Fugaku sighed deeply as he pondered what Setsuna had told him, his eyes shining with determination at the end.
"Itachi… as a father, I cannot allow you to grow up in a hostile environment."
"However, Setsuna is too extreme… I can't completely trust him."
Uchiha Fugaku pondered, and suddenly, he seemed to grasp something.
"Of course… the reason they trust Kazuki so much is because he is the first Uchiha to embrace the Will of Fire, right?"
"If my son receives a good education from a young age, he will be no less than Kazuki!"
"When he grows up a little, I'll teach him how to use the Will of Fire to win over the higher-ups of Konoha, and then I'll pass on to him the true teachings of the Uchiha clan. That way, I'll be able to train someone even more dazzling than Kazuki!"
Uchiha Fugaku's thoughts were running wild.
By the time Itachi grew up, even if Kazuki tried to ostracize him and even if he failed to get close to Sarutobi Hiruzen… It wouldn't matter, as long as he could get close to anyone in the Hokage's inner circle.
Fugaku understood well that although the Hokage line seemed solid, there were actually several factions.
For example, Danzo and Orochimaru were said to have distanced themselves from Hiruzen…
If Itachi managed to get on that ship, and with him as his father guiding him, in addition to the resources and instruction since he was little, there was no way that his son would end up being less than Kazuki.
Under pressure from Kazuki and whispers from Setsuna, Fugaku seemed to have prematurely awakened the idea of making Itachi a double agent, admiring his own wisdom.
He hadn't blindly followed Setsuna, but he hadn't submitted to Kazuki either…
For Fugaku, all he had to do was stop Kazuki's influence from spreading without having to confront him directly. When Itachi grew up and followed Kazuki's path, then he would be able to reach the true peak.
A perfect Uchiha, loyal to his clan and skilled at gaining the trust of the Hokage line! And best of all: that Uchiha would be his own son, Itachi.
Fugaku burst into laughter that echoed throughout the mansion, as if he was already glimpsing the bright future that awaited his son, the clan, and himself.
...
Main residence of the Senju clan.
Uzumaki Mito looked around at the shinobi present, smiled and nodded. "When I complete this last task, I will finally meet with Hashirama." She said calmly. "Even though I am gone, your mission is just beginning. You must do your best and protect Konoha well!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood in the front row, looking at Uzumaki Mito with a firm gaze, and said in a deep voice: "I will live up to your trust, Mito-sama!"
Kazuki looked at this scene and also put on a heavy expression.
Because of Kazuki, Uzumaki Mito postponed the time of handing over the Nine-Tails, and the original postponement of three months has become half a year.
Under Uzumaki Mito's observation, Kazuki's mentality and performance seemed to become more and more calm since the last rampage, and he was not significantly affected. He still treated people with a gentleness from the bottom of his heart, which was reassuring.
After being assured of Kazuki, the second Nine-Tails of Konoha, it was time to deal with the real Nine-Tails.
"Kushina, are you ready?"
"Mito-sama, I can do it!"
Mito nodded and began making seals to release the seal on the Nine-Tails.
Suddenly, a violent mass of ominous orange chakra appeared around Mito, swirling violently, trying to break free from her body. The Nine-Tails' dense chakra fluctuated from orange-red to blood-red, until it turned a deep crimson hue.
The Nine-Tails' chakra concentrated, forming a fox head in the air that roared furiously, echoing in the ears of everyone present.
The shinobi present, who made up the core of Konoha, frowned as they felt the intensity of that chakra.
Not only was the chakra level shocking, but the ominous feeling in it made people feel daunted, as if it gathered all the negative emotions. Even if they got close, they would have bad memories in their minds, and evil thoughts would grow involuntarily...
Uzumaki Mito's face remained unchanged. He clasped his hands together, and the golden chain as thick as his wrist tightly wrapped around the newly condensed head of the Nine-Tails, binding it tightly.
"Uzumaki Mito! You will regret it, you will regret it!"
The Nine-Tail struggled madly and roared: "How many times have I told you that I didn't lie to you, that kid is problematic!"
Uzumaki Mito smiled and manipulated the chain to tie the Nine-Tail's mouth tightly together.
