"Tsunade should have talked to you about this kind of thing, right?"
"Haha…"
Tōshirō could only let out an awkward laugh to ease the embarrassment of the moment.
"To be honest, I never expected the two of you would develop feelings for each other. If he were still alive, he would have been delighted to see it."
Tōshirō's ears twitched as he caught the key word. "He—as in your husband, the First Hokage?"
Mito nodded with a gentle smile. "Yes."
Looking at Mito's kind profile, Tōshirō cautiously tested the waters: "You don't seem very opposed to us…"
"This is a matter between you young people. I don't really have a reason to be against it."
Mito displayed a generous attitude, able to rise above the usual village prejudices.
Tōshirō let out a sigh, his expression showing a bit of concern. "But I'm from the Uchiha clan…"
Mito's gaze gained a touch of depth. "You're quite observant of the world around you."
Tōshirō waved a hand dismissively. "It's nothing, really. When you're constantly exposed to something, as long as you're not a fool, you'll pick up on it eventually."
Mito's eyes showed a hint of amusement. "If I said I was going to break you two apart, would you give up?"
"No. I'd face it head-on."
Tōshirō answered firmly and without hesitation.
Mito smiled approvingly. "Then in that case, why are you still asking me? Just follow your heart."
Hearing that Mito wasn't against his relationship with Tsunade, Tōshirō couldn't hide the excitement in his tone. "So, does that mean… you approve?"
If it were anyone else, Tōshirō wouldn't even bother asking—but getting Mito's support really mattered.
Mito gave him a look and sighed, speaking honestly: "From a personal emotional standpoint, I'm not entirely comfortable with Tsunade getting too involved with you. After all, the Uchiha clan has a complicated history, and I don't want my granddaughter caught up in that.
"But I also know, given Tsunade's personality, she wouldn't care about such things. Besides, integrating the Uchiha into the village was one of Hashirama's final wishes."
Tōshirō asked, "Was it really true that the First Hokage died because of his battle with Uchiha Madara?"
"Back then, Hashirama did defeat Madara, even though he had the Nine-Tails. But Hashirama pushed his body far beyond its limits—he didn't have much time left afterward." Mito gently touched her belly. "And the Nine-Tails I now host came into me shortly after that."
Tōshirō was stunned. "He exhausted his life force?"
Mito explained, "Hashirama had a unique ability to regenerate his wounds without needing to form hand seals—no one could kill him on the battlefield. That's why they called him invincible. But even so, his power had a weakness: human cells can only divide a finite number of times. Forcing that division early was, in essence, cutting into his own lifespan."
"Since he was the most respected person in the village, it's no surprise the villagers turned their anger toward the Uchiha after his death."
Tōshirō gave a bitter smile. "In a way, that's exactly like being a Jinchūriki. Even when the Jinchūriki isn't at fault, they still end up bearing the hatred that shouldn't belong to them."
Mito glanced at him, sensing how becoming a Jinchūriki had already taken a toll on him, and felt compassion. "Seems like becoming a Jinchūriki in just a few days has already hit you pretty hard."
"Well… it's not that bad…"
Aside from the initial frustration upon suddenly finding himself a Jinchūriki, things had gotten much better after he tricked the Five-Tails into being somewhat obedient. Nowadays, he and the beast even joked around from time to time.
Mito felt that Tōshirō was putting on a brave face. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder and advised:
"Don't force yourself. Every person has a limit to what they can endure. If that limit is crossed, they will break."
Tōshirō smiled, not wanting to worry Mito too much: "Yeah, I understand."
However…
That smile looked different in Mito's eyes. She thought it was forced, and continued to comfort him:
"Don't think you have to shoulder all the pain alone. Sudden changes like this—even for adults, being turned into an unwanted Jinchūriki would cause depression. It's perfectly normal to feel that way. But you must stay strong. Never let that depression linger, or the tailed beast will take advantage of it. It'll slowly erode your will, and eventually you'll lose control. Trust me, I'm not exaggerating. Many Jinchūriki in other villages fell to this exact pattern."
Mito's heartfelt words made it obvious to Tōshirō that she genuinely cared about him. But it was awkward—he couldn't exactly say, "Actually, I've already got my tailed beast under control."
From an outsider's perspective, it would be unbelievable. Come on, you just became a Jinchūriki and haven't even had time to get used to it, and you've already tamed your tailed beast? People might think you beat it into submission or something.
