54. Four Symbols Seal

Six months later,

Inside the Senju clan compounds,

"How are the preparations?" Mito raises her head and stares at the overhead moon hidden in the clouds.

"Oba-sama, everything is ready!" A man in his mid-thirties with black eyes and shoulder-length red hair tied in a ponytail answers her.

"I have laid a protective barrier formation around the entire Senju clan. It's strong enough to imprison a tailed beast for a brief moment of time. I also laid another genjutsu formation on top of it to mask everything that happens within the bounds of this barrier."

"That's great! I don't want to create unnecessary panic due to the sudden appearance of the Nine-tails." Mito nods in affirmation.

"The ceremonial sealing altar is also ready and is located near the Uzumaki shrine in the Senju clan. Oba-sama, the elders of the clan, spent a considerable amount of time studying your sealing jutsu. And finally came with a seal that will be able to suppress the tailed beast."

The red-haired man takes out a scroll from his pocket and hands it over to Mito.

Mm…

Mito opens the scroll and reads its contents as the red-haired man explains.

"Oba-san, you were already an adult when the Nine-tailed beast was sealed within you. Your chakra was strongest amongst the entire Uzumaki clan and due to its nature, it was quite easy for you to suppress the beast within yourself.

However, little Kushina is different. Although she possesses the same chakra as you, she is still a child and has yet to mature to her full potential. Her chakra isn't strong enough to suppress such a powerful beast yet. As such, a powerful seal is required to completely suppress the beast.

After studying the mechanism of your sealing technique, the clan elders remodeled the most powerful sealing technique of the Uzumaki clan, the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, and created this seal."

Mito glances at the symbol of the new seal on the scroll.

"Four Symbols Seals!"

"Yes, according to the clan elders, this seal should be strong enough to seal a tailed beast."

Mito studies the seal in detail.

"A single seal isn't enough to hold down the Nine-tailed beast. Although it will seal the tailed beast, it will also create a conflict between the host and the beast. The host will be exposed to the influence of the tailed beast's chakra and the tailed beast can use this opportunity to break from the seal."

Mito shakes her head.

"However, if we combine two such seals and layer them on top of each other in such a way as to cut off the influence of the tailed beast, then this seal will be a strong Fuinjutsu technique to seal the tailed beast in the future."

"But Oba-san, wouldn't that disrupt the flow of chakra of the host and might take away their ability to use chakra?" The red-haired man argues.

"You are right! There is indeed such a possibility. However, if we align and overlap the two seals perfectly; then it will remove the flaws you mentioned earlier."

Mito infuses some chakra on the tip of her fingers and draws the seal formula in mid-air. She creates a seal model of the Four Symbols Seals and generates another Four Symbols Seals on top of it.

"This technique!" The red-haired man's eyes widen in surprise.

"Oba-san, are you already past that stage?" He gulps his saliva in astonishment.

"I had a stroke of luck and came across something extraordinary," Mito recalls her experience in Yuji's mindscape.

"I have already surpassed the boundaries of a Grandmaster Fuinjutsu Sealing Master, but I am not a Sage yet. I am just at the threshold." Mito shakes her head.

"If only I had a few more years, then perhaps I could…" Mito sighs slightly.

Half an hour later,

"I am done!" Mito presents a new Fuinjutsu seal model. She draws it on a scroll using her chakra.

"It's the improved version of the Four Symbols Seal. I will call it 'Eight Trigram Sealing Style'." Mito engraves the name of the technique on the scroll and hands it over to the red-haired man.

She turns in the direction of the clan's entrance.

"Looks like Tsuna is back."

"Grandma, I am back!" Tsunade flickers into the Senju clan compound and appears in front of Mito.

"Did you inform Hiruzen?"

"Yes, he will be here at any moment now." Tsunade nods at her.

"Good!" She turns towards the man and introduces him to Tsunade.

"Tsunade, this man is your uncle Kisuke Uzumaki. He is the younger brother of Kushina's late father and is the current Uzumaki clan head.

"Will Uncle help you with the…" Tsunade's eyes tear up as she thinks about the imminent departure of Mito.

