Mito's Gift, Did I Strike Gold?

When people grew old, their memories generally became hazy.

But Mito Uzumaki was clearly not among them.

Proficient in Sealing Jutsu, she seemed capable of preserving her memories as though sealing them away, keeping every little detail of those she cherished stored in her mind...

Perhaps this was also the spiritual weapon she used to resist the Nine-Tails' erosion.

In any case, when Hiruzen Sarutobi seized an opening to ask this question, Mito Uzumaki instantly recalled a certain white-haired man who preferred to remain unnamed.

Back then, Senju Tobirama had also always probed her about such matters...

And Hashirama had always warned Mito not to tell Tobirama too much, or things might go wrong.

His younger brother was good in every way, except his guts were far too big!

Things that seemed wildly fanciful and utterly impossible might just be made real once they fell into his hands...

"Hiruzen, why did you suddenly think to ask that?"

Mito Uzumaki's tone was teasing. "Right, you read your teacher's research notes, didn't you? I'm rather curious about his notes too..."

"Someone like him would never leave behind any traces unless it was for research. Did he complain about me in those notes?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked as though his mind had wandered elsewhere. "Oh, how could that be, Lady Mito? Teacher's notes were all related to research..."

He hadn't expected Mito Uzumaki's memory to be this good! Monkey's tail had slipped out just a little...

"Truly Tobirama's good disciple! You're quite good at protecting his privacy too..."

Mito Uzumaki shook her head with a sigh. Even if she asked Hiruzen to show her Tobirama's notes—

Judging by Hiruzen Sarutobi's evasive manner, he clearly would not agree.

After all, research notes did not only record data and inspiration. It was perfectly normal for there to be a few complaints mixed in now and then...

Lord Hokage deeply agreed with this view.

Leaving aside the matter of him having read Senju Tobirama's notes.

Back in his previous life, even his closest loved ones absolutely could not look at his browsing history or favorites...

"Lady Mito, this is what happened."

"Teacher's notes contained some ideas on reconnecting severed limbs. They would be immensely valuable to ninja injured on the battlefield."

"I saw in the notes that Teacher had become stuck on the matter of 'materials,' but for some reason, he only wrote down your name without recording his later thoughts."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was full of sincerity.

Was that the truth?

It was indeed the truth.

Developing limb-regeneration technology had originally been one of his plans; it just so happened that there was another aspect to it as well.

Thus, Lord Hokage considered this not a deception, merely an incomplete telling of the truth.

"You know, though Monkey's abilities may be lacking, I've always been fairly steady and prudent..." Hiruzen Sarutobi said as an idea struck him.

This time, he was spending his own credibility!

Mito Uzumaki pondered for a while, then let it go.

Monkey was not Tobirama...

He had always been more than sufficiently mature and cautious, but lacking in bold initiative.

Now that he had finally rebuilt his confidence and shown such sincere filial devotion and concern for her after breaking through the old to establish the new...

He had not only come to apologize and supported the Uzumaki, but also sent Yamato over. He had even resolved to set the Nine-Tails aside for the time being.

Such a good child surely knew what he was doing!

"Look at you. I was only teasing you a little—why are you taking it so seriously?"

Mito Uzumaki laughed softly, rose, and entered the inner room. When she returned, she handed Hiruzen Sarutobi a scroll and three pendants.

"What are these?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked respectfully.

"Living with this Fox, I had to find things to do. Some are little trinkets I made myself, while others were left to me by Hashirama..." Mito Uzumaki picked up the dark green one in the center and motioned for Hiruzen Sarutobi to come closer.

"This one was left to me by Hashirama. I'm giving it to you, Monkey." Mito Uzumaki placed the Necklace around the Hokage's neck. "Wearing it all the time only makes one sad when looking upon it and remembering the past, so I only took it out occasionally to look at it."

"Now that Yamato is keeping me company, there's no need for me to keep it anymore..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded obediently.

He had not expected this Necklace to possess any special effects.

