The Big Secret

"..."

After hearing Kushina's analysis, Mito was speechless and even showed a doubtful expression.

Seeing her disbelief, Kushina quickly explained her previous analysis.

After listening, Mito also felt that perhaps only this simple and crude reason could explain Natsuhiko's strange behaviour.

So, she could only smile wryly.

After all, it was an unexpected but reasonable answer.

Sometimes, a boy's aesthetic sense can be that simple.

In fact, when she had defeated that person back then, it might not have been without this aspect playing a role (big misunderstanding).

But now, this was really a troublesome situation.

Mito glanced at Kushina's cliff-like figure and felt a headache coming on.

If it were a personality issue, Kushina might still have room for improvement.

But if it were a physical issue, Mito wouldn't even have a solution.

Mito even began to consider whether to initiate Plan B: writing a letter to Tsunade to return to the village and then changing Natsuhiko's task from revitalising the Uzumaki clan to revitalising the Senju clan...

Of course, this was just Mito venting her thoughts, but it did remind her of something she had buried deep in her heart for a long time.

It seemed that Kushina's weakness wasn't wholly unfixable.

But would it really be okay to do this?

Mito struggled in her mind over whether to teach Kushina that method.

Her face showed a range of emotions before finally settling on a determined expression.

Then, she turned to Kushina with a gentle smile and said:

"Kushina, do you still remember the Yin Seal that I taught you before?"

Kushina was a bit confused, not understanding why Mito suddenly brought this up.

But hearing about the Yin Seal did bring up some unpleasant memories for her.

Even though the Yin Seal is fundamentally a sealing technique, it requires extensive knowledge of medical ninjutsu.

Kushina, who was already exhausted from learning sealing techniques, didn't have the energy to take up medical ninjutsu.

So, after trying it out for a while, she painfully chose to give up on mastering this sealing technique that all the girls wanted to learn.

Back then, Mito didn't push her either.

After all, even Tsunade, who had better talent than Kushina, still hadn't fully mastered this technique.

But Tsunade's situation was the opposite—she excelled in medical ninjutsu but was weaker in sealing techniques.

Hearing Mito bring up the Yin Seal, Kushina looked at her with increasing suspicion.

"Grandma, you're not thinking that after I learn the Yin Seal, I'll stay young like you and then wait thirty years to make my move on Natsuhiko, are you?"

At that time, she would indeed have a good chance of winning.

"What are you even thinking?" Mito flicked Kushina's forehead with her finger, making Kushina tear up in pain.

Then, Mito stood up, walked to a bookcase in the corner of the study, and took out a slightly old book before returning to her seat.

Curious, Kushina looked at the book on the table and realised that it was actually a photo album.

"Grandma, this is..."

As she spoke, Kushina couldn't resist her curiosity and reached out for the album...

Only for her hand to be slapped away with a "smack" by Mito.

Mito placed her hand on the album, her expression serious as she said to Kushina:

"What you're about to see and hear, you must not mention to anyone, not even to Natsuhiko. Do you understand?"

Seeing Mito so severely, Kushina couldn't help but swallow nervously and nod.

Only then did Mito remove her hand and slowly open the album...

Kushina cautiously leaned in closer, only to see that most of the photos were of a cute little girl with blonde hair.

And she quickly recognised the girl.

"Ah, this is Tsunade from when she was little, wasn't it? So cute!"

Kushina said excitedly but then became a bit puzzled. "But Grandma, why are you showing me these photos?"

"You'll find out soon enough."

Mito said calmly, continuing to flip through the album.

The photos seemed to be arranged in chronological order.

As Mito turned the pages, Kushina felt as though she was witnessing Tsunade's growth.

And in the photos, many people Kushina had heard of or met also appeared.

There was Mito, always smiling in the photos,

There was the First Hokage, looking ill but still holding Tsunade and laughing heartily.

There was the Second Hokage, usually stern but managing a smile in front of young Tsunade.

