25 Hope

Is there any reader who has never watched Naruto? I wanted to know if it's easy to understand without knowledge of the original work. I try to explain it so that even those not familiar with the original anime/manga can read and enjoy it.

I would also like to ask for reviews on what you think and what you're expecting to happen in the future. I don't plan on changing the story based on readers' opinions, but reading the feedback helps me see if I'm steering the story correctly, if you understand my intentions. I mention this because some people thought it was a Harem, and I didn't put the Harem tag anywhere.

 ***

"So, Yujin, I wanted to talk to you about the future. It might seem strange for someone like me, who is about to die, to want to talk about it, but-"

"Of course not. You're leaving, but you're leaving loved ones behind. It's only natural that you would be concerned about the future you can no longer influence."

Mito nodded, satisfied with Yujin's understanding. He clearly grasped her intentions.

"That shortens the conversation a bit. I'm worried about Kushina. I don't know how much you know about the Nine-Tailed Fox, but of all the Biju, the fox is the most powerful and the most malevolent. I'm concerned about her future in the current situation. I made Tsunade promise to take care of her, but we don't know what might happen. There are many interests at play."

Mito took a deep breath when she arrived here, and continued after exhaling all the air she had inhaled.

"Among the scenarios that could happen are kidnapping, murder, manipulation, threats and so on. And she is still too young. I need more people to support her, and currently, I can only rely on Tsunade and, now that I've clarified the situation better, you."

"I understand your concern. And I promise to be a support for Kushina during this time."

Mito nodded her head and then continued, with a slightly hopeful tone.

"But it doesn't have to be this way. I haven't talked to Tsunade because I didn't want to give unnecessary hope to her, but I thought of a solution to my and Kushina's issue, but I need your assistance."

Yujin raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Mito's words. A solution?

"What are you talking about?"

Mito leaned forward and spoke in a low voice.

"For many years, I knew this day would come, so I've been working on a solution. In this case, I refer to how I would die earlier than usual and how I would have to pass the fox on to someone. The most important thing was always to find someone capable of being the host of the fox, and Kushina was the only one, during the decades I've been searching, with the potential."

"While I was searching for the heir of the fox, I was thinking about how to ease the burden of the person who would inherit it in the future, as well as perhaps lessen my current burden, and I came up with a theory."

Mito then picked up a book that was on a chair beside her and handed it to Yujin. He opened it and saw that the content was handwritten in a language he couldn't read, but there were also many drawings.

Many of these drawings had symbols of writing that Yujin recognized, and he finally understood what she needed help with.

"I tried my best to hide my happiness, but when I found out that you could read these symbols, I was really happy. You're exactly who I need."

"And with my knowledge, what result do you expect to achieve?"

Yujin asked with a gleam in his eyes, not expecting the conversation to lead to this.

"So, you know that the Biju are creatures made entirely of Chakra, right?"

"No, I don't know much about these monsters. In the world I come from, there was nothing like that, although there were rumors of an Imugi in the north."

"Imugi? No, never mind. The point is, the Biju are made entirely of Chakra. They can use Chakra to condense a physical body, but in the end, they are still made entirely of Chakra. So, I thought, Chakra can have many different elements, and it can transform into different elements. What if I divided the Chakra of the Biju into different types? What would happen? Would it split?"

Mito's eyes sparkled, and Yujin had never felt so much enthusiasm from her before. Clearly, the topic was something she truly loved. Yujin even wondered if she was researching this to extend her lifespan, or if it was purely out of curiosity.

"I conducted various experiments and found that it wasn't possible to split it into the five elements of nature, but I got signs that it might be possible to split it into Yin and Yang."

Suddenly, Mito took a different turn in the conversation and asked.

"By the way, I noticed before, but you seem to have remarkable knowledge about Yin and Yang. Baoquan Li, you said? That form of greeting."

"Well, yes. Harmony, in which I specialize, is about balancing forces, just like the Taijitu symbol, which represents the perfect balance between Yin and Yang. Harmony is a mental state that humans can achieve in which it's possible to harmonize two opposing forces. In the case of my martial arts, the two opposing forces are External Qi and Internal Qi. External Qi as the representation of Yang, explosive and inflexible strength, and Internal Qi as the representation of Yin, stable and flexible strength. Normally, it's impossible to use these two forces, and martial artists have to choose what to train in, but Harmony practitioners can use the advantages of both without the disadvantages because we can harmonize the two with our mental state of balancing forces, known as Harmony. The downside is that we can't take either practice to its pinnacle without our Harmony mental state reaching a similar level of mastery."

Mito was puzzled about Qi, but she understood the general idea. Basically, Yujin can reconcile two opposing energies within himself without them harming him.

"What do you want to do, then? What result do you hope to achieve by dividing the beast in two?"

Mito nodded slightly and explained her intentions.

"If I can split the fox into two, one part Yin, and one part Yang, I can give one of the parts to Kushina. We would both get half, and that would divide the burden between the two of us. I won't have to die tomorrow, and there will be a smaller chance of the fox getting out of control inside Kushina, especially when I give her the Yin half, which I believe is calmer."

Yujin was surprised by the solution Mito thought of, something very creative. At the same time, he felt hope that this could work.

"And what do you plan to do about the ritual tomorrow? Are you going to cancel it?"

"Yes, I can endure for a few more days in my current situation. I just advanced it a bit as a precaution."

The elderly woman fell silent for a few moments, considered a few more variables, and said.

"But it doesn't mean I can't take advantage of the situation."

Yujin raised an eyebrow, feeling that the elderly woman was planning something.

"But let's leave politics and conspiracies for Hiruzen to handle. I need you to teach me many things so I can proceed with the completion of the technique that will split the fox. We have a long night ahead."

Yujin spent the rest of the night, until morning, talking with Mito, explaining Yin and Yang, Qi, Harmony, and writing explanations about the symbols she wanted.

In the morning, he left the mansion satisfied, hopeful that maybe with his help, Mito would survive this, and Tsunade wouldn't have to go through another painful death in her life.

---

Hiruzen was at home, preparing for the important day tomorrow when he received a letter from Uzumaki Mito.

He didn't expect a letter at this hour. He has a scheduled visit with her tomorrow and will be on standby during the ritual to protect against possible attacks from enemy villages.

Although the village has been careful about the secrecy of what will happen tomorrow, it's always important to be cautious and be ready for any possible situation, including the possibility that tomorrow's events have been leaked.

So, he cautiously picked up the letter to read it, many possibilities crossing his mind. But when he read it, only a few words came out of his mouth.

"What the fuck?"

The most powerful man in the village was so surprised that he couldn't hold back the words that came out of his mouth. He read the letter several times just to make sure he read it correctly, and only then did he call some subordinates to discuss the letter.

After listening to advice from various subordinates, he gave the necessary orders and left the house, ready for an overnight work in preparations.

The next few days will be busier than he thought, thanks to this letter, but he could only accept it. Although he is the most powerful man in the village, he couldn't go against Mito's wishes, especially when he understands the situation enough to realize that it's for the best.