Naruto: Uchiha is not Raikage!

Inside the tea room, warm light shone through the paper windows, illuminating the five people's varied expressions.

The similarities and differences between the real Mikoto and her mirror image Mikoto become increasingly clear through close interaction and casual conversation.

Sasuke's initial shock and helplessness gradually subsided under the gentle gaze of the real Mikoto and the understanding attitude of the mirrored Mikoto.

He began to observe this "other mother" more closely.

She sat up straighter, her gaze was calm and sharp, and her speech was logical and clear. When she occasionally mentioned ninja-related topics, she gave Sasuke the air of a female ninja who had been through a lot and held a high position.

This is different from the gentle yet resilient feeling of the real Mikoto.

Naruto, on the other hand, completely lacked this kind of subtle inner conflict.

He quickly accepted the premise that "there are two Aunt Mikoto" and automatically categorized it as "a very serious matter".

He enthusiastically shared his funny stories, and even, at Kushina's urging, began to gesture about his "heroic performance" during the mock battle with his classmates yesterday, making Kushina laugh out loud, and Mikoto couldn't help but chuckle as well.

Although Mikoto's mirror image wasn't quite used to this overly lively atmosphere, she still felt a strange sense of wonder looking at Naruto's carefree smile and energetic demeanor.

In her world, children as pure and cheerful as her are rare.

"Sasuke, didn't you say last time that you wanted to improve the chakra consumption ratio of the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique?"

In reality, Mikoto skillfully steered the conversation towards Sasuke, easing his occasional silence.

"Any new ideas?"

Sasuke's eyes lit up slightly. He temporarily set aside his dilemma about "two mothers" and said seriously:
"Hmm, I've found that the initial chakra compression can be more aggressive. Although it requires more control, the burst speed and power can be increased by about 15%. However, the subsequent chakra output to maintain the stability of the form needs to be recalculated..."

He began to explain his thought process in detail, occasionally dipping his hand in tea to sketch simple diagrams of chakra flow on the table.

Mikoto listened patiently, occasionally asking one or two key questions to guide the conversation.

Mirror image Mikoto listened attentively. Her Uchiha clan was also famous for its Fire Release techniques. Although their development focuses might be different, the basic principles were the same. She could understand Sasuke's thoughts and even offer one or two suggestions from her perspective as a leader regarding the timing of practical application and the efficiency of chakra allocation.

This surprised Sasuke, who looked at her several times before falling into deeper thought.

Despite his young age, Sasuke still possesses the ability to improve ninjutsu and innovate.

Influenced by Kiyoshi's bloodline, his talent is even stronger than in the original work.

Although Naruto was confused by the specific calculations of chakra ratios, he was enthusiastic about "becoming stronger" and kept asking his mother, Kushina, to teach him more powerful ninjutsu.

In the shadows of a loft across from the tea room, Uchiha Itachi stood quietly.

He crossed his arms, leaned against the cold wall, and looked through the window, clearly seeing everything inside the private room.

He watched the natural interaction between the real Mikoto and the parallel visitor, watched his younger brother go from nervous to relaxed and then to engrossed in the discussion, and watched the vibrant energy brought by Aunt Kushina and Naruto.

'Parallel world...'

Itachi silently thought to himself.

He knew that his father, Kiyoshi, possessed incredible spacetime power.

But bringing a "mother" from another world... the deeper meaning behind this is probably far more complex than just a visitor.

My father always had a plan and purpose in his actions.

However, at least for now, this "other mother" seems to have no ill intentions, and even shows a hint of elder-like concern for Sasuke.

This is a rare comfort for Itachi, who always keeps his emotions hidden and carries too much burden.

As long as the family is safe and sound, the father will act with discretion.

He moved silently, like a shadow blending into the background, and eventually left the observation point without a sound. There were still many mission reports to organize.

…………

the other side.

The Hidden Village of the Uzushiogakure world in the "Limited Tsukuyomi" world.

Time slipped away quietly as Kiyoshi and Mito Uzumaki focused on their discussion.

