When people grow old, their memories usually begin to blur.
Mito Uzumaki was clearly an exception.
A master of sealing jutsu, she treated her memories the same way she treated her techniques, locking them away and preserving them in perfect condition. Every detail of those she cherished remained vivid in her mind.
Perhaps that was also her weapon against the Nine-Tails' corrosion.
So when Hiruzen Sarutobi slipped his question into the conversation at just the right moment, Mito instantly recalled a certain white-haired man who preferred not to be named.
Back then, Tobirama Senju had often circled around similar topics with her.
And Hashirama Senju had always warned her not to tell Tobirama too much. Otherwise, it might cause trouble.
His younger brother was excellent in many ways.
His only flaw was that his courage ran a little too far ahead of reason.
Things that seemed impossible, absurd even, could somehow take shape in his hands.
"Hiruzen, what made you think to ask that?"
Mito's tone carried a teasing edge. "Ah, I see. You've been reading your teacher's research notes, haven't you? I've always been curious about them myself."
"A man like him wouldn't leave traces unless it was for research. Did he curse me anywhere in those notes?"
Hiruzen adopted a distant, almost absent look. "How could that be, Mito-sama? My teacher's notes are entirely related to research."
He had not expected her memory to be this sharp. The monkey's tail had slipped out just a little.
"As expected of Tobirama's good student. You're quite protective of his privacy."
Mito sighed with faint amusement and shook her head. Even if she asked to see Tobirama's notes, one glance at Hiruzen's smooth deflections told her he would never agree.
After all, research notes did not only contain data and inspiration. A few complaints mixed in were only natural.
On that point, the Hokage wholeheartedly agreed.
Leaving aside the matter of Tobirama's notes…
Even in his previous life, no matter how close someone was to him, they were absolutely not allowed to look through his browser history or favorites.
"Mito-sama, it's like this."
"In my teacher's notes, he recorded some ideas about reattaching severed limbs. For shinobi injured on the battlefield, this would be extremely valuable."
"I saw that he was stuck on the issue of 'materials.' For some reason, he marked your name, but didn't write down the follow-up thoughts."
Hiruzen's face was the picture of sincerity.
Was that the truth?
It was.
Developing limb regeneration technology had always been one of his plans. It just happened to overlap with other objectives.
From his perspective, this was not deception. It was simply the truth, not told in full.
"You know, this monkey may not be the most capable, but I've always been steady," Hiruzen added carefully.
This time, he was spending his own credit.
Mito considered his words for a moment, then relaxed.
After all, he was a monkey, not Tobirama.
He had always been more than steady enough, though perhaps lacking that relentless drive to push forward at any cost. Now, after breaking through his own doubts, he had finally found renewed confidence. He had shown her sincere filial respect and concern.
He had come to apologize. He had supported the Uzumaki Clan. He had brought Yamato to her. He had even decided to temporarily set aside matters concerning the Nine-Tails.
A good child like this should know his limits.
"Look at you. I tease you twice and you take it so seriously."
Mito laughed softly, rose, and went into the inner room. When she returned, she handed Hiruzen a scroll and three pendants.
"What are these?" Hiruzen asked respectfully.
"Living with that fox, I need things to occupy myself. Some of these I made myself. Some were left to me by Hashirama."
She picked up the deep green pendant in the center and gestured for Hiruzen to come closer.
"This one was left to me by Hashirama. I'll give it to you, Monkey."
She placed the necklace around the Hokage's neck.
"Keeping it on all the time only makes one sad, seeing it and remembering. I would take it out now and then to look at it."
"Now that I have Yamato with me, I don't need to keep it anymore."
Hiruzen nodded obediently.
He had no grand hopes that the necklace possessed some extraordinary effect. At most, it might be similar to Tsunade's, perhaps clearing the mind.
Its greatest value lay in Mito Uzumaki's recognition of him.
"These two," Mito continued, holding up the remaining pendants, "I made by imitating Hashirama."
"That man… he looked a little foolish in daily life, but he was incredible. To compress such a vast amount of Chakra into a single point within matter, and have it release slowly…"
"It sounds simple. It took me all these years to grasp even a hint of it."
She smiled faintly as she spoke.
Hiruzen blinked. "Then why didn't you ask Hashirama-sama how he did it back then?"
The technique behind that was immensely valuable.
It was, in essence, the very difficulty behind Medical Scroll technology, storing medical Chakra and releasing it gradually.
"Him?" Mito chuckled. "He didn't understand those details. He would only say things like 'I don't know how, it just works. It's not difficult.'"
She laughed at the memory.
"He was an unconventional shinobi."
Hiruzen nodded deeply.
A monster of sheer numbers with that kind of control was impossible to comprehend.
Still, this was not the time to bring up Medical Scrolls.
One bite at a time. Asking too much at once would seem overeager and leave a poor impression.
When the time comes, Tsunade can ask. That would be more appropriate, Hiruzen thought.
"You plan to earn the nobles' money and use it for the village's welfare. That's good."
Mito's voice softened.
"Take these two pendants to the daimyo. They may help you. If you need to use my name for the sake of the village, don't hesitate."
"As for this scroll, it contains a sealing jutsu I've been researching recently. It creates an environment that promotes the fusion of different sources of Chakra."
"I originally wanted to see if it could be used on the Nine-Tails, but it's too powerful. It can't be applied there."
"But for severed limbs, it might be of some help."
Hiruzen felt a surge of emotion.
There was truth in the saying, having an elder at home is like possessing a treasure.
Though not a finished product, merely a prototype and a line of thought, it could still bring immense benefit to Konoha.
This village itself was a vast treasure trove. Dig just a little, and it rewarded you with surprises.
"There is a village with a somewhat similar technique," Mito added.
"In the Uzumaki Clan's records, the Land of Waterfalls is said to possess a secret technique called Earth Grudge Fear. It forms black threads within the body, useful for transmitting Chakra and stitching flesh."
"There was once a young man from the Hidden Waterfall Village who sparred with Hashirama."
"I heard he later assassinated his village's leadership and obtained that technique. Hashirama even felt regret for him."
"As for what happened to that young man afterward, I don't know."
She shook her head lightly.
"I've stayed within the village for too long."
Hiruzen carefully stored the two pendants and the scroll away. Grasping the relic Hashirama had left against his chest, he bowed deeply once more to Mito Uzumaki.
"Mito-sama, the help you've given this monkey, and the village, is beyond words."
"This monkey will not fail your trust. I will give everything I have to ensure the village prospers, and to resolve the regrets between the Senju and the Uchiha, and the Uzumaki Clan."
Mito laughed softly.
"Do your best, Hiruzen."
After he left, a faint diamond-shaped mark seemed to surface once more on Mito's forehead.
Within her body, the Nine-Tails sensed the change. It shifted irritably, letting out a cold chuckle.
The Nine-Tails had caught fragments of the conversation between Hiruzen and Mito.
It was furious.
Furious that Hiruzen dared not value its power.
What did he mean, saying Mito Uzumaki was more important than it? Foolish beyond belief.
And yet…
At the same time, the Nine-Tails quietly marked Hiruzen Sarutobi in its memory.
He was willing to set it aside to let Mito live out her final years in peace.
That stirred something unexpected within the beast.
There were humans like that?
The next day.
Hokage Building.
Hiruzen took a deep breath. His eyes gleamed sharply.
There was much to do.
"Send for Orochimaru and Hiruko," the Hokage ordered.