It was probably similar to Tsunade's, something that refreshed the mind and sharpened one's senses.

The Necklace's greatest value lay in "Mito Uzumaki's recognition of him."

"As for these two, I made them in imitation of Hashirama..."

"Hashirama may have been a little foolish in daily life, but he was truly remarkable! He could condense so much Chakra into a single point within an object, then have it release slowly..."

"It sounds simple, but it took me all these years to find even a few clues." Mito Uzumaki spoke with a faint smile.

Hiruzen Sarutobi blinked. "Then why didn't you ask Lord Hashirama how he did it back then?"

The technique behind it was highly valuable!

It could be said that this was precisely the difficulty of Medical Scroll technology—the storage and gradual release of medical Chakra.

"Him? What would he know about such things? He'd only say things like, 'I don't know how it works, but it's not hard anyway...'" Mito Uzumaki said, then added with an amused smile, "Back then, he actually made me laugh from sheer exasperation. He was an unconventional ninja."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in deep agreement.

Someone with absurd stats who could actually pull it off was truly impossible to understand...

Still, there was no need to bring up the Medical Scroll with Mito Uzumaki just yet.

One had to eat one bite at a time. Asking too many questions at once would make him seem overly eager and inevitably leave a poor impression.

"When development begins, I'll have Tsunade ask her. That would be more appropriate," Hiruzen Sarutobi thought.

"You want to earn Nobles' money and use it to provide benefits for the village. That is good."

Mito Uzumaki said softly, "Take these two necklaces to the Daimyo; they may be of help to you. If it is for the village, there is no need to avoid using my name."

"And this scroll is a Sealing Jutsu I have recently researched. It can create an environment that promotes the fusion of Chakra from different sources."

"I originally wanted to see whether it could be used on the Nine-Tails, but it is too powerful, so it could not be applied."

"But it may be of some help when used on severed limbs."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was deeply moved.

The saying that having an elder at home was like having a treasure was not empty praise.

Though it was not a finished product, merely a prototype and an idea, it could still bring immense benefits to Konoha.

And this village truly was a massive treasure trove. Dig around a little, and it could bring one surprise after another!

"As for a technique, there is a village that has something similar."

"The Uzumaki records mention that Takigakure possesses a secret technique called Earth Grudge Fear. The black threads it forms within the body are extremely useful for conducting Chakra and stitching flesh together."

"There was once a young man from Takigakure who sparred with Hashirama."

"I heard that he later assassinated the village's higher-ups and obtained that secret technique. Hashirama felt quite regretful for him at the time."

"As for what happened afterward, or how that young man fared, I do not know..."

Mito Uzumaki shook her head. "I have been in the village for too long."

Hiruzen Sarutobi carefully put away the two necklaces and the scroll. Holding Hashirama's keepsake against his chest, he bowed to Mito Uzumaki once more.

"Lady Mito, the help you have provided Monkey and the village cannot be described with words!"

"Monkey will certainly not fail your trust. I will devote everything I have to making the village flourish, and strive to resolve the regrets of the Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki Clan!"

Mito Uzumaki laughed softly. "Just do your best, Hiruzen..."

After Hiruzen Sarutobi left, a faint diamond-shaped mark seemed to appear once more on Mito Uzumaki's forehead.

The Nine-Tails within her body also sensed something unusual. It irritably turned over and let out a cold laugh.

The Nine-Tails had heard part of the conversation between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mito Uzumaki.

It was furious.

It was furious because Hiruzen Sarutobi actually dared not to value its power!

What did he mean by saying Mito Uzumaki was even more important than it? How utterly foolish!

Yet at the same time, the Nine-Tails quietly remembered Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi would rather give it up than deny Mito Uzumaki a peaceful old age...

Even the Nine-Tails was slightly moved.

Were there really humans like this?

The next day.

Hokage Office Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming.

There were once again many things to do...

"Bring Orochimaru and Hiruko here!" Lord Hokage commanded.