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"Let's go then."
Since Jiraiya was in a hurry, the two of them skipped breakfast and left immediately.
"By the way," Kaito turned back as they were leaving, "Minato, I think I've figured out what's going on with the mutation in your soul. Take some time to feel out the unexpected power you've gained."
After saying this, he smiled mysteriously.
"Unexpected power?"
Minato watched their retreating figures, then looked down at his right arm, which was rolled up at the sleeve. With a thought, deep purple patterns instantly spread across his entire forearm.
...
Konoha Hospital.
Inside the hospital room, Tsunade sat weakly on the bed, her breathing faint and labored.
Sakura sat by the bed, trying to remain composed as she reported the general situation of the village to Tsunade, holding a document in her hands.
"That's enough," Tsunade's voice, once strong and commanding, was now frail and weak. "Tell Shizune to continue with the current arrangements."
"Yes, Master," Sakura stood up, clutching the documents. "I'll go tell Shizune. Please rest well, Master."
"Go ahead," Tsunade closed her eyes.
"Yes."
Sakura responded softly, but as she turned around, tears streamed down her face.
She left the room quietly, carefully closing the door behind her, and finally couldn't hold back any longer, covering her mouth as she rushed out.
"Sakura?" Jiraiya, who had just reached the third floor, saw Sakura's distraught expression and immediately grew tense. "What happened?"
"Lord Jiraiya..." Seeing Jiraiya's anxious expression, Sakura quickly shook her head. "Master is fine... I... I just..."
"It's alright... Tsunade will be fine."
Jiraiya offered a stiff consolation, then turned to look at Kaito behind him.
"Let's go see Lady Tsunade's condition first," Kaito nodded.
"Lord Kaito... Master... Please, I beg you to take care of her..."
Sakura, seeing the young man behind Jiraiya, suddenly felt a glimmer of hope in her eyes and pleaded through her tears.
"You have things to do, so go ahead," Jiraiya glanced at the documents in Sakura's hands and walked past her toward the hospital room. "Leave this to us."
Kaito nodded at Sakura and followed Jiraiya.
Jiraiya gestured to the Anbu ninja guarding the door and knocked on it.
"Tsunade, I've brought Kaito," he said loudly.
"Let... Kaito... come in alone," Tsunade's weak voice came from inside.
Jiraiya's expression changed, and he opened his mouth to object, but in the end, he said nothing and silently stepped aside.
Kaito didn't mind Jiraiya's wariness and walked straight to the door.
"Lady Tsunade, I'm coming in."
He gave a warning before pushing the door open and entering.
"You're here," Tsunade, who now looked like an old woman with gray hair and withered skin, weakly opened her eyes to look at him. "Sit."
Kaito closed the door behind him and sat down by the bed as instructed.
He calmly observed Tsunade's condition and said directly, "It seems your condition is quite severe."
"This... was within... your expectations, right?" Tsunade's voice was broken and faint, like a whisper.
"I did anticipate your current condition," Kaito spoke bluntly. "It's a pity that Lord Jiraiya made the choice he did back then."
"I don't blame him..."
Tsunade's eyes still retained their former brilliance, a stark contrast to her current appearance.
"If it were... me... I wouldn't want... to just become... a dead person either."
"It seems this is a difference in perspective between you and me."
Kaito mentioned this briefly, then continued, "So, what is your choice now? To continue living in this extremely weakened state, or to sign a contract with me and gain a new life?"
Tsunade didn't answer directly. Instead, she stared into Kaito's eyes and said, "You want... to tie the entire Leaf Village... to your ship."
"You could say that," Kaito didn't mince words. "But, if I may be so bold, this is also an opportunity for Konoha."
"It seems... you're very confident?" Tsunade's eyes flashed with surprise.
"Yes," Kaito stood up and looked down at Tsunade. "To be honest, at this point, Konoha's strength isn't that important to me."
"You..." Tsunade's eyes moved as she carefully observed Kaito. "You seem... to have changed... somewhat."
Kaito nodded. "Lady Tsunade is quite observant. I have indeed undergone some changes."
Not only had he gained the full power of the Great King Enma and the accumulated strength of the Uchiha clan over a millennium, but he had also shed the hidden shackles in his heart. Now, his cultivation was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Perhaps in the near future, he would reach the legendary level of the great Onmyōji, Abe no Seimei.
However, he didn't elaborate, simply smiling faintly with an air of confidence.
"Konoha isn't... a place where I... can make decisions alone," Tsunade lowered her gaze.
"That's fine," Kaito didn't mind. "When the time comes to choose sides, I believe everyone will make their choice."
"Such confidence..."
Looking at Kaito's radiant self-assurance, Tsunade suddenly realized that she had already grown old.
Even though her body had aged, she had never truly felt this way before.
But in this moment, she suddenly felt that she truly was old.
All these years, even though she had maintained a youthful appearance, her heart had gradually aged without her realizing it.
"I do indeed have no shortage of confidence. Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken on the responsibility of saving the world."
Kaito walked to the window and pulled open the thick curtains. The dim room was instantly filled with light, and Tsunade squinted uncomfortably.
"Moreover, what I want to do isn't just passively defending against invasions from beyond the heavens."
He turned around, the thin winter morning sunlight casting a warm glow on his face.
"One day, I will set foot on the land of the Ōtsutsuki clan and make them pay dearly for their ambition and greed."
Tsunade looked at the young man bathed in the morning light.
From Kaito, she saw the confidence to change the world.
That kind of confidence had only existed in the dream-filled days of their youth.
"If you want... Konoha to stand... firmly by your side..." Tsunade couldn't help but speak, "You need... to summon my grandfather... and convince him."
"Let's address your problem first, Lady Tsunade," Kaito turned back to the bed and looked directly into Tsunade's eyes. "Now, please make your choice."
"Indeed... I can't bear... to just linger on... in this state..."
Tsunade looked at her emaciated arm, realizing that even clenching her fist was now a difficult task, and she turned her gaze away in dissatisfaction.
"Even though... I am indeed old... I still want to see... how far a young person like you... can go."
"You won't regret this choice."
Kaito stated with certainty.