Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 390: The Council

After three rounds of sake and five courses of dishes, the atmosphere was lively, but the guests were clearly feeling the effects of the alcohol. The birthday banquet was winding down.

"This is from Grandma for you."

As the conversations lulled, Mito took the opportunity to present her gift. Her serene smile had remained constant all evening. She handed over a red envelope, its appearance oddly familiar.

"Thank you, Grandma."

Kushina's flushed cheeks deepened as she accepted the gift with both hands, bowing slightly.

"Can I open it and take a look?"

Perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, she curiously began to peek inside before Mito could respond. The moment her eyes caught the contents, realization dawned.

No wonder it looked familiar!

Inside was the same land deed Misaki had received as a gift when she married. Mito, aware that she might not be around when Kushina eventually married, had decided this was the perfect moment to give her the dowry.

"You child..." Mito chuckled softly, shaking her head with affection as Kushina examined the envelope.

"Grandma, this is too valuable. I can't accept it," Kushina protested, her drunken haze clearing slightly as the weight of the gift settled in. The value of the land was astonishing—too much for her to accept so casually.

In the past, she'd joked about asking her grandmother for something like this. But now, holding it in her hands, she felt unworthy. After all, she wasn't a biological grandchild. Mito's decision to adopt her had already left her deeply grateful. Accepting something this precious felt overwhelming.

"Why can't you take it?" Mito's expression turned mock-stern. "Think of it as an advance on your dowry."

Still, Kushina hesitated, gently pushing the envelope back. "Then you can give it to me after I get married," she reasoned, struggling to understand why Mito would give it to her now.

"Just take it." Mito gave her a knowing look. "If I wait for another opportunity, what if I change my mind?"

Kawakaze broke the tension with a lighthearted tone. "What do you mean, change your mind? This is for her."

Mito cast a playful glare at Kawakaze, unimpressed by the teasing. "You three are all Grandma's favorites," she declared firmly. "One for each of you, no favoritism."

This statement put Kushina on equal footing with Tsunade and Nawaki, a gesture that overwhelmed her with emotion.

Mito then turned to Kushina with a teasing glint in her eyes. "If you think it's too much to handle, you can always leave it with Minato. It's not like it'll make much of a difference."

She gestured playfully toward Minato, her words a clear sign of approval for the young couple's relationship.

"Grandma, what do you mean, 'it makes no difference?'" Kushina stammered, her face burning with embarrassment. If anyone else had made the comment, she might have taken it in stride, but Mito's words left her flustered.

"I can't..." Minato, suddenly drawn into the spotlight, instinctively tried to refuse. The idea of holding onto such a significant gift was enough to make him nervous.

"Ahem..."

Kawakaze cleared his throat lightly, immediately catching everyone's attention.

"Sorry, just a tickle in my throat," he said casually, giving Minato a discreet wink.

"I really like this red envelope. Thank you."

Minato caught on quickly and played along. He took the red envelope from Kushina's hands, looking just the slightest bit greedy.

"You're welcome. Take good care of her from now on," Mito said with a small smile, her tone kind and without a hint of malice.

"Of course. You can count on me," Minato replied sheepishly, scratching the back of his head and grinning before tucking the envelope away.

"You're unbelievable," Kushina shot him a sharp glare as if to say, You've got some nerve.

Minato instinctively hunched his shoulders, knowing better than to argue. It was clear there was no getting out of this now.

With the matter settled, Kushina dropped the pretense and followed Mito's example, graciously accepting gifts from the others.

She thanked each guest individually, but amidst the warm blessings came plenty of teasing about her and Minato being "next in line" for marriage.

After the birthday cake was finished, Kushina walked everyone to the door to see them off.

"Kawakaze, Tsunade, hold on a moment," Mito said, stopping the two just as they were about to leave.

"Come with me," she added, her voice calm.

"Alright," Kawakaze replied.

"Ginji, stay with your uncle for a bit," he said, passing the boy to Nawaki before following Mito, his expression growing serious as though he could sense what was coming.

