After hearing Sora claim that Konoha had betrayed Senju Hashirama's original vision for founding the village, Uzumaki Mito could no longer contain herself.
"Sora, you are not permitted to question Konoha!" Uzumaki Mito scolded.
The smile on Sora's face only grew wider. "My parents were persecuted by the Uchiha clan and hunted down by Konoha. Don't I have the right to question this village?"
He continued, "Next time, I'll bring Kakashi here. Kakashi, who lived through the tragedy of Hatake Sakumo, might have something to say about Konoha's true nature."
Sora's eyes narrowed. "And if Kakashi isn't allowed to question Konoha, then surely Kushina can. She never forgets her Uzumaki heritage and always identifies as a member of the Uzumaki clan. Doesn't she have the right to question Konoha?"
Uzumaki Mito suddenly felt deflated. Both Sora and Kakashi had indeed suffered unfair treatment at Konoha's hands.
She looked deeply into Sora's eyes. "Sora, you used to love disguising yourself. Why aren't you hiding your true feelings now? Is it because I don't have much time left, so you no longer pretend? Aren't you worried I'll tell Hiruzen about this conversation?"
Sora smiled at Uzumaki Mito. "Mito-sama, I'm about to undertake a mission for Hokage-sama and Danzo-sama concerning the Uchiha clan. Why should I care if they know I'm dissatisfied with Konoha?"
He continued confidently, "My identity and strength make me the perfect tool against the Uchiha clan, and Kushina will no longer become a Jinchūriki. From their perspective, my interests align with Konoha's."
Sora's voice lowered. "Do you believe that if you told Hokage-sama about my dissatisfaction, he would only try to appease me? He still needs me to do his dirty work."
"I'm no longer the person I once was. As long as I oppose the Uchiha clan, Hokage-sama and the others will need me. Moreover, in their eyes, I will never betray them."
Uzumaki Mito looked at Sora with confusion, wondering why he was so certain that Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others believed he would remain loyal.
Sora opened his mouth and extended his tongue, revealing a distinctive curse mark.
Uzumaki Mito's pupils contracted in shock. "The Root's special seal, the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal... I understand now. You've joined Root."
Sora retracted his tongue and continued, "Yes, I joined Root, and it was because of Root that Danzo-sama supported my proposal to Hokage-sama about replacing the Jinchūriki. Hasn't Hokage-sama already visited you?"
"Hokage-sama probably came to ask your opinion about replacing the Jinchūriki. Whether you agree or not, Mito-sama, is irrelevant."
Sora's voice took on a calculating tone. "Tomorrow, I will travel to the Land of Waves to lead Uchiha shinobi against Kirigakure forces. By then, even Hokage-sama won't be able to force Kushina to become a Jinchūriki, especially with Danzo-sama supporting me."
"Because I keep those Uchiha in check, no one knows what might happen if they discover Hokage-sama instructed me to target them."
His eyes hardened. "We are at war. Hokage-sama cannot allow instability within the village, and your time is running short. The outcome has already been decided, Mito-sama."
Uzumaki Mito stared at Sora for a long moment.
Finally, she sighed. "You've worked so hard, Sora. After planning for so long, you've finally succeeded. From finding Uzumaki Miyuki to joining Root, everything has proceeded according to your plan."
Sora shook his head. "No..."
"What do you mean, 'no'?" Uzumaki Mito asked, puzzled.
Sora gazed steadily at her. "My plan didn't begin with Uzumaki Miyuki. From the day I became friends with Kushina, I was already working to prevent her from becoming a Jinchūriki."
Uzumaki Mito's heart skipped a beat.
When Sora and Uzumaki Kushina became friends... that must have been when they were still attending the Academy.
They were about nine years old then.
Now, both Sora and Uzumaki Kushina were eighteen.
Nearly ten years.
Had Sora been working for nearly ten years to keep Uzumaki Kushina from becoming a Jinchūriki?
Uzumaki Mito frowned. "That's impossible. How could you have known back then that Kushina was chosen to be the next Jinchūriki?"
Sora smiled mysteriously. "Mito-sama, everyone has their secrets. Since it's a secret, naturally I wouldn't want others to know, right?"
Uzumaki Mito took a deep breath and scrutinized Sora.
The young boy she once knew had grown up, and she could no longer understand him as a person.
Sora now seemed shrouded in mist, and Uzumaki Mito couldn't see clearly.
Yet, looking at him, she sensed something familiar.
Uzumaki Mito's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Sora, I have only one question. Are you... the next Uchiha Madara?"
Sora looked at Uzumaki Mito calmly and replied, "I will not be anyone else. I can only be myself, and I will only be myself. No one is worthy of my imitation!"
Arrogant, decisive, firm, calm, with strong ambition and conviction.
This was what Uzumaki Mito now sensed from Sora.
Uzumaki Mito smiled bitterly. "I don't have much time left, and I cannot control the future. Since Hiruzen and the others have agreed to your plan to replace the Jinchūriki, how can I disagree?"
She continued softly, "Sora, I have only one request—no, it's more of a plea. Don't become an enemy of Konoha. Since you're dissatisfied with the village, I hope you can use your power to change Konoha for the better. No matter what, Konoha is still your home."
Sora's eyes dimmed as he whispered, "Home? Mito-sama, my home is where my parents are."
His voice grew faint. "My home was lost long ago, but I can promise you that I will never intentionally provoke hostility against Konoha. After all, I have lived here for many years, and I am grateful for the blessings Konoha has given me."
After receiving Sora's promise, Uzumaki Mito nodded. "Very well, Sora. I hope you will always remember this promise. You're about to leave for the Land of Waves. We may never see each other again, but I want you to know that I'm truly proud of you."
Sora bowed respectfully. "I am also grateful to you, Mito-sama, for teaching Kushina all these years. I will come to pay my respects at your final journey."
Uzumaki Mito smiled helplessly at Sora. "Even at the end... never mind. That's enough. I'm tired. Sora, you should go home and rest."
After leaving Uzumaki Mito's mansion, Sora took a deep breath, feeling refreshed.
Things had been nearly settled before, but after tonight's meeting with Uzumaki Mito, everything was now firmly in place.
Next, he would witness the death of Uzumaki Mito and the birth of a new Jinchūriki.
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