Uzumaki Mito softened her tone, repeatedly saying she had misspoken.
Uzumaki Shinji gave a small nod and a hum.
He didn't press the matter.
An awkward air lingered in the room for a moment, but fortunately Uchiha Makoto had just finished with the Land of Fire's daimyō and finally had a free moment to meet Konoha's envoy, Uzumaki Mito.
"Mito, don't say any of that to Lord Light Shadow," Shinji couldn't help reminding her as he looked at Mito's back. "Between us family it's one thing, but if those doubts reach his ears, it will affect the alliance between the Uzumaki and Akatsuki Village."
"I understand."
Mito nodded, pushed open the door, and met Kazuma waiting outside. He led her to Uchiha Makoto's office.
"Lady Mito, I didn't expect Konoha would send you," Makoto said, rising at once to greet her. It was his first time meeting Uzumaki Mito.
Judging by the average shinobi lifespan, she was very old, but Makoto knew she could keep going for another thirty or forty years. If she didn't want to transfer the Nine-Tails while she still had control of her seals and set it securely in Uzumaki Kushina, she might have lived a few more, even a dozen more years.
"Tobirama is busy with village affairs. Hashirama… Hashirama went out on a mission with Madara."
Mito offered a brief explanation. Makoto nodded and invited her to sit.
After some small talk,
their discussion went smoothly.
Makoto laid on the praise—strictly speaking, he was stating facts.
"Lady Mito, you don't look any different from a sixteen-year-old girl.
"Do you have a secret for that?"
By now,
Mito likely had the prototype of the Yin Seal. Her face looked no different from her youngest days. Time had left no marks, only added a touch of allure.
The grace of a mature woman.
A true rarity.
That glutton Senju Hashirama certainly ate well. The Yin Seal… he should find a way to give one to Tsubashizuku too. He wasn't going to eat worse than Hashirama.
"You flatter me."
Mito's light laugh blossomed into a radiant smile. Complimenting a woman's youth and beauty is never out of place.
"If there is a secret, please teach it to Tsubashizuku. For a girl, her appearance may be her most precious thing, the thing she most wishes to keep."
Makoto borrowed Uzumaki Tsubashizuku's name to angle for a free gift. Beyond eternal youth, the technique itself was a high-grade secret art that stores chakra over time and releases it in battle for overwhelming firepower.
It would suit Megumin too.
A few Tailed Beast Balls a day—strategic nuclear deterrence.
"Lord Light Shadow, it seems you truly like Uzumaki Tsubashizuku."
Mito didn't overthink it; instead, her focus shifted in a curious direction.
Makoto of course wouldn't waste a chance to perform. "Yes, it was love at first sight. I'm fortunate to soon become her husband, so naturally I want the best wedding gift for her.
"If Lady Mito truly has such a secret art, I'm willing to pay a high price for it."
At that,
Mito was visibly moved. She didn't know this clanswoman she had never met, Uzumaki Tsubashizuku, but could not help a flicker of jealousy in her heart. Why do you get a husband's whole love, and I… Uchiha Madara, I'll kill you.
"No need.
"I do have such a secret art, called the Yin Seal. It's still a prototype, but it's close to the effect of preserving youth. Take this as a wedding gift from an Uzumaki elder to a junior."
She spoke calmly.
It was only a little jealousy.
Seeing a clanswoman find a good home genuinely pleased her. Talking about money felt crass. As the Senju clan's proper matron and Konoha's proper Hokage's wife, she hardly lacked for money.
"Then thank you, Lady Mito."
Makoto's smile held honest joy and grateful words.
He hadn't expected to obtain the Yin Seal so easily. It was only a prototype, but from Mito's description the outline was already clear; the rest was improvement and polish.
The hardest part of any ninjutsu is going from zero to one. Mito had done the hardest part. Leaving the rest to Uzumaki Tsubashizuku should be fine. If not, his research team could tackle it—those tech-heads loved problems like this.
"You're welcome."
Mito nodded. For her it was a lift of the hand.
She couldn't help then asking about the bride price for marrying Uzumaki Tsubashizuku.
3.68 billion ryō.
The number was shocking.
"That's right.
"It's exactly that number. I've delivered it to the Uzumaki today. It represents both Akatsuki Village's sincerity in alliance and my sincerity in marrying Tsubashizuku.
"Using money to prove sincerity is the simplest way."
Makoto maintained his persona. He sensed Mito responded well to the "devoted husband" image. He did like Tsubashizuku, but a lot of it was desire. They hadn't spent long together; calling it love was heavy.
But if Mito liked it,
he was happy to perform.
After all, when Hashirama died, Konoha would most likely see Tobirama ascend as Second Hokage. That naturally sinister Senju old ghost, once fully in control, would surely eye Akatsuki Village like a hawk.
Whatever the motive, leaving Mito with a good impression could only help. If Tobirama ever tried any underhanded tricks against Akatsuki Village, even if Mito couldn't speak out for them,
a slight hint of her attitude would change the outcome.
"Truly enviable."
Mito nodded silently, her envy and "jealousy" toward Tsubashizuku growing stronger. Even if she was the noblest woman in Konoha, even in the whole shinobi world, so what?
She could not receive her husband Senju Hashirama's whole love.
"Lady Mito, a good woman like you—I believe Lord Hashirama must love you with all his heart."
Uzumaki Mito: "…"
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