Konoha: Starting with Sage Mode.

Chapter 97 Nine Tails

Kirito's good mood didn't last long, ending only after breakfast.

The reason was that Tsunade said to him and Nawaki, "Nawaki, Kirito, come with me to visit Grandma later."

Upon hearing this, Kirito and Nawaki's smiles quickly faded, replaced by a somber expression.

Mito's health has been deteriorating rapidly over the past year.

Because of concerns that Mito might not be able to control the Nine-Tails, she has been secretly moved to a secret villa outside the village, where she is protected by a large number of ANBU ninjas and frequently moves to different residences. This situation has been going on for quite some time.

Kirito is finding it very difficult to see his teacher, Mito, now. He needs to apply to the Third Hokage in advance. A while ago, he could see her once a week if he applied to the Third Hokage, but in the last two months, his applications have been rejected. Nawaki's situation is similar.

Among the Senju clan, only Momoka, the Hokage's advisor, can see Mito regularly.

Nawaki is already nine years old, and because of the incident two years ago when he wanted to graduate early, he was subjected to strict family head training ahead of schedule. He is more mature than many of his peers and understands what death is all about.

Lately, he seems to have grown after each meeting with Mito.

Nawaki no longer skips classes. Although he still finds it difficult to understand the theoretical lessons taught by the teacher, he patiently listens to them. He does the same in his daily sealing technique studies, no longer showing any impatience. His grades in theoretical lessons and sealing techniques have both improved significantly, which is Nawaki's biggest source of pride when he visits Mito.

As for the training in ninjutsu and taijutsu, it was even more intense than before, with more than thirty shadow clones being created every day to assist in the training.

Even if Rope Tree is a fool, his crazy training, his down-to-earth approach and steady progress will eventually bring him rich rewards.

Like Rock Lee, Rope Tree is also a hard-working genius.

In the past year, Rope Tree's strength has grown very rapidly.

In terms of chakra control, although it is still just average, by constantly using ninjutsu with a large number of shadow clones, he has improved his proficiency and become skilled through practice. He can now simplify the hand seals for many ninjutsu.

For example, the most frequently used Multiple Shadow Clone Technique can now be released by Nawaki without hand seals.

But just by completing this one ninjutsu without hand seals, Nawaki's strength increased by at least 20-30%.

Because many of Nawaki's tactics and ninjutsu, which he possessed, relied on this ninjutsu, the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique was definitely one of Nawaki's core ninjutsu.

In terms of ninjutsu, Nawaki has mastered ten decent water-style and earth-style ninjutsu, and can use them skillfully. Under Kirito's tutelage, he also learned to use shadow clones to complement the Rasengan, just like Naruto.

Finally, he recently mastered the Yang Release chakra nature and began practicing the modified Akimichi Secret Technique that Kirito taught him.

In terms of physical skills, Nawaki possesses exceptional talent.

Two years ago, he became a disciple of Chen Baojun, a famous taijutsu master in Konoha, and learned powerful kicking techniques. Recently, he has begun to practice Chen's ultimate taijutsu technique, Konoha Dragon God.

If Nawaki weren't still so young, Kirito would have wanted him to learn the Eight Gates technique.

In terms of illusion magic, Rope Tree is not worth mentioning.

In terms of overall strength, Kirito believes that Nawaki already has the strength of a special Jonin. As long as he doesn't encounter a genjutsu-type Jonin, Nawaki has the ability to fight back. If he has teammates to cooperate with him, he might be able to win.

. . .

"What, don't you two want to visit Grandma? You don't have to go if you don't want to."

Seeing the expressions on Kirito and Nawaki's faces, Tsunade deliberately put on a stern face and said...

"No, of course I'm going!"

Rope Tree immediately retorted loudly.

"I haven't been able to see my teacher in so long, I definitely have to go."

Kirito shook his head.

"Let's go together then, you guys wait for me a moment."

Tsunade smiled with satisfaction upon hearing their answers.

After saying that, she quickly went back to her room and carefully washed and dressed herself.

Half an hour later, the three of them finally set off from home.

At this moment, an ANBU ninja was already waiting at the door.

"Lady Tsunade, please follow me."

The ANBU ninja spoke respectfully to Tsunade.

"Then I'll have to trouble you to lead the way."

Tsunade nodded.

Where is Mito now? This information is top secret in Konoha right now, and even Tsunade doesn't know. The only way she can find her grandmother is to have the ANBU ninja sent by the Third Hokage lead the way.