The two sparked many ideas about combining the "Five Elements Seal" with natural energy. Although many ideas were still in the theoretical deduction stage due to the current world's limited research on "immortal arts", it undoubtedly opened a new door for Mito Uzumaki.

She even brought out some ancient texts from the Land of Whirlpools containing records about "natural energy affinity constitution" and some incomplete sealing techniques that seemed to involve natural energy, and discussed them with Kiyoshi.

The discussion came to an end, and the two took a break.

Mito Uzumaki personally poured Kiyoshi a cup of fragrant hot tea. As she handed over the teacup, her wide sleeve slipped slightly, revealing a section of her wrist that was as white as jade, with faint blue veins visible beneath.

Her movements remained elegant, her breathing steady, but in that brief moment of relaxation, Kiyoshi's eyes once again caught that fleeting weariness—not from a depletion of spirit or chakra, but from the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, an irreversible sense of exhaustion accumulated over the years.

The surging chakra within her body and the chakra stored in the "Yin Seal" are like a blazing flame, maintaining her youthful and powerful appearance. However, the fuel for that flame, that is, the most fundamental vitality of that body, has been greatly depleted over the long years.

Simply put, it means maintaining youthful appearance without extending lifespan.

Mito Uzumaki seemed to notice that Kiyoshi's gaze lingered on her wrist for a moment.

She didn't withdraw her hand, nor did she show any unusual behavior. She simply placed the teacup in front of Qing Si and looked back calmly with her blue eyes.

Kiyoshi picked up his teacup, took a sip of the warm tea, but his gaze remained fixed on Mito Uzumaki.

He benefited greatly from today's exchange. The Uzumaki clan's millennia-long accumulation of sealing techniques was truly remarkable, especially the variations and innovations developed based on this world.

This greatly benefits him in perfecting his own power system and understanding the differences between different worlds.

He put down his teacup and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, as if he were carefully considering his words.

After a moment, he spoke again:
"Today's discussion on sealing techniques with you has been far more fruitful than I expected. As a token of my gratitude, I have something else to give you."

Mito Uzumaki slightly raised her eyes, a hint of doubt flashing in them.

The previous exchanges on sealing techniques were already based on equality and mutual benefit, so why is there any talk of giving something away for free?
Kiyoshi extended his right index finger, and a chakra light flashed slightly at the tip of his finger. A drop of blood, darker than ordinary blood, slowly seeped out and hovered above his fingertip.

The moment the drop of blood appeared, the originally calm air in the secret room seemed to ripple with extremely subtle waves. A powerful and pure life force mixed with the pressure of a higher level of chakra quietly spread out.

It is not something deliberately exuded, but rather its essence is naturally revealed.

Mito Uzumaki's pupils suddenly contracted! With her extraordinary perception, "Kagura's Mind's Eye," she could clearly sense the terrifying energy contained in this drop of blood and the life force that made her nearly depleted life force tremble slightly!

This is definitely not the blood of an ordinary strong person! The qualities it contains have exceeded her understanding of bloodline limits or special physiques!
"This is……"

Mito Uzumaki's voice involuntarily lowered, filled with disbelief.

"My blood has the effect of prolonging life."

Kiyoshi's tone remained calm, as if he were talking about something ordinary.

Even now, Kiyoshi himself doesn't know how long he will live.

All I know is that it will be a very long time. At this stage, people around me are becoming stronger and living longer simply by taking "Qingsi Cells".

Mito Uzumaki was stunned.

As she gazed at the drop of blood suspended like a miniature gem, a storm raged within her.

Prolonging life?

This is something that almost every powerful person who stands at the pinnacle of strength yet feels the ruthlessness of time dreams of!
Its value cannot be measured by any ninjutsu, wealth, or power!
She and Kiyoshi met today for the first time. Although they had a deep conversation, they were far from being able to entrust each other with their lives or be given such a precious treasure!

Why did he do this?
Is there another motive, or...?

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind.

To win over the Land of Whirlpools?
court?

