March was a special month for the major ninja villages of the Ninja World.
At the end of every month, the archives of the ninja villages would register a new batch of ninja identification numbers.
Thus, this month was also known as Graduation Season.
March 19.
That evening, the atmosphere at Hashirama's home was rather lively.
At Tsunade's instruction, the chef prepared a lavish dinner.
At the dining table, Tsunade took the initiative to pour Nawaki and Uzumaki Kushina each a glass of juice, then asked Nawaki with a smile, "Nawaki, tomorrow is the graduation examination. Are you feeling any pressure?"
"Of course not. I'm the Grandson of the First Hokage who founded Konoha Village!"
Nawaki, who looked remarkably similar to Uzumaki Naruto, gave himself a thumbs-up and grinned confidently. "Becoming a Genin is only the beginning for me! My dream is to inherit the title of Hokage, just like Grandfather and Second Grandfather."
"Well said. A man must keep his word." Tsunade propped her chin on one hand, her eyes full of affection as she looked at Nawaki. Then, smiling, she revealed part of the information. "However, passing the Academy's graduation examination is only the first step toward becoming a true Genin. The most important hurdle is the test of the Jounin Instructor."
"Only by passing the Jounin Instructor's test can you be considered a real Genin and take your first step toward becoming Hokage."
"Otherwise, even if you're the Grandson of the First Hokage, you'll be forcibly sent back to the Academy for retraining."
At that, Tsunade encouraged Nawaki, "If you can pass the Jounin Instructor's test, your big sister will give you a graduation gift."
"Then you can start preparing it now, Sis."
Nawaki's high-spirited bearing was something Uzumaki Naruto from the Original Work could never have possessed. Instead, he was remarkably similar to Uzumaki Boruto.
Upon hearing the words "graduation gift," Uzumaki Kushina, who had been silently shoveling down her food, seemed to think of something. Her eyes suddenly flashed as she looked toward Uzumaki Mito, seated at the head of the table.
Coincidentally, Uzumaki Mito's gaze was not on her own grandson, but on Uzumaki Kushina, whom she watched with a smile.
Feeling as though her thoughts had been seen through, Uzumaki Kushina instinctively lowered her head and continued eating.
However, after dinner, Uzumaki Kushina agonized over it for a long time before finally gathering the courage to visit Uzumaki Mito's room.
Seeing that Uzumaki Mito had not yet lain down to rest, but was instead seated by the bed as though she had been waiting for her, Uzumaki Kushina avoided meeting her eyes. Looking down at her toes, she softly pleaded, "M-Mito-sama, could you teach me the Unsealing Jutsu?"
"Child, you don't need to feel embarrassed, because it was yours to begin with." Uzumaki Mito smiled reassuringly. "Compared to an old woman like me, who should have borne an outsider's surname, you—the last spark and hope of the Uzumaki Clan—are the one most suited to safeguard it."
After saying that, Uzumaki Mito beckoned to Uzumaki Kushina. "Child, come talk with this old woman for a while."
Uzumaki Kushina immediately walked cautiously over to Uzumaki Mito.
Raising her hand to rest it on Uzumaki Kushina's head, Uzumaki Mito stroked her hair and asked, "Child, do you know why you were sent here?"
"Mm."
Uzumaki Kushina nodded. "The clan leader told me that, even when I was very young, I possessed powerful Chakra capable of suppressing the Nine-Tails. When he asked that ninja to take me away, he also said that I was the best Jinchuriki vessel and that I had to be safely escorted to Konoha."
"Then do you know what the Nine-Tails and a Jinchuriki are?" Uzumaki Mito asked softly.
Uzumaki Kushina shook her head. Before anyone could impart that knowledge to her, Hidden Whirlpool Village had already been destroyed.
"There are nine powerful Monsters in the Ninja World. They possess distinct numbers of tails and unique power traits. Each Tailed Beast's power is so overwhelming that it resembles a natural disaster..."
Uzumaki Mito began explaining the Tailed Beasts to Uzumaki Kushina and told her of the Uzumaki Clan's mission. "Our Uzumaki Clan excels in vitality and Fuinjutsu. We are naturally the best vessels for restraining Tailed Beasts, guardians who bring peace to the world."
By then, Uzumaki Kushina's little face had gone pale. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Do I have to become the vessel for one of those monsters?"
Uzumaki Mito continued stroking Uzumaki Kushina's head as she counseled her. "Child, we came here to serve as the Nine-Tails' vessel. But before that, we must find love to fill this vessel. That way, even if we must live as the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, we can still find happiness."
At those words, Gojo Yoru's figure appeared in Uzumaki Kushina's mind at once.
But immediately afterward, an even stronger fear surged into her heart.
Tears welled in Uzumaki Kushina's eyes as she choked out, "Mito-sama, I... I'm scared..."
"There's no need to be afraid, child..." Uzumaki Mito smiled kindly. "You are happier than I was, because you found what fills your heart earlier. That child certainly won't mind, and he will become your protector."
"R-Really?"
"Of course. He's a good child too. You can tell him everything." Uzumaki Mito nodded with a smile, then changed the subject. "Before that, I'll teach you the Unsealing Jutsu and return that thing to its rightful owner."
With that, Uzumaki Mito rose, leaned on her cane, and walked over to a wardrobe.
Opening it, Uzumaki Mito took out an enormous red-and-white scroll.
A seal strip was affixed to the scroll, and the sealing character upon it was a masterpiece of the Uzumaki Clan.
Only the Uzumaki Clan's Chakra and Fuinjutsu could undo this seal strip. Otherwise, no one could open the scroll.
After taking out the scroll, Uzumaki Mito began teaching Uzumaki Kushina the Unsealing Jutsu—how to open the scroll and how to seal it again.
This scroll was Hidden Whirlpool Village's Scroll of Sealing, as well as the Uzumaki Clan's encyclopedia of Fuinjutsu. It had arrived in Konoha with Uzumaki Kushina last year and had been kept by Uzumaki Mito ever since.
Within this scroll were not only common low-level and advanced Fuinjutsu, but also Barrier Ninjutsu of three major types—sensing, enemy restraint, and defense—as well as some exceptionally rare S-Rank Fuinjutsu known only to the Uzumaki Clan's upper ranks.
Such as the diamond-shaped mark on Uzumaki Mito's forehead—the Yin Seal.
Such as the Reaper Death Seal used by Namikaze Minato in the Original Work.
And the Reverse Four Symbols Seal Shimura Danzō used to seal a bridge.
As well as the seals used to seal the Dragon Vein in the Original Work...
Beside these Fuinjutsu were illustrated instructions and the cultivation experiences of past generations...
As long as one possessed talent for Fuinjutsu, even without anyone to teach them, they could easily master the Ninja World's most difficult Fuinjutsu through the lessons within and become a sealing master feared throughout the Ninja World.
Before this, Uzumaki Kushina would certainly have been overwhelmed with surprise and delight upon seeing this scroll.
But now, the girl was in a daze.
Uzumaki Mito also knew that Uzumaki Kushina could not accept it all at once. She merely stroked her head, offering silent comfort.
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