Chapter 28: The Proposal of Alliance

"I..." Tsunade hesitated, her voice faltering. Shame, frustration, and helpless anger swirled within her. The pain in her heart wasn't just for herself—it was for the legacy of her grandmother, for the decaying Senju name, and for the betrayal she could no longer ignore.

Her anger toward Hiruzen Sarutobi had deepened into something darker. Once a trusted mentor, he now stood as the architect of her clan's decline—his self-serving rule a knife in the back of both the Senju and Uzumaki alike.

Tsunade took a deep breath, grounding herself. Then, raising her eyes to meet Mito's, she asked in a steady tone:

"Grandmother… now that we've seen the Uchiha clan pushing back and reclaiming power, does it change how you see things? Will you join forces with them to save what's left of the Uzumaki and Senju? To stand against the so-called 'Third Power Bloc' that Sarutobi is building?"

Mito Uzumaki's gaze sharpened, a faint light flickering in her aged eyes.

"Oh?" she murmured, a slow smile forming. "You're finally seeing it. Yes… I've thought about it. But we must first meet with Uchiha Hikari. See her intentions firsthand."

Her voice grew firmer.

"If she truly seeks balance, then there's a chance. An alliance among the Uchiha, Senju, and Uzumaki could shift the tides of Konoha's future. A true win-win."

She paused, voice tinged with regret.

"Back then, neither I nor Tobirama realized the flaw in our thinking. We assumed that suppressing the Uchiha would stabilize the village. But by allowing a minor clan like the Sarutobi to seize the Hokage seat, we gave rise to a regime that now seeks to dominate all major clans. Today it's the Uchiha. Tomorrow, the Hyūga, Ino-Shika-Chō, Aburame, and Inuzuka… until only the Sarutobi remain."

Tsunade clenched her fists. "We'll speak to her, then. I pray we're not too late."

A moment of silence passed—until Tsunade suddenly remembered something vital.

"Grandmother… what if Hikari can help you?"

Mito blinked. "What do you mean?"

"You once examined her a few years ago. You said her life force and soul were severely damaged. But now… she's walking again. Stronger than ever. If she found a way to restore herself, could she not do the same for you? Your vitality is dwindling because of the Nine-Tails' seal. What if—just what if—she can prolong your life?"

A faint glimmer of hope lit Mito's face.

"To live ten, maybe twenty more years…" she murmured. "Then I could train Nawaki properly… and bear some of the burden with you."

"Exactly!" Tsunade's eyes glowed with a renewed sense of purpose. "You wouldn't have to carry everything alone anymore."

Mito nodded slowly.

"Alright. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, arrange a meeting. Invite her here—formally. Only after seeing her restored condition and confirming her methods aren't a one-off miracle can we speak of plans."

She handed Tsunade a small scroll, sealed with the Uzumaki crest.

"Give her this."

---

Later that day, at the gates of the Uchiha estate—

"Oh?" Hikari read the invitation in silence, her expression unreadable.

She looked up at Tsunade, a calm confidence in her voice. "I understand. I'll accept. But I'm busy for the next twenty days."

Tsunade's brow twitched. "Twenty days?"

"Yes. I'll come then, with my son Gin," Hikari said with a smirk. "Assuming nothing urgent happens… you'll get what you're hoping for."

Her eyes glinted with amusement as she read between the lines of Mito's message—there was a subtle plea, veiled under diplomatic words.

"So, Mito Uzumaki isn't the type to wait quietly for death after all," she thought with a chuckle. "She wants to live… good. That'll make negotiations easier."

Tsunade, however, couldn't hide her anxiety.

"Twenty days?" she asked again, her voice rising. "The Uzumaki situation is deteriorating fast—can't we meet sooner?"

Without a word, a wave of pressure erupted from Hikari. The ground trembled faintly. The air thickened like molasses.

Tsunade fell to one knee, her face flushed, body trembling. For a single moment, she felt as if the sky itself had collapsed on her.

Then it vanished.

Calmly sipping her tea, Hikari spoke as if nothing had happened.

"I made myself clear. You may leave."

Tsunade stood shakily, fists clenched, face burning with humiliation. She turned on her heel and walked away without another word.

---

Back at the Uzumaki residence—

"She's terrifying," Tsunade muttered, collapsing onto a cushion in front of Mito.

"She didn't even raise a hand. Just… her presence crushed me. Like a mountain. Grandma, she's already stronger than most ninja I've ever seen. Her aura is nearly as terrifying as yours. And her life force—it's overwhelming. She's definitely recovered."

Mito sat silently for a moment, lips pressed together.

"Then we might truly have a chance."

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