Chapter 10 : Uzumaki Mito

"I'm a master now, right?"

Uchiha Shin felt he had learned well today and looked at Tsunade with a confident smile. Tsunade nodded subconsciously, then quickly shook her head.

"Hmph, you still have a lot to learn! Don't get too full of yourself!"

As she spoke, Tsunade cast a pleading glance at Uchiha Shin.

She didn't want to lose face in front of Uchiha Mikoto and hoped Shin would play along.

Shin immediately understood and put on a humble expression to cooperate. After all, Tsunade had helped him so much; giving her some face was the least he could do.

Unfortunately, Uchiha Mikoto wasn't fazed by Tsunade's words at all. She simply looked at Shin with admiration.

"I've been studying this for so long and still haven't mastered it, but Shin-kun managed to read the whole thing already."

The few books she had read were nothing compared to the mountain of scrolls studied by Uchiha Shin.

The sharp contrast made Mikoto realize just how vast the gap between her and Shin truly was.

Mikoto, who already considered herself Uchiha Shin's future wife, wasn't jealous of his talent. Instead, she felt proud of it.

She had even spoken with her grandfather, Uchiha Shinji, that morning, and he had expressed his support for her choice.

Seeing the affectionate atmosphere between the two, Tsunade grew irritated and sent them home early.

She herself didn't linger and instead made her way to the Senju Clan's old compound.

The Senju had followed Hashirama's vision and fully integrated into Konoha. Now, only a few people remained in their once-grand residence.

Tsunade was here to see her grandmother, Uzumaki Mito, who had chosen to stay in the clan's home.

As she entered the courtyard, she spotted an elderly woman with long, crimson hair seated in a chair. Despite her age, Mito still radiated an aura of wisdom and quiet power.

Tsunade beamed and ran forward. "Grandma, I'm back!"

Uzumaki Mito looked up at her granddaughter with a knowing smile. "Tsunade, how are things going with that Uchiha boy?"

Tsunade sighed and muttered, "His talent is even more ridiculous than what I told you yesterday." Then, in a louder voice, she added, "He's a little brat, but he knows how to give me face in front of outsiders. My impression of him is neither good nor bad."

Her gaze flickered slightly as she spoke, as if trying to downplay her true thoughts.

Mito observed her carefully, then nodded. Her expression remained neutral.

"He should be graduating soon. If you approve of him, Tsunade, you should consider taking him as your apprentice."

Tsunade hesitated. "I was already thinking about it, but why are you pushing this, Grandma? I feel like you have your own reasons for taking an interest in him."

Uzumaki Mito simply shook her head, sighing internally.

Her granddaughter was skilled, strong, and brilliant in her own way. But she had never been one for politics. As a student of Sarutobi Hiruzen, she had inherited his worldview and couldn't always see the bigger picture from an independent perspective.

But Mito had lived through it all. As the wife of Hashirama Senju, she had been at the heart of Konoha since its founding. And she had seen what was happening now.

Since the Third Hokage had taken power, she had watched Konoha's inner workings shift. With the new war raging across the continent, Mito could feel change on the horizon.

The Senju Clan had been integrated into Konoha as per Hashirama's wishes, but that had only made it easier to break them apart.

Under Sarutobi's leadership, the backbone of the Senju had been systematically deployed to battlefields, ensuring that each generation lost more and more of its strength. Once the current generation perished, the Senju would exist only in name.

And Nawaki, her intended successor for the clan, was too young, too naive. He lacked his grandfather's strength and his father's cunning. Mito couldn't entrust him with the future of the clan.

She had no illusions. Her time was running out. And when she was gone, there would be no one left to protect what remained of the Senju.

That was why she had pushed Tsunade to train Uchiha Shin. Not just for the boy's sake, but because she saw an opportunity to unite the two greatest clans of Konoha.

The Uchiha had been pushed to the margins, just like the Senju. But unlike Sarutobi and his advisors, Mito didn't fear the Uchiha. She saw them for what they were: the only clan powerful enough to challenge the manipulation running through Konoha's veins.

She had known of Shin's awakening of the Sharingan long before Tsunade mentioned it.

If this boy could be nurtured properly, if he had the right character, he could become the bridge between the Senju and the Uchiha.

A true alliance between those two clans would be powerful enough to prevent both from being erased from history.

And then there was the matter of the Uzumaki.

Konoha had received multiple distress calls from the Land of Whirlpools. The Uzumaki Clan was under siege, and the other Great Nations wanted their sealing techniques for themselves.

But despite being their supposed ally, Konoha had done nothing to help.

Mito wasn't blind. She knew why.

Sarutobi and his council had already secured Uzumaki sealing techniques. They no longer saw any strategic reason to protect the clan itself.

Mito clenched her fists. She wouldn't allow this.

She gently stroked Tsunade's hair and finally spoke. "Tsunade, I need you to tell Hiruzen that my health is failing. It's time to find a new Jinchūriki for the Nine-Tails."

Tsunade stiffened. "Grandma, what are you saying? You're still strong—"

Mito cut her off with a smile. "I know my own body, Tsunade. Just do as I ask. And make sure the new host is from the Uzumaki Clan."

Tsunade hesitated but ultimately nodded. She didn't fully understand why Mito was so insistent on the host being an Uzumaki, but she wouldn't argue.

With a heavy heart, she made her way to the Hokage's office.

She relayed Mito's words. When she finished, Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, a contemplative look in his eyes.

After a moment, he spoke. "I understand. However, the Land of Whirlpools is in a precarious position. Many forces have their eyes on them, and they may seek to eliminate the Uzumaki altogether."

His voice was gentle, but Tsunade didn't miss the underlying message.

Konoha wasn't going to intervene.