Chapter 32

He felt as though a thick, miserable wall stood between him and Kushina, one he could never climb over.

The moment Uzumaki Mito opened her eyes, Uchiha Chisato could already tell she was back at full strength.

Life Force poured out of her as though it cost nothing, and her presence was overwhelming.

Honestly, Uchiha Chisato silently sized up her chances-if they fought now, it would probably be fifty-fifty.

"I really am completely healed."

Uzumaki Mito nodded, a smile on her lips. "The medicine you gave me worked even better than I expected. Thank you."

"Now I can hold on for at least a few more decades."

That gave her enough time.

Enough to settle everything concerning the Senju and Uzushio.

And enough to watch Nawaki and Tsunade grow fully into adulthood.

"No need to thank me."

Uchiha Chisato waved a hand, her tone relaxed. "At the end of the day, this was a transaction. Keeping you alive only benefits the Uchiha."

"With you keeping everyone in check and the Senju leading the charge, we Uchiha can save ourselves plenty of trouble."

Just thinking of Hiruzen Sarutobi and his people having to endure this old lady looming over them for another few decades filled her with delight.

"Don't make it sound so distant."

Uzumaki Mito countered with a smile. "Aren't we allies? We agreed to shoulder things together."

After a pause, she added, "Still, I'd prefer that Monkey and the others not find out I've fully recovered just yet."

"Just tell everyone you helped extend my life by a few years, and that I'll be around a little longer."

"Leave them a little hope, so they don't get desperate and start snapping at everyone."

At a critical juncture like this, she couldn't back them into a corner.

Simply killing the Third Generation and his group would serve no purpose either. Konoha couldn't withstand internal strife.

Besides, tensions outside were rising. She could practically feel it-the next Ninja World war was coming soon.

The Senju needed to quietly rebuild their strength first.

Uzushio needed saving, too.

"All right."

Uchiha Chisato thought it over and nodded. "The Uchiha aren't ready to openly break with them either, so we'll wait a little longer."

"But you'll need to rein in that Life Force of yours."

"Otherwise, who's going to believe you haven't recovered?"

She could tell Uzumaki Mito must have a way to do it.

She hadn't practiced Sealing Arts for nothing.

"Easy enough."

Uzumaki Mito smiled and gently pressed a hand against her abdomen.

In the next instant, the Life Force spilling out of her withdrew.

Finally, only about twice her pre-recovery vitality remained, making her seem much more normal.

"All right, let's sign our alliance agreement first."

Just as Tsunade refilled the teacups, Uzumaki Mito brought a stack of documents out from the inner room.

"Going through the motions might seem a little unnecessary, but we should still follow the proper procedure." Uzumaki Mito spread out the documents.

Uchiha Chisato blinked, then nodded. "All right."

"I'll go get everything ready. You can chat in the meantime." Uzumaki Mito left her granddaughter with an instruction. "Tsunade, look after our guests."

Tsunade agreed, warmly refilled Jiri and the others' tea, then turned to Xunjing. "Little Xunjing, how did you learn medicine? Shall we talk about it?"

"Sure."

Xunjing readily agreed and began discussing medical theory with Tsunade.

Once they got talking, Tsunade realized something was off.

Before long, she felt that the child across from her had an even firmer foundation in medicine than she did. More importantly, Xunjing's theoretical framework was nothing like the Ninja World's traditional medicine. It was as though he had brought it over from another world.

Tsunade was burning with curiosity. She desperately wanted to ask where Xunjing had learned his medicine. It was simply too incredible.

Twenty minutes later, Uzumaki Mito returned to the living room carrying the documents, brushes and ink, and a large stack of scrolls.

She also had the Flying Thunder God Technique, Tobirama's Water Release scrolls, and an enormous scroll packed with knowledge of Sealing Arts.

As soon as Mito entered, she saw that Xunjing had Tsunade following his lead. He did most of the talking, while Tsunade occasionally added a few remarks, which he immediately grasped and extrapolated from.

His learning speed sent a shiver through both Mito and Tsunade.

