The next morning, Sogetsu found that Tsunade had—predictably—lost everything.
He paid the bills, made her sign an IOU, and silently accepted that she would likely never repay it.
After changing clothes and disguises, they passed easily as traveling siblings. Following the scroll's guidance, they journeyed to the region known as the Forest Between.
By dusk, they reached the towering cliff overlooking a vast basin of ancient, untouched woodland.
Tsunade stood at the edge, wind brushing her hair.
"Didn't think I'd ever come back here…"
"You've been here before?" Sogetsu asked.
"Mm. Something like that."
She didn't elaborate, instead leaping off the cliff.
Sogetsu followed her down.
The moment his feet touched the forest floor, an overwhelming surge of vitality washed over him.
"So much life energy…"
It pulsed like a living heart—each beat sending invisible currents through the earth, nourishing every tree and root.
No wonder the plants here grew like giants.
But something about this power was wrong.
"Come on," Tsunade said quietly. "Don't ask. You'll understand when we reach the seal."
Her aura dimmed to a deep blue—grief.
Sogetsu fell silent and followed.
The deeper they went, the fewer trees remained.
In their place rose dozens—no, hundreds—of silent mounds.
No names. No markers.
Mass graves.
Everywhere, the air was thick with ancient life force.
The reason was clear: the bodies feeding this forest belonged to…
Sogetsu's eyes fell on the emblem carved into the stone wall—a stylized whirlpool unfurling like leaves.
"The Uzumaki emblem."
No wonder Tsunade grew quiet.
This place held her bloodline's dead—her grand-uncles, uncles, even her brother.
"Sorry," she murmured. "I get like this every time."
"Do you need treatment?" Sogetsu asked softly.
"No. It's in the past."
She straightened, masking sorrow beneath her usual bravado.
"Let's go. The seal is ahead."
Inside the cavern, torches lit themselves as they stepped through.
A ritual altar sat at the center, surrounded by an Eight Trigrams sealing pattern.
"Looks intact." Tsunade exhaled in relief. Then she smirked. "Funny thing—this one has something to do with you."
"With me?" Sogetsu frowned.
"Do you know who's sealed here?"
Her smile turned mysterious.
"An Uchiha?" he guessed.
She arched a brow.
"You catch on fast."
She continued:
"Grandpa mentioned this once. Long ago, there was an Uchiha who brought many victories to the clan. But…"
"But the Uchiha sealed him themselves?" Sogetsu finished.
"Exactly."
Tsunade's voice lowered.
"They handed him over to the Senju, requesting an Uzumaki-style permanent seal."
Sogetsu's brows tightened.
"To fear him that much… what was he?"
"No idea. I asked Grandpa when I was young, but he dodged the question."
Typical.
Sogetsu nearly sighed.
Hashirama feared nothing—not tailed beasts, not Madara, certainly not random Uchihas.
"Seal looks intact," he said. "Should we move on?"
"Yes. Let's—wait."
Tsunade's gaze snagged on a crack in the pattern.
"Part of the Eight Trigrams Seal is damaged. Probably age. I'll fix it."
She stepped onto the altar.
Sogetsu's back prickled—cold, violent instinct.
His Sharingan snapped open.
Three tomoe spun rapidly, reflecting a surge of pitch-black chakra leaking from the crack—twisted, hateful, writhing like a ghost trying to claw its way out.
"Tsunade—get away from there!"
The seal erupted.
AUTHOR'S NOTE — BONUS & EARLY ACCESS
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