After burying Madara in the 'Valley of the End,' Hibari, Hashirama, and Hiruzen returned to the Nine-Tails Fox.
At this time, Mito had already set up numerous formations around the Nine-Tails Fox. Runes were inscribed on the ground. When she heard footsteps and looked back, she breathed a sigh of relief, for she saw the three people she had just been worried about.
Now, it seemed that although her husband Hashirama was in a bad state, and the little brat Hibari was also injured, at least the most tragic outcome hadn't occurred, right?
"Mito-baasan, do you need any help?" Hibari asked with a cheerful smile, looking at Mito.
Mito glared at Hibari, then said with some displeasure, "You little brat, just not constantly making me worry is already helping me. We'll settle this score when we get back."
Hibari chuckled awkwardly upon hearing this but didn't say much more.
Although Hashirama could still walk and talk at this moment, his body was extremely weak. To avoid wasting any time, Mito, after confirming the sealing formula, composed her expression. Her chakra surged rapidly, and she let out a soft cry, "Eight Trigrams Sealing Style!"
The Eight Trigrams Sealing Style is comprised of two Four Symbols Seals. Ever since the Five Kage Summit concluded and Hashirama and the others decided to capture the Nine-Tails Fox to make it Konohagakure's Tailed Beast, Mito knew that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, she would need to become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Therefore, she subsequently pondered many methods and sealing formulas for sealing the Nine-Tails Fox, ultimately choosing the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style.
It must be said that the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style was indeed very suitable for sealing the Nine-Tails Fox. Not only did Mito choose it, but Kushina and the Fourth Hokage, Minato, would also choose the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style to seal the Nine-Tails Fox in the future.
This sealing jutsu was also a secret technique of the Uzumaki clan. Apart from these individuals, very few others could use this technique, and even fewer could release it.
Accompanied by Mito's soft cry, the previously motionless Nine-Tails Fox slowly began to be drawn into the sealing formula. Through this formula, it was rapidly absorbed into Mito's body.
In this final moment, the Nine-Tails Fox, whose consciousness had been controlled by Madara and then 'subdued' by Hashirama, finally regained its own awareness. Seeing itself about to be absorbed into someone else's body, it instantly understood what was happening.
"Darn humans... I'll kill all of you eventually!"
Leaving behind only this hateful declaration, the Nine-Tails Fox was completely absorbed into Mito's body. Then, the two Four Symbols Sealing formulas combined to form the Eight Trigrams Sealing Style, which revolved twice on Mito's stomach and then vanished.
After all this was done, Hibari had initially wondered if his Mito-obaa would feel weak or something. As it turned out, she showed no reaction whatsoever. She naturally touched her stomach and then said, "Hokage-sama's injuries can't be delayed. I'll explain the details when we get back. Let's hurry back now!"
Hibari and Hiruzen exchanged glances and nodded in unison. Then, Hiruzen, regardless of whether Hashirama wanted it or not, directly lifted Hashirama onto his back.
"Saru, put me down..." Hashirama said with some displeasure.
"Hokage-sama, this isn't the time to be stubborn..." Hiruzen murmured, then, completely ignoring anything else Hashirama wanted to say, he quickly ran towards Konohagakure with Hashirama on his back.
Hibari and Mito followed closely behind. Before long, they left this place, which was not yet named the 'Valley of the End.'
The night was dark and windy.
In the deep hours of the night after Hibari and the others had left, the ground where Madara Uchiha had been buried trembled a few times. Soon, a large hand broke through the earth, grabbing onto the surrounding soil.
Immediately after, Madara's figure emerged from the ground.
Although he had rewritten his death, his injuries were still somewhat severe. After climbing out, he first spat out a piece of flesh he had torn from Hashirama. After looking at it, he then looked towards Konohagakure and softly murmured, "Don't celebrate too early, Hashirama. The Infinite Tsukuyomi has only just begun."
After saying that, he looked at his abdomen. The wound inflicted by the Rasengan was still there. Madara's lips curled into a grin as he thought of Hibari's small figure, then moved his lips again and softly said, "You've really grown a lot, haven't you... Hibari."
As his voice fell, he didn't linger there. He swiftly left the area, disappearing without a trace.
The world believed that Madara Uchiha had perished in the Valley of the End after his battle with Hashirama Senju.
The next morning, at the Senju clan's residence, in front of the door of a room specifically used by Tobirama for medical and related matters, Hibari and Hiruzen stood, seemingly waiting for something.
"Hiruzen, what was the situation in the village when you first arrived?" Hibari asked first.
