Whirlpool Mito departed this world quietly. Aside from those present, the death of this prominent figure caused no ripple in Konoha.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, the two elder advisors who had remained outside the door without ever being invited by Mito, had also witnessed the passing of an elder. However, to speak honestly, their demeanor was as perfunctory and indifferent as Mito's had been towards them.
After all, in the eyes of most elders, only the most outstanding or the most disobedient juniors were noticed. Those in the middle, whether in terms of strength or talent, would often be unconsciously overlooked by their elders, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Mito Uzumaki was human, and naturally, she could not escape this common flaw.
The two advisors, seemingly aware of their standing in the elder's eyes, did not pursue Tsunade or Nawaki for any explanation. Instead, they calmly departed the Senju compound with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Currently, their minds were occupied by two pressing concerns: the condition of the Nine-Tails jinchūriki, and...
Having lost Mito Uzumaki, their greatest pillar of support, how would Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the Third Hokage, protect his authority under the covetous gaze of the ambitious Danzō?
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi's behavior left the two advisors baffled. He did not specifically inform them whether the new jinchūriki was the previously designated Kushina Uzumaki or the red-haired young girl who had entered with her.
Even the passing of Mito Uzumaki, the elder who had supported his ascension, did not elicit any expression of excessive grief or worry on Hiruzen's face.
In fact, there was a faint trace of joy in his eyes?
The two advisors exchanged glances, finding the situation absurd.
Did he not worry that after losing Mito's support, they, in league with Danzō, might usurp his Hokage authority?
Why?
Where did his confidence stem from?
Hiruzen Sarutobi was naturally unaware of the thoughts of his two old comrades, corrupted by power. If he had known, he would have likely burst into laughter.
For no other reason!
With a disciple who possessed the strongest tailed beast as a summon by his side, they dared to seize power from him?
They must be dreaming!
It would be best if they served Konoha faithfully. Otherwise, once he stepped down, he would see if Orochimaru would deal with them!
…
Tsunade seemed to have matured immensely in an instant. Despite her swollen eyes, she did not shed another tear in front of anyone.
After carefully cleaning Mito Uzumaki's body, she instructed Nawaki to escort the tearful Amaru and the slumbering Kushina, who was adapting to the Nine-Tails' power, to rest. She then remained alone in Mito's memorial hall.
Although it was referred to as a memorial hall, to avoid attracting external attention, it was merely Mito's former bedroom, simply adorned with black cloth.
Orochimaru stood behind Tsunade, gazing silently at Mito lying on the bed for a while before sighing softly.
This elder had left everything she could to her descendants.
The legacy of the Uzumaki clan was passed to Kushina and Amaru; all her love and longing were left in this empty clan compound for Tsunade and Nawaki.
And Orochimaru, as an outsider, had received an unimaginable gift at Mito's final moments.
Putting aside the various forms of assistance he had received earlier, as Orochimaru had been driven by the prospect of a transaction at the time. But in the end, the summoning scroll specifically for the Nine-Tails nearly broke Orochimaru, who had always been self-serving.
After a period of silence, Orochimaru glanced at the expressionless Tsunade and sighed again.
He knew that Tsunade would not be receptive to words of comfort, nor did she need them.
Orochimaru knew that the outline of the future decisive and independent Princess Tsunade was beginning to take shape.
After losing the towering tree that had supported her, a young sapling that had weathered the storm would always become stronger and more resilient.
He gave a subtle glance to the ill-at-ease Nine-Tails beside him and slowly retreated from the memorial hall.
The Nine-Tails gritted its teeth inwardly, understanding that it could not discuss any matters with Orochimaru in front of Mito's corpse. Thus, it followed Orochimaru into the adjacent room, one behind the other.
"Orochimaru, regarding that..."
The Nine-Tails used its tail to close the door and brought its large face close to Orochimaru's, speaking in a hushed, somewhat hesitant tone.
Orochimaru naturally understood the Nine-Tails' thoughts.
Rather than the Nine-Tails' thoughts, it was the thoughts of all tailed beasts, no, all intelligent beings. Any intelligent being yearning for freedom would not enjoy the feeling of being controlled.