Kirito was able to accurately pinpoint Mito's location using his soul perception, but infiltrating the area would be extremely difficult.

I don't know if it was Mito's doing, but a special barrier was added outside Mito's residence to prevent spirits from entering.

Sealing Technique: Spirit Sealing Array!

It was this sealing technique that created the barrier, making it difficult for him to infiltrate it as a spirit.

There really are no secrets in this world. The important information that he successfully learned the art of spirit transformation was leaked by some bastard, and now this information has been included in the bounty posters at the underground gold exchange.

His current bounty is higher than Rope Tree's, reaching a staggering 80 million.

As expected, once he leaves Konoha, he will immediately attract a large number of bounty hunters with ulterior motives.

Led by an ANBU ninja, the three secretly left the village using transformation techniques and ventured deep into the Forest of Death.

Along the way, Kirito used natural energy to sense more than ten streams of Jonin-level chakra appearing around him.

He also used his soul perception to discover many ninjas from the Hyuga, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans, each of whom was at least a Chunin. These sensory ninjas were scattered throughout the Forest of Death, constantly patrolling, and their patrol range almost covered the entire Forest of Death.

It's clear that Konoha has invested a tremendous amount of protective power in protecting Mito. With so many ninjas protecting her, even a Kage-level ninja wouldn't fare well.

Soon, the three arrived at a secret villa deep in the Death Forest.

There were ten Jonin guarding the area around the villa.

The ninjas guarding the area had received prior orders and, knowing that Kirito and his companions were coming, did not stop them.

One of the Hyuga clan Jonin guarding the door used his Byakugan to confirm that the three were not strangers transformed using the Transformation Technique, and then allowed them to enter the villa.

Inside the villa, Kirito saw Kushina, whom he hadn't seen in a long time; she was diligently learning sealing techniques.

Tsunade's reaction to Kushina was even more enthusiastic than when she saw him. She also unleashed a powerful facial cleanser attack on Kushina. Kushina's breath-holding ability was not as good as Kirito's, and she fainted from suffocation. Fortunately, Tsunade's medical ninjutsu was superb, and she was brought back to life in no time.

Later, guided by Kushina, Kirito and his two companions found Mito and Momoka, who were taking care of her, deep inside the villa.

At this time, Mito's mental state was still good, but his body was becoming increasingly thin, his hair had turned completely white, and the color of the Yin Seal mark between his eyebrows had faded considerably.

Weak, extremely weak.

This is the impression that Mito gives to Kirito and the others.

With Momoka's help, Mito got out of bed and said with a smile to Kirito and the other two, "You're here. Come over here and let me take a good look at you. My eyes haven't been working very well lately."

Upon hearing this, Kirito felt a lump in his throat and a sudden emptiness in his heart, realizing that the thing he least wanted to see was finally about to happen.

Through his soul perception, he had discovered that Mito's soul fire was so weak that it could be extinguished at any moment.

He didn't go up immediately, but let Nawaki and Tsunade, who were already crying, go up first.

He stood to one side, protecting them.

"Kirito, what are you still standing there for? Come here."

Suddenly, Mito's voice came from inside.

Upon hearing Mito's voice, Kirito instinctively quickened his pace, grasped Mito's outstretched hands, and said with a hint of a sob in his voice, "Sensei, I'm here."

"Good, very good, all three of you are back. It's good that you're back."

Mito hugged Kirito and the other two, smiling with relief. Her anxious heart was finally at ease, and she felt relaxed.

On the other side, deep within Mito's body, in a pitch-black space, a pair of red eyes filled with hatred suddenly opened, shining with a dazzling red light.

The next moment, the sound of numerous chains snapping rang out, and blood-red chakra rapidly spread through the darkness, accompanied by the roar of a giant beast.

At the same time, a look of pain appeared on Mito's face, and a surge of evil and violent red chakra suddenly erupted from her body, sending Kirito and the other two flying.

The red chakra rapidly gathered above Mito's head, forming a ferocious fox head.

As the fox head appeared, an icy voice rang in Kirito and the others' ears: "Mito, these are the people you love most, aren't they? Just wait, once I get out, I'll kill them all, hahaha~"

It's tough for a new author to get ahead, so I hope all my fellow readers will visit often to increase the readership. After you finish reading, I hope you'll vote for this book and invest in it. If you could give me some monthly tickets and rewards, I would be extremely grateful. It's so hard for a new author and a new book.

(End of this chapter)