"Why?" Kushina's voice was faint, barely audible. "Why won't they help? Aren't Konoha and Uzushio supposed to be brothers?"
Kushina's tears fell as she looked at Mito with shattered, hopeful eyes.
"Grandma Mito... why...?"
Mito stared at Kushina, silent.
There was no answer that could be given that wouldn't hurt the girl even more.
"Father... Mother... Onee-chan... Brother Reiji..." Kushina named one by one the people she loved, her voice hoarse with emotion.
"What will happen to them? What about the other Uzushio citizens? They all... they all will fight out there... but no one wants to help..."
Mito lowered her gaze.
Mito's deep eyes reflected shadows of the past—a time when Mito herself witnessed her birthplace, Uzushiogakure, slowly being forgotten by the world.
That village was once strong, but its strength only made many enemies desire the destruction of Uzushio.
"I'm sorry..." Mito whispered softly.
"I've been silent for too long. I thought my silence could maintain peace... but it only made them trample on my dignity."
"I hate... I hate Konoha!" Kushina finally shouted, and with tears still flowing, she ran out of the yard.
"Kushina!" Nawaki instinctively started to chase after her.
"Stop, Nawaki," Tsunade said quickly, as she held Nawaki's arm. "Let Kushina be alone for now."
"But Kushina is in that state—" Nawaki tried to protest.
"I know..." Tsunade said softly, but her tone was sharp enough to stop Nawaki.
The atmosphere fell silent.
The wind blew gently, carrying the sounds of wild birds perched on the wooden rooftops.
Mito gazed at the sky for a moment, then closed her eyes.
Mito took a long, deep breath, and when she opened her eyes again, her gaze had changed—firm, clear, and blazing.
"I think... it's time for me to stop hiding."
"What?" Tsunade looked at Mito with wide eyes. "Grandma... are you... sure?"
"Yes, Grandma. Is it really safe?" Nawaki also asked.
"It's fine. I've hidden my youthful form long enough." Mito stood taller now, her voice steady.
"But today... my dignity was trampled. My status as a Jinchuuriki and the wife of the Hokage was insulted. I will not let that continue."
Mito was not a member of the Senju Clan by blood—she came from the Uzumaki Clan, known for their vast chakra and sealing techniques.
But as the wife of Hashirama Senju, the founder of Konoha, Mito had become part of that family.
Once, Hashirama had a dream: to create true peace.
To achieve that, Hashirama dismantled the exclusivity of the clans, encouraging mixed marriages and the integration of citizens.
But that idealism gradually eroded the identity of the Senju Clan until they nearly vanished from the village's history.
Now, Mito was determined to restore the dignity that had long been buried.
"I will revive the Senju Clan," Mito said in a soft yet clear voice.
"This clan will stand again... not just as a symbol, but as a true power. They have forgotten who we are. It's time for them to be reminded."
And for that... Mito would reveal who she truly was.
Not just an old, frail woman.
But the wife of a leader—steadfast, never to bow to anyone.
...
...
...
"Tsunade." The soft yet firm voice broke the silence.
Mito Uzumaki stood with an authoritative posture, her face radiating extraordinary calm.
Mito's sharp, experienced eyes looked straight at her granddaughter.
Tsunade, who had been standing beside Mito, immediately averted her gaze.
As soon as Tsunade heard her grandmother's voice, her body tensed slightly.
Even though Tsunade was a renowned tough kunoichi, there was something in Mito's gaze that always made Tsunade feel like a child in front of that woman.
"Yes, Grandma?" Tsunade replied quickly, her brows slightly furrowed as she tried to guess what her grandmother would say.
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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