Is it paving the way for even bigger plans in the future?

Or is it simply because of... appreciation?
Her gaze met Shang Qingsi's eyes again.

Those dark eyes were calm and still, devoid of any calculation, charity, or pity, only a detached indifference, as if the gift was truly just a trivial little present.

Finally, Mito Uzumaki took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock and chaotic thoughts in her heart.

She slowly stood up, walked to a sealed cabinet, and took out a small bottle, no bigger than a thumb, made entirely of translucent light blue crystal, with its surface engraved with fine and stable sealing formulas.

She held the small bottle in both hands and returned to Kiyoshi.

"Your Excellency Qingsi..."

Her voice trembled slightly.

"This item... is far too precious. I... am unworthy of such a generous gift."

She wasn't being pretentious; she simply knew the weight of this gift.

Knowledge is priceless.

With a flick of his finger, the drop of blood traced a graceful arc before falling precisely into the crystal bottle, producing a soft, clear sound, like a jade bead falling onto a plate.

"I admire your skill and dedication to the art of sealing. My blood is not a rare and irreplaceable resource for me. If it can be of any benefit to you, then today's discussion will not have been in vain."

He spoke of it casually, but Mito Uzumaki understood that behind this "not non-renewable" lay a terrifying level of Kiyoshi's own life essence.

She said nothing more, but gripped the slightly warm crystal bottle tightly with both hands, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force.

She bowed deeply, deeply to Qing Si, her red hair cascading down like a waterfall.

This gesture has nothing to do with status or position; it is purely a heartfelt expression of gratitude and respect for this immeasurable gift.

"I plan to stay in the Land of Whirlpools for a few days. Firstly, it will make it easier to continue discussing the unresolved aspects of sealing techniques with the clan leader. Secondly, I would like to gain a deeper understanding of your country's customs and barrier system. Would that be convenient?"

"Of course!"

Mito Uzumaki agreed without hesitation, her tone even carrying a hint of joy.

"It is an honor for Uzushiogakure to have you stay and offer your guidance. I will arrange lodging immediately, and you will be safe and undisturbed."

She hoped to have more time to communicate with Kiyoshi, and at the same time, to be able to study more safely how to absorb that drop of blood.

“In addition…” Kiyoshi added.

"My subordinates who came with me need to return to Konoha to handle some matters first."

The matter he was dealing with refers to the mirror image of Mikoto.

Keeping her in Konoha for an extended period of time, while interesting, could ultimately cause unnecessary trouble.

"Everything is at your discretion."

Mito Uzumaki immediately expressed her understanding and support.

"I will arrange everything to ensure that you and your companions have a comfortable and worry-free stay in the Land of Whirlpools."

With the matter settled, the atmosphere in the secret room eased considerably, but the invisible bond created by the gift had already quietly formed.

The Qing government was extremely efficient.

He first returned to the real world of Konoha through the spatial portal and found Mirror Image Mikoto, who was resting in the Uchiha clan's seclusion room while curiously flipping through some books on basic ninja knowledge from the real world.

"Are you still used to it here?"

Kiyoshi appeared silently.

Mirror Image Mikoto put down her book, stood up, and showed little surprise on her face, simply nodding.
"Yes, Mrs. Mikoto and Miss Kushina have taken good care of me. This place... is very different from my world, but it's also very interesting."

She paused and asked:
"Is everything settled over there?"

"That concludes this for now. I need to travel to the Land of Whirlpools to continue my research on some sealing techniques, and I may stay for several days."

"Qing Si directly stated his purpose."

"I understand."

Mikoto nodded slightly.

"Alright, after a short preparation, we'll set off immediately. Guang will stay here for now and do his own thing."

The Qing official's words were concise and to the point.

He then found Uchiha Hikaru, who was training alone in a secluded spot in the back mountains of Konoha, adapting to her new engraved eye technique. He told her that she would be free to move around for a while, and could familiarize herself with the environment in Konoha or train on her own. If she needed anything, she could contact him through the special seal he had left behind.

