As people grow old, generally speaking, their memories tend to become blurred.
But Uzumaki Mito was clearly not among them.
A master of Fūinjutsu, she seemed capable of sealing and preserving memories themselves, carefully storing every detail of those she cherished within her mind…
This, perhaps, was also a mental weapon she used to resist the erosion of the Nine-Tails.
In any case, when Hiruzen seized the opportunity to slip this question in, Mito instantly recalled a certain white-haired individual who preferred to remain unnamed.
Back then, Tobirama had also always circled around, probing her with similar questions…
And Hashirama would always warn Mito not to tell Tobirama too much—otherwise, it might cause trouble.
That younger brother of his was good in every way, except that his courage was simply too great!
Things that looked utterly fanciful and absolutely impossible—once they landed in his hands, there was a real chance he might actually pull them off…
"Hiruzen, why would you think to ask such a question?"
Mito's tone was teasing. "Then again, you've read your sensei's research notes, haven't you? I'm quite curious about his notes myself…"
"Someone like him—if it weren't for research, he would never leave behind any traces at all. Did he scold me anywhere in those notes?"
Hiruzen looked as if his mind were wandering far away. "Ah, how could that be, Mito-sama? My sensei's notes are all related to research…"
Not what he had expected—Uzumaki Mito's memory was actually that good! The monkey's tail had peeked out just a little…
"So you really are Tobirama's good disciple! Quite good at protecting his privacy for him…"
Mito sighed and shook her head. Even if she demanded to see Tobirama's notes, judging by the way Hiruzen was evasively deflecting the matter, it was obvious he wouldn't agree.
After all, in research notes, it's not only normal to record data and inspiration—it's also normal to slip in a couple of snarky remarks now and then…
As for that view, the Hokage also deeply agreed with it.
Setting aside the fact that he had read Tobirama's notes.
Back in his previous life, even if it was his closest friends and family, they absolutely were not allowed to look at his browsing history or favorites…
"Mito-sama, it's like this."
"In my sensei's notes, there are some ideas about reconnecting severed limbs. That's extremely valuable for those shinobi who are injured on the battlefield."
"In the notes, I saw that my sensei was stuck on the 'materials'—but for some reason, he only wrote down your name and didn't write out the later line of thought."
Hiruzen's face was full of sincerity.
Was it true?
It was indeed true.
Developing limb-regrowth technology had always been one of his plans; it just so happened there were other points as well.
So, in the Hokage's own understanding, this wasn't deception—he simply hadn't told the whole truth.
"You know, even though the monkey's abilities are lacking, he's always been fairly steady…" Hiruzen's thoughts stirred as he said this.
This time, he was cashing in his own credit score!
Uzumaki Mito pondered for a moment, then felt relieved.
The monkey—after all, he wasn't Tobirama…
He had always been steady and capable of bearing responsibility, but lacked sharp ambition.
Now, however, it could be said that only by breaking could he stand anew—after finally mustering his confidence, he had also shown sincere filial devotion and concern toward her…
First came bearing the thorns to plead for forgiveness, then supporting the Uzumaki, sending Yamato over, and even deciding to temporarily set aside the matter of the Nine-Tails.
Such a good child—surely he had a clear sense of measure in his actions!
"Look at you—I was just teasing you a bit. Why are you taking it so seriously?"
Mito chuckled lightly, stood up, and went into the inner room. She returned and handed Hiruzen one scroll and three pendants.
"These are?" Hiruzen asked respectfully.
"Living with this fox, I always need to find things to do. Some of these are little trinkets I made myself; others were left to me by Hashirama…" Mito picked up the deep green pendant in the middle and gestured for Hiruzen to come closer.
"This one was left to me by Hashirama—I'm giving it to you, monkey." Mito placed the necklace around the Hokage's neck. "Keeping it on all the time only makes one heartsick when memories are stirred; I would only take it out to look at it from time to time."
"Now that Yamato is here with me, there's no need to keep it anymore…"
Hiruzen nodded obediently.
