Mito-neechan Opens the Gate, I'm Tobirama! (Seeking Follow-ups, Monthly Votes)

"Holy crap!"

Qingyi Lang exclaimed, turning back. He saw a mission scroll placed behind him at some unknown time, with a transparent thread wrapped around it.

"Feeling good? Brother Qingyi Lang?"

As he spoke, Sou released his hand from Qingyi Lang's throat and burst into laughter. He wagged the middle finger of his other hand back and forth.

"How is it?

If Setsuna knew that the Puppet Shuriken Technique he gave Sou was being used for this, he'd probably chase Sou for nine blocks with a kunai...

Chh!

Qingyi Lang's old face turned beet red, steam seemingly puffing out of his ears.

If he were a kettle, he'd probably be at a hundred degrees Celsius right now.

"Damn you, you dog, die!"

Saying that, he was about to charge forward and fight Sou to the death.

"Whoa!"

Sou smiled and held up a hand to stop him, pointing at the displeased diners around them. "No fighting in public places.

Also, you misunderstood just now, it's your fault, right~"

Just now, when Qingyi Lang was angrily spewing that he wasn't good enough for Feilin, Sou had taken the opportunity to place a scroll behind him, intending to prank him at some point.

Did he really think he took all that scolding for nothing?

"Damn it!"

Qingyi Lang's face turned red, and he reluctantly backed down. After a few more exchanges of insults, they tidied up and prepared to return to the clan compound.

The night was deep, and moonlight poured onto the streets of Konohagakure like water, as if draping a silver veil over them.

Sou supported Qingyi Lang, who could barely stand, and the two staggered towards the Uchiha Clan Compound, humming the little tune Sou had just taught him.

"Love you walking alone down dark alleys..."

Sou hummed, gazing at the lonely moon hanging overhead, and thought to himself.

I'll be reporting to the Police Force tomorrow. I wonder what position they'll assign me?

Hope it's not too troublesome.

As they pondered, the figures of the two gradually disappeared into the night, leaving only the lingering melody of the song in the air.

Meanwhile, at another location in Konohagakure, Uzumaki Mito's residence.

Uzumaki Mito knelt at the head of the table, the crest of the Uzumaki Clan carved into the wall behind her.

She still wore her favorite bun hairstyle, and though a few strands of white could be seen amidst her red hair, her delicate and beautiful face showed no signs of aging.

"Longya, you can all get up now."

Mito's face showed some difficulty. "It's not that I don't want to help, but given the current situation, it..."

"Lord Mito!"

Uzumaki Longya heavily kowtowed to the floor, interrupting her:

"Please, for the sake of our shared ancestry, save Uzushio Village!

The current situation is already out of control. Since the First Hokage passed away, the other major ninja villages can no longer suppress their covetous desire for the secret techniques to control the tailed beasts.

Cloud Village has even set up a hidden stronghold not far from Uzushiogakure. While Stone Village and Mist Village are not as excessive as Cloud Village, they are still harassing our clansmen day and night!

Now, our clansmen not only have to manage clan missions but also guard against attacks from various ninja villages when on external assignments.

The situation in the village is getting worse year by year. If there were any other way, my clansmen and I would not dare to disturb your peace."

"..."

Mito's fingers tightened slightly around the teacup, her knuckles turning white.

"Longya, I understand your difficulties, but Konohagakure is currently led by Tobirama."

Mito sighed, her voice filled with helplessness. "Although I am Hashirama's wife, I no longer involve myself in politics. To rashly interfere in diplomacy and military affairs would make things difficult for Tobirama."

"We are not asking Konohagakure to send troops to fight!"

Longya suddenly looked up, his eyes red. "As long as Konohagakure can send one capable ninja to randomly eliminate one of Cloud Village's strongholds for the Uzumaki Clan, showing our stance.

Let the Shinobi World know that Konohagakure has not abandoned the Uzumaki Clan, and that will deter those petty thieves!"

