A few weeks had gone by since Orochimaru had returned to the front lines against Iwa. Jiraiya was stationed at a camp, dealing with skirmishes against Sunagakure. Luckily, the skirmishes haven't escalated to a point where Jiraiya was having trouble. Tsunade herself will be going back to Konoha's medical camp soon, the camp is located near the base Jiraiya is in charge of. It turns out Chiyo's poison was becoming difficult to deal with for the other Konoha medical-nins.
Thankfully she would be returning to the camp significantly more powerful in both her strength as combat shinobi and skills as a medical-nin. Kushina truly worked her into the ground, however not only can Tsunade output her usual level of chakra enhanced strength without using chakra. She can now use the Mystical Palm Technique to perform wide-ranged healing. Tsunade is able heal multiple people at once without relying on Katsuyu, what's even better is that her chakra consumption rate of wide-ranged healing is not an issue. It's nearly the same as it would be if she was healing one person.
Chiyo's poisons should be easy for Tsunade to handle with her improved healing capabilities.
During this time, Kushina has been putting herself through intense training. The day after hanging out with Orochimaru, Duy taught her the Eight Inner Gates. It's not that she couldn't have figured it out on her own, she just wanted to be taught by Duy. Being the big Naruto fan she is, she wanted to learn under a legend such as Duy. So instead of learning it herself, she chose to wait until Duy felt comfortable offering to teach her himself.
"What?" Mito said, shocked by what she was just asked.
"Do you want to be younger again?" Kushina rolled her eyes at her expression, she was resting her head on Mito's lap. This didn't bother the older woman, she's gotten used to being snuggled by the younger girl.
"Surely you're joking." Mito shook her head.
"Why would I be? By now you should be used to the fact that I can make the impossible actually possible." Kushina replied.
"I know….it's just this is different." Mito sighed.
"My dear Mito, is this really such a huge deal when our clan has the ability to summon the damn shinigami itself? Nidaime-sama himself came up with an ability such as Edo Tensei. This is pretty much no different." The girl shrugged.
"…." Mito had no comeback, she knew Kushina was right. "I appreciate the offer, unfortunately your efforts would be useless in the end. I'm afraid I may not be around within the next couple of years."
Even if she were to become young again, she would die after she transfers the Kyuubi to its next host.
"Now why would that be? Unless…you plan on making me the next jinchuuriki?" Kushina already knew Mito's intention, under normal circumstances this would cause the higher ups to prevent Kushina from participating in the war. Effectively putting her firmly under their control. Too bad for them she has other plans.
Mito tensed briefly, her reaction said it all. "I…I truly don't want to place the burden of a jinchuuriki onto you Kushina. Unfortunately, you are the best option. Unlike the other tailed beasts, the Nine-Tails cannot be sealed within just anyone. Our Uzumaki Clan's powerful physique, chakra and knowledge in fuinjutsu makes us the perfect container for the Kyuubi."
"…Why not choose Nawaki or Tsunade? They both share the blood of Uzumaki and Senju with strong physiques. Making Nawaki the jinchuuriki will provide him extra protection and a major boost in strength." Kushina suggested.
"The chakra of the Nine-Tails is highly corrosive and dangerous if used for long periods of time. A sliver of the Kyuubi's chakra will eventually leak into the jinchuuriki's chakra. This alone makes it impossible for Tsunade to become the next jinchuuriki due to her role as Konoha's best medic. As for Nawaki, his dream is to be like his grandfather and become Hokage. I would be killing his dream if I asked him to become the next jinchuuriki, I can't do that to him. At the moment, you aren't just the best option, you're my only option." Mito felt immensely ashamed, she would place a heavy burden on one of her grandchildren to spare the other.
She would not be surprised if Kushina's opinion about her and their relationship changes drastically because of this. After all, she knows of the struggles jinchuuriki are sometimes forced to go through.
"I understand, but why would you need to choose a successor if you have no reason to? The only reason why you need me to become a jinchuuriki is because of your elderly age. If I change that, then there's no need to worry, right?" Kushina said, taking hold of Mito's soft hand.
Again, Mito had been rendered silent by Kushina's words.
"Do you want to join Hashirama and your other family members in death? I don't blame you if you do, however you should know this very well Mito that Tsunade and Nawaki need you. Hell, I need you. Call me selfish, but do you truly believe I would allow you to die if I had the means to prevent it?" Kushina looked her in the eyes.
Mito snorted. "No, even if I was dying of old age. You still wouldn't let me, you foolish child."
"Exactly and aren't you tired of being cooped up in the village?" Kushina grinned.
"How can I possibly be cooped up when you constantly use your portals to drag me out of Konoha? You've done it so much that the little old monkey and his Anbu aren't surprised anymore when they notice I'm gone." Mito retorted.
Because of how much value Kushina holds to Konoha, Hiruzen has no choice but to give her a lot of leniency to do whatever she pleases, as long as the village isn't endangered. Considering he's very aware of Kushina's abnormal strength, he knows Konoha cannot afford to lose such a powerful game changer. She literally brought the Mokuton bloodline back to Konoha. It also helps immensely that Hiruzen knows Kushina has already grown very fond of and loyal to the village in the short time since she's become a Konoha citizen.
"That's not what I mean, don't you want to experience battle again? The ability to display your strength against the enemy?" Kushina asked.
"…It would be a lie to say I don't miss being an active shinobi. Also it's not like Hiruzen and the others will try or be able to stop me. I already leave enough as it is for my status as a jinchuuriki to matter any more. But I'm not sure if I'm all that interested in doing missions, maybe fighting if my strength is required to help." Mito thought about it, she does want to see Nawaki grow up and have children. She wants to see her oldest grandchild get married and have children as well. Allowing her to spoil her great-grandchildren as much as she desired. "Ok…you've convinced me."
"Bwhahaha, I knew you would see it my way. Also, while we are at it it's about time I have a talk with the big fluffy fox sealed inside of you." Kushina said.
Ignoring the Kyuubi's angered growls, Mito wondered why Kushina wanted to talk to the fox? "Do you mind if I ask why?"
"I don't mind, but it's better if I say this in front of the big fluffy fox as well. I'm sure once it hears what I have to say, your relationship with it will improve." Kushina smirked.
Both Mito and Kurama were confused, improve their relationship?