There was Nawaki, whom Kushina hadn't met many times but who had always been kind to her.

There were even photos of Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, taken when they were part of a team under the Hokage.

However, the number of photos gradually decreased, mainly limited to holiday group photos.

The people around Tsunade also dwindled until only Mito and Kushina remained by her side.

Thinking that Mito would also soon disappear from future group photos, Kushina felt a deep sorrow and momentarily lost interest in Natsuhiko's affairs.

Mito, of course, noticed Kushina's thoughts and gently stroked her red hair, saying warmly:

"It's okay; life and death are part of the natural order."

"But in the future, it will be up to you and Tsunade to take group photos together. Of course, if Natsuhiko could join in, that would be even better."

Kushina felt as though a heavy responsibility had been placed on her shoulders, but not wanting to disappoint her grandmother, she nodded firmly and agreed.

Mito then smiled and said, "Well, to get Natsuhiko into the group photos, let's get back to the main topic."

"Kushina, look closely at these photos. Do you notice anything strange?"

Hearing this, Kushina began to scrutinise the photos.

After a while, she barely noticed one, or rather two, oddities.

"Grandma... Grandma, why does Tsunade still have a flat chest in the photos taken when she was twenty?"

Kushina asked, pointing with a trembling finger at a photo of a clearly flat-chested but beaming Tsunade.

Mito finally let out a sigh of relief and smiled, saying:

"Kushina, you finally noticed. Let's be clear: you discovered this on your own; I didn't tell you anything."

"If Tsunade asks, you can't say anything reckless, got it!"

"..."

Hearing this, Kushina grew even more cautious, sensing that she might have stumbled upon a massive secret about Tsunade.

Her subconscious told her she should close the album immediately and walk away.

However, curiosity, which had killed many a cat, made her eager to ask:

"Grandma, is there a big secret behind this?"

Mito didn't answer directly, instead saying:

"Kushina, you should remember that the Yin Seal can stimulate the body by continuously controlling chakra, enhancing recovery and even maintaining youth."

Kushina nodded, showing that she remembered.

After all, this was the most appealing feature of the Yin Seal, a skill that all girls who knew about it were envious of.

Then, she heard Mito say with a profound meaning:

"You should also remember that the Yin Seal's ability uses a lot of medical ninjutsu principles. So, even if someone hasn't completed the Yin Seal, as long as they're proficient in medical ninjutsu, they can achieve part of its effects."

"However, without the Yin Seal's regulation, the chakra balance can easily be disrupted, leading to various side effects."

"For example, excessive chakra infusion could cause certain parts of the body to undergo a second development..."

Kushina repeated Mito's words several times in her mind before she gradually understood what Mito was implying, her eyes widening in shock.

Then she asked with a trembling voice:

"Grandma, are you saying... that Tsunade's chest is... her own doing...?"

"No, I didn't say anything!"

Mito quickly interrupted, "I just showed you Tsunade's old photo album and reviewed the principles of the Yin Seal with you; that's all."

Hearing her grandmother repeatedly emphasise that she hadn't told her anything, Kushina knew that this matter was definitely a taboo for Tsunade.

If Tsunade found out she knew, the consequences would be unthinkable...

So, Kushina didn't even dare to ponder whether this "side effect" was intentional or accidental...

But Kushina couldn't focus on that right now.

She finally understood why Mito had brought up the Yin Seal and shown her Tsunade's photo album.

She never imagined that the Yin Seal could be used in such a way!

For once, Kushina couldn't help but marvel at the wonders of sealing techniques.

She also remembered something Natsuhiko often said: knowledge changes destiny.

Indeed, if she could master this application of the Yin Seal, she might have a chance to win Natsuhiko back and change their fates!

Having made up her mind, Kushina took a deep breath, then looked at Mito with determination and said firmly:

"Grandma, I want to learn the Yin Seal!"

(End of Chapter)

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