"Kyōichi-sama."
"Ōnoki's about to attack. Let's try one more time."
"..."
Rōshi frowned at the faint sounds outside.
One more time?
Before he could ponder further, the door opened—Kyōichi entered.
Understanding dawned.
Trying to extract intel from me?
He remained silent until they exited the camp, ascending the now-familiar mountain path. Only then did he speak:
"I know Konoha's Yamanaka clan can excavate fragments of memory. But if you think I'll divulge secrets willingly, keep dreaming."
"That's just their narrative. Truthfully? I wanted to converse with you privately."
Kyōichi's tone was mild.
Rōshi grew warier, perplexed by this approach.
"An elder from my clan was once a jinchūriki. She said bearing a tailed beast means enduring extra darkness—not just from the beast, but from people too."
"..."
Memories surfaced.
Iwagakure's jinchūriki treatment wasn't the worst—under Ōnoki, at least no rampages had occurred.
But he'd heard stories from Kumo and Suna—
After outbreaks, jinchūriki faced vilification from ignorant villagers who once relied on their protection.
The injustice stirred him. "Those cowards dare bully their protectors while fearing the beasts? Pathetic!"
"Exactly. You shield them, yet they repay you with hostility. Suddenly brave when facing you—as if tailed beast power no longer terrifies them."
Kyōichi's tone carried venom. "Know why?"
Rōshi pondered, then shook his head.
"Because jinchūriki are human. Most humans start kind—so they feel safe confronting you... Also my elder's words."
Kyōichi added.
Rōshi's respect grew for this unnamed sage—a fellow jinchūriki with profound insight.
"May I know her name?"
"No secret. Konoha's jinchūriki lineage is known—Uzumaki Mito. And I carry Senju blood."
"Oh."
Recognition flashed.
Uzumaki Mito.
Wife of the God of Shinobi—her primary claim to fame.
Yet she'd possessed such wisdom too! No wonder she'd married Hashirama.
Genuine admiration bloomed.
"Tell me more? I won't betray my village, but I'll exchange my personal research."
"Gladly."
Kyōichi didn't hesitate.
His previous life's reservoir of quotes could all be "Mito's teachings"!
After a pause: "She dreamed of jinchūriki earning proper respect. Dreamed one might lead a village. Dreamed a day when jinchūriki became obsolete—peace reigning."
"..."
Each vision struck Rōshi as monumental—considering "all" jinchūriki, not just herself.
When discriminated against, he'd only thought of his plight.
Shame washed over him.
"A fitting spouse for the Shodai. Such nobility... I'll never attain that mindset. Her dreams... went unfulfilled."
"Too lofty. Even the first remains unrealized in Konoha. As her inheritor, I strive for change—but there, I'm powerless."
Kyōichi's voice turned grave.
Rōshi sighed. "Just... dreams. Impossible."
"Where there's will... Anyway, enough talk. Breathe freely here. In thirty minutes, we return."
Kyōichi sat casually—as if this truly was just an outing.
Plant the seed and step back.
He'd nudged Rōshi's existing inclinations. Further pushing would backfire.
Stubborn old men only trusted self-derived conclusions.
Rōshi's emotions churned. He wasn't naive—Kyōichi clearly had an agenda. Yet the words resonated deeply.
Jinchūriki earning respect...
Yes!
His own lifelong desire!
He couldn't match Mito's grandeur—but would fight for this cause.
"I possess Four-Tails chakra. In exchange, I'll share my Lava Release insights."
"Unnecessary. This was mere conversation. If you further these ideals—whether returning to Iwa or defecting—that's repayment enough."
Kyōichi waved it off.
"No. My oath. Besides... I can't achieve so much..."
Rōshi launched into Lava Release techniques—
True mastery, derived from tailed beast study.
Kyōichi nearly laughed.
Classic. He's "thanking" me!
Better yet—
['Life Ideals' Guidance Complete]
[Evaluation: Excellent]
[Reward: Tailed Beast Transformation]
Tailed Beast Transformation...
He'd already experimented. What did this add?
Claiming it discreetly, he split focus—listening while analyzing.
The reward enhanced tailed beast chakra control!
Pity.
Without "Mito's" credibility, Rōshi wouldn't have yielded this much. She'd claimed part of the reward—
Technically, Rōshi should view him as the mentor now.
Win some, lose some.
Kyōichi consoled himself—it mattered little.
Rōshi had little left to offer anyway. Without borrowing Mito's prestige, he might've gotten nothing.
Plus—
He'd gained Lava Release insights!
Kyōichi pondered storing fire-nature chakra similarly to tailed beast energy—
Perhaps feasible.
But the Yin Seal's uniqueness prevented additional "reservoirs."
A shame.
True to his word, Kyōichi gave Rōshi his thirty minutes before the ANBU arrived for retrieval.
No resistance.
The jinchūriki seemed enlightened—departing deep in thought, like a philosopher.
Kyōichi couldn't predict his path.
But any direction would harm other villages.
Konoha's jinchūriki—while restricted—lacked for nothing else.
Kushina might never be Hokage, but she had love, friendship—
True happiness.
No risk of radicalization there.
Releasing Rōshi now would alarm Ōnoki. Better detain him post-war.
Exiting the camp, Kyōichi began genuine border patrols.
"Kyōichi-sama... Were those truly Mito-sama's words?"
The ANBU—Mukai—followed.
Of course Kyōichi hadn't taken Rōshi out unguarded. Mukai's Byakugan had monitored all escape routes—undetectable to the chakra-drained prisoner.
The speech had moved him deeply.
"Why ask?"
"The principles apply broadly. Jinchūriki crave respect—just as Hyūga branch families do under the Caged Bird Seal's threat."
Mukai rarely confided in anyone but Kyōichi.
Respect. Leadership. A world without oppression—"Mito's" dreams fit the Hyūga plight perfectly.
"Perspective. They could be Mito-sama's... or Hashirama-sama's."
Kyōichi smiled.
Inspirational quotes mattered more than authorship.
Mukai understood instantly—
All Kyōichi's words.
His admiration surged. "I thought I'd learned much from you. Now I see—just the tip of your wisdom."
"Hardly. Jack of all trades, master of none."
Genuine humility—
Yet Mukai dismissed it.
Their conversation turned to Mukai's sealing studies. Kyōichi addressed his struggles patiently.
Grateful yet still guarded, Mukai couldn't yet fully embrace Kyōichi as a mentor—
Not until mastering the Four Symbols Seal.
But at least he'd never betray Konoha now.
Unlike his original fate—selling intel in despair—
Kyōichi and Tsunade had given him hope.
As a main family member sympathizing with branches, radical measures were unnecessary.
Kyōichi's focus returned to Iwagakure's forces.
Ōnoki's defensive networks were now impenetrable—sentries densely packed. Assassination attempts would fail.
Mukai reported: "Yesterday's scouting revealed Kusa ninja building most frontline fortifications—taking the brunt of danger."
"Predictable. Ōnoki lacks our Hokage's... restraint."
Mukai stayed silent—
Agreeing, but wisely avoiding political commentary.
"Reeds sway because no one cuts them. When wind comes from both sides, their only choice is where to scatter seeds."
"Kusagakure "had" options."
Mukai mused.
Had they allied sincerely with Konoha, outcomes might differ. Kyōichi's strategy likely wasn't the frontal assault he'd threatened.
"Two more days. Ōnoki's patience will snap."