As Uzumaki Mito spoke these words, Uchiha Xuan instantly tensed up.
Had she... discovered something?!
"Child, Konohagakure has never intended to abandon the Uchiha."
Paying no mind to Uchiha Xuan’s state, Uzumaki Mito continued speaking.
"I know that because of Tobirama, the Uchiha hold some grievances against Konohagakure. However, Tobirama has never deliberately targeted the Uchiha clan.
Tobirama has always earnestly upheld Hashirama’s dying wish, and now, he has entrusted that wish to Monkey, the Third Hokage. So, do you understand what I’m saying?"
Uzumaki Mito looked at Uchiha Xuan and spoke softly, her words sincere and without the slightest hint of falsehood.
"...I don’t care about the feud between the Senju and the Uchiha."
Looking at this elderly woman, Uchiha Xuan fell silent for a moment before gently shaking his head.
"But you do care about the relationship between the Uchiha and the village. I can roughly guess what you intend to do. Such actions would not be good for either the Uchiha or the village."
Uzumaki Mito immediately followed up.
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Xuan should have felt panic, surprise, or some other reaction.
But now, he found himself surprisingly calm. He... seemed to understand a little why this woman had sought him out.
"I don’t understand what Madam Mito means."
"I’ve actually considered many solutions, even including directly eliminating you to prevent future trouble. But that thought was extinguished as soon as it arose.
Attacking a member of Konohagakure is absolutely unacceptable, whether for me or for Hashirama, even if what you intend to do... is somewhat treasonous.
Child, do you know? When I sensed your growth rate, even surpassing Hashirama’s at the time, my first reaction was delight, because your Chakra... is truly warm.
That kind of Chakra was the first I’ve ever seen—so warm yet capable of embracing everything. Even Hashirama did not possess such Chakra.
Such Chakra doesn’t resemble that of an Uchiha child at all, even though you’ve awakened the Uchiha Bloodline Limit. I originally thought you would become a bridge to reconnect and bind the Uchiha and Konohagakure together.
However... Chakra doesn’t seem to truly represent a person’s decisions. In the end, you still chose a different path..."
Uzumaki Mito’s voice remained gentle, but the content of her words carried a somewhat terrifying implication.
If Uzumaki Mito wanted to take action against him... then... unless Senju Hashirama came back to life, he would undoubtedly meet his end.
"The prejudice in people’s hearts is a mountain, and what I want to do is simply shatter that mountain completely."
Uchiha Xuan’s tone was calm yet forceful.
"No, what you want to do is move the mountain and crush others with it."
"..."
This was exactly why he disliked being around people with mind-reading-like abilities.
"Child, I am nearing my end. After I die, with the full protection of the Uchiha clan, you will undoubtedly enter a period of rapid growth in strength.
During this time, no one will be able to interfere with you. Once you fully master your power and consolidate the strength of the Uchiha, disaster will also erupt in Konohagakure."
As she spoke, Uzumaki Mito picked up a small stone from beside her and tossed it toward the riverbed. This time, the stone skipped smoothly across the water several times.
"So, you want to deal with me before you die?"
Seeing this, Uchiha Xuan also picked up a stone and threw it toward the river’s surface.
A series of skips appeared, exactly one more than Uzumaki Mito’s.
Uzumaki Mito smiled faintly at the sight.
"I’ve said it before—I won’t take action against anyone in Konohagakure. Moreover, those possible events are only things that will happen after I die.
The dead should not meddle in the affairs of the living. That’s what Hashirama once told Tobirama."
Uzumaki Mito shook her head gently and picked up another stone to toss into the river.
This time, the stone skipped many times, but it still fell short of reaching the opposite bank.
"Then you didn’t come here today just to chat with me and skip stones, did you?"
Seeing this, Uchiha Xuan flicked another stone. Just like before, it skipped exactly one more time than Uzumaki Mito’s.
"No, I came to make a deal with you."
Uzumaki Mito shook her head gently and picked up a stone from the ground, but this time she didn’t throw it.
"??? Please go on."
"Delay what you are about to do. Do not allow a coup until you have fully mastered the strength to control all of Konohagakure. At the very least, minimize the impact on Konohagakure."
Uzumaki Mito stood up and spoke leisurely.
"????"
For a moment, Uchiha Xuan was completely taken aback.
Wait, was she just openly talking about a coup like that?
Oh, right, this is Uzumaki Mito, the strongest in Konohagakure at the moment. Never mind.
"I don’t understand what Madam Mito means."
The word "coup" could be spoken by Uzumaki Mito because she was Uzumaki Mito, but he dared not acknowledge it recklessly.
"Aren’t you curious about the terms of the deal?"
Looking down at the young man before her, Uzumaki Mito spoke softly.
"...No, I’m not curious."
"No, you are quite curious."
"I’m not curious."
"You are."
"I’m not... Fine, I’m curious."
Looking at Uzumaki Mito’s smiling face, Uchiha Xuan reluctantly spoke.
"The Senju’s treasures, and... the last remnants of the Uzumaki."
Uzumaki Mito’s voice carried a hint of sorrow as she spoke softly.
"?!"
’Has the Land of Whirlpools fallen? Is this the time?’
"I know you might think you could acquire these things in the future, but there is a significant difference between obtaining them early and obtaining them late.
Moreover... although I am nearing my end, I won’t die immediately. With me here, the Uchiha clan will undoubtedly face far less harassment from the villagers."
Collecting her emotions, Uzumaki Mito spoke softly, her words carrying a temptation that even Uchiha Xuan found somewhat exasperating.
"...May Madam Mito live a long and healthy life."
Uchiha Xuan fell silent for a moment, then turned and bowed lightly to Uzumaki Mito.
Seeing this, Uzumaki Mito smiled softly and tossed the stone she had been holding until it grew warm in her palm toward the river channel. As a series of ripples appeared on the water’s surface, the stone smoothly reached the opposite bank.