Chapter 29

Although Mikoto hadn't understood the deeper meaning behind Jiri's words, she still nodded obediently.

She hadn't had any ulterior motive for getting close to Kushina. They simply got along.

They soon finished breakfast.

After clearing away the dishes, Uchiha Chisato took Xunjing and Mikoto toward the Senju Clan compound.

After walking for ten minutes or so, they reached the courtyard where Uzumaki Mito lived.

"Jiri, you're here! Welcome, welcome. Come on in!"

"Lady Jiri, please come in!"

Upon receiving word of their arrival, Uzumaki Mito personally brought Tsunade to the gate to welcome Jiri and the others inside.

"Sorry for imposing."

Fairly satisfied with Mito's attitude, Uchiha Chisato returned the greeting with a slight bow and followed her inside.

At that moment, quite a few Anbu and Root ninja were hiding outside the courtyard, all trying to find out what was happening inside.

But Uzumaki Mito merely swept a glance over them and closed the courtyard gate behind her.

With a light stamp of her foot, she activated the entire courtyard's soundproofing barrier, anti-surveillance barrier, and a whole series of defensive formations.

The Anbu and Root spies outside could forget about catching even a glimpse of what was going on inside.

Even the Third Generation in the Hokage's office could only stare at the empty crystal ball before him, sighing and shaking his head. "Ah, I should've known better."

"Looks like I'll have to ask Lady Mito afterward."

"Let's hope it isn't anything bad."

"Hmph!"

Beside him, Danzo snorted. "You're always bragging about how amazing that Telescope Technique is, and this is all it can do?"

"It's only good for peeping at hot springs."

"You..."

The remark left the Third Generation choking on his words, his face burning.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Utatane Koharu giving a quiet, disdainful scoff. Mitokado Homura was struggling so hard not to laugh that his shoulders shook. Unable to bear the embarrassment, the Third Generation hurried to defend himself. "Danzo, stop talking nonsense! When have I ever used this thing to peep at a hot spring bathhouse?"

He quickly turned to Utatane Koharu, his voice taking on a pleading note. "Koharu, don't listen to his nonsense. You have to believe me! I really haven't!"

It wasn't that he cared all that much about what Utatane Koharu thought of him.

The real problem was that his wife, Biwako, might find out.

Biwako and Utatane Koharu were practically joined at the hip.

If this reached his wife's ears, he'd be lucky to escape with his skin intact.

"Heh. You expect me to believe that?"

Utatane Koharu folded her arms and sneered. "How many years have we known each other? We know exactly what we're like."

Deep down, the Third Generation was a closeted old lecher. Did he really think she didn't know?

"Please! Whatever you do, don't tell Biwako!"

The Third Generation immediately swallowed his pride and begged for mercy.

"I'll let it slide this time. Let's get down to business."

Utatane Koharu had only been teasing him. Changing the subject, she grew serious. "Hiruzen, what do you think they'll be discussing with Lady Mito this time?"

"Has Uchiha Chisato really recovered completely?"

"Almost certainly."

The Third Generation dropped his smile as well and nodded gravely. "Danzo and I have sent plenty of people to watch her from a distance lately. We can confirm that even if she hasn't fully recovered, she's at least seventy or eighty percent of the way there."

"She shouldn't be dying anytime soon."

"And it won't affect her ability to fight."

That was what gave them the biggest headache.

It meant they couldn't meddle too much with the Uchiha in the near future.

She wasn't someone they could easily fool.

Ever since recovering, she had dismantled every one of the little schemes they'd used against the Uchiha.

Through various means, she had also made them repay the Uchiha's earlier losses with interest, reclaiming almost all the benefits they'd seized.

That seamless string of moves had left the Third Generation and the others utterly frustrated.

After hearing this, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura both turned to Danzo.

"That's correct."

Danzo nodded, his expression equally grim.

"I see..."

Utatane Koharu's expression darkened as well. "Then we'll have to stop for now and leave the Uchiha alone."

"Let's just hope Lady Mito doesn't spring any more surprises on us."

"Otherwise, we might as well give up altogether."

If Uzumaki Mito and Uchiha Chisato truly joined forces, anything they tried would be pointless.

Meanwhile, back at Uzumaki Mito's residence.

After welcoming Xunjing and the others into the sitting room,

she had Tsunade serve Uchiha Chisato and her party tea.

Then she sent Kushina out shopping with Uchiha Mikoto.

As soon as Mikoto and Kushina left, she sat down opposite Uchiha Chisato.

The old woman studied her carefully, making no attempt to hide the surprise in her eyes. "At first, I thought you only looked a little better on the surface and were forcing yourself to keep going."

"But the last time Tsunade came back, she said you'd truly recovered completely."

"Now that I've seen you for myself, I understand-your condition goes far beyond mere recovery."

"The strength of your body and the vitality within it are several times greater than they were even at your peak."

"Even your soul and spiritual energy have recovered substantially."

"And your ocular power, too."

"If I didn't know you were Uchiha through and through, your life force alone would almost make me think you belonged to the Senju or Uzumaki Clan."

"The same goes for your son."

"He isn't as outrageous as you, but his life force and physique far surpass those of other children his age."

"I remember that just over a month ago, this boy was a sickly child with a congenital weakness, falling ill every few days. He couldn't even meet the basic requirements for becoming a ninja."

"But now, he hasn't just overcome all those weaknesses. He's gone well beyond that."

"What exactly happened to you and your son lately? Can you tell me?"

As soon as Uzumaki Mito finished speaking, Tsunade pricked up her ears beside her.

She was intensely curious about that earthshaking transformation.

If I could get my hands on a way to improve life force and physique like that, my strength would definitely skyrocket.

Grandma's health could be fully restored, too.

Tsunade weighed the possibilities in her mind.

If she hadn't been afraid of Uchiha Chisato beating her up again, or of causing some misunderstanding, she would have asked long ago.

"There's nothing I can't tell you."

Uchiha Chisato took a sip of tea and smiled faintly.

"When I agreed to come this time, I already expected you to ask about this."

"And I came prepared to negotiate a deal."

"Really, it all comes down to my boy suddenly finding his knack lately and making a few breakthroughs in medicine and pharmaceuticals."

"He came up with a way to replenish life origin and restore life force and vitality."

"He also developed a method for gently nourishing the eyes and the meridians around them."

"It's that simple."

The corner of Uzumaki Mito's eye twitched at that.

Tsunade looked equally speechless.

The exact same thought sprang into both their minds: Do you take us for fools?

If you don't want to tell the truth, fine, but at least make your lie sound believable.

Still, none of that mattered.

As long as they could confirm that the other party truly possessed a way to replenish life origin and restore life force, that was enough.

"Then I'll be direct."

"Ever since I sealed the Nine-Tails all those years ago, my life force has been continually draining away, drawing on my reserves."

"If this goes on, I'll have only a few years left to live at most."

Uzumaki Mito couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush and got straight to the point. "Tell me, what terms would make you willing to hand over the method for replenishing life force and life origin?"

She knew perfectly well that playing mind games with Uchiha Chisato was useless. That woman wouldn't fall for them. Better to be frank and decisive; that might even earn her some respect.

"You're refreshingly straightforward, my Uzumaki friend!" Uchiha Chisato smiled, her tone unhurried. "But there's no rush to discuss terms. Let Xunjing examine you first so we can understand your exact condition."

They needed to understand the ailment before prescribing a remedy. First, they had to find out just how depleted Uzumaki Mito was. Only then could they name their price.