Ebara and Tsunade stayed silent.
Sawako's accusation stung—they had no answer.
The fall of the Uzumaki Village was Konoha's failure (Naruto canon).
Seeing their silence, Sawako scoffed but said no more.
Soon, they arrived at Tsunade's home.
"Secret Technique: Thousand Years of Death!"
Entering the courtyard, they saw Nawaki jabbing a wooden post.
The once-smooth post now had a hole from his relentless practice.
He was clearly dedicated.
Tsunade, however, was livid.
"Nawaki, what are you doing?" she roared.
"Practicing the secret technique Ebara-bro taught me!" Nawaki said, wiping sweat.
Spotting Ebara behind Tsunade, he grinned.
"Ebara-bro, you're here! Watch my progress!"
Ignoring Tsunade's fury, Nawaki darted to another post.
He clasped his hands, striking the Thousand Years of Death pose.
His fingers plunged into the post with devastating force.
Boom!
The post shattered, splintering into the air.
"How's that? Pretty awesome, right?" Nawaki beamed at Ebara.
"Awesome, my foot!" Tsunade snapped, smacking his head. She glared at Ebara. "Stop teaching him sleazy moves! If you're gonna teach, use those Second Tsuchikage skills you've got! Otherwise, you'll regret it."
Ebara's trickery was notorious.
His reputation could take the hit, but Nawaki—grandson of the First and Second Hokages—using such low tactics would be a disgrace.
"It's not like I wanted to teach him. The kid's got a knack for it," Ebara said with a wry smile.
Last time, Nawaki schooled him by combining explosive tags with Thousand Years of Death (Chapter 51).
"Hm?" Tsunade shot him a dangerous look.
Ebara quickly scolded Nawaki. "Good practice, but no more next time."
When Tsunade wasn't looking, he flashed Nawaki a discreet thumbs-up.
Nawaki's heart soared, though he hid it to avoid another smack.
"Let's go see Grandma," Tsunade said, glaring at Ebara.
The five entered Mito's resting room, where she was reading on a tatami.
"Grandma!" Nawaki ran to her.
"Done training, Nawaki?" Mito asked with a warm smile.
Nawaki glanced at Tsunade, deciding not to snitch. "Taking a break. I'll train more later."
Mito ruffled his hair, then noticed Ebara and Tsunade.
Before speaking, her eyes fell on the red-haired Sawako and Kushina behind them.
"Children, come here," Mito said, voice trembling with emotion.
Her usual warm smile vanished, replaced by tears.
When the Uzumaki Village was attacked, Mito was among the few in Konoha advocating for aid (Naruto canon).
Despite the Second Hokage's death, Konoha had her, the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki.
But the village, reeling from Tobirama's loss, was paralyzed by fear.
They couldn't risk Mito leaving.
She was Konoha's last anchor.
If she fell, Konoha would collapse.
Unable to help, Mito carried deep guilt.
Seeing Sawako and Kushina now felt like reuniting with her clan.
She couldn't hold back her emotions.
Though defiant, Sawako stepped forward.
Kushina, shy, was pulled along by her.
Mito looked at Sawako's stubbornness and Kushina's timidity.
"You've suffered so much these years," she said, tears streaming. "I'm sorry—Konoha failed you and the Uzumaki Village."
Kushina's nose twitched, and she broke into sobs.
Even tough Sawako shed silent tears.
Years of fleeing, and finally, someone cared.
The pain of a destroyed home surged anew.
"Let's go," Ebara said softly.
He, Tsunade, and Nawaki slipped out, leaving them alone.
Outside, under a clear sky, Tsunade said grimly, "Back then, Konoha nearly fell like the Uzumaki Village."
The other nations had planned to lure Konoha's forces away, attacking when vulnerable (Naruto canon).
"This world's always been survival of the fittest," Ebara sighed.
Only those who lived through it knew the panic after Tobirama's death.
Even Hashirama's death hadn't shaken Konoha so badly—just grief.
Back then, they had Tobirama's brilliance and Mito's Nine-Tails strength.
But Tobirama's sudden death terrified everyone.
Even Ebara's carefree father lost sleep that year.
Nawaki clenched his fists. "If Grandpa were here, the Uzumaki Village wouldn't have fallen!"
Tsunade scoffed. "If Great-Grandpa were here, they wouldn't have dared think it."
Ebara sighed. "If Hashirama and his ally had been on the same page, the other four nations wouldn't have had a chance."
Hashirama, or rather Asura's reincarnation, was too kind.
Konoha once had two nuclear weapons: Hashirama and Madara.
Either could've taken on the ninja world alone, making the Kages kneel at the Hokage Rock.
But Hashirama refused, even distributing the tailed beasts.
That led to the current five-nation balance.
Had he kept them, Konoha wouldn't have tread so cautiously all these years.
"So we train harder. Only strength can lead the village!" Nawaki said, determined.
"Exactly, especially you, Tsunade," Ebara urged.
Tsunade blinked, confused. "Why me?"
"Didn't I tell you? I want to be the man behind the Hokage!" Ebara said.
"Then work for it yourself!"
"Sorry, my stomach's weak. I can only eat soft rice."
Hard work? Never. Not in this lifetime.
Just eat soft rice, make system choices, and coast through life!