Chapter 24: Kushina and Mito—The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Scroll
For the great ninja villages across the shinobi world, March held special significance.
At the end of this month every year, the villages' archive libraries received batches of new shinobi registration numbers.
This month earned the name "graduation season."
March 19th.
That evening, the atmosphere at the First Hokage's residence was unusually lively.
Following Tsunade's instructions, the chef prepared a lavish dinner.
At the table, Tsunade personally poured fruit juice for Nawaki and Kushina Uzumaki, then asked her brother with a smile: "Nawaki, your graduation exam is tomorrow. Feeling any pressure?"
"Of course not! I'm the grandson of the First Hokage who founded the Hidden Leaf Village!"
Nawaki—whose appearance strikingly resembled Naruto Uzumaki—gave a thumbs-up pointing at himself and grinned confidently. "Becoming a genin is just the beginning for me! My dream is to inherit the Hokage title just like Grandpa and Great-Uncle!"
"Well said. A man must keep his word." Tsunade propped her chin on one hand, looking at Nawaki with pure adoration in her eyes, then revealed partial intelligence with a smile. "However, passing the academy's graduation exam is only the first step to becoming a true genin. The most important test comes from your jonin instructor."
"Only by passing your jonin instructor's evaluation will you truly qualify as a genin and take the first step toward becoming Hokage."
"Otherwise, even as the First Hokage's grandson, you'll be forced back to the academy for remedial training."
Pausing there, Tsunade encouraged Nawaki: "If you pass your jonin instructor's evaluation, I'll give you a graduation present."
"Then you can start preparing it now, Sis."
Nawaki's spirited demeanor was something the original series' Naruto Uzumaki could never possess, though it strongly resembled Boruto Uzumaki.
Hearing the words "graduation present," Kushina—who'd been silently eating—suddenly seemed to think of something. Her eyes lit up, and she glanced toward Mito Uzumaki seated at the head of the table.
Coincidentally, Mito's gaze wasn't focused on her grandson but instead smiled gently at Kushina.
Feeling as though her thoughts had been completely read, Kushina instinctively lowered her head and continued eating.
However, after dinner, Kushina struggled internally for a long time before gathering courage to visit Mito Uzumaki's room.
Seeing that Mito hadn't lain down to rest but sat on the bed's edge as if waiting for her, Kushina's gaze flickered, unable to meet those eyes. She stared down at her toes and requested quietly: "Lady... Lady Mito, could you teach me unsealing techniques?"
"Child, you needn't feel embarrassed, because that was always meant to be yours." Mito smiled reassuringly. "Compared to this old woman who should technically be a different surname, you—as the Uzumaki clan's last ember and hope—are the most suitable person to possess it."
After speaking, Mito beckoned to Kushina: "Child, come chat with me for a while."
Kushina immediately approached Mito carefully.
Placing a hand on Kushina's head, Mito stroked her hair and asked: "Child, do you know why you were the one sent here?"
"Yes."
Kushina nodded. "The clan leader said that even when I was very young, I possessed powerful chakra capable of suppressing the Nine-Tails. When he asked that shinobi to take me away, he also said I was the best jinchuriki vessel and must be safely escorted to Konoha."
"Then do you understand what the Nine-Tails and jinchuriki are?" Mito asked gently.
Kushina shook her head. She hadn't been taught this information before Uzushiogakure was destroyed.
"The shinobi world contains nine powerful beasts. They possess unique numbers of tails and power characteristics. Each tailed beast's strength is overwhelming, like natural disasters..."
Mito began explaining tailed beast knowledge to Kushina, telling her of the Uzumaki clan's mission: "Our Uzumaki clan excels in vitality and sealing techniques. We're naturally the ideal vessels for restraining tailed beasts—guardians who bring peace to the world."
By this point, Kushina's face had turned pale, her voice trembling: "Must I... must I become a container for that kind of monster?"
Mito continued stroking Kushina's head, counseling her: "Child, we came here as vessels for the Nine-Tails, but before that happens, we must find love to fill this vessel. That way, even living as the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, we can still achieve happiness."
Hearing this, the first image that surfaced in Kushina's mind was Yoru's face.
But immediately after, even stronger fear surged through her heart.
Tears welled in Kushina's eyes, her voice choked: "Lady Mito, I... I'm scared..."
"Don't be afraid, child..." Mito's smile remained gentle. "You're even more fortunate than I was, because you found what fills your heart much earlier. That boy won't mind at all, and he'll become your guardian."
"Really... really?"
"Of course. He's also a good child. You can tell him everything." Mito smiled and nodded, then changed the subject. "But before that, let me teach you unsealing techniques. It's time to return that item to its rightful owner."
After speaking, Mito rose with her cane and walked to a wardrobe.
Opening it, Mito retrieved an enormous red-and-white scroll.
Sealing tags covered the scroll's surface, the "seal" character written in the Uzumaki clan's masterwork style.
Only Uzumaki clan chakra and sealing techniques could break these seals—otherwise, no one could open this scroll.
After retrieving the scroll, Mito began teaching Kushina unsealing techniques—how to open and reseal this scroll.
This scroll was Uzushiogakure's Sealing Scroll, the Uzumaki clan's sealing technique encyclopedia. It had arrived in Konoha with Kushina last year and remained in Mito's safekeeping.
Inside this scroll existed not only common low-level and high-level sealing techniques, but also barrier techniques in three major categories—sensory, containment, and defensive—plus super-rare S-rank sealing techniques known only to Uzumaki clan leadership.
Like the diamond mark on Mito Uzumaki's forehead—the Yin Seal.
Like what Minato Namikaze would use in the original series—the Reaper Death Seal.
Also Danzo Shimura's technique for sealing an entire bridge—the Reverse Four Symbols Seal.
And the seal used on the Dragon Vein in the original series, among others...
Beside each sealing technique were illustrated instructions plus training insights from predecessors...
Anyone possessing sealing technique talent could master the shinobi world's most difficult-to-learn sealing arts even without instruction, simply by following the provided teachings, becoming a sealing master feared throughout the ninja world.
Previously, Kushina would have been overjoyed to see this scroll.
But now, the girl existed in a dazed, confused state.
Mito knew Kushina couldn't accept everything immediately, only stroking her head in silent comfort.