"I have lived for over eighty years and spent half of my life in Konoha building and protecting my husband's dream. It has been around twenty years since your grandfather left me." Mito stares at the sky and answers her.

She turns towards Hashirama's stone carving on the Hokage monument.

"It's about time I reunite with him." She raises her head towards Tsunade and smiles.

"Your grandfather must be feeling lonely up there."

"GRANDMA!" Tsunade hugs her and sobs into her embrace.

Mito gently pats her head and ruffles her hair.

"Tsunade, I will leave the responsibility of Nawaki and Kushina in your hands. I am sure you will take great care of them." Mito smiles at her.

"Grandma!" Tsunade continues to cry into her embrace while Mito continues to gently pat her head. Kisuke tacitly leaves the place to meet with Kushina.

"Kushina! Look who is here!" Kisuke enters the house and speaks gently.

Inside a room, Kushina is focused on the contents of a scroll. She carefully memorizes the seals and runes on the scroll and copies them on another scroll with a special brush and ink.

"Phew… I finally did it! I have memorized everything that Grandma taught me so far." Kushina stretches her arms and prepares to sleep.

"Tsunade Nee-san left with Nawaki to visit some relatives and has yet to return. Grandma must be resting in her room."

"Kushina! Look who is here!" Kisuke's voice echoes in the house.

"Hmm… this voice. It is uncle Kisuke!"

Kushina swiftly opens the door of the room and dashes towards the entrance of the house.

"Uncle Kisuke! It's really you." She recognizes the red-haired man.

Whoosh…

Kushina jumps into his arms and hugs him.

"Oh! My Kushina is as cheerful as ever." Kisuke ruffles her hair.

"Uncle missed you a lot in these two years."

"I also missed Uncle!" Kushina nods her head and closes her eyes in glee as Kisuke gently pats her head.

She behaves like a tame domestic kitten, unlike the ferocious wild side of her she shows to others.

"Uncle, where is aunt? Didn't she come with you?" Kushina looks around to search for someone.

"No, your aunt didn't come with me. She is still in the clan." Kisuke shakes his head.

"Uncle is here for a special mission given to him by Aunt Mito." Kisuke lifts her and places her on his shoulder.

"Uncle has lots of things to talk with you! But before that, let's go and meet your grandma."

Hmm…

Mito raises her head and glances toward the entrance of the Senju clan.

"Looks like they are already here. Tsunade, won't you go and greet your sensei?"

"Yes, grandma!" Tsunade wipes her tears and stands up.

Mito also closes her eyes to rest for a bit.

Swoosh…

Mito enters her mindscape. She opens her eyes and looks around. A vast stretch of red sky and transparent ground welcomes her. Slight gloominess pervades the surroundings, giving off a desolate vibe.

Mito waves her hand and wipes away the gloominess in the atmosphere. The red sky turns blue with her every step as she walks toward the center of her mindscape.

In the middle of her mindscape, a red-orange Kitsune is pinned to the ground. Multiple gigantic stakes pierce through its torso, arms, and nine-tails and firmly hold it to the ground. The kitsune has red eyes and black fur that stretches from its eyes and ears up to its tails.

The Kitsune senses Mito's presence and opens its eyes.

ROAR…

It releases a threatening, violent roar filled with uncontrollable rage toward her. Mito slightly raises her hand and slightly swings it downward.

BANG…

A gigantic Torri gate falls from the sky and pins the beast's neck to the ground.

ROAR…

The beast releases another frenzied roar, but Mito doesn't flinch at its intimidation. She slowly walks in front of the furious beast and stares into its giant red eyes that are as tall as a full-grown adult.

"Grr… how long do you think you can hold me in rein, human?"

The giant kitsune growls at Mito.

"Your time has come to an end. I can sense the rapidly declining vitality of your body. It won't be long before your frail body succumbs to the degradation of time."

The beast glares at her with its giant eyes.

"And when that time comes, I will be set free from these shackles. That will be the moment when I will destroy everything you hold so dear to yourself."