God Tree?

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Without another word, Horyu vanished, reappearing in the vibrant heart of the hidden Uzumaki Village. The sudden shift from the dim, distressed Twilight Realm to the lively, hidden community was jarring, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. He needed to find Mito and explain the situation.

Rushing to Mito's room, Horyu didn't bother with formalities. "Mito-sama, I need to get to Tsunade-sama. It's urgent."

Mito looked up from her desk, her eyes sharp. "What's happened?"

"It's the Twilight Realm. The Realm Tree is dying due to some ancient seal breaking down. I believe Tsunade-sama can help," Horyu explained, keeping his explanation brief but informative.

Listening to Horyu's narration, Mito's expression turned grave. "Give me the poison," she demanded curtly. Initially, Horyu hesitated, his instincts urging him to reach Tsunade as quickly as possible. However, recalling the capabilities of the woman before him, he unrolled the scroll containing the sealed poison. Mito, observing the dark energy within, commented sharply, "There is no one better suited to understand the intricacies of trees and seals than me."

Realizing the truth in her words, Horyu acknowledged Mito's expertise silently. As Hashirama's wife, she had profound knowledge of Wood Release and, by extension, any chakra-infused flora. Moreover, as a master of sealing techniques, she could indeed possess insights that even Tsunade might lack.

Mito examined the scroll intently, her fingers tracing the air just above the seal. "This is an ancient corruption, possibly predating even my time. However, the principles of sealing haven't changed much. Give me a moment."

After a second, Mito gasped, recoiling slightly from the scroll. "What a foul poison. It can devour the vitality of any life to grow its power." Her frown deepened as an old story she had heard echoed in her thoughts. It was a tale about the Shinobi World once having a Realm Tree and an alien that arrived to use the tree to suck every human's vitality and become a goddess. 'Could it be true? And are these related?' She pondered the possibility with a mix of skepticism and intrigue. "Can you take me to the Realm Tree? I need to see the seal for myself."

Horyu hesitated, not entirely sure how to proceed. Normally, without signing a contract, one couldn't go to a summon realm. But he had an idea. With a quick hand seal, he summoned Elder Kagehiro, the old lore master of the Kurohana Owl Tribe.

As the elder appeared in a puff of smoke, Horyu quickly introduced him to Mito. "Elder Kagehiro, this is Uzumaki Mito. She believes she can help with the Realm Tree's sickness."

The elder's eyes widened slightly in recognition. "The legendary Mito Uzumaki? It's an honor. But as you know, non-tribe members cannot typically enter our realm."

Mito nodded, her gaze steady. "I understand. However, the situation seems dire. I'm willing to lend my aid."

There was a moment of silence as Elder Kagehiro considered their options. Finally, he nodded. "Given the circumstances, I believe an exception can be made. Let's proceed."

With Kagehiro's agreement, the elder prepared an intricate set of hand seals unfamiliar to Horyu. The technique seemed to weave the elder's chakra around Mito and himself in a complex pattern. Mito reciprocated, her hands moving with practiced precision. Horyu, observing closely, activated his Observe skill and noted that the technique bore similarities to advanced summoning rituals, designed to create a temporary bound.

"Elder, what is this technique?" Horyu inquired, curiosity piqued by the unique chakra manipulation.

Kagehiro glanced at Horyu, a slight smile playing on his lips as he responded, "This is an old Kurohana Owl Tribe secret, a way to bind non-tribe members temporarily to our realm so they may enter without permanent ties. It's rarely used, but desperate times call for desperate measures."

With the preparations complete, Kagehiro clapped his hands together, and in a burst of smoke, they vanished from the Uzumaki hideout and reappeared in the Forest of Darkness. The atmosphere was immediately recognizable—the heavy, oppressive air filled with the whispers of the forest, and the dim light that barely touched the forest floor.

The elders of the Kurohana Owl Tribe—Aomori, Shizuka, and several others—were already gathered around the Realm Tree, whose vast trunk and sprawling branches exuded a weak, pulsating chakra. Yoru and Toru were also present, their expressions grave as they regarded the newcomers.

As Mito stepped forward, Aomori approached her with a respectful nod. "Uzumaki Mito, it is an honor to welcome you to the Forest of Darkness. Your reputation precedes you."

Mito returned the nod with equal respect. "Elder Aomori, the honor is mine. I've heard much about the wisdom of the Kurohana Owl Tribe. I am here to assist in any way I can," she stated, her voice carrying a serene confidence.

Aomori gestured towards the Realm Tree. "Our realm's heart suffers from a corruption unknown to us. We believe it's an ancient seal failing, but the specifics elude our understanding."

Mito approached the tree, laying her hands upon its gnarled bark. She closed her eyes, tuning into the tree's distress. After a moment, she opened her eyes, her expression somber. "This seal... it's not just failing; it's being actively corrupted by an external force. Something or someone has targeted the Realm Tree deliberately."

The gathered owls murmured among themselves, troubled by this revelation. Yoru's feathers bristled in anger, while Toru let out a low hoot of concern.

The sight of the Realm Tree's condition seemed to affect Mito deeply. "This seal... it's ancient, and not of this world," she murmured, her eyes narrowing as she traced the complex patterns of the seal.

Kagehiro watched closely, intrigued by Mito's assessment. "Not of this world? Do you mean..."

Mito nodded, "Yes. This might be related to the legend of the Shinobi World's Realm Tree. The poison, it's designed not just to kill, but to absorb life force, growing stronger with each life it takes."

After hearing Mito's explanation, Horyu was taken aback. He was well aware of the God Tree in the Shinobi World and Kaguya's use of it to revive the Ten Tails and dominate the Shinobi World, but he had always considered the God Tree a unique, alien lifeform, not something that could be artificially created or manipulated. This revelation suggested a deeper, more sinister manipulation of natural forces than he had anticipated. The idea that the Realm Tree could potentially be transformed into a God Tree through the poison was a disturbing thought. Yet, he kept his thoughts to himself and focused on the immediate problem. 

"Mito-sama, can you heal the tree?" Horyu asked, focusing on the ancient seal's patterns marred by the dark corruption.

Mito examined the Realm Tree closely, her fingertips almost touching the tree's bark as she traced the flow of the corrupted chakra. "It's possible, but not easy. This poison is sophisticated, derived from dark chakra similar to that used on Shinobi World once. I'll need to create a purification seal and use my own chakra to cleanse it."

"What do you need from me?" Horyu inquired, ready to assist however he could.

"I'll handle the seal. I need you to keep the tree stable while I work. The process might provoke the poison to react aggressively," Mito explained, her eyes locked on the intricate seal patterns.

"Understood," Horyu replied, positioning himself near the base of the tree. He spread his awareness, ready to counter any surge in the dark chakra.

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