Uchiha Hikari calmly accepted the order. To her, Lord Kiyoshi's commands were everything, whether she was following him or alone.

After making the arrangements, Kiyoshi returned to Konoha with his mirror image, Mikoto.

He activated the Flying Thunder God Technique again and appeared directly in the secluded courtyard that Mito Uzumaki had prepared for him on a seaside cliff at the edge of Uzumaki Village.

The scenery here is magnificent, far from the hustle and bustle, making it truly an ideal place to live.

Mito Uzumaki personally came to greet him and instructed her trusted clansmen not to disturb him and to fulfill all his needs.

Mikoto was also quite curious and respectful of Mito Uzumaki, the elegant and unfathomably powerful red-haired clan leader. After politely thanking her, she settled in with peace of mind.

Over the next two days, Kiyoshi and Mito Uzumaki devoted almost all their daytime hours to in-depth research and experimentation with sealing techniques.

Mito Uzumaki opened up more of the clan's non-core treasured books and experimental records, and even personally demonstrated the construction process of several complex barrier spells.

With his extraordinary insight and vast knowledge base, Qing Si constantly proposed new perspectives and improvement ideas. The two of them worked together to actually advance several theoretical models of "Five Elements Seal" combined with natural energy by a big step forward.

Although it is still far from practical application, the theoretical framework has begun to take shape.

Mito Uzumaki also secretly began to carefully guide and absorb the life force contained in that drop of blood, following the method given by Kiyoshi.

The process was slow and gentle, and there was no obvious feeling at first, but as time went by, she keenly noticed that the original life force in her body, which was as difficult to generate as a dry well, actually began to rise with a trace of extremely subtle but invaluable "living water"!
This made her even more shocked and grateful, and her trust and respect for Qing Si reached a new level.

The following evening, the setting sun painted the sea a golden-red hue.

Kiyoshi stood alone on the open ground outside the cliffside courtyard, facing the sea breeze, reviewing the gains of the past two days.

The Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques are indeed profound and sophisticated, especially their understanding of chakra "binding," "guiding," and "transforming," which has many unique aspects and complements his knowledge of dragon vein applications and space-time ninjutsu.

Just as he was lost in thought, a new notification appeared deep within his consciousness, accompanied by a faint glow:

"You have mastered the entry: [Vortex Bloodline (Purple)]".

[Entry: Whirlpool Bloodline (Purple)]

[Requirement: Thoroughly study and integrate the advanced sealing techniques of this other world (Uzumaki Clan).]

Progress: (Completed)

【Effect:
You gain a level of vitality and resilience similar to that of the Vortex race, and your resistance to negative status effects such as poison and curses is significantly increased.

Your chakra recovery speed has been greatly increased.

You have significantly improved your perception range and accuracy of chakra, especially in identifying malice, tracking specific chakra sources, and probing weaknesses in barriers.

Your learning speed, comprehension depth, and casting effectiveness for all sealing techniques are increased by 100%.

【Note: You can continue to advance later. 】

Feeling the surging life force and chakra within his body, and the newly unfolding perception in his mind that clearly reflected the distribution of chakra around him, Kiyoshi decided to first test this newly acquired ability.

He had a slight thought, but he didn't deliberately form hand seals. He simply focused his mind and tried to mobilize the unique perception that belonged to the "Vortex Bloodline".

In an instant, within a spherical area with a radius of over three kilometers centered on him, all chakra reactions were clearly reflected in his consciousness like torches suddenly lit in the night sky.

Inside the Hidden Village of Uzumaki, numerous gentle chakra points were evenly distributed, representing the fluctuations emitted by the daily activities of the Uzumaki clan.

Among them, those exceptionally bright orbs of light, resembling small torches, were particularly eye-catching; they belonged to powerful Jonin-level ninjas from the village.

Further out, the faint chakra of a few fishing boats lingered on the sea, and the tiny amount of natural energy emanated from the seabirds that occasionally flew overhead…

He could even vaguely sense the slow-flowing, complex, and primordial flow of earth vein energy deep beneath his feet.

