Kurama

"Hahaha, you!" Mito laughed, then grew serious. "I used Sakumo's situation to bring you back this time, but I actually needed you for something else!"

Hatake Ziyan immediately grew serious as well. He glanced at Kushina beside them and said, "You mean what's inside your belly? Let me check your condition!"

"Ah!"

Just as Hatake Ziyan walked up to Mito, Kushina suddenly shrieked beside them.

"Something inside her belly? Check her body?" Kushina's face flushed as she kept tugging at the hem of her clothes and muttering to herself.

Hatake Ziyan and Mito both looked at Kushina. Hatake Ziyan gave her a light tap on the head and said, "You're so young. What on earth goes through your head all day? There's a monster sealed inside your Grandma Mito's belly. It's not what you're thinking!"

"Ah, oh! Right!" Kushina's face turned even redder, and she hurriedly covered it with her hands.

Hatake Ziyan paid no further attention to little Kushina and placed his hand on Mito Uzumaki's wrist.

After examining her, Hatake Ziyan looked at Mito with a grave expression. "Mito, your body..."

"You don't have to say it. I know my own condition. Otherwise, I wouldn't have called you back!" Mito said casually.

"But..." Hatake Ziyan wanted to say more.

Mito cut him off. "It's all right. I've lived long enough, and Hashirama has been gone for so long now. It's time I went to join him!"

"Mito, don't say that. I'm sure Hashirama would want you to live a long, full life too!" Hatake Ziyan urged.

"Enough. I know the state of my own body. I won't last much longer. Kushina, come here!" Mito did not dwell on the subject with Ziyan and instead called the shy little girl over.

"Grandma Mito!" Kushina said timidly as she walked to Mito's side.

"Let me introduce you. This is the former head of the Hatake Clan, a powerful ninja who was as renowned as your Grandpa Hashirama. His name is Hatake Ziyan. You can call him Grandpa Ziyan!" Mito said, pointing to Hatake Ziyan.

"H-hello, Grandpa Ziyan!" Kushina managed with difficulty as she looked at the impossibly young-looking Hatake Ziyan.

"Hello, Kushina!" Hatake Ziyan replied, then looked at Mito Uzumaki. "You're not planning to entrust her to me, are you?"

"That's exactly right. She's too young, and the village is in far too much turmoil now. It has strayed from the ideals Hashirama founded it upon. You're the only one I trust now, and only you can keep her safe!" Mito said, glancing toward Hokage Rock in the distance.

"Yes! The village's leadership has gone astray. But I'm not from Konoha. I can't stay here for long, and Konoha High Command won't let me take the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki out of the village! So..." Hatake Ziyan said.

"Enough. That's hardly a difficult problem for you!" Mito interrupted Ziyan. "You've never followed any rules when you act. You only follow your heart. I know that better than you do yourself. If you were the sort to play by the rules, I wouldn't have come to you!"

"Haha!" Hatake Ziyan scratched his head awkwardly. "In that case, I have no reason to refuse. I'll accept your request. I won't leave Konoha until Kushina can protect herself!"

"Now that you've agreed, I can rest easy!" With that worry lifted, Mito Uzumaki relaxed considerably. She continued, "Come back in seven days. I'll still need your help with the Nine-Tails' sealing!"

"All right! Then..." Hatake Ziyan was about to take his leave when the courtyard gate suddenly opened.

A woman with long blonde hair and an excellent figure-she couldn't see her feet when she looked down-walked in through the gate.

"Grandma Mito, I'm back!" She had not noticed the extra person in the courtyard. After entering, she first turned to close the gate, and only when she turned back did she notice a man beside Mito Uzumaki.

Once Hatake Ziyan saw who it was, he smiled. "Little Tsunade! It's been so many years. I never imagined you'd have grown so much!"

"Grandpa Ziyan!" After looking carefully to make sure, Tsunade rushed straight to Hatake Ziyan's side, hugged his arm, and cried affectionately, "Grandpa Ziyan, why didn't you tell me you were coming back? I've missed you so much all these years!"

Feeling the softness against his arm, Hatake Ziyan promptly pulled it free and ruffled Tsunade's hair. "You're all grown up now. Why are you still hugging me the moment you see me, just like when you were little? You need to mind appearances, or you might never find a husband!"

Tsunade grabbed Hatake Ziyan's arm with both hands and said unconcernedly, "With you here, who would dare gossip about me? Besides, if I can't find a husband, I'll still have you, won't I?"

"Ahem, ahem!" Hatake Ziyan coughed several times and glanced at Mito. "Don't talk nonsense. I'm your Grandpa Ziyan! You little brat, now you even dare tease me?"

"Enough, you two!" Mito had noticed Hatake Ziyan's embarrassment and spoke up. "What is this? Now that your Grandpa Ziyan is here, you've forgotten all about your grandma?"

At that, Tsunade hurried over to Mito. "Grandma, how could you say that? You're the best, best, best grandma in the world! It's just been so long since I last saw Grandpa Ziyan. Seeing him so suddenly got me excited!"

"Oh, you!" Mito gently tapped Tsunade's forehead with a finger.

As though he had something urgent to attend to, Hatake Ziyan said to Mito, "Mito, I still have a few things to take care of. You and Tsunade catch up. I'll take my leave!"

"All right! Go take care of things!" Mito nodded with a smile.

"Hey! Grandpa Ziyan, I..." Tsunade wanted to say more.

But Hatake Ziyan vanished from the spot, leaving as though he were fleeing.

"Hmph!" Tsunade gave a slightly annoyed snort.

"All right! Your Grandpa Ziyan really does have something important to handle this time!" Mito explained on Hatake Ziyan's behalf.

Tsunade put aside her little fit of temper and asked, "You mean what happened to Sakumo?"

"Yes!" As though recalling something from the past, Mito continued, "Your Grandpa Ziyan's temper has mellowed considerably. If this had happened in the old days, Konoha would probably already be running with blood!"

"I heard about it as soon as I got back from my mission. Some people said Danzo was behind it all, that Sakumo was too powerful and threatened Konoha's stability. That's complete bullshit, if you ask me. Without Sakumo, Konoha would have had far more trouble, yet they slandered him like this. Danzo really is despicable!" Tsunade said.