Chapter 34: Rebirth of Mito

"Silence, Nine-Tails!"Mito's spiritual form stood tall within her inner sealing space, facing the imprisoned beast."There's no point in howling—I've fully recovered. Looks like you and I will be together for a few more decades."She smiled mischievously. "Be happy."

The Nine-Tails, jaws clenched, trembled with rage.

"I… you…"

The moment shattered into an eruption of curses so vile, they echoed across the seal like thunder. Mito, initially amused, turned pale as the insults escalated.

"Enough!" she snapped.

Golden Adamantine Chains sprang forth, wrapping around the fox's massive snout, silencing his roars. He thrashed, helpless.

"You're a devil!" he wanted to cry, but no tears would come. Trapped and humiliated, Kurama could only glower.

Satisfied, Mito's spirit faded from the seal, her body returning to the physical world.

Her eyes fluttered open.

She breathed in deeply, life coursing through her veins like wildfire. The Byakugō Seal on her forehead dimmed as she allowed her true self to re-emerge. Gone was the mask of old age. Her hair now shone with the brilliance of youth, her face smooth and aglow with vitality. Though no longer a young girl, Uzumaki Mito now radiated strength—like a goddess reborn.

"Haha! This is incredible!" she laughed. "I feel amazing!"

Her gaze drifted toward Gin, softening.

What a treasure this child is…

"Perhaps I should let him spend more time with Kushina," she mused. "If that goes well, the medicine might come for free in the future…"

She chuckled. If Tsunade weren't so much older, she might've even nudged her toward him.

I envy the Uchiha… and Hikari.Even Mito, a pillar of the old world, felt a flicker of wistful admiration.

Suddenly, Tsunade shivered, feeling a chill creep up her spine.

"…Huh?" She glanced around. Nothing seemed out of place, but the sense of being watched lingered.

Elsewhere in the village…

"Why do I feel like someone's cursing me?" Kushina muttered, glancing over her shoulder as she and Mikoto Uchiha wandered the market.

"Eh? Are you alright?" Mikoto asked.

"I… yeah, probably," Kushina said, puffing her cheeks. "Maybe it's that Minato again, glaring at me with those puppy-dog eyes!"

She snorted. "Hmph! I'll give him a piece of my mind tomorrow at the Academy!"

Not far away, Minato Namikaze stood frozen in confusion.

What… did I do? I just smiled…Despite his best efforts, there remained an invisible wall between them—a wall of sighs and misunderstandings.Its name?The Three Glances.

Back at Mito's residence…

"How do you feel now?" Hikari asked, though she could already sense the answer. The air around Mito shimmered with restored vitality. Their powers… now matched.

"Perfect," Mito said, nodding. "I'm completely healed. This medicine… lives up to its name. Thank you."

She looked at Hikari with renewed clarity.

"I have decades ahead now—time enough to guide the Senju and Uzumaki clans, and to raise Tsunade and Nawaki properly."

"No need to thank me," Hikari replied, grinning. "This is a deal. And it's more beneficial for us if you live longer. When you're the one holding things down and intimidating Hiruzen, we sleep easier."

She chuckled, imagining Hiruzen Sarutobi enduring Mito's pressure for the next thirty years.

"Still, we are allies," Mito reminded her. "We step forward and retreat together. That said… I'd prefer we keep the truth of my full recovery from Hiruzen."

Hikari raised an eyebrow.

"Let's just say your methods extended my life by a few years. Let them hold onto hope, so they don't spiral or act foolishly."

A wise move. Crushing Hiruzen too suddenly could destabilize Konoha. And in Mito's eyes, the Third Great Ninja War loomed just ahead. Now was a time to move carefully.

"First," Mito continued, "the Senju must rebuild quietly, and the Uzumaki must survive."

Hikari nodded. "Agreed. The Uchiha aren't ready for open confrontation yet. But you'll have to mask your life force—if you glow like the sun, no one will believe you're only partially recovered."

Mito laughed. "A simple task."

With a light press to her abdomen, she dampened her chakra, halving her life aura in an instant.

"All right," she said. "Let's sign the contract. It may seem like formality, but clarity keeps trust strong."

Hikari looked momentarily surprised, then nodded.

"Of course."

"I'll fetch the documents," Mito said, rising. "Tsunade, stay with our guests."

"Understood!"

As Mito left, Tsunade eagerly poured tea and leaned closer to Gin.

"Gin-chan, could you tell us more about your medical techniques?" she asked, intrigued.

"Sure," Gin said with a calm smile.

As he explained his methods, Tsunade quickly realized something shocking: his medical knowledge far exceeded her own. Not in power—but in system. His approach to treatment was unlike anything used by ninja. It was methodical, efficient… scientific.

It fascinated her.

He absorbed her words with lightning speed, analyzing, responding with insights she hadn't expected from a child.

Just as Tsunade opened her mouth to probe further, Mito returned—documents in hand.

"These are the terms," she said, laying them out. "The Flying Thunder God Technique, Tobirama's Water Release, and a scroll of fūinjutsu techniques, minus the forbidden ones."

Tsunade barely noticed. She was still enchanted by the brilliance in Gin's eyes.

And Hikari… just watched in silence, satisfied.

A new chapter had begun.