Uzumaki Mito's death was like a small splash in the ocean—quiet, unnoticed, and without causing any waves in the ninja world.
That was because Konoha's higher-ups chose to keep her death a secret. After all, it was the height of the Second Shinobi World War. Without Mito, Konoha also lost the stabilizing presence of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
And the new Nine-Tails jinchūriki was just a nine-year-old girl—still far from mastering that power.
Only by concealing Mito's death could Konoha keep the other great nations uncertain about the status of the Nine-Tails.
At this point, nearly all of the major figures who had founded Konoha had passed away.
Light rain fell softly. In front of a modest grave stood only a few people. Tsunade and Nawaki knelt quietly, their tears mixing with the rain.
Behind them stood the Third Hokage, Shimura Danzō, and a few other senior Konoha officials. Further back were Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and beside Orochimaru stood Uchiha Tatsumi.
Because Mito had personally spoken with Tatsumi before her death, he was among the few who knew she had passed. And as the student of Orochimaru—along with his close relationship to Tsunade—he was permitted to attend the small, secret funeral.
"Hi—Sarutobi," Danzō said, still gazing at Mito's tomb, "how long do you plan to keep the new Nine-Tails jinchūriki isolated?"
"One week," Hiruzen replied bluntly.
"That's far too short. How can you confirm she can suppress the Nine-Tails in just one week?"
"Mito-sama said Kushina's chakra is special—her vitality and sealing compatibility make her ideal. If anything were to go wrong, we would know within that time."
Danzō scowled but pressed on. "Then what about her protection? A host of a tailed beast is a strategic asset. I propose assigning Root shinobi to guard her. That falls within our responsibility."
Sarutobi's brows furrowed in frustration. Danzō was already scheming over Kushina, mere days after Mito's death.
"Her name is Kushina," Hiruzen said sternly. "Not 'Nine-Tails jinchūriki' and certainly not a 'strategic weapon.'"
"Mito-sama's final request was that Kushina live a normal life. No restrictions, no confinement. That's the life Mito wanted for her."
Danzō's face tightened, but he didn't relent. "Then what of her safety? I still insist Root should guard her."
Hiruzen turned sharply. His gaze, quiet but firm, made Danzō instinctively flinch.
"There's no need. I've already assigned Sakumo Hatake to oversee her protection."
Danzō's scowl deepened. All his suggestions were being overridden.
"Sakumo Hatake... you'll regret that. If something happens to the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, you'll be held accountable for these decisions."
"I am the Third Hokage. I will take responsibility," Hiruzen said calmly. "Besides, I trust in the ANBU. We're not so incompetent that enemy shinobi could sneak into Konoha and abduct a child unnoticed."
Danzō gave a final huff and turned to leave, his expression unreadable.
Thus the funeral ended, without ceremony or closure. War still raged, and the Third Hokage had duties to return to.
Uchiha Tatsumi walked alongside Orochimaru on the way back through the misty village streets.
As they passed a familiar intersection, Orochimaru's voice, hoarse and low, broke the silence.
"Aging… it's such a fragile thing. Even someone like Mito-sama couldn't escape it."
He glanced sideways at Tatsumi, his yellow eyes unusually serious. "Tatsumi, as my student, let me tell you something."
Tatsumi nodded.
"In my experience, tears are meaningless to a ninja."
"It's best to harden yourself from the beginning. Maybe at first, you'll grieve for your own cruelty. You might cry when it hurts too much."
"But eventually, when the tears run dry, so does the pain. Death stops being frightening. Sometimes… you may even find a strange comfort in it."
He clapped Tatsumi on the shoulder.
"That's all. I leave for the battlefield tomorrow."
"Teacher… you're heading to the Land of Rain?"
"Yes. Jiraiya, Tsunade, and I are all being deployed. The situation is worsening—Sunagakure forces are crossing into Ame."
Orochimaru reached into his ninja pouch and pulled out a small envelope.
"Here—payment for your two completed missions."
He added dryly, "Tsunade took some of it. Said she's putting it aside for your future wedding."
Tatsumi blinked. Didn't she say she was saving for retirement? Why is she planning weddings now?
He accepted the envelope in silence.
"Oh, and this," Orochimaru said, producing a pair of slightly cracked black-rimmed glasses. "These belonged to Sakamoto—the ninja you killed. They were untouched in the aftermath. I thought you might want to keep them. A token."
Tatsumi nodded, taking the glasses with a strange weight in his hands.
He might still need them—after all, vision tends to degrade after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
And so, the two walked on in silence, disappearing into the rain-washed streets of Konoha.
---
Meanwhile—deep underground, in a shadowed cavern far from sunlight—an old man sat upon a massive wooden throne.
He looked even more withered than he had three years ago. His skin hung like paper, and his breathing was slow.
A spiral-faced white being with brown hair stepped forward, pouring a glass of sake. A fragrant aroma rose from the cup.
The white creature handed it to the old man.
"Master Madara, how does it smell?" the creature asked.
The old man opened his eyes—rippling with concentric rings of the Rinnegan—and took a deep sip.
"It smells… like Hashirama."
"But Master Madara," said the white being, tilting its head, "didn't you say you hated Uzumaki Mito the most?"
"I did. And I'm pleased she's dead now."
"Then why'd you have me steal her sake?"
"This isn't Mito's," Madara said. "It was a gift from Hashirama… long ago."
"If you say so," the white creature muttered, unimpressed.
Madara stared at the empty cup and muttered, "I once made a vow with Hashirama. That I wouldn't act against Konoha until Mito's death."
"I've kept that promise."
He raised one trembling hand and gouged his fingers into his eyes. Blood splattered.
Moments later, he held a pair of Rinnegan.
"The time is right. Begin the plan. Deliver these eyes to Nagato."
The spiral-faced creature nodded and took the Rinnegan with care.
"And bring me a spare pair of Sharingan," Madara said quietly.
His voice echoed into the darkness, marking the start of his next move.