Could I Seal That Thing?

Watanabe had guessed right. Mito really did approve of him.

She had no choice. She had to approve. Tsunade had already given Watanabe everything she could, and was only one step away from handing over the Senju Clan. As her grandmother, what else could Mito do but accept him?

Fortunately, Tsunade had a good eye. Watanabe was impeccable in both ability and maturity, and it was almost impossible to find anyone his age who could compare to him.

"Hiruzen's decision to take on a disciple this time is also a way of indirectly suppressing Tsunade," Mito continued.

"He wants to slow Tsunade's growth so he can stay in the Hokage's position for a few more years."

Watanabe couldn't help asking, "If that's the case, Senior Mito, why did you agree to let him take Tsunade as his disciple?"

Mito countered, "Why wouldn't I agree?"

Watanabe fell silent, looking thoughtful.

"I can say this without reservation: as long as Tsunade herself doesn't give up, the position of Fourth Hokage is hers."

Watanabe was moved. Mito had said it with such astonishing confidence.

"No matter how many rivals Hiruzen cultivates for Tsunade, none of them will pose a threat to her. And no one would dare hurt her. At most, Hiruzen can delay Tsunade by a few years. He can't change the final outcome," Mito said.

Watanabe hesitated. "Won't that put too much pressure on Tsunade?"

A barely perceptible trace of relief flickered in Mito's eyes. Now that he knew Tsunade was destined to become Hokage, Watanabe's first reaction wasn't happiness, but concern for her. It showed that his feelings for Tsunade were sincere.

"Of course there's pressure, but as Hashirama's descendant, Tsunade has a duty she cannot shirk."

As she spoke, Mito suddenly took Watanabe's hand. He was slightly startled, unsure what she was about to do.

The next moment, Watanabe's vision blurred. When it cleared, he found himself in a dark space. Water covered the ground, and a gigantic cage stood before him. Mito, clad in white robes, stood at his side.

Watanabe asked in confusion, "Senior Mito, where is this...?"

"This is my Spiritual World. I want to show you something," Mito replied calmly.

She lifted one slender hand, and the darkness inside the cage receded, revealing a terrifying fox of enormous proportions. Hundreds of golden chains coiled around its body, even binding its nine tails and completely restricting its movements.

"The Nine-Tails Fox Demon..."

Shock appeared on Watanabe's face.

Watanabe had heard his Ninja Academy teachers explain the history of the Nine-Tails, and had seen several illustrations. The fox in the cage looked exactly the same.

"That's right. It's the Nine-Tails Fox Demon, a symbol of calamity since ancient times," Mito confirmed.

Seeing that Watanabe was shocked but not frightened, she was very pleased with his composure.

Any other grown man in his place would have been screaming in terror.

"After Hashirama defeated Madara Uchiha, I sealed the Nine-Tails Fox Demon inside my body to keep it from threatening the Shinobi World any further. It's been there ever since."

Watanabe sincerely praised her. "Senior Mito, you're incredible!"

The Nine-Tails Fox Demon could destroy the world, yet Mito had kept it sealed for decades. That was proof enough of her strength.

No wonder Mito had said earlier that no one would dare hurt Tsunade. Having a grandmother like her was like having a nuclear deterrent. No one would dare lay a hand on Tsunade—not even the Third Hokage.

"Even so, that was in the past. I'm old now," Mito said, shaking her head. Her youthful, beautiful face turned melancholy.

"These past few years, I've gradually begun to lose control of the Nine-Tails Fox Demon. Sometimes its backlash even makes me lose consciousness for a short while. I have no more than three years before I must pass it on to someone else to seal."

Watanabe caught the unspoken meaning in her words and had a bad feeling. "Senior Mito, are you thinking of having Tsunade seal the Nine-Tails?"

"That's right," Mito admitted.

"Tsunade's constitution is strong enough to seal the Nine-Tails, and she's the only person in all of Konoha I trust with it."

Watanabe wanted to say something, but didn't know whether sealing the Nine-Tails would be good or bad for Tsunade.

Mito explained, "Ninja who seal Tailed Beasts inside their bodies, as I have, are called Jinchuriki. Every one of the Five Great Nations' ninja villages has Jinchuriki."

"Jinchuriki are often a village's strongest fighting force. They can draw on the power of a Tailed Beast in battle, making them the best deterrent against hostile forces. The entire village gives its Jinchuriki the highest level of protection."

Mito had used the word "strongest" three times to impress upon Watanabe how important Jinchuriki were.

"You don't need to worry that Tsunade will be in danger. Sealing the Nine-Tails will do her more good than harm. The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu naturally counters Tailed Beasts, and Tsunade's constitution is exceptional. She'll be a perfect match for the Nine-Tails."

Watanabe fell silent. He wasn't entirely convinced.

How could stuffing a fox demon that huge inside Tsunade's body have no effect? Even Mito had said that sometimes she briefly lost consciousness.

Seeing Watanabe say nothing, Mito assumed he was afraid.

That was perfectly normal. Anyone would be afraid.

Just imagine discovering that the person you loved had a demon that had killed countless people sealed inside her, and that after you married, you'd have to share a bed with her every night, never knowing when your wife might transform into a Tailed Beast and destroy everything... Even thinking about it was enough to make your blood run cold.

After watching the Nine-Tails in silence for a long while, Mito slowly spoke. "Watanabe, I brought you here today to see the Nine-Tails Fox Demon because I want you to understand that being with Tsunade isn't simple."

"Konoha isn't as simple as you imagine. There are all kinds of political struggles, both open and hidden. The Shinobi World isn't simple either; the various forces are deeply entangled. And Tsunade isn't as simple as you imagine, either. Her identity means she can never be an ordinary girl."

"If you think you can marry Tsunade and then live a carefree, comfortable life, you're badly mistaken. Tsunade will bring you troubles you've never faced before, perhaps even mortal danger."

"You can still change your mind. You're young, and you can find another girl you like. You won't have to worry about all those troubles. You can live a normal life, like an ordinary person..."

"Senior Mito."

Watanabe interrupted her.

"You've misunderstood. How could I regret getting together with Tsunade? I've always thought meeting her was the greatest stroke of luck in my life."

Mito froze and turned to look at him. Watanabe's handsome, refined face was full of earnestness.

"No matter how many troubles or pressures Tsunade faces in the future, I'll bear them with her. If she wants to become Hokage, I'll help her get there. If anyone stands in her way, I'll help her deal with them. If she has to seal the Nine-Tails Fox Demon..."

Watanabe paused, then changed tack.

"Could I seal that thing instead? I think my constitution is better than Tsunade's. If she can seal it, I definitely can too!"

Mito was utterly stunned.