Tian CunZairo said calmly, continuing his deception:
"You can think of me as a part of Tobirama, or a kind of continuation of him.
Back then, he conducted many kinds of research, including cell replication experiments. His goal was to recreate new individuals modeled after both Hashirama and himself, so as to preserve the Senju's standing and prevent decline due to the lack of top-tier power.
"Unfortunately, he died in battle in the Land of Lightning before finishing the research.
I am one of the immature products he left behind."
This explanation had been prepared long ago.
Once Tian CunZairo realized that Konoha had already sent people to negotiate with the Uzumaki clan, he knew that Uzumaki Kushina was about to be sent to Konoha.
This was an opportunity he absolutely had to seize.
He needed to talk the future protagonist's mother away—to cut off Naruto's birth entirely, or at least alter Kushina's identity.
If Naruto's birth was a fixed inevitability, then changing secondary factors would still count as a major deviation from fate—and that would surely earn him a large amount of fate energy.
Uzumaki Masahiko was stunned. It took him a long while to process what he'd heard.
"Tobirama's research… had already reached such a forbidden level?"
He knew that Senju Tobirama loved studying taboo techniques, but he hadn't imagined it had gone this far.
"How has my sister been all these years?"
When he thought of her, Uzumaki Masahiko's feelings were complicated.
"In terms of material life, she's doing very well.
But spiritually… not so much," Tian CunZairo replied, launching into a complaint.
"Especially since Tsunade-nee picked up Hashirama's gambling addiction. She loses every bet without fail. If this continues, the clan's savings will be drained by her alone.
"She already has a terrible reputation, can't even find a decent marriage prospect, and she's made Grandma Mito furious more than once."
Tian CunZairo complained freely, knowing that at this moment he couldn't afford to show any cracks.
Old foxes like this were never easy to fool.
"Tsunade still hasn't quit gambling?"
Uzumaki Masahiko laughed. He knew about that—she really did love gambling, and her luck really was abysmal.
As for the boy's completely scrambled way of addressing relatives, he didn't dwell on it. The child's identity was already hard enough to define as it was.
"I've prepared some sakura mochi that my sister likes," Uzumaki Masahiko suddenly said.
"When you leave, take them back and give them to her."
On the surface, it was kindness. In reality, it was still a test.
According to the report, the leader of this group had gone to meet the Great Elder, who was famously hostile to Konoha—and especially to the Senju clan.
Moreover, the chakra of the three people waiting outside lacked the distinctive vitality of the Senju. Something still felt off.
However, this test was completely transparent to Tian CunZairo.
Thanks to his good–evil perception, he had excellent control over emotional undercurrents. He could clearly sense that Uzumaki Masahiko still didn't truly trust him.
"Grandma Mito likes sakura mochi?" Tian CunZairo asked with a puzzled look.
"I've never seen her eat it."
In other words: Don't try to fool me.
"She liked it when she was young. Maybe her tastes changed after marriage,"
Uzumaki Masahiko replied casually, brushing it off.
But inwardly, he relaxed a great deal.
It seemed this really was someone from the Senju clan—and someone quite close to his sister.
Feeling the increase in Uzumaki Masahiko's goodwill, Tian CunZairo mocked him silently.
Such an old-fashioned test.
This kind of trick had already been worn out in movies and TV dramas back in his previous life.
"You weren't sent here by my sister, were you?"
Uzumaki Masahiko finally got to the point.
These people had come to UzUzushiogakure and immediately contacted the Great Elder—there had to be a reason.
Tian CunZairo knew the real performance was beginning. He put on a helpless expression and continued his carefully crafted lie:
"There are many voices within the clan. Grandma Mito's faction leans toward stability—toward endless compromise, until the other side finds the bottom line.
"The faction I belong to has already seen through Sarutobi Hiruzen's wolfish ambitions.
"The coming Ninja World War will be a massive crisis—for both the Uzumaki clan and the Senju clan.
