Chapter 33: The Cost of an Alliance

At this moment, forming an alliance was the only rational course of action.

The old grudges between Senju and Uchiha had long since faded into history. Clinging to the past would accomplish nothing except ensuring Senju's slow demise.

For Uzumaki Mito, survival took precedence over bygone enmities.

The fear and prejudices that Senju Tobirama once held toward Uchiha were irrelevant now.

The world was changing. So should they.

Sarah leaned forward, her tone measured but firm.

"Second," she continued, "I want access to the Flying Thunder God Technique, all of Senju Tobirama's Water Style Ninjutsu, and every sealing technique you have mastered."

She made her demand without mentioning money at all.

Once Uchiha's medical division was fully operational, their clan would never lack financial resources again. And with access to the gold and treasures from Sky Island, wealth would become even more of a trivial concern.

Ninjutsu and sealing techniques, however—those were invaluable.

Even though the Spacetime Gate's teleportation function rendered Flying Thunder God seemingly redundant, its strategic potential was still immense. It could serve as a means of disguising the clan's true abilities or simply as an alternative technique for those without access to the Spacetime Gate.

Mito's brows furrowed. "That's… a significant request."

She took a slow breath before speaking again.

"The Flying Thunder God Technique and Tobirama's Water Style Ninjutsu are not a problem."

"However, I cannot give you the Shiki Fūjin (Reaper Death Seal) or Adamantine Sealing Chains."

She crossed her arms. "The former is far too dangerous, and the latter—" she hesitated, "—is impossible to use without Uzumaki blood. Even if I taught it to you, it would be meaningless."

She did not say the other truth out loud.

Sharing the Adamantine Sealing Chains' secrets could create vulnerabilities in the Uzumaki clan's lineage techniques.

Sarah considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Understood. Those two techniques will be excluded."

Mito relaxed slightly. "Then we have an agreement."

Sarah then turned toward Tsunade, her next words making both Mito and her granddaughter widen their eyes in surprise.

"The last condition—Tsunade must take my son, Ethan, as her apprentice and train him in all medical knowledge and medical ninjutsu she possesses."

Tsunade blinked, caught completely off guard. "Huh?"

Mito, equally surprised, frowned. "Didn't you say your son had already become highly proficient in medical skills?"

She studied Ethan carefully before glancing back at Sarah. "He's developed things like Life Potions and Nutritional Pills, yet you still want him to learn under Tsunade?"

Her gaze sharpened. "Or is there another purpose behind this? Is this about securing a path toward the position of Hokage?"

That was the most logical conclusion Mito could reach.

Sarah, however, shook her head. "Not exactly."

Her voice remained calm as she explained. "The Hokage seat has been an obsession for many within Uchiha. Naturally, it remains one of our long-term goals."

She sipped her tea before continuing. "But I understand the reality of the situation. To become Hokage, one needs more than just a name or talent. One must have strength, political influence, and powerful supporters."

She smirked knowingly. "Just being a Hokage's direct apprentice means nothing. If it did, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu would have been next in line after Tobirama."

Tsunade tensed slightly at the truth in those words.

Sarah set her cup down with a soft clink. "Besides, with Hiruzen's hunger for power, there's no way he would ever allow someone to claim the Hokage seat just because they were his student."

She folded her hands together. "If we want to claim that seat, we need to earn it through sheer dominance and undeniable contributions to Konoha."

Mito studied her carefully, then turned toward Ethan.

The boy remained silent, unwavering, absorbing the conversation without a flicker of nervousness.

Mito exhaled. "So you want Tsunade to refine him into a pillar of strength and knowledge—not just a warrior, but a figure that Konoha will inevitably have to recognize."

Sarah nodded. "Exactly."

Tsunade tapped her fingers against the table, digesting everything.

Then, slowly, she smirked. "Well, this just got interesting."

She turned toward Ethan. "Kid, let me make one thing clear. I don't take weaklings as students."

Ethan met her gaze directly. "That's fine. I don't have an interest in being weak."

Tsunade grinned. "Good answer."

She looked toward her grandmother. "I don't mind taking him in, but are we good on everything else?"

Mito sighed, rubbing her temples. "We are."

She extended a hand toward Sarah.

"Then we have an agreement."

Sarah grasped it firmly. "We do."

And with that handshake, a new chapter in Konoha's history began.

The primary reason lies in the fact that the medical expertise mastered by my son is vastly different from the mainstream techniques employed by conventional medics. His approach deviates significantly from the established norms of medical practice.

This can be clearly observed from the fact that he merely took your pulse and, in doing so, accurately diagnosed and treated your illness with precision and ease. It is an unconventional yet highly effective approach that speaks volumes about his capabilities.

Furthermore, he has not mastered any form of medical ninjutsu. While this may seem like a shortcoming to some, it is actually a testament to his unparalleled skill. He does not require the traditional methods of medical ninjutsu to achieve results—his methods are entirely unique and self-sufficient.

These abilities are all that he needs.

Additionally, he also desires—no, I also want him—to take on the mantle of being known as Tsunade's disciple, the disciple of the Third Hokage, so that he may navigate the early years of his growth in relative peace and stability.

Do you have any further questions?

To assume that we seek to secure the position of Hokage for Ethan by relying solely on the title of Tsunade's disciple is laughable. Such a notion is an absolute joke.

