most could." She paused, considering how much to reveal. "The truth is more complicated than a simple division, but you're not entirely wrong. My main body remained in Konoha, but my chakra and will, carried by a clone—my essence—stayed here, tied to this place, to protect my people."
The explanation made sense to Horyu. It was a classic Uzumaki move: complex, powerful, and steeped in the art of sealing.
"So, you've been guarding this place all this time?" Horyu asked, looking around, as if seeing the village for the first time.
Mito's gaze followed his, a mix of pride and sorrow in her eyes. "Yes, this has been my duty. But tell me, why have you come here? It's not often we get visitors, especially not through the seal."
It was clear to Horyu that flying under the radar wasn't an option anymore. Initially, his plan had been to explore the ruins and uncover the Uzumaki secrets without drawing attention. However, standing in the heart of a vibrant, hidden Uzumaki Village, he realized that ship had sailed.
With a sly grin, Horyu shared his reason for venturing into the heart of Uzumaki secrets, "I was hoping to dig up Uzumaki heritage, thinking there was no one left to claim it." His blunt admission caused the middle-aged man who had been silently observing from the side to tighten his grip, visibly agitated by the disrespect. Yet, Mito found amusement in his candor, replying, "That would have certainly made your quest simpler. Unfortunately for you, that's not the case."
Horyu's chuckle was light, finding Mito's presence both imposing and engaging. "Guess as a thieving Uchiha, I'm not exactly destined for a warm welcome. Not sure if I'll even be allowed to leave now," he quipped, half-expecting a stricter reprimand.
Mito laughed, her voice echoing with warmth, "Didn't you kick your owl out to make sure you'd leave this place alive?"
Horyu joined in with a chuckle, while the middle-aged man standing off to the side couldn't help but frown, his gaze shifting between Horyu and Mito. It seemed he was still trying to gauge the Uchiha's true intentions. He thought Horyu was being heroic when he sent the owl away. "Ah, I forgot, Mito-sama, you're adept at sensing emotions. Yes, kicking out my summon was indeed a precaution. If I were to meet an unfortunate end, I'm certain he'd spread word of it."
Mito nodded, her eyes gleaming with a mix of respect and amusement. "You are quite sharp and sly."
Horyu, with a respectful nod, couldn't resist adding, "I'm up against the Matriarch who turned Shinigami into a power source. My tricks are child's play in comparison."
Mito nodded, impressed by Horyu's determination and skill in deciphering the seal's intricacies. "You've got a knack for this. Not many can say they've bypassed Uzumaki seals," she remarked, acknowledging his aptitude for sealing techniques. "I'm not opposed to teaching you more about our core sealing arts."
This offer stunned the middle-aged man standing beside them. He stepped forward, unable to hide his concern. "Mito-sama, teaching an outsider, especially an Uchiha, our secrets could be dangerous."
Mito glanced at him, her decision firm. "It's decided. You may leave us." With a respectful bow, albeit still visibly unsettled, the man exited the room.
Once alone, Mito's gaze softened as she turned back to Horyu. "You're different from the others, aren't you?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
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