Seeing Mito still hesitant, he gritted his teeth and revealed his final bargaining chip:

"Lord Mito, your own niece, Misaki... was targeted for assassination again last month.

The attackers were from Cloud Village's Kinkaku unit. If not for the clan elders sacrificing themselves to protect her, I fear..."

"Misaki?!"

Lord Mito shot to her feet, splashing tea onto her sleeves.

Her niece, who had followed her around since childhood calling her "Auntie" and possessed a gentle disposition, had also been targeted for assassination...

"Yes, those people not only want our Sealing Techniques, but they also want to use the Uzumaki Clan's Kekkei Genkai to develop vessels capable of containing Tailed Beasts!"

Longya's words were stained with blood. "Lord Mito, if you do not act now, the Uzumaki Clan... may face annihilation!"

Lord Mito's chest heaved violently, reason and emotion warring fiercely in her mind.

She understood Tobirama's concerns. The situation between Konoha and Cloud Village on the Land of Fire's border was uncertain. If they were to make a major move now, a new Shinobi World War might erupt immediately.

But if she stood by and did nothing, that was her home, her roots.

Just as the atmosphere reached a deadlock, light footsteps sounded from outside.

"Grandma!"

A childish voice broke the heavy atmosphere in the room. The paper door slid open with a "swish," and Tsunade hopped in.

"Why are you and Grandpa Longya talking for so long? I still want to hear you tell stories..." Tsunade pouted, her cheeks puffed out.

"Tsunade, why aren't you asleep yet?"

Seeing her granddaughter, Lord Mito's expression finally softened.

Little Tsunade threw herself into Lord Mito's arms, tilting her small face up to act spoiled. "I can't sleep, Grandma. Will you tell me a story?

Tell me about Grandpa when he was young, and when will you take me to the Uzumaki Clan? You said it was beautiful there, and that one day you'd take me to see your homeland, right?"

As she spoke, she tugged at Lord Mito's sleeve with her small hand, blinking her big eyes to look cute.

"Homeland..."

Lord Mito's gaze drifted upon hearing this. She looked at her granddaughter, full of expectation in her arms, then at Longya kneeling on the floor, his face filled with pleading, and the fleeting despair in Longya's eyes...

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

This clan was the ally Hashirama valued most during his lifetime, and it was also her maternal family.

Misa was her niece, and there were so many clan members in Uzushiogakure...

How could she bear to stand by and do nothing?

"Alright."

Lord Mito finally spoke. Though her voice was soft, it sounded as if she had poured all her strength into it.

"I'll find an opportunity to mention this to Tobirama soon, but..."

She paused, emphasizing, "But whether it will succeed, I really don't know. Tobirama has his own considerations, and I can't promise anything."

"Thank you, Lord Mito!"

Longya's voice changed with excitement as he kowtowed heavily, "Everyone in Uzushiogakure will be eternally grateful!"

The several Uzumaki Clan members who followed him also bowed their heads in thanks, their eyes shining with tears of emotion.

"Get up, all of you, get up."

Lord Mito waved her hand, looking even more weary.

Although Tobirama was very polite to her, his elder sister-in-law, she knew in her heart that when it came to important village matters, Tobirama rarely backed down.

But for her clan, she could only try her best.

If it really didn't work out, then I myself...

Ugh...

Lord Mito grunted, and the Nine-Tails within her body seemed to sense her unease, starting to act up inside her again.

The news Kinkaku and Ginkaku received was indeed accurate. Ever since Hashirama died, maintaining her condition alone had become harder year by year. To do her best to maintain the seal, she had rarely even left her room recently.

What should I do?

In my current state...

Just then, the paper door was pulled open again, moonlight pouring in from outside. A tall figure stood silhouetted against the light.

The newcomer was dressed in a blue and white robe, his crimson eyes glinting coldly in the darkness. He first scanned everyone in the room, then said coldly:

"No need to look, I've come myself."