Upon returning home in a quiet fury, Katsuro called upon the others.
"Suro, what happened? Why did Granny Mito storm into the house?" Kushina inquired desperately.
"Yeah, Suro, what's going on?" Tsunade questioned, clearly bothered by her boyfriend's defiant yet ultimately sorrowful expression, and her grandmother's silent anger.
"Kushina, I- I'm sorry…" Katsuro softly murmured.
"SURO! Just tell us what happened!" Kushina pressed him, unable to get a grasp on the situation other than the fact that her grandmother and older brother figure were both in a state of irritation and sadness.
"Kushina- Uzushiogakure…Uzishogokagure has fallen." Katsuro solemnly stated, looking up at Kushina in the eyes, his composure slowly fading seeing the words slash a gash into her heart.
"What…" Tsunade sputtered, lost for words.
"No…" Nawaki whispered, his voice breaking.
"I'm so sorry, Kushina," Katsuro whispered, his own heart breaking seeing Kushina's lifeless expression in front of his eyes. Everyone turned to stare at her. Tsunade grabbed her hands, in an attempt to somewhat comfort her.
Tears swelled in her eyes, a river about to burst. Uzushiogakure. Her parents. Her family. Her friends. Her home. Gone.
Finally, Kushina spoke up.
"How? Who? Why?" She begged to know the answer, crying softly, knowing she had lost her origin.
"The other 3 Great Villages. Kumogakure. Iwagakure. Kirigakure. All three banded together and attacked Uzushiogakure. Sarutobi said there was nothing that could be done. Lies." he stammered while temper flared just thinking about the argument he had had with Hiruzen. That monkey was void of any compassion, clearly, he thought.
Kushina continued to weep. She was the last of her village. Why her? Why was she so lucky to survive? The guilt swallowed her whole and unforgivingly like a tsunami. Tsunade let go of her hands and turned to Katsuro, frowning at his last remark about her teacher.
"Suro- what do you mean 'lies'. Are you saying my teacher lied about trying to save the Uzumaki village? They're Konoha's closest allies. Konoha's their closest allies. You know that's just unfair to call my teacher a liar!"
Tsunade couldn't understand why Katsuro would say such a thing.She refused to believe that her master could be capable of intentionally not aiding anyone, much less his village's closest allies. Danzo, maybe being the sly, creepy old man he was, but never in a million years would she believe Hiruzen, her teacher since she was a child, to do so.
"Well, Suro? Answer me then!" Tsunade demanded. Both Kushina and Nawaki looked at Katsuro now, who now sighed, preparing to reveal what had happened at the Hokage's office.
"Tsunade, the whole situation is very suspicious," Katsuro quickly stated, continuing before Tsunade could say something else, "Firstly, Hiruzen told me and Granny that Uzishogokagure couldn't send a distress message for help in time before the other 3 Great Villages stormed in. The greatest Fuinjutsu masters, the Uzumaki, couldn't send a message for help in time? How's that not suspicious? Also, Hizuren said that Danzo was around Uzishogokagure at the time. Danzo- who's supposed to collect and pass on information to Hirzun about stuff like this. Who wouldn't notice 3 entire Great Villages mobilising together? Also, according to your teacher, there wasn't enough 'manpower' to save Uzishogokagure in the first place even though Danzo, being the powerful shinobi he is, was only able to 'save' some of the Uzumaki scrolls before the enemy could. Tell me how Hiruzen Saratobi isn't covering for Danzo- who you and I and everyone here knows as one of the most sly men in all Konoha?" Katsuro had unleashed all of the lies Hiruzen had sprouted in the room unto the other three present.
Nawaki and Kushina stared up at Tsunade, stunned at what they had heard. Tsunade, lost for words, eyes widened staring at Katsuro. The facts were there. Anyone else, she would've accepted the things Suro had told her, but this was her teacher he had exposed- surely he had heard wrong? Regardless, she knew Katsuro wouldn't lie to her about such things.
"No… it can't be…" Tsunade stammered. She looked Katsuro in the eyes, tears fighting to break.
"Tsunade, it's clear Danzo is involved in Uzishogokagure's downfall but Hiruzen's, at very least, is covering for him. Ask Granny Mito- she knows what was said. I know you don't want to hear this, but it's the truth." Katsuro softly held her hands. Tsunade's world shook. Unable to process everything that was said, Tsunade removed her hands from his and stormed away.
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Perhaps it was the grief of the Uzumaki clan passing or her age was finally catching up to her. But Uzumaki Mito's condition worsened- she could no longer exert her strength like she used to. And, despite her trying not to worry them, Mito's grandchildren noticed her decline too. Realising her straining vitality and fading strength, one evening, she decided to address them all.
"Children, I think the time has come now."
They all looked at her with different reactions.
Nawaki tried to maintain a strong facade, but had grief written all over his face. Kushina immediately started tearing up at the thought of losing her last Uzumaki relative, and Tsunade, despite her age of 23, seemed to mirror Kusina's reaction, also started tearing up before turning to Katsuro to solve the issues, as she had grown used to. Katsuro, sensing the gaze of his girlfriend, did not turn, but instead looked at Mito with the calmness of acceptance - acceptance that he could do nothing, but also a peace that they had made sure to enjoy the time she had left. Mito, guessing what her grandson was pondering, remembered the few last years. Despite Hashirama's death, she had witnessed the new generation grow, and cultivated those that would carry on his legacy. She remembered the celebrations they would put together for her as children, thinking they were surprising her, and the way Katsuro looked after all of them - even Tsunade - despite being younger.
"Katsuro, will you conduct the transferring ritual for me? Think of this as your last test."
Mito knew by this point, despite not being a Uzumaki, Katsuro was easily the second best Fuinjutsu user after her. She could rest assured that he would handle it. He wouldn't have it any other way anyway, Mito thought, softly chuckling to herself.
"Of course, Grandma," Katsuro replied with fondness, his tone gentle but filled with a certain sorrow. "Are you sure I can't seal the Nine Tails within myself? Pretty sure I could handle it."
"You probably could, but it is far better for Kushina to handle it. The Uzumaki seem to be quite literally built for being Jinchuriki; our Adamantine Sealing Chains especially are great against Bijuu."
Kushina, hearing her name, joined in with sniffles, trying to be strong. "Yeah, I can do it easily, just like Granny Mito."
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