"You really do have a terrible memory, Brother Sarutobi."
A faint smile appeared on Isamu's face.
The next moment, his facial structure began changing instantly.
Long black hair flowed down his back—
And his true appearance was finally revealed.
"Isamu?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened in shock.
He subconsciously stepped forward, but then suddenly recalled the incident years ago at Konoha Hospital, when someone had also impersonated Isamu.
Looking at the man before him now, Hiruzen hesitated again.
He genuinely could not determine whether this person was truly Isamu or another fake.
Seeing Hiruzen's conflicted expression, Isamu immediately understood what he was thinking.
But he didn't care.
He hadn't come here today to prove his identity anyway.
Ignoring everyone else, Isamu walked directly over to Senba and gently rubbed his head.
"What's wrong, little Senba?"
"You look so gloomy."
"That's not like you at all."
"M-Master…"
"Please… please help Grandma…"
"I really can't lose her…"
Senba's voice trembled slightly.
Looking at Isamu's familiar face, he suddenly didn't even know what he should call him anymore.
But right now, none of that mattered.
The only thing he cared about was the grandmother lying weakly on the stone bed.
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural laws of the world."
"No one can escape them."
"Even your grandfather Hashirama, who was called the God of Shinobi, could not escape death."
"You must learn to be strong."
As he spoke, Isamu gently patted Senba's head.
Uzumaki Mito reclined weakly against the stone bed while quietly observing Isamu.
Her emotions were extremely complicated.
His appearance was exactly the same as Isamu's—
Yet the dark and dangerous aura hidden within him was impossible to mistake.
However, what confused her most was the sincerity in the way he treated Senba.
The concern in his eyes did not seem fake at all.
For a moment, even she could not decide whether to trust him or not.
"But… but…"
Nine-year-old Senba already understood a little about death.
But emotionally—
He simply could not accept losing the person closest to him.
"Alright, little Senba."
"Enough."
"This person is right."
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are unavoidable."
"Even Grandma cannot escape them."
Then Uzumaki Mito slowly raised a hand and pointed toward Isamu.
"Let him come over."
"I want to speak with him."
Hearing this, Senba immediately stepped aside.
However, although Senba moved, Hiruzen and the Anbu were unwilling to do the same.
After all—
The Nine-Tails was Konoha's greatest weapon.
Allowing an outsider near the Jinchuriki during the transfer process was extremely dangerous.
"Monkey."
"Let him approach."
"I believe he won't cause trouble."
"Don't you think so?"
Uzumaki Mito narrowed her eyes while looking directly at Isamu.
"Heh."
"You're still as perceptive as ever."
"But you're right."
"If I truly wanted the Nine-Tails…"
"I wouldn't have appeared this early."
"I could've simply waited until the transfer reached its most critical moment and then taken it by force."
Isamu smiled faintly.
Hiruzen and the others considered his words carefully.
It made sense.
If he truly intended to seize the Nine-Tails, revealing himself so early would only be foolish.
Combined with Danzo clearly knowing him and Mito personally speaking up for him—
They finally stepped aside.
At the same time, Hiruzen shot Danzo a suspicious glance.
Danzo immediately panicked inwardly.
Damn it.
Why are you looking at me?!
Don't tell me you think I'm plotting against the Nine-Tails too?!
Isamu, you bastard—
You'd better not pull something crazy here!
If anything goes wrong, I'll get dragged down with you!
At that moment, Danzo silently prayed in his heart.
He absolutely could not lose his current position and authority within Konoha.
"I never expected your life would also eventually reach its end, Grandma Mito."
"Time truly passes quickly."
"It feels like only yesterday that you called me over after my attack on the Land of Earth…"
"And now…"
A trace of genuine respect appeared in Isamu's eyes.
This old woman had survived from the Warring States Era all the way until now.
More importantly—
After he caused chaos back then, she had been one of the very few people willing to stand up and protect him.
For that alone, Isamu had always respected her deeply.
"Heh."
"As you yourself said…"
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural laws."
"I'm merely an ordinary old woman."
"So growing old is perfectly normal."
Uzumaki Mito smiled gently while shaking her head.
But then—
She suddenly realized something.
Back then, after Isamu caused trouble, she had personally protected him.
The conversation they shared inside the prison afterward—
Was something only the real Isamu and herself knew about.
Could it be…?
"Do you still remember what you said to me back then?"
Mito suddenly asked excitedly.
"What I said?"
Isamu paused slightly.
So much time had passed that even he struggled to remember every detail.
Still, after thinking for a moment, he slowly answered:
"You said you thought I would become just as unruly as my father."
"And I replied that I would never become someone like him."
"Nor would I ever walk the same path."
"Are you referring to that conversation?"
"Yes!"
"That's the one!"
Mito became visibly excited.
Then she quickly asked another question.
"Do you remember what we discussed afterward?"
That topic was an absolute secret between the two of them.
As long as this person could answer correctly—
She could completely confirm his identity.
"The topic afterward…"
Isamu frowned slightly while recalling it.
Then uncertainly replied:
"The Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan?"
"Yes!"
"Yes, exactly!"
"Tian— Isamu!"
"It really is you!"
Uzumaki Mito straightened up excitedly.
In all of Konoha, only she and Isamu knew about the secret of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
No outsider could possibly know that.
At this moment, she finally confirmed it completely.
The person before her truly was Isamu.
"It's me."
"Nine years ago, at the hospital when Senba was born, I already told you the truth."
"But you refused to believe me."
"You even used the Nine-Tails' power to drive me out of the Village."
"And now, years later…"
"You finally believe me instead."
"Sigh."
"Life really is unpredictable."
Isamu shook his head helplessly.
Recalling that chaotic day years ago, Mito also smiled bitterly.
Back then, while seizing control of the Nine-Tails' Chakra, she had accidentally forced Isamu to flee Konoha.
Perhaps it truly had all been fate.
Then Mito slowly turned to look at Senba beside her.
Her eyes filled with relief.
Originally, she had worried constantly about what would happen to Senba after her death.
But now—
Isamu had returned.
Not only that—
Senba had even become his disciple.
Clearly, Isamu had already been watching over him for a long time.
At this moment, Uzumaki Mito finally felt completely at ease.
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