March is a special month for the major ninja villages of the shinobi world.
At the end of every March, a new batch of ninja registration numbers appears in each village's archives.
So this month is also known as graduation season.
March 19.
That evening, the atmosphere at the "Big Pillar" household was unusually lively.
At Tsunade's instructions, the cook prepared a lavish dinner.
At the table, Tsunade personally poured a glass of juice for Nawaki and Uzumaki Kushina, then smiled at Nawaki and asked, "Nawaki, tomorrow is your graduation exam. Feeling any pressure?"
"Of course not! I'm the grandson of the First Hokage who founded Konoha!"
Nawaki—who looked strikingly similar to Uzumaki Naruto—grinned confidently and gave himself a thumbs-up. "Becoming a genin is just the beginning for me! My dream is to inherit the title of Hokage, just like Grandpa and Second Grandpa!"
"What a great answer. A real man has to do what he says," Tsunade said, propping her cheek on one hand, looking at Nawaki with pure affection. Then she revealed a bit of insider information with a smile. "But if you want to become a real genin, passing the school's graduation exam is only the first step. The most important hurdle is your jōnin instructor's test."
"Only after you pass your jōnin instructor's test do you count as a true genin—and take your first step toward becoming Hokage."
"Otherwise, even if you're the First Hokage's grandson, you'll be forced back to school to redo everything."
With that, Tsunade encouraged him. "If you can pass your jōnin instructor's test, your big sister will give you a graduation gift."
"Then you can start getting it ready," Nawaki said, brimming with spirit.
That kind of swagger was something canon Naruto could never have pulled off—if anything, it was extremely similar to Uzumaki Boruto.
Hearing the words "graduation gift," Kushina—quietly eating—seemed to think of something. A light flickered in her eyes, and she glanced toward Uzumaki Mito, seated at the head of the table.
By coincidence, Mito's gaze wasn't on her grandson at all—she was smiling at Kushina.
Feeling as if she'd been seen through, Kushina instinctively lowered her head and kept eating.
But after dinner, Kushina hesitated for a long time. In the end, she still gathered her courage and went to Mito's room.
Mito wasn't lying down to rest. She was sitting at the edge of the bed, as if she had been waiting.
Kushina didn't dare meet her eyes. She stared at her own toes and asked in a small voice, "L-Lady Mito… could you teach me the unsealing technique?"
"Child, you don't need to be embarrassed, because it was always yours," Mito said gently, smiling. "Compared to an old woman like me—someone who should've been an outsider by name—you, the Uzumaki clan's last spark and hope, are the one most suited to hold it."
Then Mito beckoned her over. "Come, child. Come talk with this old woman for a while."
Kushina immediately walked over, carefully and timidly.
Mito lifted a hand and rested it on Kushina's head, stroking her hair as she asked, "Child… do you know why you were the one sent here?"
"Yes," Kushina nodded. "The clan head said that even when I was very small, I already had strong chakra that could suppress the Nine-Tails. When he begged that ninja to take me away, he also said I was the best jinchūriki vessel—and that I must be escorted safely to Konoha."
"Then do you know what the Nine-Tails is, and what a jinchūriki is?" Mito asked softly.
Kushina shook her head. Before anyone could drill those things into her, Uzushio had already fallen.
"In the shinobi world, there exist nine powerful demonic beasts. Each one has a unique number of tails and distinct traits of power. Every tailed beast is so strong it's like a natural disaster…"
Mito began explaining the tailed beasts to Kushina, and also told her the Uzumaki clan's mission:
"Our Uzumaki clan is known for vitality and sealing techniques. By nature, we are the best vessels to restrain tailed beasts—guardians who bring peace to the world."
By now, Kushina's face had gone pale. Her voice trembled as she asked, "So I… I have to become the container for that monster?"
Mito continued stroking Kushina's head and gently guided her. "Child, we came here to be the Nine-Tails' vessel. But before that, we must find love to fill the vessel. That way, even if you must live as the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, you can still find happiness."
At those words, the first figure that flashed through Kushina's mind was Gojo Yoru.
But then, a stronger fear surged up in her chest.
Her eyes welled with tears, voice catching as she said, "Lady Mito… I… I'm scared…"
"You don't need to be afraid, child," Mito said with a loving smile. "You're even luckier than I was, because you found what your heart can hold much earlier. That child won't mind. And he will become your protector."
"R-really?"
"Of course. He's a good child as well—you can tell him everything," Mito nodded with a smile, then shifted the topic. "But before that, I'll teach you the unsealing technique, and return that thing to its rightful owner."
With that, Mito stood up, leaning on her cane, and walked to a wardrobe.
She opened it and took out an enormous red-and-white scroll.
A sealing tag was affixed to it, covered in sealing characters—an Uzumaki creation.
Only Uzumaki chakra and Uzumaki sealing arts could release that seal. Otherwise, no one could open the scroll.
After taking it out, Mito began teaching Kushina the unsealing technique—how to open the scroll, and how to seal it again.
This scroll was Uzushio's Book of Seals—the Uzumaki clan's encyclopedia of sealing techniques. It had been brought back to Konoha with Kushina last year, and had been kept by Mito ever since.
Inside were not only common low- and high-level sealing techniques, but also three major categories of barrier techniques—sensing, trapping, and defense—plus extremely rare S-rank sealing arts that only Uzumaki leadership could use.
Such as the diamond mark on Mito's forehead: the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
Such as the Reaper Death Seal used by Namikaze Minato in canon.
Such as the Reverse Four Symbols Seal used by Shimura Danzō to seal a bridge.
And the seals used in canon to seal the Dragon Vein, and more…
Alongside these techniques were illustrated instructions and notes from predecessors about training experience…
If you had talent for sealing arts, even without a teacher, you could follow the guidance in the scroll and easily master the shinobi world's hardest discipline—becoming a sealing master feared across the world.
In the past, seeing this scroll would have filled Kushina with joy and excitement.
But now, the girl looked dazed and hollow.
Mito understood that Kushina couldn't accept it right away. She only continued stroking her head—offering silent comfort.
~~~
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