The reason the Nine-Tails appeared so hesitant and unlike a tailed beast was not solely due to the threat of Uchiha Madara's continued existence and his awakened Rinnegan. A significant part of it was due to everything Mito Uzumaki had done to compensate the Nine-Tails at the end.
That powerful soul energy, forcibly stripped from the Shinigami, had been directly stuffed into the Nine-Tails' body by Mito Uzumaki.
Although the current Nine-Tails was merely a combination of Yang-attribute chakra and its power was incomplete, it could feel that after integrating that soul energy from the Shinigami, the power within this body, while not at its peak, possessed the ability for self-growth, much like its original self.
This meant that with time, the ninja world would see two equally powerful, perhaps even stronger, ultimate tailed beasts, one Yin and one Yang.
In other words, Mito Uzumaki's actions had indirectly granted the Nine-Tails half of its body's true freedom, courtesy of Orochimaru.
It was precisely because of knowing these things that the Nine-Tails had abandoned its wild nature and proactively sought to discuss matters with Orochimaru.
It owed Mito Uzumaki, that was true, but it also did not wish to become Orochimaru's summon beast after gaining its freedom.
Perceiving the Nine-Tails' thoughts through dark sensing, Orochimaru met its gaze calmly for a moment and slowly took out the contract scroll imprinted with the Nine-Tails' origin power.
He caressed it twice with his finger, then extended his hand, offering it without any lingering attachment in his eyes.
"You are free!"
"Our transaction ends here!"
"From now on, you are you, and Yin Nine-Tails is Yin Nine-Tails. Your body and Konoha owe each other nothing."
"I hope you will not forget our previous agreement: unless Konoha ninjas provoke you first, you are not to harm them for any reason."
"You may go!"
The Nine-Tails caught the summoning scroll with its claw and stared blankly at Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, you..."
"Are you serious?"
Orochimaru nodded slightly, indicating he was not joking.
"But... I..."
The Nine-Tails stammered for a moment, unable to articulate its thoughts.
"You mean you promised Grandma Mito that you would be her summon?"
Orochimaru closed his eyes and sighed, shaking his head slightly.
"Don't dwell on it!"
"Kurama, I have already obtained the most precious thing I need from you."
"Anything more, I will strive to obtain on my own."
"After this, I will explain the situation to Master Hiruzen. Other than us few, no one in the ninja world will know of your existence!"
Orochimaru's magnanimity made the Nine-Tails feel somewhat petty.
Upon reflection, despite being sealed by Konoha for so many years, the fundamental reason was Uchiha Madara. Without him, it might still be a free fox.
Although when it was inside Mito Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails' mind was filled with plans of how to unleash its anger and destroy Konoha once it was free.
However, in the recent period, especially after the corrupted negative emotions within its soul were cleansed by Mito Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails felt as if its entire being was clear.
Its brain, which it had previously neglected to use, began to analyze and contemplate matters slowly, and even its hatred for Hashirama Senju had lessened.
And this incident, Mito Uzumaki's sudden decision to transfer the seal, was fundamentally caused by Uchiha Madara. If that guy had not suddenly interfered with his summoning jutsu, it would not have had to endure the pain of its soul being split in two.
Moreover, with Mito Uzumaki's abilities, she could have sealed it without its consent, even sealing it into a dog, and the Nine-Tails would have been powerless to resist.
But Mito Uzumaki had not. Aside from what she had promised, she had done nothing extra.
She had even helped the Nine-Tails along the way.
This had put the Nine-Tails, which was not good at thinking, into a mental deadlock.
Leave and go?
Of course, it could. With its strength, no one in Konoha could stop it.
But could the Nine-Tails' conscience bear it?
Although it had been tricked by Mito Uzumaki at the time, becoming Orochimaru's summon beast was something it had actively proposed and personally agreed to.
Even the contract scroll in its hand was made with its own power.
Stay and become Orochimaru's summon beast?
Hmm...
For some reason, the Nine-Tails suddenly hesitated.
…
The Nine-Tails was unaware that in another world, within Orochimaru's memory, there were specific groups of people who, under particular circumstances, would develop an inexplicable psychological disorder.
Stockholm Syndrome!
