"What did you just say?"
Katsuro's voice was uncharacteristically calm - too calm. Mito took a deep breath, and thought of what to say next carefully. It had been 2 weeks since Kushina had moved into the Senju complex, and the three of them had spent all their time together, particularly Kushina and Katsuro, especially considering the former, even though she would never admit it, looked up to the latter. Speaking of Kushina, the Uzumaki girl's normally smiling, youthful face was one of worry and guilt. Poor child, Mito thought, she probably feels guilty. She thinks she's killing me by extracting the Nine Tails.
Regardless, right now, it was Katsuro she had to appease - he was the one most likely to ruin the plan.
"I'm getting old, Katsuro. If I somehow die before the Nine Tails is extracted, it will be released. Do I even have to tell you the consequences of that?"
"Bullshit. No one told you that you had to do this now! Maybe in 20 years, when you're on your deathbed, we can discuss this, but now? While you're still walking, talking, breathing by yourself? Are you crazy? No one's asking you to do this, Granny, why are you doing this to yourself?" he pleaded. Mito's heart broke again - not for herself, but for the young man in front of her. No, just because he's changed physically, doesn't mean his heart has changed. He's still the same small child, scared to lose anyone else.
"You are a kind child, Katsuro. And you speak the truth. We could technically wait till I'm on my deathbed."
"Then why-"
"What guarantee do you have that I will not die before that? Hmm? That I will not die of some disease, or to an accident, or even be kidnapped or killed by an enemy village?"
Katsuro was silent for a moment.
"I would never let that happen."
Mito had expected this response.
"I know that's what you believe. It's part of the reason why you refused to graduate, isn't it? It is truly admirable that you feel such a sense of responsibility for others, child. But just because you are strong does not mean that you can save everyone.
My late husband, the First Hokage - he was called the God of Shinobi. But even he couldn't prevent the outbreak of war between the villages - his life goal. Even more than that, he couldn't save his own little brother all those years ago. At my age I don't know how much longer I can continue to suppress the Nine Tails."
"Ok then, fine. You can do the Nine Tails extraction, and then Tsunade and I will be there to heal you with Iryo Ninjutsu! That you won't-"
"Iryo Ninjutsu will not be able to save me. The connection between the Tailed Beast and the Jinchuriki being severed drastically harms the vitality of the Jinchuriki. There's nothing that can be done. Besides," she continued, "the truth is that I am growing older, even as an Uzumaki I won't be able to survive such a thing. I am not as strong as I once was, and against Jonin from an enemy, I may very well lose. However.." Granny Mito stood taller, chin up, defiant,
"I have a duty. I am still the wife of the First Hokage, Matriarch to the Senju Clan. My loyalties lie to Konoha, the village my husband founded, and part of that duty is to ensure that the Nine Tails doesn't fall into the hands of those who would do us harm or escape due to my old age and wreak destruction on the village. That is why Kushina is here, to carry on my will, and to protect Konoha. My age doesn't change that duty. You of all people should understand."
Katsuro was silent, before turning around and jumping away. The sound of Kushina wailing, as loud as her lungs let her, made him feel guilty, but he needed some time to think.
Poor child, Mito thought. Sometimes she forgot that Kushina was still only 8. Then again, how old had Katsuro been when he had lost his parents?
But Granny Mito shuddered as she thought: many shinobi had lost far more than Katsuro had, at even earlier ages. Yet he was one of the only people that had taken the death of his loved ones this hard, trained this much, with the intensity of a man escaping death, every day, without rest or reprieve. How would Katsuro react if he were to lose anyone else? Her? Sakumo? Kushina? Tsunade? Nawaki? Even Fugaku?
Granny Mito knew nothing but one fact: whoever the unlucky person was that had the misfortune of killing someone Katsuro loved, would regret it - more than they would ever know…
Katsura, meanwhile continued on his way to Kushina's side towards the complex. He had felt bad about suddenly leaving Granny Mito alone, she probably thought it was her fault for causing his bad mood.
But that was far from it.
I learnt medical Ninjutsu to save and protect the people I cared about. My medical Ninjutsu is one of the best in the entire world, barely anyone other than Tsunade surpasses me. So why?
Why is it still not enough?
No-
Why am Istill not enough?
Such thoughts would continue to circle around Katsuro's head.
While talking about Kushina becoming the next Jinchuriki, Katsuro had seen an image, a vision for a second.
What was that? That sudden vision that appeared when Granny Mito mentioned the Nine Tails. What was that giant, smoking red claw that tore the stomach of that girl… that girl, the red hair, I-I feel like I know that girl. Kushina??! No, surely not. It can't be… First Granny Mito, now maybe Kushina too. Why is this happening? That can't be Kushina can it?
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