He hadn't expected the necklace to have any special function.
At most, it was probably similar to Tsunade's—something that cleared the mind and refreshed the spirit.
The necklace's greatest value lay in one thing: Uzumaki Mito's recognition of him.
"As for these two," she continued, "I made them myself, imitating Hashirama…"
"Hashirama, you know—although he was usually rather foolish, he was truly remarkable! To compress so much chakra into a single point, bound to material, and then have it release slowly…"
"It sounds simple, but it took me many years to grasp even a few clues," Mito said with a faint smile.
Hiruzen blinked. "Then why didn't you ask back then how Hashirama-sama managed to do it?"
The technique behind it was extremely valuable.
It could be said that this was precisely the difficulty of medical scroll technology—the problem of storing medical chakra and releasing it gradually.
"Him? What would he know about things like that?" Mito said, finding it amusing. "He would only say things like, 'I don't know how it works—anyway, it's not hard.'"
"At the time, he really made me laugh in exasperation. He was an unconventional shinobi."
Hiruzen nodded deeply in agreement.
A sheer stat monster who also had control—no wonder it left people baffled…
Still, there was no rush to bring up the matter of "medical scrolls" with Mito.
Meals had to be eaten one bite at a time; asking too much all at once would seem overly eager and inevitably affect the impression.
'When the time comes to develop it, let Tsunade ask—it would be more appropriate,' Hiruzen thought.
"You want to earn money from those nobles and use it to provide benefits for the village. That's a good thing,"
Mito said softly. "These two pendants—giving them to the daimyō may be of help to you. For the sake of the village, you need not avoid using my name."
"And this scroll is a sealing technique I have recently developed. It can form an environment that promotes the fusion of different-source chakra."
"I originally wanted to see whether it could be used on the Nine-Tails, but it is too powerful, so it cannot be applied."
"But for severed limbs, it should be of some help."
Hiruzen was deeply moved.
Even though this was not a finished product, merely a prototype and a line of thought, it could still bring tremendous benefit to Konohagakure.
And this village, too, truly was a massive treasure—dig just a little, and it could already bring pleasant surprises.
"As for techniques, there actually is one village with something similar."
"In the Uzumaki records, it is written that the Land of Waterfalls has a secret technique called Earth Grudge Fear. The black threads formed within the body are extremely useful for transmitting chakra and stitching flesh together."
"There was once a young man who sparred with Hashirama—he was from Takigakure."
"I heard that later he assassinated the village's upper leadership and obtained this secret technique. Hashirama even felt regret for him."
"As for what happened to that young man afterward, I don't know…"
Mito shook her head. "I've stayed in the village for far too long."
Hiruzen carefully stored away the two necklaces and the scroll. Holding the relic Hashirama had left behind against his chest, he bowed deeply to Mito once more.
"Mito-sama, the help you have given—to the monkey, and to the village—is beyond what words can express!"
"The monkey will certainly not fail this trust. I will give everything to make the village flourish, and strive to resolve the regrets of the Senju, the Uchiha, and the Uzumaki!"
Mito laughed softly. "Just do your best, Hiruzen…"
After Hiruzen left, there seemed to be a faint diamond-shaped mark once again at Mito's forehead.
The Nine-Tails within her body also sensed the change, turned over irritably, and let out a cold laugh.
The Nine-Tails could hear part of the conversation between Hiruzen and Mito.
It was furious.
Furious that Hiruzen dared not value its power!
What did he mean by Uzumaki Mito being more important than it? Utterly foolish!
Yet, on the other hand, the Nine-Tails silently took note of Hiruzen.
That posture—preferring to abandon it so that Uzumaki Mito could live out her old age in peace… even moved the Nine-Tails a little.
There were humans like this?
...
The next day.
The Hokage Building.
Hiruzen took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming sharply.
There was much more work to be done…
"Have Orochimaru and Hiruko come here," the Hokage ordered.
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