"My apologies for this presumptuous visit, Lady Mito..."
Since the outbreak of the Second Shinobi World War, Sarutobi Hiruzen had handled official business mostly in combat attire. Today, however, he had rarely changed into the white ceremonial robe symbolizing the Hokage's status and personally come to visit Mito Uzumaki, who had long been recuperating.
Naturally, the First's wife did not miss the unspoken meaning conveyed by this change of attire.
The venerable elder of the shinobi world, long confined to bed, had been assisted by her maid in dressing and applying her makeup early in the day. Clad in a black tomesode embroidered with pine trees and cranes, she sat upright behind a bamboo curtain, awaiting the Hokage's arrival.
"Not at all. In these troubled times, this old and decaying body of mine cannot contribute to the village. The fact that the Hokage could spare the time to visit already honors me more than I deserve... If you have urgent business, please speak plainly."
"Then I shall humbly accept your invitation..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen steadied himself, regulating his breathing beneath the immense aura of the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki, before finally getting to the heart of the matter.
"You were born into the Uzumaki Clan, so you must know that the Uzumaki survivors have abandoned their homeland of Uzushiogakure and migrated as a whole into the Land of Fire, hoping to use this opportunity to join Konoha. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
"Konoha's view is my view. The Hokage's decision is my decision."
As she answered the Third Hokage's question without hesitation, Mito Uzumaki smoothed the kimono embroidered with pine trees and cranes draped over her legs.
—Just as Sarutobi had used his ceremonial robe to imply the purpose of his visit, a black tomesode was originally the most formal