Naruto: I, the villain template, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 139 This is what Konoha and I owe you (Seeking monthly votes!!)

"...Really?"

After hearing Mito's explanation, Tsunade stood there in silence for a long time, stunned. Although she acknowledged the feasibility in her heart, she still asked anxiously, "Are you sure it's okay?"

She looks like a child who is afraid of getting a shot when she is sick, but gets a promise from her mother that "I'll buy you candy after you get the shot."

"Of course it's true."

Seeing Tsunade's somewhat childish behavior, Mito tugged at his sleeve and wiped her face, laughing:

"You little rascal, now that you're getting older, you don't want to listen to this nagging old man anymore. You get impatient and run away after I nag you a couple of times. But you still seem like a cute child, crying like a little kitten."

Mito's seemingly genuine teasing words eased Tsunade's mood considerably, causing her cheeks to flush as red as her eyes. She sniffed and tightened her grip on the necklace around her neck.

This chain is a relic of her grandfather, Hashirama Senju. It is a very special and rare chakra crystal containing the chakra that Hashirama sealed away during his lifetime, and it has the power to suppress tailed beasts to a certain extent.

She once gave this necklace to her younger brother, Nawaki, as a birthday present. Upon learning the origin of the necklace, Nawaki was greatly encouraged and vowed to become Hokage.

However, on the day after her birthday...

Rope Tree died from an explosive tag trap. His body was unrecognizable after death, and it was only by the necklace that his corpse could be identified.

"That brat Nawaki is really naive and childish to vow to become Hokage just because of a necklace."

Feeling the warmth of the necklace in her hand, Tsunade lowered her head, smiled bitterly, and said softly, "But I don't think I have the right to say that anymore..."

Although Naruto and such things are still a long way off for her, she understands that what her grandmother said is true.

Judging from the reactions before and after the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools, regardless of whether the higher-ups were involved, it is clear that everyone in Konoha is now living in fear.

As Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi was wary of the ninja clans, while those clans could no longer trust the Konoha leadership.

Tsunade originally thought that even if she became Hokage, she would just be like her teacher and still be unable to do anything.

However, after listening to Mito's explanation, it became clear that this was not the case.

Perhaps, the one who was powerless was not the Hokage, but the Third Hokage, her teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

All we need is someone to lead us forward, as long as we move in the right direction, instead of being hostile and wary of each other, standing still and stagnating.

If we do this, is that enough?

"grandmother."

Tsunade looked up, took a breath, and asked in a low voice, "What should I do?"

She still had no interest in the Hokage position, and didn't know if she could do better than her teacher, but if that was what her grandmother would want to see...

She wanted to give it a try.

"Just lie still and be a good girl."

Mito patted the hospital bed beneath her, her aged face bearing a gentle and kind smile: "It'll be quick, you'll feel better after a good night's sleep."

After hesitating for a moment, Tsunade nodded and obediently lay down on the hospital bed, slowly closing her eyes.

Mito's smile faded considerably. She formed hand seals and used a genjutsu on Tsunade, and Tsunade's trembling eyelids calmed down.

Immediately, Mito turned to look at Kushina, who had been silent all along, her eyes filled with guilt, pity, and regret.

"Kushina."

She let out a deep sigh, as if she were exhaling her last breath, and stroked Kushina's messy red hair, whispering, "After I leave, Tsunade will protect you."

After saying that, looking at the girl's slightly confused and sad face, Mito reached out and hugged her, closed his eyes and said, "Hide well, don't be found out, and grow up quickly. You are different from me, a sinner."

Kushina is still "Uzumaki Kushina", but Mito is no longer "Uzumaki Mito".

Watching helplessly as loved ones die and hometown is destroyed, knowing full well who the culprit is, yet unable to avenge them because of one's position, one allows darkness to spread deep within this great tree.

Helplessness, guilt, regret, pain, inner turmoil, fear...

She was so tired.

The only thing she can do now is to divide her hope in two: one for her husband's Konoha, and the other for the future of the whirlpool.

Yes, the future of the vortex.

Kushina's surname is "Uzumaki," not the "Uzumaki" of Konoha, but the "Uzumaki" of the Land of Whirlpools.

"At least, you won't have to carry malice and you can grow up safely."

Mito slowly opened her eyes, a hint of pain flashing in them, and whispered, "When you learn the truth, no matter what your final choice is, no one will have the right to criticize you."

"This is what Konoha and I owe you."

After saying that, she slowly stood up and placed Kushina, who had fallen into a deep sleep due to the illusion, on another hospital bed.

Aside from atoning for her sins with death and running away, this was the last thing she could do.

Mito turned to the pharmacist, forcing a smile, and said, "Finally, I'll have to trouble you to take care of this child."

"It's okay, we already have a little devil at home, so we can find him a companion."

The pharmacist simply smiled and shook his head, saying with a hint of respect, "Then, in the end, I hope you can find the peace and solace you desire."

Peace and solace?

The relief and weariness in Mito's eyes vanished in an instant. After nodding, she placed her hand on her abdomen, and with a slumber, entered the sealed space within her body.

When she opened her eyes again, she was met with a vast, desolate landscape.

Only one lava sphere hung in the air, radiating intense heat like the sun.

This is not some other dimension, but a mental world of chakra.

Mito could clearly sense that the heat was much less intense compared to the last time she came here.

The seal, which had been reinforced many times and was once considered unbreakable, has developed cracks due to the previous loss of control.

"Heh heh, Mito, you actually dare to come here."

A voice filled with hatred and glee came from behind. Mito looked up and met a pair of vertical pupils filled with tyranny.

Mito's response to Kurama's provocation was simple.

Click!

Mito clenched her fists expressionlessly, her knuckles cracking crisply.

Hearing that familiar voice, which she hadn't heard in many years, even though she was bound to the magma ball in a "T" shape by chains, Nine-Tails shivered violently as if in response to a shock.

"You!" It stared intently at Mito, baring its teeth in a threatening gesture. "What are you going to do?"

Damn it! Why did this woman wake up so quickly?

Given Mito's severely damaged mental state at the time, coupled with the chakra and body that it had drained, she should have been in a coma for at least a month or two.

The seal has clearly loosened; given a little more time, it could escape!

"Nine-Tails, I've come to borrow some of your chakra."

Mito walked over and said softly, as the lava ball in the air fell down.

(End of this chapter)