Neither Sarah nor Ethan have ever entertained such a ridiculous plan. Our ambitions far exceed such a simplistic goal.

When the day arrives in which the strength of the Uchiha clan is indisputable—when we have the power to stand unchallenged at the summit of the ninja world—there will be no need to fight for the title of Hokage. The position will naturally be offered to us, and we will accept it only on our own terms.

"Is that so? It appears I misunderstood your intentions."

"Yes, it is true that merely possessing the title of Tsunade's disciple is not an effective means to ascend to the position of Hokage."

"This request can be granted. What are your thoughts, Tsunade?"

Uzumaki Mito nodded thoughtfully before finally shifting her gaze to Tsunade, awaiting her response.

"Alright."

Tsunade regarded Ethan with a meaningful expression, her eyes scrutinizing him as if trying to decipher something beyond the surface. After a brief moment, she nodded and said, "I have no objections."

Internally, she mused, This little guy is quite something.

Moreover, her curiosity had been piqued. Ethan's medical techniques, so different from the conventional healing methods she had been exposed to, intrigued her immensely. That alone was reason enough for her to accept the arrangement.

Well, to be honest, there was little room for refusal in the first place.

The initiative in this negotiation had never truly rested in their hands.

"Then it is settled."

Sarah nodded in satisfaction before turning to Ethan. With a slight upward tilt of her chin, she signaled him, "Hand the life potion to Mito."

"Understood."

Ethan immediately retrieved a small vial containing the life potion from his robes. He extended his hand, offering it to Uzumaki Mito across the room.

In that instant, the eyes of both Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade locked onto the potion in his hand.

A wave of longing swept over them. Even without opening the vial, they could sense the immense vitality contained within, radiating an aura of rich, gentle life energy.

Uzumaki Mito wasted no time. She swiftly took the potion, examining it closely alongside Tsunade. Her expression shifted into one of deep admiration as she murmured, "This is indeed a remarkable potion."

It was nearly inconceivable that such an extraordinary elixir had been crafted by a mere six-year-old child.

However, now was not the time for skepticism. Taking a deep breath, Uzumaki Mito promptly removed the stopper from the vial.

Immediately, a potent wave of vitality surged from the opening, flooding the room with its presence.

"Squeak…"

Wooden surfaces—the floor, the table—began to tremble before sprouting fresh, verdant shoots.

"Hiss!"

Both Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade inhaled sharply, their eyes widening in astonishment.

"Be warned," Ethan interjected calmly. "Once opened, the potion's potency will begin to evaporate. Drink it immediately."

"Understood! Thank you."

Snapping out of her daze, Uzumaki Mito inclined her head in acknowledgment before lifting the vial to her lips. Without hesitation, she downed its contents in one swift motion.

Within moments, she felt an overwhelming surge of pure, rejuvenating energy coursing through her body, spreading outward from her stomach at an astonishing rate.

Every cell in her being seemed to awaken, hungrily absorbing the influx of vitality.

The stagnant, deathly energy that had lurked within her body for so long began to dissolve, melting away as though it had never existed. Her life force, once waning, rapidly surged back to its prime.

Her previously pale complexion blossomed into a healthy, rosy hue before their very eyes. Her hair, which had dulled with time, regained its rich, vibrant red luster.

This, of course, was partially concealed by the effects of her Hundred Healings Mark. But if one were to truly observe, they would see that her formerly faded locks had been fully restored to their once-lustrous crimson, and the signs of age upon her skin had vanished, leaving her youthful and full of vitality.

"This is…"

At this precise moment, within the sealed space inside Uzumaki Mito's body, an entirely different scene unfolded.

For some time, Uzumaki Mito had completely blocked the perception of the entity sealed within her. As a result, the Nine Tails remained oblivious to what had transpired outside.

But now, it could feel something drastic occurring.

A storm of unparalleled vitality was raging through Uzumaki Mito's body, and with it, the integrity of the sealed space had surged to a level it had not reached in decades.

In mere minutes, the Nine Tails sensed that the strength of the barrier holding it had been fully restored to the level it had been at the moment of its initial sealing.

It didn't take long for the beast to realize the implications.

"Damn it! Uzumaki Mito, what have you done?!"

The Nine Tails roared, its voice echoing through the confined space.

"Your vitality… It's been fully restored?! No! Let me out! I refuse to remain imprisoned here!"

Panic and frustration laced its voice as it thrashed violently against the confines of its cage.

If Uzumaki Mito had truly regained her former vitality, then she could potentially live for several more decades.

And that meant the Nine Tails would remain bound within her, shackled and powerless, for an unbearable length of time.

This was a nightmare scenario. It had spent years waiting, anticipating the inevitable demise of its host.

The hope that, upon her passing, it might finally have an opportunity to escape.

But now, that hope had been cruelly stripped away.

Enraged, the beast struggled futilely against the Adamantine Sealing Chains that bound it, its efforts amounting to nothing more than hollow defiance.

Its frustration erupted in a series of furious howls, reverberating throughout the sealed chamber.

In this moment, one thing was certain—

No wonder the Nine Tails harbored such deep hatred for Uzumaki Mito and Senju Hashirama.

For who could endure such imprisonment without seething in eternal resentment?

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