Chapter 31

"Besides, Hiruzen Sarutobi values power more than his own life. You expect him to nod in support just because Xunjing is his disciple's disciple and wants to compete for Hokage?"

"Not a chance."

"Besides, the medical arts my son learned are completely different from the current mainstream system."

"You should have noticed something just from the pulse-reading technique he used on you earlier."

"On top of that, he has never learned any Medical Ninjutsu."

"Those are precisely the things he lacks right now."

"Also, both he and I hope to use the identities of Tsunade's disciple and the Third Generation's disciple's disciple to let him grow steadily in peace for a few years."

"Is there anything else you want to ask?"

Become Hokage by relying on the title of Tsunade's disciple?

That was simply a pipe dream.

Neither she nor Xunjing had ever thought that way.

Once the Uchiha Clan's strength could overwhelm the entire Ninja World, people would naturally beg them to take that position.

"So that's how it is... It seems I had the wrong idea before."

"True. Being Tsunade's disciple really offers no practical help in competing for Hokage."

"I can agree to that condition. Tsunade, what do you say?"

Uzumaki Mito nodded, then turned her gaze to Tsunade and asked.

"No problem."

Tsunade studied Xunjing with interest for a few moments, then nodded in agreement. "I have no objections."

This little guy is rather pleasant to look at.

On top of that, she was very interested in Xunjing's unusual medical techniques, so there was naturally no reason for her to refuse.

Well, in truth, she had no room to refuse anyway.

The initiative had never been in her hands.

"Then it's settled."

Uchiha Chisato nodded in satisfaction and slightly raised her chin at Xunjing. "Give the Life Potion to Mito."

"Alright."

Xunjing immediately took a vial of Life Potion from his clothes and handed it to Uzumaki Mito across from him.

The instant the potion appeared, Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade stared fixedly at it.

They could feel an intense desire welling up within their bodies.

The potion was filled with rich yet gentle life force.

Uzumaki Mito hurriedly accepted it and examined it carefully with Tsunade for quite some time before finally sighing. "It truly is an incredible thing."

It was hard to imagine that this had been made by Xunjing, a six-year-old child.

But now was not the time to dwell on that. Uzumaki Mito took a deep breath and raised her hand to remove the stopper.

In an instant, a rich and enticing aura of vitality spread through the air.

"Creak..."

The wood in the floor and on the table actually began sprouting tender buds.

Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade both sucked in a sharp breath.

"Once it's opened, drink it quickly. It will lose its effect if you leave it out too long," Xunjing added from the side.

"I understand. Thank you."

Uzumaki Mito came back to her senses, lightly nodded her thanks to Xunjing, and tipped back the vial of Life Potion.

The next second, she clearly felt pure, rich life force spreading from her stomach throughout her entire body.

It felt incredibly comfortable, not harsh in the slightest, as though she had been immersed in a hot spring.

Every cell in her body desperately absorbed that energy.

The deathly aura within her melted away rapidly, like snow meeting heat.

Her vitality surged in one breath, and a rosy glow visibly returned to her face.

Even her red hair became more vibrant than before.

If she had not constantly used the Yin Seal to preserve her appearance, one would have seen her white hair turn crimson again, her shriveled skin and muscles fill out piece by piece, and her entire body regain the vitality of her youth.

Meanwhile, in the sealing space within Uzumaki Mito's body, the Nine-Tails had been completely cut off from the outside world by her during this period and had no idea what was happening outside.

It only felt Uzumaki Mito's life force suddenly soar, rising without end like floodwaters after a dam burst.

Along with it came a massive increase in the sealing space's stability and suppressive force.

After only a dozen or so minutes, the Nine-Tails realized that the sealing space had returned to its peak state from when it had first been imprisoned.

Uzumaki Mito's life force had also returned to its strongest state.

"Damn it! Uzumaki Mito, what the hell did you do?!"

"Why are you alive again? Let me out! I don't want to stay here anymore!"

The Nine-Tails began slamming into the sealing space like mad.

If Uzumaki Mito had truly recovered in one go, who knew how many more years she could endure? At the very least, it would be several more decades.

That meant it would have to remain imprisoned for decades longer.

How could it possibly accept that?

What it had been gritting its teeth and waiting for all this time was the moment Uzumaki Mito's lifespan ran out.

Although it knew that Konoha would most likely find her another vessel by then.

But what if it could escape through a gap when the seal weakened?

That was an opportunity.

It did not want that opportunity to vanish just like that.

The ridiculous part was that all four of its limbs were bound tightly by the iron chains of Adamantine Sealing Chains, leaving it completely unable to move.

It could only shout uselessly from inside.

It truly looked miserable and frustrated.

No wonder the Nine-Tails hated Uzumaki Mito and Hashirama Senju so intensely.

Who would not hate them after something like this?

Uzumaki Mito's phantom appeared in the sealing space, a faint smile on her face as she spoke to the massive beast.

"It's useless no matter how much you howl in there! I'm completely fine now."

"For the next several decades, this old woman will still be keeping you company. You should be grateful!"

The Nine-Tails froze for two seconds, and its entire face instantly twisted.

"I... **!"

The next second, the Nine-Tails exploded, unleashing a torrent of curses at Uzumaki Mito, each one more vicious than the last.

Uzumaki Mito, who had been in a good mood, immediately darkened.

"Enough!"

Several golden chains shot out at once, wrapping directly around the Nine-Tails' mouth and giving it a very literal physical gag.

The Nine-Tails struggled desperately, but the chains did not budge in the slightest.

Only one thought churned in its mind: Devil! You're the real devil!

Only after the Nine-Tails had completely quieted down did Uzumaki Mito's spiritual body slowly dissipate.

Outside, Uzumaki Mito opened her eyes and stretched her body.

She felt indescribably comfortable from head to toe.

She even tried releasing the Yin Seal's age-preserving effect. The result was merely that she looked somewhat more mature; none of her previous aged appearance remained.

"Excellent. The effect is very good. I'm very satisfied."

Uzumaki Mito smiled so broadly that she could barely close her mouth.

When she looked at Xunjing again, her eyes were full of warmth, as if she were looking at some priceless treasure.

This little guy is a treasure trove. Perhaps I should have him spend more time with Kushina?

If that works out, wouldn't I be able to get Life Potions and the like for free in the future?

If the age difference between Tsunade and Xunjing had not been so great, she might even have wanted to urge Tsunade to make a move on him.

Thinking of the Uchiha Clan and Chisato, Uzumaki Mito felt a wave of envy rise in her heart.

How enviable.

On the other side, Tsunade suddenly felt a chill run down her back. She turned to look around, but found nothing unusual, leaving her unable to stop wondering.

Was something watching me just now?

At the same time, Kushina, who was shopping with Mikoto, sneezed several times in a row with a baffled expression.

"What the hell? Who's cursing me behind my back?"

Mikoto asked worriedly, "Kushina, are you alright?"

"Uh... It's probably nothing. It must be that sissy Minato muttering about me behind my back! Hmph, just wait until school tomorrow. I'll show him what happens then!"

Kushina raised her brows and snorted through gritted teeth.

Not far away, Minato happened to be passing by and saw the entire scene clearly, leaving him speechless.

He truly could not understand how things had ended up like this.

He had clearly always wanted to be nice to Kushina, yet every time, she misunderstood it as hostility.

There was simply no reasoning with her.