Orochimaru, through the Nine-Tails' emotional fluctuations, easily discerned its thoughts and intentions, successfully exploiting the hidden vulnerabilities of this pitiable creature, who had been imprisoned for years and suddenly felt care and warmth from Mito Uzumaki.
This was not simple.
To achieve such an effect, the Nine-Tails had to possess the ability for independent thought. This was impossible for the Nine-Tails of the past, whose soul was filled only with violence and slaughter.
Beyond these factors, compared to the threat of Uchiha Madara's Rinnegan, the Nine-Tails itself had weighed the options of being resealed versus becoming the summon beast of Orochimaru, a person it knew well and who had promised it freedom.
But the Nine-Tails still did not know that Uchiha Madara would most likely die this year, and the Rinnegan would be transplanted into an infant.
Using a non-threatening enemy to intimidate a powerful and unruly adversary was a gamble that only Orochimaru, with his intimate knowledge of the ninja world's information, could pull off.
Putting aside his thoughts, Orochimaru frowned slightly as he looked at the conflicted Nine-Tails.
"Kurama, is there anything else?"
"Mito-grandma's funeral arrangements still need to be made. I doubt you have the inclination to attend, so I won't see you out!"
The Nine-Tails, hearing the impatience in Orochimaru's tone, suddenly felt a spark of defiance.
"I'm not leaving!"
Orochimaru's heart stirred, but his expression suddenly turned grim.
"Are you going back on your word?"
"Have you already exposed your true nature upon gaining freedom? I'd like to see how you plan to destroy Konoha in front of Mito-grandma's corpse!"
The Nine-Tails' anger flared instantly upon hearing the first half of Orochimaru's words, but upon hearing the jarring mention of Mito Uzumaki's corpse, the anger in its eyes receded like a tide.
"I..."
"I am willing to sign a summoning contract with you!"
The Nine-Tails twisted its head and squeezed out the words through gritted teeth.
A flicker of a smile crossed Orochimaru's eyes. He straightened his posture, tapping his fingers on the table as if weighing the matter, before speaking slowly:
"A new transaction?"
"State your conditions!"
The Nine-Tails' heart leaped with joy. It had been wondering how to explain its change of heart, and Orochimaru's offer was a perfect stepping stone!
"Yes!"
"That's right, I intend to make a deal with you!"
The Nine-Tails spoke, its voice filled with a confidence it didn't truly possess, a swagger in its posture.
"The content of the transaction is that I will sign a summoning contract with you. As for the conditions..."
"The freedom of my other half!"
Orochimaru squinted, observing the Nine-Tails' pensive expression. After a long pause, he nodded gently.
"Agreed!"
The Nine-Tails' eyes darted around, and it continued:
"I have another condition!"
Orochimaru's brow furrowed, and he let out a displeased snort.
"Kurama, it seems you don't understand the principles of fairness in a transaction!"
"It's either the freedom of your other half, or other conditions!"
"Without sincerity, this transaction is meaningless!"
The Nine-Tails' eyes sharpened, and it quickly shook its head.
"No, there is sincerity!"
"It's a very small condition, and it won't affect our transaction in any way!"
Orochimaru became curious about the condition the Nine-Tails mentioned and asked with interest:
"Oh? Tell me!"
The Nine-Tails fiddled with the contract scroll in its claw, its gaze evasive, and said:
"The contract scroll must be kept by me, hmm..."
"Besides you, no one else can sign it, hmm!"
"That's all!"
The corners of Orochimaru's lips curved upwards, his eyes brimming with laughter. The Nine-Tails, in a fit of shamed anger, threw the scroll at him, causing Orochimaru to suppress his laughter.
"Alright, I agree!"
Orochimaru shook his hand, which had gone numb from the impact, gently unrolled the scroll, and looked up at the Nine-Tails.
"Kurama, I'm signing!"
"Hmph! Just sign it!"
"Done!"
With full sincerity, Orochimaru cut his finger and signed his name on the blank scroll. Pressing his blood-stained palm onto it, the summoning contract between them was established.
"Then, I wish us a pleasant cooperation in the future, partner!"
The Nine-Tails pouted, reluctantly extended its claw to touch Orochimaru's, took the summoning scroll, and swallowed it whole.
"It had better be pleasant!"