"I wish to represent the Senju and formally invite the Uzumaki clan to join Konoha, to live alongside us Senju, and together plan for the future.
"Most importantly, we must keep the Nine-Tails firmly in our hands.
In both the ninja world and within Konoha itself, power is the foundation of everything.
"The Senju have already lost Hashirama and Tobirama. We've weakened too much. Now we're being quietly isolated by the other clans, guided by Sarutobi Hiruzen behind the scenes.
"Grandma Mito is also advanced in age. Lately, suppressing the Nine-Tails has become increasingly difficult for her. If this continues, it will become extremely dangerous…"
He blended information learned from Tutai with his own knowledge of Naruto to create a narrative perfectly suited to deceive this old man.
Uzumaki Masahiko listened carefully. The more he heard, the more severe his expression became.
The situation inside Konoha was even more complex and dire than he had imagined.
"I can say with certainty," Tian CunZairo continued coldly,
"that my clan's elites being assigned to the Land of Earth front was no coincidence.
"And the four great ninja villages joining forces to attack the Land of Whirlpools is no accident either.
"The Uzumaki clan can survive only by merging with the Senju. Otherwise, total annihilation is inevitable."
By the end, Tian CunZairo projected dominance and inevitability—barely concealed coercion.
Uzumaki Masahiko felt displeased. This sounded very much like taking advantage of a crisis.
"The allied forces of the four great villages are strong," he replied firmly,
"but UzUzushiogakure is no weakling either. This is our homeland. We will not go anywhere."
Confidence was crucial here. He could not afford to show weakness.
"Confidence is a good thing," Tian CunZairo said leisurely with a smile.
"I'll wait and see.
"But the person—I'm taking her today.
She absolutely cannot fall into Sarutobi Hiruzen's hands."
He was talking about the chosen Nine-Tails vessel.
"…Very well."
After a brief silence, Uzumaki Masahiko nodded.
This had already been agreed upon, and his sister's letter mentioned it as well.
With the main matter settled, Uzumaki Masahiko studied the boy again with renewed curiosity.
"What talents of Tobirama have you inherited?"
The boy's chakra felt extremely weak—his chakra capacity was clearly poor.
But as Tobirama's replica, surely he had inherited something exceptional.
"Does intelligence count?"
Tian CunZairo replied helplessly.
He then took the Flying Thunder God Sword from the sealing technique engraved inside an armor plate, infused chakra into it, and produced a tiny blade of lightning.
"There are many problems with my body. The biggest is my terrible chakra capacity.
"Grandma Mito said that maybe you could help me here."
He didn't know the full depth of the Uzumaki clan's heritage, but given their vast legacy of sealing techniques, they had to possess something that could enhance chakra.
And the Flying Thunder God Sword was the perfect proof—another way to solidify the old man's trust.
Sure enough, when Uzumaki Masahiko saw the sword, his doubts vanished completely.
This was Tobirama's weapon. There was no mistaking it.
"Your chakra reserves are far too low,"
Uzumaki Masahiko said, staring at the pitiful lightning blade.
He truly couldn't believe this was a replica of Senju Tobirama.
As expected—an unfinished product.
"Your sister sent you here for the Yang Seal," Uzumaki Masahiko continued,
"the technique your brother-in-law once asked my father to research.
"But it won't be given for free."
Back then, his brother-in-law had asked Uzumaki elders to simplify the Yin Seal, allowing ordinary ninja to store chakra and enhance stamina and burst potential.
But his brother-in-law died too early, and Tobirama followed soon after.
Konoha's Hokage became the unfamiliar Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the deal was never completed.
However, before his death, Uzumaki Masahiko's father did successfully simplify the Yin Seal, creating what he called the Yang Seal.
Its effects were far inferior to the full Yin Seal—but its requirements were drastically reduced.
It didn't even require Yin–Yang chakra affinity.
As long as one's chakra control met the standard, the Yang Seal could be successfully cultivated.
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