Tsunade followed alongside him, and the three of them entered the bedroom one by one.

"Sit," Mito instructed as she settled onto the edge of the bed, her gaze distant and unreadable.

"What's this about, Grandma?" Tsunade asked as she sat down next to her.

"You're the Hokage now, so I thought I'd bring something to your attention," Mito began calmly.

Her words made Tsunade frown in confusion.

"What is it?" she asked, puzzled. Her grandmother had never interfered in village matters before.

"I plan to seal the Nine-Tails away," Mito said, her tone so even it was as though she were discussing the weather.

"Oh, then go ahead. No need to tell me—"

"What did you just say?"

Tsunade froze mid-sentence, her brain stumbling over the words. The meaning hit her like a thunderclap, instantly snapping her out of any lingering haze from the night's festivities.

She shot to her feet, her eyes wide with shock, her body tense and unmoving.

She understood all too well what it meant to seal away a Tailed Beast—and the cost that came with it.

"You heard me right," Mito said calmly. "After so many years, it's time for Grandma to go find your grandpa. He must miss me a lot over there, too."

She reached out, gently pulling the stiff and overwhelmed Tsunade closer to sit beside her. A faint smile remained on Mito's face, serene and full of acceptance. She had no regrets left in life—she had long since made peace with the inevitable cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

"Grandma~" Tsunade's voice cracked. "I..."

Before she could finish, tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over, unstoppable. Her vision blurred as she gazed at Mito's face, now so close yet feeling so distant.

"Silly child, this day was always going to come," Mito said softly. "I've been with you long enough. If I don't go now, your grandpa's going to get jealous."

She stroked Tsunade's hair tenderly, just as she had done so many times in her childhood. But time had moved too quickly, and even the strongest bonds couldn't last forever.

"Grandma, can't we just slow it down a little?"

Kawakaze turned his head away, visibly emotional, before looking back again. "Your time is almost up, isn't it? There's nothing we can do..."

Mito nodded slowly, her expression unwavering. "Yes, my body has reached its limit, no matter how youthful I may look. It's time."

"No, I don't believe it!" Tsunade shouted, standing abruptly. "I'll go find Orochimaru—there has to be a way!" She wiped her tears, determination flaring up as she moved toward the door. It was as if all her strength had returned in an instant.

She didn't want to think about it, didn't want to face it. If there's a way, why would Grandma want to leave us?

"Snap out of it!" Mito's voice rang with authority. "Do you still look like a Hokage?"

Tsunade froze mid-step, her grandmother's words cutting through her like a blade. Her tears began falling again, heavier this time, forming silent circles on the floor.

"In my current state, I can still safely seal the Nine-Tails," Mito explained, her voice calm but firm. "If we delay, there will only be more uncertainties. There's no point in waiting."

Her words extinguished the last sliver of hope Tsunade had been clinging to.

"I know you're sad," Mito said gently. "I'm sad too, but you are the Hokage. You must carry this burden."

Kawakaze let out a long sigh and pulled Tsunade back to sit beside him. He reached out, wiping the tears from her face.

Tsunade didn't respond, unable to muster any words. She could only sob quietly, lost in her grief.

"I've thought about two candidates and wanted to discuss them with you," Mito began, her tone contemplative. "Kushina was chosen long ago as the vessel for the Nine-Tails. It wasn't fair to her, but it was decided from the moment she came to Konoha."

She paused, a hint of sadness creeping into her voice. "Misaki, on the other hand, was a surprise. She's incredibly talented and has picked up Fūinjutsu quickly. She's a bit older, but she's still a suitable candidate."

Mito sighed, her expression softening. "I think they'll both understand," she said quietly, though her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil.

She knew all too well the suffering that came with being a Jinchūriki. It wasn't just the relentless attacks from the Tailed Beast—it was the constant, undeserved scorn from others. These two girls, however, didn't have her strength or her status to shield them.

One she regarded as her grandchild. The other, her granddaughter-in-law. No matter who she chose, there would be no happiness in it.

Hashirama, you've really left me with a difficult problem, she thought silently.