The Nine-Tail became even more furious, and its slender vertical pupils were about to burst, and when it saw Kazuki standing in the front row, it twisted harder, as if it had a lot to say-
But Uzumaki Mito didn't give it this opportunity.
Even if the seal was lifted and the vitality was lost in large quantities, Uzumaki Mito still firmly controlled this monster that made countless people in Konoha and the Shinobi World afraid.
Uzumaki Mito motioned Kushina to come closer.
Kushina walked over quickly, staring at the Nine-Tail entangled by the Adamantine Sealing Chains, and took a deep breath. This terrible monster… would it become a part of her?
Uzumaki Mito smiled. "Don't worry, Kushina, you are different from it, you are not alone..."
The golden chains intensified, destroying the shape of the fox's head and channeling the Nine-Tails' chakra directly towards Kushina.
Under the powerful effect of the Nine-Tails Chakra, Kushina's expression became painful, and her red hair fluttered wildly.
Mito watched with a slight shadow of disappointment in her gaze. It wasn't exactly the result she was hoping for; with this reaction, she feared that Kushina would only be able to restrain the Nine-Tails and not use it as a weapon, just a tactical deterrent.
But fortunately, there is Kazuki...
Kazuki, who has the Sharingan and the Adamantine Sealing Chains, should be able to help Kushina master the power of the Nine-Tails, right?
Uzumaki Mito chuckled. This might be a little difficult, after all, the Nine-Tails inexplicably had a strong hostility towards Kazuki.
However, that was a story for later.
Uzumaki Mito stopped thinking about it. As the Jinchuriki of Konoha's Nine-Tails, she had fulfilled her duty to the limit.
It was time to leave those thoughts behind and accept her own ending.
When the Nine-Tails' chakra was fully transmitted into Kushina's body, Uzumaki Mito placed her palm on her abdomen.
A vortex-shaped pattern with mysterious patterns engraved around it gathered all the surging Nine-Tails' chakra into it and sealed it tightly.
"Four Symbols Seal!"
Uzumaki Mito breathed a sigh of relief. Her last mission as a kunoichi was finally completed.
Kushina forced a smile. "Mito-sama, the seal is successful!"
Minato stood behind Kazuki, looking at Kushina nervously, his fists gradually clenched.
He knew Kushina was strong, but becoming the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki would test her mental strength like never before.
The most important thing was that as Kushina's lover, Minato could only help her in a limited way.
Mito nodded, slowly sat down on the chair, smiled and glanced at everyone, saying her final goodbye.
Her life began the final countdown...
At this moment, even Danzo felt respect from the bottom of his heart.
As a Konoha kunoichi, Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and the widow of the First Hokage, Uzumaki Mito could not have done better.
"Hashirama, I'll be with you soon..." Mito whispered to herself, closing her eyes slowly and peacefully.
Mito's life came to an end in silence.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's heart trembled. Although he had prepared himself mentally, he still felt nervous when this moment really came.
Uzumaki Mito's death means too much.
It's not just the change of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. With the news of her death, the restless hearts of other shinobi villages might begin to beat wildly, anticipating the opportune moment to unleash war.
Sarutobi Hiruzen knows that other shinobi villages do not lack the courage to attack Konoha, but they are just waiting for a perfect opportunity.
But now, it's not the time to consider these.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Tsunade looked at each other, then slowly walked into the inner room, carrying a Sengoku period-style coffin.
Tsunade walked forward slowly, and gently carried Uzumaki Mito into it, with a green glow in her hands, tidying up the final appearance for her grandmother.
After the coffin-entering ceremony, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around and said in a deep voice: "Everyone, a new era has begun..."
"I ask each of you to strive even harder for the good of the village and the legacy of the Will of Fire."
"Yes!" They all responded in unison.
But at this moment, Shimura Danzo slowly said: "Hiruzen, how will the funeral of Mito-sama be held?"
"The death of Mito-sama means a lot. If other shinobi villages know this news, it will be very disadvantageous to us..."
"After all, we can't know whether the new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki can control the power in her body."
Kazuki chuckled. In Shimura Danzo's heart, Kushina has lost her name since she became a Jinchuriki.
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