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"This is it," Horyu whispered, excitement coursing through his veins. "This has to be the key."

Toru looked confused, tilting his head. "Is it that easy to be invited?"

Horyu shook his head, eyes narrowed as he studied the seal. "No, of course not." He gestured toward the seal, pointing out a specific part of the pattern that resembled a ritualistic basin. "See this? It's for Uzumaki blood. They're supposed to offer their blood here to bypass the seal."

Toru rolled his eyes, scoffing, "Great, and where are we supposed to find an Uzumaki? Last I checked, they were nearly wiped out."

Horyu couldn't help but chuckle, despite the grim topic. "Well, there are at least three I know of that are still around." He paused, a frown creasing his brow. 'Is Nagato still around in this timeline? I can't say for certain. And Naruto... well, he's probably alive. After all, the system still throws quests about him, so he must be somewhere making people believe it! As for his sister and brother, I'm not entirely sure, but I am certain Karin is definitely still around, but for now, she is not needed.'

Seeing Horyu lost in thought, Toru nudged him. "What are you thinking?"

Horyu shook his head, a confident glint in his eye. "We don't need an Uzumaki though." Toru, visibly puzzled, tilted his head. "But you just said we need Uzumaki blood," he pointed out, confusion clear in his voice.

Nodding, Horyu moved closer to the seal, his finger tracing a particular section. "Look here. This part acts like a storage unit for Uzumaki blood. It's designed so when someone of Uzumaki lineage comes along, their blood can be used to create a resonance with the seal. Breaking through this thing directly is a no-go, but placing another drop of blood in the storage? Much simpler."

Cutting his palm, Horyu let a few drops of his blood fall into a designated spot within the seal. The moment his blood touched the surface, it disappeared as if the seal absorbed it.

Toru's beak dropped open in surprise. "That's it? Just two drops of blood?" He couldn't hide his disbelief, half-convinced Horyu was pulling his leg.

Horyu let out a low chuckle. "Sounds easy, doesn't it? But without cracking the entire structure of this seal, figuring that out would've been impossible." Walking over to the ritual basin, he let another drop of blood fall onto it. Instantly, the entire seal began to glow, a soft, pulsating light that gradually spread across the intricate patterns.

The glow from the seal bathed the area in a warm light, the intricate patterns shimmering as if acknowledging Horyu's discovery. "Well, that did something," Horyu remarked dryly, watching as the seal's light began to form a pathway, leading them towards the central structure of the village.

Toru, following closely, still seemed skeptical. "So, what? We just walk in now?"

Taking a deep breath, Horyu eyed Toru cautiously. "You might want to stay back. No clue what we're walking into."

Toru, however, was quick to dismiss the idea with a shake of his head. "Not a chance!"

Horyu frowned, slightly concerned. "Listen, Toru, I appreciate the gesture, but it could get dangerous. You don't have to protect me."

Toru looked at Horyu with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Protect you? Man, I've been hanging around you for months now. I'm just as invested in this as you are. I'm dying of curiosity here!"

Horyu glanced at Toru, who seemed ready to follow him into whatever lay beyond the seal, and snorted. "Fine, let's see what's on the other side."

Walking in, Horyu and Toru were met with a sight that defied all expectations. Instead of a room or a hidden cache of scrolls and relics, they found themselves staring at a bustling village. The vibrant life before them was in stark contrast to the desolate ruins they had left behind. The people, with their distinctive red hair, moved about their day, completely unaware of the newcomers.

"Uzumaki Village?" Toru asked, his voice laced with disbelief. He turned back to glance at the seal, still glowing softly, the dilapidated Uzumaki Village visible through its frame. "Did we time travel?"

Horyu, equally stunned, shook his head firmly. "No, this isn't time travel. The seal didn't mention anything about time manipulation. Space, yes, but I thought it'd be a room or something... not an entire world."

As they stood there, trying to process the sight, a few of the villagers noticed them. Murmurs spread quickly, and soon, a small crowd began to gather around Horyu and Toru. The villagers eyed them with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. None seemed hostile, but the surprise was mutual.

Before Horyu could even begin to understand the situation, he felt strong chakra sources moving his way. Reacting quickly, he gave Toru a swift kick towards the seal, closing it despite the owl's loud protests. As the enforcers of the village, dressed in distinct Shinobi uniforms that differed from the civilians, arrived, they eyed Horyu with a mix of curiosity and caution.

"Come with us," the middle-aged man leading the group said, his voice firm but not hostile. Horyu noted the man's curiosity, tempered with a vigilance that seemed second nature to him. Nodding, Horyu followed without protest, keen on understanding this unexpected turn of events.

As they walked through the village, Horyu observed the surroundings. The architecture was simple yet functional, with most buildings not exceeding two stories, all adorned with the red and white colors symbolic of the Uzumaki clan. The streets were lively, filled with villagers going about their daily routines, children playing, and vendors selling various goods. The atmosphere was peaceful, a stark contrast to the desolate ruins outside the seal.

Eventually, they reached a building taller than the rest, three stories high, standing out not just for its height but for the prominent Uzumaki symbol at its pinnacle. The building, which seemed to serve as a central hub for the village's activities, had a welcoming yet authoritative aura.

Inside, Horyu was led to the top floor of the building, where an old woman awaited them. She wore traditional Uzumaki robes, and even though her hair had lost its youthful color, settling into a dignified white, there was an unmistakable air of authority about her. The unique mark on her forehead were unmistakable signs of her lineage. Despite the signs of age on her face and her slightly hunched posture, her eyes sparkled with an unyielding spirit. The purple diamond mark on her forehead was all the confirmation Horyu needed, but instinctively, he used his Observe skill anyway.

[System Notification:

Target: Uzumaki Mito

Level: ?????

Chakra: ?????

Strength: ?????

Intelligence: ?????

Agility: ?????

Stamina: ????]

Seeing her name through the system's brief flash, Horyu couldn't hide his astonishment. "Uzumaki Mito," he found himself saying out loud, almost without realizing it.

The corners of Mito's mouth turned up slightly in a knowing smile. "So, the world outside hasn't forgotten me yet. That's... comforting," she remarked, her voice carrying a tone that seemed to echo through the ages.

The realization hit Horyu with the weight of history itself. Here was the Uzumaki Matriarch, the woman who had outwitted the Shinigami, securing not just her people's safety but leveraging an immortal entity's power to protect her village. It was a feat that bordered on the realm of legend, and yet, here she was, in the flesh.

Horyu was still trying to wrap his head around the reality in front of him. Standing there, face to face with Uzumaki Mito, a figure who should only exist in history books, his usual cool composure was shaken. "How?" he finally managed to voice his bewilderment. Normally, he prided himself on his ability to remain unfazed, but this... this was beyond anything he could have imagined.

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