Ding!
The system issued a mission:
"Because the Second Great Ninja War is extremely dangerous, please join the team of the Legendary Sannin. Mission reward: 5,000 points."
At the same time, Mito shot Tsunade a look, signaling her to hurry up and speak.
Under Grandma's gaze, Tsunade put down her bowl and chopsticks and suddenly said, "Kotarou-kun, I have a request. I hope you can agree."
As she spoke, Tsunade fixed her eyes on Kotarou, her expression serious and solemn.
Kotarou heard her voice and looked over, setting his bowl and chopsticks aside and straightening his posture.
"Please give your orders, Tsunade-sama. As long as it is within my power, I will never refuse."
Kotarou's gaze was earnest and grave as he looked into Tsunade's eyes.
Hearing his words and then seeing Kotarou's attitude, Tsunade couldn't help feeling a weight lift from her heart. Her expression softened.
"The Hokage-sama has ordered Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and me to each lead one thousand ninja as the vanguard to the Land of Rain. We're allowed to pick one trusted aide from the village to accompany us, so…"
Kotarou's eyes lit up and he shot to his feet.
"If you need me, I am willing to go through fire and water for you, Tsunade-sama, without hesitation!"
Tsunade froze for a moment at that.
Kotarou might not be that strong yet, but he really knew how to talk.
"To go through fire and water, without hesitation"… what kind of resolve was that supposed to be!
Even Mito, off to the side, narrowed her eyes to slits when she heard Kotarou's words.
Trusted aide, huh… this was indeed a very good starting point.
The corners of Tsunade's mouth lifted into a smile.
"Then I'll be in your care this time, Kotarou-kun."
"Yes! Tsunade-sama!"
Kotarou's heart was overflowing with joy.
This was really: you wear out iron shoes searching with no result, only to find it without any effort at all.
Ding!
"The system has detected that the host has completed the mission. Reward: 5,000 points. Current balance: 6,550 points."
Ding!
"Congratulations to the host for achieving the 'Minor Achievement' milestone (total points reaching 5,000). Reward: B-rank ninjutsu, Jiton Shinshi no Me (Magnet Release - True Sight Eye), modeled on the ninjutsu Gaara used to cheat during the Chūnin Exams."
He had actually gotten this reward!
Kotarou's expression brightened.
With this type of detection skill, he would surely be able to avoid a lot of danger in the future.
He lifted his head to glance at Mito, who was still calmly eating, and suddenly thought of something, but then hesitated to speak.
Right… how was he supposed to remind Mito-sama about what would happen to the Uzumaki clan?
Seeing that look on Kotarou's face, Mito's brows drew together for a moment, then slowly relaxed.
"Tsunade-chan, you've almost finished eating, haven't you? In that case, go report to Monkey first. I'll bring this little guy over to meet up with you in a bit."
Tsunade paused, suddenly realizing Grandma wanted to ask Kotarou something and was trying to send her away.
She glanced at Kotarou, then nodded and stood up.
"Okay, Grandma, I'll go ahead."
With that, she finished the last bite in her bowl, gently set it down on the table, and briskly left.
Once her granddaughter had gone far enough away, Mito took Kotarou by the hand with a kindly smile.
"Kotarou-kun, come. Let's go inside and talk."
Kotarou nodded as soon as he heard that.
He knew Mito Grandma had definitely noticed he had something on his mind, which was why she had sent Tsunade away.
Once they were inside the room, Mito cast a barrier-type ninjutsu, sealing off the space.
For the moment, only the two of them could hear this conversation.
"Go ahead, Kotarou-kun. What is it you want to tell me?"
As she spoke, Mito slowly sat down and personally brewed a pot of tea.
Kotarou's eyes were no longer hesitant.
He felt that if he kept quiet about this, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
Off to the side, Mito could clearly feel the shift in his emotions and couldn't help but frown slightly.
Until Kotarou finally spoke.
"Grandma… no, Mito-sama, I want to ask: how strong is the combat power of the Uzumaki clan?"
He finished and looked straight into Mito's eyes, his gaze utterly serious.
Mito was taken aback, then shook her head.
"Our clan specializes in sealing techniques and medical techniques. We are a peace-loving clan. Just by relying on those arts, we have more than enough strength to protect ourselves."
She did not understand why Kotarou would suddenly ask this.
But seeing how serious he seemed, she could only answer honestly.
"Mito-sama, I mean… if someone took advantage of the war to launch an attack on the Land of Whirlpools while Konoha was fighting in the Land of Rain, would the Hidden Leaf send reinforcements to the Land of Whirlpools?"
As soon as Kotarou finished speaking, he felt a tremendous force surge toward him.
Kongō Fūsa (Adamantine Sealing Chains)!
It was Mito's Kongō Fūsa (Adamantine Sealing Chains).
In that moment, Mito's eyes were filled with icy coldness.
"Kotarou-kun, who told you to say these things?"
In an instant, Kotarou was bound up by several thick chains.
Aside from his mouth, the rest of him was restrained so tightly he couldn't move at all.
Inside Mito's body, the Nine-Tails trembled in fear.
Damn, I thought four chains were already plenty scary, but this brat actually managed to piss this old hag off enough to pull out this many… tsk tsk.
Mito spoke sharply.
"Our Uzumaki clan and the Land of Whirlpools love peace. We have never invaded any other nation. Why would anyone attack us? What would they gain by attacking the Land of Whirlpools?"
She was furious.
As the former princess of the Land of Whirlpools, Kotarou's words had touched her reverse scale.
Not to mention that in her eyes, attacking the Land of Whirlpools was a thankless endeavor. After all, the Land of Whirlpools and Konoha were allies!
"Haa… Mito-sama, please listen. The Uzumaki clan specializes in sealing techniques, right? When Hashirama-sama distributed the Tailed Beasts back then, the sealing techniques of the other countries were far cruder than those of the Uzumaki clan. Their seals will break from time to time, causing rampages. Do you really think they can endure that forever?"
Kotarou rushed to explain.
A glimmer flashed through Mito's eyes.
She had only been blinded by anger for a moment, not gone stupid.
Now that she had heard Kotarou's explanation, her heart stirred.
She felt he was about to say something truly shocking… but she still didn't sense any malice from him.
So Mito withdrew the Kongō Fūsa (Adamantine Sealing Chains).
She looked at Kotarou and said calmly, "Kotarou-kun, say everything you want to say."
By now she had fully regained her composure.
After all, Kotarou's reasoning did make sense.
"The Uzumaki clan is an ally of Konoha, and with you here, Mito-sama, the village doesn't have to suffer the damage caused by a Jinchūriki's seal breaking. But the Uzumaki clan certainly won't help the other four great nations with their seals.
So if the other four great nations took advantage of Konoha's war in the Land of Rain to send ninja to attack the Land of Whirlpools and seize its sealing techniques… would the Land of Whirlpools really be able to hold out?"
Kotarou's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's.
(End of Chapter)
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