Chapter 35: The Vessel of the Nine-Tailed Fox

"I'm home!"

Nawaki ran into the house, panting for breath.

He had just dropped his school bag when a maid approached him. "Young Master Nawaki, Lady Mito has asked for you to come see her now."

"Grandma wants to see me? Okay." Nawaki followed the maid, his eyes constantly scanning his surroundings. Not seeing the person he expected, he asked, "Where's my sister? Is she not home?"

"No, Lady Tsunade has gone out. It seems she is meeting with some friends."

"Oh, I see." Nawaki looked away, disappointed.

"We're here. You may go in, Young Master."

"Okay, thank you for your trouble."

Pushing the door open, Nawaki stepped inside and saw Mito dressed in simple, plain clothes. A sweet smile immediately spread across his face, and he threw himself into her arms.

"Grandma, I missed you!"

"Heh, didn't you just see me yesterday? How could you miss me again so soon?" A gentle smile appeared on Mito's face as she softly patted his back.

Nawaki looked up at her and whined, "I just missed you."

"Haha, trying to butter me up like this… you haven't been getting into trouble at the Academy, have you?"

"Of course not! I've been studying very seriously!"

"Is that so? Then let Grandma test you on your lessons."

"Hmph. Bring it on."

After a round of questions, Mito smiled and patted Nawaki's head. "Not bad. Your knowledge is solid, but you tend to be careless. If you want to become an outstanding ninja, you must pay more attention to the details."

"I know, I know. I was just a little nervous just now," Nawaki argued, before his expression turned glum. "Grandma, compared to my sister, am I far behind? I can't always get first place in my class."

"Your sister is exceptional, but in my eyes, your future accomplishments will be even greater."

"Really?!"

"Of course, it's true. When have I ever lied to you?" Mito said with a smile. "I see your grandfather's shadow in you. You're both so simple-minded and stubborn."

"I'm like Grandpa? That's awesome!" Nawaki automatically filtered out the last part of her sentence and jumped up in excitement.

His grandfather was the First Hokage, the founder of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. In Nawaki's eyes, he was a flawless and awe-inspiring idol.

"Nawaki…" Looking at her bright and cheerful grandson, Mito suddenly felt a pang of sorrow.

"What's wrong, Grandma?" Nawaki keenly sensed the shift in her mood.

Mito was silent for a moment before she spoke slowly. "Nawaki, there is something else I need to tell you today."

"Mm."

"You've heard of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, haven't you?"

"I have. It's that great demon from the legends that Grandpa suppressed with his own two hands, right?"

"It's not a legend," Mito said softly. "The Nine-Tailed Fox is real. And right now, it is sealed within my body."

"Huh?" Nawaki's mouth fell open in shock. "Grandma, is your belly really that big?"

"…That's not the point. Listen to me carefully."

"Oh."

"The Nine-Tails is a symbol of hatred and malice. If it isn't sealed away, it will bring disaster to the outside world. That is why your grandfather suppressed it and why I sealed it within myself. But now, the time for me to enter the Pure Land is approaching. Therefore, the Nine-Tails must be transferred into another person's body to be sealed once more."

"And that person… is me, isn't it?" Nawaki stared at Mito, his face a mask of bewilderment.

"Yes." Mito gave a stiff nod. "You and your sister both have the blood of the Uzumaki and Senju clans. There is no one in the village more suitable to be the vessel than you two. However, once one becomes the vessel for the Nine-Tails, to prevent the seal from being broken, they cannot leave the village unless it is an absolute emergency. And your sister… she is already an independent ninja…"

"You don't have to say any more, Grandma," Nawaki interrupted, his voice firm. "I am willing to become the next vessel for the Nine-Tailed Fox. Grandpa, Great-Uncle, Grandma, Mom and Dad, and my sister… they all contributed their strength for Konoha. How can I be the one left behind?"

"I am the grandson of the First Hokage, after all!" Nawaki gave a thumbs-up, a wide grin spreading across his face. "In the future, I will become Hokage, too, and protect Konoha!"

"Nawaki, you are a good boy. You are the pride of the Senju and Uzumaki clans!" Tears finally welled up in Mito's eyes, and she hugged him tightly.

"From today on, you will come here after school every day. I will teach you all of my sealing jutsu."

"Okay, Grandma."

"That idiot Jiraiya is absolutely hopeless!"

Tsunade grumbled to herself as she walked into her family's estate.

Suddenly sensing something, she looked up and saw a familiar figure sitting on the roof. She raised an eyebrow.

The next second, she appeared on the roof beside him.

"Nawaki, what are you doing sitting out here in the cold wind by yourself?"

"Oh, it's you, Sis." Nawaki scratched the back of his head and stammered, "I was just bored, so I was sitting here for a bit."

Stare…

Tsunade suddenly reached out and flicked his forehead.

"Ow, that hurts!" Nawaki rubbed his reddening forehead, complaining, "Sis, why'd you hit me all of a sudden?"

"Why do you think? Your wings have gotten stiff, haven't they? You dare to lie to your big sister now? Spit it out. What happened?"

"I didn't lie to you!"

"Hmm." Tsunade stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Your schoolwork has always been good, so you shouldn't have anything to worry about there. Don't tell me… you've fallen for some girl?"

"Of course not!" Nawaki's face flushed red as he protested, "Those girls are all so boring! Why would I like any of them? Besides, girls are too much trouble. They'd only get in the way of my studies."

"Hahaha." Tsunade laughed and patted Nawaki's head. "It's a good thing you're not a pervert like Jiraiya, but you can't turn into a cold fish like Orochimaru, either. We're counting on you to continue the family line, you know."

"Couldn't you do that, Sis?"

"You little brat! Your wings really have gotten stiff, haven't they? Now you're making fun of your big sister."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Don't hit me, you'll kill me!"

"Don't worry. I know my own strength. I'll be sure to give you a memory you'll never forget."

"Noooo!"

From inside the house, Mito watched the scene of the two siblings chasing each other around the courtyard. A smile touched her lips, but it quickly faded. Tsunade, I hope you will not blame me. All of this… it is for the sake of Konoha.

In a dark, underground room, Danzo stared at the intelligence report in his hand, his expression grim.

"The Uzumaki clan was wiped out? And Hiruzen brought the survivors back to the village and had them meet with Lady Mito? Why was this done in such secrecy? What is Hiruzen trying to hide from me?"

Thinking of Mito's unique status, a flash of insight struck him, and his eyes narrowed.

"Could it be… Yes, that must be it. Hiruzen, oh, Hiruzen. To think you would hide something of this magnitude from me. It seems you never considered me your comrade at all!"

Danzo tore the paper in his hand to shreds, his eyes flashing with resentment and fury.

"Originally… I should have been the one to become Hokage…"