Seeing that Tōshirō still hadn't responded, Mito even started using her own experience as an example, making Tōshirō feel more and more awkward. In the end, he could only change the subject: "Lady Mito, maybe we shouldn't talk about this anymore."
"Running away won't solve anything. Only by facing a problem head-on can you overcome it."
"Uh…"
"Hold out your hand."
"What for?"
Mito smiled mysteriously. "You'll see in a moment."
Tōshirō didn't overthink it and obediently extended his hand.
Mito reached out as well and gently grasped his hand. "Close your eyes," she said softly.
Tōshirō was a bit puzzled but still did as told. He closed his eyes. Following Mito's guidance, he performed the next set of actions. When he came to, he realized he had entered his own spiritual realm—with Mito standing right next to him.
"Eh?!"
Mito smiled and said, "With that little move just now, I've connected my spiritual realm with yours. I can now see your tailed beast, and you can see mine… Huh? Your tailed beast???"
Just as she was speaking, she noticed the massive, slumbering figure behind Tōshirō. It was a creature that looked somewhat like a horse, yet not quite—a beast with horns and fur as white as snow: the Five-Tails.
Since they were in Tōshirō's spiritual realm, it was normal for her to see his tailed beast. But the problem was… why wasn't it sealed?
For a second, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.
Mito rubbed her eyes, thinking maybe her old age was messing with her vision. But no, the Five-Tails was really there—just lying down, fast asleep.
The Five-Tails had broken free of its seal?
Impossible!!!
As she was reeling, the Five-Tails suddenly woke up. It opened its eyes and noticed someone new next to Tōshirō. At first, it froze in surprise. Then it recognized her—the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails who had once beaten it down. It immediately stood up, bloodshot eyes flaring with hostility as it glared at Mito.
The memory of that old beatdown from the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki was still fresh.
Without wasting a second, Mito prepared to reapply the seal on the Five-Tails.
Tension surged. Both sides were about to clash, when Tōshirō stepped between them to stop the conflict.
Mito frowned. "Tōshirō, what are you doing?"
"Uhh…"
Tōshirō didn't know how to explain. He had never expected Mito to just barge straight into his spiritual world.
Mito urged him anxiously, "Tōshirō, move! The Five-Tails has broken its seal—I need to re-seal it now!"
"Uhh…"
Tōshirō scratched his cheek, wearing a troubled look. "How should I put this... I'm the one who let it out."
"Hah?!"
Even with all her years of life, Mito was completely stunned by what Tōshirō just said.
"Wait. My brain's a bit scrambled right now. Say that again."
Tōshirō repeated, "I said, I'm the one who released the Five-Tails."
"You were manipulated by the Five-Tails?"
"No."
Mito stared past Tōshirō at the massive beast behind him. "Then why would you release it?"
"Well… how do I explain this?" Tōshirō paused to think. "I guess I just felt sorry for them."
Mito, having lived for so many decades, had never heard anything like this—feeling pity for a tailed beast?
"Pity?"
"Yes," Tōshirō said. "Tailed beasts are born with massive chakra and incredible power. But precisely because of that power, they've constantly been hunted by humans. Over time, it's no surprise they've come to hate humans.
"Put myself in their shoes—and I think I'd become just like them, too."
The Five-Tails blinked, surprised. It hadn't expected Tōshirō to understand them this well.
"So… that's why you released it?"
Even if that were the case, Mito still felt Tōshirō had taken too big a risk. He had just casually let a tailed beast loose? Normally, once a tailed beast breaks free, its first move is to escape its host—uh…
Mito glanced over at the Five-Tails nearby, puzzled as to why it hadn't taken the opportunity to seize Tōshirō's body.
Tōshirō continued, "Of course, that's not the only reason. Mainly, it was because Little Five was crying and snotting all over the place, begging me to let it out. So I decided to take a chance and set it free."
"Crying and snotting all over?"
Mito was completely confused. That didn't match her image of a tailed beast at all.
The Five-Tails clearly didn't like how that sounded. "Hey, Tōshirō! What do you mean 'crying and snotting all over'?! We're clearly in a cooperation agreement! Don't make me sound pathetic! And how many times do I have to tell you—it's King Mu!"
"Alright, King Mu."
"Not King Mu—it's Little Five!"
Tōshirō: "..."
"Damn it…" The Five-Tails muttered angrily. This brat kept calling it "Little Five" so much that it had become a reflex.
Watching the two bicker, Mito had an odd expression on her face.
Since when did the relationship between tailed beasts and humans become this good?
(End of Chapter)
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