At seven o'clock, the rain finally stopped.
The trees in the small yard were transplanted from Uuchao Village. Due to neglect, their branches and leaves were slanted and reached under the eaves of the corridor.
So the rainwater leaking from the eaves would occasionally make a sound and slowly but regularly beat on the leaves.
After listening to it for a long time, my heartbeat seemed to slow down.
Lanterns have been lit in the courtyard, with the Uzumaki clan's logo painted on them.
This is an ancient tradition of the Uzumaki clan. Whenever a clan member is about to die, a red lantern will be lit in the yard.
After a rain, the weather is no longer so muggy. Mito Uzumaki tucked himself in the quilt on the bed.
At the table in front of her, Kushina carefully poured two glasses of wine into the glasses. Then a rich aroma emerged from the wine glass.
Kushina then handed one cup to Mito, and the other to Uchiha Tatsu next to her.
Mito held up the cup and wanted to drink it, but suddenly he coughed. Kushina quickly went up and patted Mito on the back.
Uchiha Tatsu looked worried while holding the cup.
After finishing coughing, Mito raised his glass and took a sip. Mito made a comfortable sound after finishing his drink.
She raised her head and saw the expressions of Uchiha Tatsumi and Kushina, and couldn't help but smile: "I'm not dead yet, what are you doing with this expression?"
"Kid, drink it quickly. This is what Hashirama left behind, and it has been buried deep in the ground. You can't drink such good wine in other places."
"I don't know why there is a lot less wine. Tsunade must have drank it secretly. If you don't drink it now, you will never have the chance to drink it again in the future."
This was not the first time that Uchiha Tatsu had experienced Mito's free and easy attitude. He nodded, then raised his head and drank.
"Speaking of this wine, I didn't like drinking it at first. Later, Hashirama often got drunk with Madara, and then he was picked up by Madara and stayed up all night."
"I was curious, so I tasted it and found that it tasted really good." Mito smiled and talked about the past.
"Grandma, can your body handle this wine?" Kushina hesitated.
"My health is very good. Before I die, I will do all the things I wanted to do before." Mito asked Kushina to pour herself another glass.
Hearing the word death, Kushina's eyes immediately turned red, but she just held back from crying. She endured it, took the cup, and poured another cup for Mito Uzumaki.
"In total, it has been three years since you left Uzushio Village, Kushina." Mito smiled and continued to drink.
"Are you still used to life in Konoha? Do you still have someone?"
Mito teased Kushina.
"Grandma, you will laugh at others! Ignore you." Kushina waved her fist in a gesture, and her red hair moved accordingly, like a fiery red peony.
"Look at this posture and momentum. Tsk tsk, just after saying a word, he started to defend others. This makes me, an old woman, very envious." Mito smiled, but he still couldn't hold back his words.
Kushina, who was originally blushing, suddenly stopped, was stunned for a while, and said: "But after all... I only have you as my relative."
Mito was stunned and looked at Kushina's face.
Red hair, delicate appearance, and violent personality - exactly the same as when he was a child.
But now, Kushina was sitting in front of her, with a sad look on her face.
When Hashirama died that year, she was also so sad. She didn't expect that it was already the time for her to die in a blink of an eye.
Mito was silent for a moment, then patted Kushina on the head and said: "Kushina, no one is immortal. I can't accompany you forever. I am very happy to be able to accompany you until now."
After a while, Mito smiled and said, "Kushina, go and get the scroll for me. I left it with Tsunade."
Kushina nodded, knowing that Grandma Mito wanted to have a few words with Chen alone.
The room became a little quiet. Mito lifted the quilt and motioned for Uchiha Tatsumi to help her up.
Mito stood up, and the long skirts of the Uzumaki clan lifted up one after another, like a water lily unfolding its complicated petals.
She walked over to the table and asked Uchiha Tatsuya to sit down.
"Chen, do you know what a tailed beast is?"
"Know."
The term tailed beast is not a secret among ninjas. The first generation of adults divided the tailed beasts, which is recorded in the history books.
"People want to use the power of tailed beasts, and then use people as a container to seal the tailed beasts in their bodies. This is the Jinchūriki." Mito continued.
"Then do you know why Kushina came to Konoha?"
"Becoming the Nine-Tailed Jinchuuriki?" Uchiha Tatsu hesitated for a moment and then answered.
"That's right. He will succeed me as the second Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki."
"Actually, Jinchuuriki is very painful. A beast sealed in one's body may have to endure the cold eyes and strange looks of others. I made Kushina a Jinchuuriki like this, do you hate me?"
Uchiha Tatsumi shook his head. The nine tails represent power. If you master the power of the nine tails, you can protect yourself. There was absolutely no need for Uchiha Tatsu to hate Mito.
Mito laughed, "Do you know why I tell you so many things? Although these are top secrets in the village, I believe more in love. With your relationship with Kushina, you will know this sooner or later. "
"As the Nine-Tails Jinchuuriki, I have the ability to distinguish between good and evil in people. I can feel that you are different from most people. And you are very talented. Your future strength will not be weak. You will have Enough strength to protect Kushina from getting hurt."
"The most important thing is that Jinchuuriki is more sensitive than ordinary people and lacks love. If you want to live happily, you need someone to protect you."
"Konoha can protect Kushina's safety, but it cannot fill the void in her heart."
"So I want to ask you to continue to take care of Kushina for me after I die."
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .
When Uchiha Chen walked out of the hut, Kushina was sitting on the steps of the corridor, holding her knees with her hands, silently looking at the night scene in the distance.
Because it was already night and it had rained during the day, the air was slightly cold. Looking over from the yard, you can just see the Hokage Rock.
Uchiha Tatsu sat down next to Kushina.
"Actually, I was lying..." Kushina choked and said, "I'm very scared."
"When I was in Uzushio Village, I saw so many relatives die. I thought I could be strong, but in fact I wasn't at all... I killed Grandma Mito. If it weren't for me, she could still live for a while. of."
Uchiha Tatsu hugged the girl, who kept crying.
A week later, Uzumaki Mito passed away in his own courtyard. Kushina became the second generation Jinchuuriki.
An era is finally over.