Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 393: A Willing Choice

Before Mito could say anything, a commotion erupted from the Nine-Tails' side.

"Mito, you old witch!"

"You're about to die, and you still refuse to let me go?!"

Nine-Tails roared furiously, its voice booming through the sealed space. The chains around the stone sphere rattled loudly as it struggled, proving that it wasn't completely unaware of what was happening outside.

It was clear—Nine-Tails would rather perish alongside Mito than be sealed away again.

"Shut up."

Mito's cold gaze bore into the beast, her two words laced with impatience.

Without even raising a hand, several chakra chains shot out from behind her, whipping toward Nine-Tails with merciless precision.

CRACK!

The chains lashed against its massive body.

"Owwww!"

The Nine-Tails let out a scream, momentarily forgetting that the "old witch" before it had never been the forgiving type.

The stone sphere trembled violently under the beast's renewed struggle, causing debris to fall around them.

Misaki and Kushina, watching from the sidelines, were utterly stunned. The critical information the Nine-Tails had just revealed was completely overshadowed by their shock.

Grandma... is that strong?

"It really is the Nine-Tails."

"This is the sealed world within me."

Turning back to them, Mito's expression softened, once again the kind and gentle elder.

Yet the Nine-Tails' wails still echoed in their ears.

"Grandma, why did you bring us here?"

Misaki asked, still confused. Only now did she realize her grandmother was also a Jinchūriki.

But it wasn't her fault—no one had ever told her, and Mito had never once used the Nine-Tails' power.

"It seems you've already guessed," Mito said, her voice gentle as she looked at Kushina.

"My child, I don't have much time left."

"From the moment Konoha was founded, your fate was already decided."

"I'm sorry on behalf of Konoha for what has happened to you. It's not fair."

"Misaki, your arrival has given me another choice."

"But I've already made up my mind."

"If neither of you are willing to become the Jinchūriki, I will take the Nine-Tails with me."

"With Kawakaze around, the Nine-Tails won't be able to cause any trouble in the future."

Unlike in the original story, Mito now had more autonomy—no one was forcing her into a moral obligation.

Besides, Konoha still had another Jinchūriki.

As for what would happen when the Nine-Tails reappeared years later... that would no longer be her concern.

"Grandma, are you going to leave us?"

Misaki looked at Mito in disbelief, tears silently rolling down her cheeks.

She knew exactly what would happen if a Tailed Beast left its host.

The thought of becoming a Jinchūriki herself didn't really bother her—but another loved one, another elder who had been so kind to her, was about to leave.

"Silly child, this was always going to happen one day."

"In the future, I'm sure Nawaki will always be with you."

Mito stroked Misaki's head gently. What a good child she was.

"Grandma, I'm willing to become a Jinchūriki... but can't you stay with us?"

Kushina threw herself into Mito's arms, her face soaked with tears.

In that moment, her sadness far outweighed her fear of becoming a Jinchūriki.

"Grandma doesn't want to leave either,"

"But this body just doesn't have the strength anymore."

Mito shook her head self-deprecatingly and patted Kushina's back.

"Grandma, I'm pregnant."

"You haven't even seen your great-grandchild yet."

Misaki stammered through her tears, the words breaking between sobs.

She didn't care about keeping it a secret for Nawaki anymore.

"Haha, that's wonderful!"

"Unfortunately, I'm afraid Grandma won't be able to wait until that day."

A spark of light flickered in Mito's eyes—but it quickly dimmed.

Still, this was the best news she had heard in a long time.

"You asked sister and brother-in-law about this yesterday, didn't you?"

Kushina pulled away from Mito's embrace, too distraught to congratulate Misaki at the moment.

"Mm."

"What they meant was to let you decide for yourselves."

Mito nodded, bringing the conversation back on track.

"Kushina is still young. Let me do it."

Misaki, like an older sister, was willing to take on this responsibility.

"Sister Misaki, you don't have to compete with me."

"This shouldn't involve you."

Kushina knew that if Misaki weren't here, she would have been the only choice.

"Grandma knows you are both good children."

"But have you never considered letting the Nine-Tails leave with me?"

Mito was both surprised and unsurprised.

Sometimes, love could make people choose the unthinkable.

"The village needs this power."

Kushina may have seemed carefree, but she understood everything.

She had long accepted herself as part of Konoha.

"It just so happens that both Sensei Orochimaru and I need new material."

Misaki's reasoning was more far-fetched, but it was still true.

"I'm glad you're thinking about it," said Kushina's grandmother.

"The power of the Nine-Tails is immense,"

"But the stronger the power, the harder it is to control," Mito continued.

Misaki and Kushina couldn't help but glance at the beaten-down Nine-Tails at the same time.

Hard to control?

A big question mark formed in both of their minds.

"No matter which of you it is, you must use love to influence it,"

"And as the power of love affects the Tailed Beast, its power will gradually come under your control."

"When that happens, the Tailed Beast will no longer be a burden on its Jinchūriki."

Mito's words were true, but there wasn't the slightest hint of persuasion in her tone.

If controlling it with love was the answer, did that mean Mito's version of love was a whip?

Was the Nine-Tails a masochist?

"Yes, we understand, Grandmother," Misaki and Kushina replied, though they dared not contradict her outright.

"You two can't hide your thoughts at all,"

Mito chuckled as she looked at their clearly unconvinced faces.

"I'm not trying to discourage you,"

"But if either of you can tame this guy alone, you'll be able to do what I did."

"Whether you use love or something else doesn't matter."

Mito glanced at the heavily injured Nine-Tails and withdrew the Adamantine chains.

"You!!" freeωebnovēl.c૦m

"Huh?"

The Nine-Tails had been about to unleash another round of vicious words, but one sharp glare from Mito shut it up completely.

It knew exactly how terrifying this woman was.

"I choose to tame it."

After weighing their options privately, Misaki and Kushina both decided that love was probably the safer method.

"Haha, don't be discouraged."

"Maybe one day, you'll reach the same level as Grandma."

Mito laughed heartily, as if reliving the days she fought alongside Hashirama.

"Grandma, I don't think it's appropriate for Sister Misaki to become a Jinchūriki while she's pregnant."

Kushina looked at Mito with hopeful eyes. For the first time, she truly wanted this role.

"Well, I've never carried a Tailed Beast while pregnant,"

"But during childbirth, the seal weakens significantly."

Mito frowned slightly, unwilling to give a direct answer. She refused to take sides, avoiding any unnecessary conflicts in the future.

"That would definitely cause problems."

"For the sake of your baby, Sister Misaki, you absolutely shouldn't compete with me."

Kushina grabbed Misaki's arm and pouted.

"I..."

Misaki hesitated, unsure of what to say.

It didn't matter to her, but if it truly put her child at risk, she couldn't ignore that possibility.

"Fine, I'll do it."

"Grandma, Sister Misaki agrees!"

Kushina declared triumphantly, not even waiting for Misaki's full response.

"When did I say I agreed?!"

Misaki was exasperated—she had only been considering it!

"Okay, okay, don't argue."

"It's not like we have to reseal the Nine-Tails today."

"You two should take some time to think it over."

Mito had no intention of deciding on the spot. She simply wanted them to experience the weight of the Nine-Tails' presence.

"That's fine."

"I'll just ask Brother Nawaki to persuade you!"

Kushina's eyes lit up as she rushed out, eager to stir things up even more.

The position of Jinchūriki was as good as hers.

"You~ sigh~"

Misaki could do nothing about her and realized she was truly outmatched.

"Behave yourself. I'm leaving."

Mito's eyes twinkled with amusement, but to the Nine-Tails, they were nothing less than the devil's disguise.