This is the power of "Kagura's Mind's Eye." Although it is only in its initial form, its range and precision far exceed ordinary sensory ninjutsu.

Then, Kiyoshi raised his right hand, his five fingers spread wide.

The newly formed chakra within his body, with its distinct characteristics of "binding" and "stabilization," responded rapidly and surged from his palm.

This time, instead of the few pale gold chains from the previous test, dozens of more solid, restrained golden chakra chains surged forth!

They were like a group of living golden snakes, coiling and intertwining around him, emitting a deep, energetic hum.

"go."

The meaning of Qing Si's thoughts.

Dozens of "Diamond Seal" chakra chains shot out, their target not a physical object, but an invisible area in the air.

The chains did not collide with each other, but instead wove and interlocked rapidly in flight, instantly constructing a simple yet structurally rigorous three-dimensional golden grid barrier in the air, enveloping a small area of ​​space.

The barrier surface shimmered with light, emitting a stable sealing fluctuation, enough to trap an ordinary Jonin for a short while.

Kiyoshi could sense that when constructing this barrier, his control over the changes in chakra form was much more effortless, and the strength and toughness of the chains, as well as his understanding of sealing techniques, seemed to have been elevated to a higher level.

He dispelled the barrier, and the chains retracted into his body.

He then tried to mobilize his life force, and a shallow, experimental cut on his arm stopped bleeding and closed at a speed visible to the naked eye. Within a few breaths, only a faint red mark remained, and then even the red mark disappeared.

While this recovery speed isn't quite at the freakish level of Hashirama Senju or Naruto Uzumaki, it far surpasses that of ordinary ninjas, and is even faster than the self-healing speed of many ninjas specializing in medical ninjutsu.

"The effect is not bad, with significant improvements in both melee support and ranged reconnaissance."

Kiyoshi whispered to himself.

This newly acquired Vortex bloodline ability not only made up for his slight shortcomings in endurance, recovery, and ultra-wide-range perception, but also greatly enhanced his control over the key area of ​​sealing techniques.

Stabilizing the spacetime portal, researching the dragon veins, and even dealing with potential powerful enemies in the future are all extremely important additions to his many upcoming plans.

He looked in the direction of Mito Uzumaki's residence and nodded slightly.

The reward was far more generous than he had expected.

As darkness fell, Qing Si returned to the courtyard on the cliff edge.

Instead of immediately engaging in more in-depth cultivation or research, he decided to first sort out what he had learned that day.

He hadn't expected to receive this bloodline limit from Kushina first.

Instead, she obtained this bloodline limit from Mito Uzumaki in another world.
…………

The country of rain, the village hidden in the rain.

The top floor of a towering steel tower.

Nagato, or rather, the consciousness of Nagato who controls Pain, is "watching" a corner of the organization's base through the shared vision of the Six Paths of Pain.

Within the cold "Rinnegan," there was no emotional fluctuation, but Nagato's true mind was not so calm.

Recently, he has increasingly sensed the undercurrents within the organization.

The mysterious man who called himself "Uchiha Madara" and wore a vortex mask always had a deliberate and incongruous manner in his words and actions.

Although his goals are ostensibly aligned with "Project Eye of the Moon," he occasionally reveals a focus on certain specific things.

The contradictory feeling of seemingly being detached yet striving to push the plan forward caused Nagato's doubts to accumulate and converge like raindrops.

Nagato knew very well that the power of "Sand" was unfathomable, and that a direct confrontation or questioning was not a wise move.

But as the leader of "Akatsuki," who prides himself on being a god who will bring pain and a new order to the world, he cannot tolerate a potentially treacherous and unclear danger lurking at the core of his plan.

So he began a covert investigation.

It's not about using Amegakure's regular forces, that would be too easy to detect.

Instead, he utilizes the Six Paths of Pain—these are "tools" he directly controls, who are absolutely loyal, and each possesses unique abilities. (End of Chapter)