Chapter 34: Yui Uzumaki

A month was neither long nor short.

But for Tsunade, it was enough time to get used to her body.

In the backyard of the Senju estate.

Three people wore matching, specially made lightweight training clothes.

"Nawaki! Turn your waist when you punch! Power starts at your feet. Don't just swing your arm!"

"Okay!"

Nawaki let out a yell, pushed off the ground with his short legs, and drove his fist forward with his hips and waist.

Thud.

It struck Tsunade's palm. Not bad. He had more strength than he did a month ago.

"Good." Tsunade nodded. "Rest for two minutes, then do ten more sets."

"Ten sets?! Sis, are you a demon?" Nawaki wailed and collapsed onto the ground.

Tsunade ignored him and looked toward the other side of the yard.

Mikoto was practicing her punches against a wooden post.

Her form was sound, her breathing steady, and each punch landed with precise force.

A month ago, the girl hadn't even known how to make a proper fist.

Now she could execute a complete combination.

The Uchiha's ability to learn really was frightening.

"Mikoto, that's enough."

"Yes, Master."

Mikoto lowered her fists. A light sheen of sweat covered her forehead, but she stood perfectly straight.

Tsunade walked over and patted her shoulder.

"You did well today. Tomorrow, we'll start adding Chakra-enhancement training."

Mikoto's eyes lit up, and she nodded firmly.

"Tch. Playing favorites," Nawaki muttered from the ground.

"Build up your basic stamina first," Tsunade said without turning around.

"I'm only nine!"

"So what? When I was nine—"

"Tsunade."

A gentle voice came from the veranda.

All three turned at once.

Mito stood at the end of the corridor, holding a pot of freshly brewed tea.

She was smiling.

But Tsunade noticed that she wore a formal kimono today, and her hair had been carefully arranged.

She looked nothing like her usual relaxed self at home.

"Grandma? What is it?"

"You can stop for now." Mito set the teapot on a low table beside the veranda. "We're having a guest today."

Tsunade wiped the sweat from her hands.

"What guest?"

At the word "guest," Mikoto immediately took off her gloves.

If Mito Uzumaki was treating the visit this seriously, the guest couldn't be ordinary.

She bowed to Tsunade.

"Master, I'll be going, then."

Tsunade nodded slightly.

She didn't ask her to stay. "Be here on time tomorrow morning," she told Uchiha Mikoto.

Mikoto nodded and obediently gathered her things to leave.

Tsunade turned back to Mito.

"Grandma, who's coming? Why so formal?"

Mito smiled.

"Someone from my family is coming."

Someone from her family.

Tsunade's expression froze.

Her family?

The Uzumaki!

One thing sprang immediately to mind.

The Uzumaki were sending someone to Konoha.

Someone to see Mito.

There could be only one reason.

The transfer of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki!

Which meant the person coming was...

Kushina Uzumaki!

Tsunade's pupils contracted slightly.

Going by the timeline, this was about when Kushina would arrive in Konoha.

And roughly a year after Kushina's arrival...

The Uzumaki would be wiped out!

But what made Tsunade's heart sink wasn't Kushina's impending arrival.

Nor was it the Uzumaki's future destruction.

It was what this visit meant.

Mito Uzumaki was beginning to make arrangements for after her death.

Transferring the Nine-Tails couldn't be done overnight.

It required a long period of preparation, adjustment, and adaptation.

And the day the transfer was completed...

Would be the day Mito Uzumaki's life ended.

Under normal circumstances, Mito Uzumaki's body could have lasted another seven or eight years without trouble.

Perhaps even ten.

But she couldn't wait until the end of her life to hand over the burden.

She would certainly do it before then.

While she still had strength left.

Perhaps in three years.

Perhaps in five.

No longer than that.

Mito Uzumaki would die.

Tsunade stood in the middle of the yard without a word.

"Tsunade?"

Mito's voice brought her back.

Tsunade looked up.

Mito was watching her, her gaze gentle and touched with understanding.