Hiruzen's face also showed a frown as he said, "Order has been restored, but everyone seems to be worried about something. After all, Hokage-sama hasn't come out to make any statements since the incident ended, so it's inevitable that everyone suspects something might have happened to the Hokage."
Listening to Hiruzen, Hibari also nodded. It was normal for the village to be in a state of unease.
Yesterday, Madara Uchiha, a shinobi as renowned as the Hokage, attacked with the Nine-Tails Fox. Then the Hokage went to battle, but after resolving the crisis, he hadn't shown himself once. How could people not worry about his condition?
At the same time, because Tobirama was treating Hashirama's injuries, he couldn't leave to handle other matters. Currently, the entire Hokage Residence was being led by Hiruzen. Without seeing anyone from the Senju clan, the members in the Hokage Residence were also very anxious.
Therefore, although Konohagakure currently appeared to have restored order on the surface, a shadow hung over it.
Hibari forced a smile and said, "It should be nothing serious..."
He thought to himself, 'Having desperately done some things, there should have been some changes, right?'
His wrist was still broken and hanging across his chest. At the very least, he had helped Hashirama somewhat. It shouldn't lead to Hashirama dying from his severe injuries, like in the story, after a period of delay, quietly passing away, right?
Just as Hibari was thinking these thoughts, the door to the medical room opened from the inside. Then, Tobirama and Mito appeared at the doorway. Both of their faces were somewhat grim, and this expression made both Hiruzen and Hibari's hearts skip a beat.
Hibari swallowed hard and looked at Tobirama, asking, "Tobirama-jiisan... Is Hashirama-jiisan... alright?"
Tobirama looked at Hibari's worried expression, sighed, and finally didn't hide anything. He said in a deep voice, "His life is not in danger for now..."
Upon hearing Tobirama's words, Hibari's hanging heart eased slightly. Then he heard Tobirama continue, "But the situation is not optimistic. My brother consumed a vast amount of chakra, even life force, and his entire left arm sustained irreversible injuries. His internal circulatory system is also very disordered..."
Although Hibari knew a bit about medical ninjutsu, it was only a tiny bit, limited to quickly treating external wounds like stopping bleeding. Otherwise, he wouldn't be standing here with his broken arm dangling; he would have healed himself long ago.
Therefore, he couldn't fully understand the meaning of these injuries, but from words like meridians, irreversible, and life force, he could discern the severity.
Hence, Hibari's expression also darkened, and he asked with a slight tremor, "Then... Tobirama-jiisan... What do you mean by that?"
Tobirama looked at Hibari's expression, clearly in pain himself. Just then, Mito, standing behind him, softly said, "It means that your Ojiisan might not be able to continue being a shinobi..."
Hearing Mito's words, Hibari froze, but fortunately, he was already mentally prepared. At least this was much better than dying from severe injuries, wasn't it?
Therefore, before Hibari could even respond, Hiruzen, who wasn't as mentally prepared, blurted out anxiously, "How is that possible? Hokage-sama is known as the 'God of Shinobi'! Everyone knows how strong his vitality is; he can even heal injuries without forming hand seals! When I saw him last night, he was still fighting Madara and even wanted to walk back himself. How could he suddenly be unable to continue being a shinobi??"
Hibari grabbed the emotional Hiruzen, saying, "Hiruzen!!!"
Hearing Hibari's shout, Hiruzen seemed to regain some composure and quickly took a deep breath, "Sorry, Sensei, Mito-sama, I..."
"It's alright, no need to apologize. We all understand..." Tobirama said softly, patting Hiruzen's shoulder.
Then, Tobirama first forced a smile, then continued, "But this is just a possibility. Just like you, Hibari, my brother is full of many incredible things. Perhaps when he wakes up, he'll have recovered? Let him rest quietly for now. Let me treat your wrist first..."
Hibari waved his hand, saying, "I'm fine. It's okay to treat it later. As for the village's situation, if you don't show yourself soon, Tobirama-jiisan, there might be some trouble."
Tobirama nodded upon hearing this. "That's true... Then you rest for now. Remember not to do any strenuous activity. After I go calm the village's anxieties, I'll come back and check on your wrist..."
After speaking, Tobirama turned to look at Mito, who had become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, then said, "Not many people know about the jinchuriki matter. We will keep it secret from now on. You've been busy all night, Aneja. Go back and rest..."
"Yes, I'll leave the rest to you, Tobirama," Mito also nodded.
"Hiruzen, you stay here and look after Hokage-sama..." Tobirama then said to Hiruzen.
After giving all these instructions, he swiftly left the Senju clan's residence and headed towards the Hokage Residence.
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