Konohagakure – ANBU Secret Laboratory
This was the secret experimental site originally built by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, for researching high-level ninjutsu and conducting dangerous experiments. In terms of defense and secrecy, it far surpassed the modest courtyard within the Senju compound.
Today, the Jinchūriki succession would take place here.
Only a few people were present: Tsunade, Hoshiyomi, Hiruzen, Mito, Kushina, and Uzumaki Ashina — just six in total.
Jiraiya and the others had come as well, but their job was to guard the outer perimeter and prevent any disturbances during this critical moment.
Homura, Koharu, Torifu, and Danzō — the other disciples of the Second Hokage — waited anxiously at a distance. Though the first three were genuinely concerned, Danzō kept his head low, feigning worry while secretly hoping that Mito would simply die.
Hoshiyomi checked the time and turned to everyone in the room.
"It's about time. Let's begin."
Hiruzen gave a solemn nod and even tucked away his ever-present pipe. He addressed them in a serious tone:
"Hoshiyomi, stay on alert. If anything goes wrong, we'll suppress the Nine-Tails together. But don't worry — with Lady Mito here, that beast won't cause much trouble.
Tsunade, make sure you're fully prepared with medical ninjutsu. Monitor both Lady Mito and young Kushina's condition at all times.
Kushina, stay relaxed. No matter what happens, don't be afraid. We're all here to protect you.
As for the sealing formulas and ceremony, we'll leave that to Lord Ashina."
"Understood," everyone responded in unison.
"Don't worry, Uncle Hokage. I won't be scared," Kushina replied, her small face full of solemn determination.
Mito smiled at her and gently stroked her head.
"Good girl. Don't worry — nothing bad will happen. Your great-aunt would never let you get hurt."
With that, Mito lay down on the pre-prepared ceremonial altar, pulling Kushina close to her side.
Uzumaki Ashina gave one final check to ensure the seal was intact and began forming hand signs.
As he moved, he placed his palms on the abdomens of both Mito and Kushina — simultaneously performing two high-level sealing jutsu.
One hand guided the Nine-Tails into Kushina, while the other unraveled the Eight Trigrams Seal on Mito.
As the seal on Mito began to loosen, the marking on her abdomen spiraled open like a vortex. From it flowed an intensely concentrated chakra — nearly tangible in its density.
It was the first time Hoshiyomi had witnessed something like this: chakra flowing like liquid from a person's body.
The moment that chakra emerged, everyone's expressions grew grim. They could all feel the malice and ferocity radiating from it.
But even so, thanks to the prepared altar, the chakra couldn't run wild. The moment it touched the edge of the sealing array, it stopped, unable to pass through the barrier.
When the chakra fully poured out, a miniature Nine-Tails leapt from Mito's abdomen — its nine tails waving, seemingly weightless in the still air. Though small in size, its presence was anything but diminutive.
"RAAAGH! I'm finally out!"
The beast turned and glared "fiercely" at Mito. But to Hoshiyomi, that look wasn't just rage — there was something else beneath it. A trace of… reluctance.
It made sense. Mito had been its host longer than any other jinchūriki in history — likely the strongest as well. After decades together, even if no words were ever exchanged, some kind of bond had been formed.
The Nine-Tails didn't appear to be under the influence of a Sharingan. More likely, what they were seeing was just its pride and tsundere temperament. Honestly, Hoshiyomi suspected that even if none of them were here, the fox wouldn't lash out.
"You old hag — you finally can't hold on anymore, huh? Now that I'm out, I'll—"
Before the fox could finish, Mito cut in calmly:
"Sorry, Nine-Tails. I still can't set you free. You're too dangerous. If I let you run loose, you'd bring disaster not only to yourself, but to Konoha as well."
"Uzumaki Mito, what the hell do you mean by that?!"
The Nine-Tails snarled, its eyes burning with malice, as if ready to devour her on the spot.
"For the sake of peace in the village, I'll have to trouble you a bit longer — this girl will be your new host. Don't worry, she's gentle, kind, and strong. You might just find life with her more enjoyable than it was with me."
But the Nine-Tails wasn't finished. It began to thrash violently, its body rapidly expanding as it attempted to break the Four Symbols Seal and resist the transfer.
Yet before it could grow much larger, Mito and Ashina's Adamantine Sealing Chains surged forward. Eight golden chains instantly bound the beast tightly, shrinking it back to its small form.
Despite its furious resistance, the fox couldn't escape. In the end, it was sealed into Kushina's body, as Ashina solemnly engraved a new Eight Trigrams Seal upon her abdomen.
Although Kushina had bravely declared she wasn't afraid, the moment that terrifying presence entered her body, she couldn't help but tremble in fear.
She stared blankly at her stomach, her face pale and eyes wide with panic. She could feel the violent power now sealed within her — and its seething fury.
She looked helplessly at Mito, whose wound was still healing under Tsunade's medical ninjutsu.
Mito slowly pushed herself up and pulled the trembling girl into her arms. In a soft voice, she said:
"Don't be afraid, Kushina.
We really are containers for that creature…
But if you fill that vessel with love, you won't feel fear anymore.
As long as your heart overflows with love, even a jinchūriki can bring happiness — to themselves and to those around them."
...
Thus, Kushina became the new jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, and the entire process went smoothly with no major disruptions.
Because Mito was immensely powerful — and because this was a transfer, not a forcible extraction — she didn't die immediately after releasing the tailed beast.
However, her appearance had completely changed. Now, she looked no different from an ordinary elderly woman. Her body was noticeably frailer.
Tsunade had confided in Hoshiyomi in private: Mito likely had only two to three years left to live.
Hoshiyomi couldn't help but feel heavy-hearted. His path as a shinobi had gone as smoothly as it had largely thanks to Mito. Many dangers, both visible and unseen, had been quietly handled by her behind the scenes.
Because of that, during the final years of her life, Hoshiyomi and Tsunade avoided any missions that required long absences from the village.
They kept a routine of visiting her every few days — just to ensure that this elderly woman, who had carried so many burdens, could feel the warmth of family in her last years.
Mito was deeply touched by their actions, though she had no desire to stubbornly cling to life.
Perhaps she had seen too much already — life and death no longer frightened her. In the original timeline, she might've prayed for more time to ensure the prosperity of the Senju clan.
But now, with the Uzumaki joining Konoha, the Senju's resurgence was already well underway. With Hoshiyomi steering the course, her plan was finally secure.
She no longer needed to hope for extra years. Instead, she wished to pass away peacefully in this newfound happiness — and reunite with Hashirama in the afterlife.
Author's Note:
This chapter was originally going to be about Hoshiyomi's new technique, but somehow I ended up writing about the Nine-Tails transfer instead.
Guess I'll save the protagonist's new ability for the next chapter.