She knew everything.

That woman had lived most of a lifetime and seen through far too much.

She couldn't have missed the fleeting change in Tsunade's eyes.

"Come inside for a moment."

Mito turned and walked into the house.

Tsunade followed her.

Nawaki and Mikoto exchanged a glance. Sensing the change in the air, neither spoke.

In the inner room.

The door closed.

Tsunade stood before Mito, lips pressed tight, unable to speak for a long time.

Mito looked at her and sighed softly.

"You've guessed?"

"...Yes."

"And I thought I'd have to spend ages explaining." Mito smiled. "You really have grown up these past few years."

Tsunade didn't smile.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

I can find a way.

Maybe there's another path.

Let me research an alternative.

But in the end, not a word came out.

Because she knew.

There was no alternative.

The Nine-Tails had to be contained by a jinchūriki.

Mito was reaching the limits of her age. The transfer was inevitable.

Tsunade couldn't change that.

She lowered her eyes to the grain of the wooden floor.

She had been in this world for less than half a year.

But Mito Uzumaki had genuinely cared for her.

And Tsunade had gradually come to love this woman who gave her everything without reservation.

Now that she knew Mito's life was counting down, it would be a lie to say she wasn't sad.

As Tsunade stood in silence, a warm hand touched her cheek.

Mito's palm was dry and warm.

"Don't dwell on it."

Mito's voice was soft.

"This is my responsibility. And my choice."

"From the day I became a jinchūriki, the end of this path was already set."

"I don't resent it, and I'm not afraid."

Tsunade raised her head.

Mito smiled at her.

There was no fear in those eyes, no bitterness.

Only calm.

And a deep love that needed no words.

"The only ones I worry about are you and Nawaki."

Mito gave her cheek a gentle squeeze.

"But now, I can see you're far more dependable than I imagined."

Tsunade drew a breath. Her nose stung.

She blinked hard twice.

"...Grandma."

"Yes?"

"I'll take good care of Nawaki."

"I know."

"I'll learn every Sealing Jutsu. I won't leave a single one out."

"I believe you."

"And..."

Tsunade paused, then lowered her voice.

"I'll never let anyone from the Uzumaki suffer."

Relief flickered in Mito's eyes.

There was one more thing she had been worried about.

She feared Tsunade might blame the Uzumaki for her death.

But seeing Tsunade now, Mito could finally put that fear to rest.

She let go, stepped back, and smiled at Tsunade.

"That's my good granddaughter."

Tsunade nodded firmly.

She said nothing more.

Some things became overly sentimental if you said too much.

Tsunade wasn't that kind of person, and neither was Mito.

Nawaki's voice rang out from the courtyard. "Grandma! Someone's at the door!"

Mito straightened the collar of her kimono and gave Tsunade a slight nod.

"Go answer it."

Tsunade turned and strode out of the inner room.

She crossed the corridor and passed through the courtyard.

Nawaki and Mikoto stood to one side, watching the front gate curiously.

Tsunade took a deep breath.

She pushed every stray emotion deep into her chest.

Then she pulled open the gate.

Outside stood

four people.

Three adults: one woman and two men.

And a little girl who looked slightly younger than Nawaki.

All four had long, fiery red hair.

In the afternoon sunlight, it looked like a blazing bonfire.

At the front stood a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties.

She had gentle features and a warm, graceful manner.

She wore a plain white Uzumaki clan robe with an indigo sash around her waist.

Yui Uzumaki.

The woman's eyes lit up when she saw Tsunade.

She reached out to Tsunade and smiled, her eyes narrowing.

"Hello. You must be Tsunade?"

Her voice was like a stream thawing in spring, calm and unhurried.

"My name is Kushina Uzumaki."

Tsunade nodded lightly and held out her hand.

"Hello. I'm Tsunade."

Yui Uzumaki smiled faintly and drew the little girl out from behind her.

"Let me introduce my daughter."

"Kushina Uzumaki."