Mito sat down beside Jiri and asked in a low voice, "Has this child always been this frightening?"

Jiri took a sip of tea, smiling. "He's been like this ever since something clicked for him. Not bad, right?"

"Not bad? I'm green with envy. If Nawaki were half as capable as him, I wouldn't have to worry myself sick." Mito shook her head and handed Jiri two copies of the agreement. "Let them keep talking. Let's take care of business first."

"I've already signed and stamped mine. You're all that's left."

"No problem."

Jiri took the documents, briskly signed her name, and pressed her handprint onto them.

They each kept a copy, and the alliance was sealed.

Mito pushed the pile of scrolls toward her. "The Flying Thunder God Technique, Tobirama's Water Release, and those Sealing Arts are all here. Check them over."

With a casual wave, Uchiha Chisato stowed everything directly in the Space-Time Rift. "No need to check. If anything's missing, I'll just come back and ask you for it. It's not as though you can run away."

Seeing this spatial manipulation, Uzumaki Mito's gaze sharpened slightly with curiosity and surprise.

An ability like that... she wouldn't tell me even if I asked. I might as well leave it alone.

She paused, then changed the subject. "Do you Uchiha know what's happening in the Land of Whirlpools?"

"Oh?"

Uchiha Chisato raised an eyebrow and looked at her with a smile. "Of course. Our intelligence network isn't that poor. The Four Great Shinobi Villages plan to join forces and attack the Land of Whirlpools for Jinchuriki and Sealing Arts. They want to steal their Bloodline Limit and Sealing Arts."

Her tone was light. "What, do you want us to help?"

"Yes."

Uzumaki Mito didn't deny it. She simply nodded.

Uchiha Chisato spoke plainly. "That isn't covered by our alliance agreement. An ally's ally isn't necessarily my ally. If you want us to act, we'll have to negotiate a separate price."

Though preserving the Uzumaki Clan would benefit the Uchiha, that didn't mean they should work for free.

"Naturally."

Uzumaki Mito wasn't surprised at all, nor did she object. "Tell me your terms."

The Uzumaki Clan's affairs really couldn't be lumped in with the alliance between the Senju and the Uchiha, unless the Uzumaki signed their own alliance agreement with the Uchiha someday.

"Hmm..."

Uchiha Chisato considered it, then said, "After this, the Uzumaki Clan probably won't be able to stay in the Land of Whirlpools, will they? Otherwise, the Four Great Shinobi Villages won't let things go. You'll likely have to move them into Konoha, perhaps even have them join Konoha outright. Am I right?"

"That's right."

Uzumaki Mito nodded firmly. "I intend to go there myself this time. Even if Uzumaki Luming disagrees, I'll force this through."

She couldn't constantly watch for enemies coming at the Uzumaki Clan from every direction.

In the eyes of the Four Great Shinobi Villages, and even Konoha, the Uzumaki Clan was a juicy piece of meat everyone wanted to bite into.

Joining Konoha was their best way forward, and the only way to preserve the Uzumaki Clan.

As it happened, the Senju were currently weak. Bringing in their distant relatives and allies, the Uzumaki, would greatly increase their strength and competitiveness.

It would be a win-win.

"Then, once this is settled, I want a copy of the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Arts, excluding any Bloodline Secret Techniques."

Uchiha Chisato stated her terms outright.

"Also, I'd like our three clans to start encouraging intermarriage."

"Hmm?"

The first condition was within Uzumaki Mito's expectations, but the second genuinely surprised her.

Tsunade's attention was instantly drawn over, and she stopped talking with Xunjing.

Uzumaki Mito frowned and pressed her. "Why? As far as I know, the Uchiha don't stop their members from marrying outside the clan, but they've never encouraged it either."

"Why would you want the Uchiha to intermarry with the Senju and the Uzumaki?"

Just to bind the three clans more tightly together?

Mito didn't buy it.

The corners of Uchiha Chisato's lips lifted. She winked at Xunjing and said leisurely, "Heh, there's a secret involving all three clans behind this."