Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 399: Mito’s Passing

After Orochimaru finished his brief examination of Minato and Kushina, the group gathered around Mito.

"Grandma~"

Kushina looked at Mito's frail appearance, and tears fell uncontrollably. Seeing her like this, Minato felt a sorrow welling up in his chest.

Orochimaru remained expressionless. Partings were always painful.

Fugaku opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words. At this moment, he was merely an outsider.

"How is it?"

Sakumo had sent ANBU to come alone.

The father-and-son pair, Onimaru and Shiromaru, deliberated for a long time but ultimately decided to go home together.

"Lady Mito, time is running out," Orochimaru said, shaking his head at Sakumo. The air was heavy with grief.

"Kawakaze, take Grandma home."

"This is not a good place."

Mito gave a weak smile, a shadow of her former self.

"Okay."

"Grandma, let's go home."

"Nawaki and Misaki are waiting for you."

Two tears rolled down Kawakaze's face. Without even bringing Tsunade, he disappeared in front of everyone with Mito.

Without a word, Tsunade led the way to the Senju mansion. The wind rushed past her ears, and only one thought consumed her—she had to go faster.

"Grandma, we're home."

Two figures appeared in Tsunade's bedroom, where the mark of the Flying Thunder God Technique had never been erased by Kawakaze.

"You... Grandma always knew."

Mito looked around the room and couldn't help but tease Kawakaze.

He had left this mark long before marrying Tsunade, and Mito had sometimes feared she might overhear things she shouldn't. Young lovers truly had no shame.

"I didn't mean to hide it from you. I haven't been here many times," Kawakaze said, though even he doubted his own words. He let out a laugh, his smile looking almost comical through his tears.

"Put me down and help me to my room," Mito said, patting Kawakaze on the shoulder. She didn't want to look disheveled in front of Nawaki and Misaki when she walked through that door.

"Okay."

Kawakaze obeyed, supporting Mito as she struggled to stand. Most of her weight leaned against him as she took slow, unsteady steps toward her bedroom.

She had barely left Tsunade's room when hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway.

"Grandma!"

It was Nawaki and Misaki.

Seeing her in such a fragile state for the first time, tears immediately streamed down their faces.

By the time Kawakaze stepped aside, both Nawaki and Misaki were already weeping.

"Don't cry. It's not good for the baby," Mito said softly.

"Grandma is already quite old, so cheer up."

She slowly raised a trembling hand and gently wiped Misaki's tears.

But the more she tried to comfort them, the harder the tears came.

Misaki's vision blurred, and she continued to support Mito, guiding her down a familiar path.

"Grandma, is everything okay?"

Nawaki tried to speak in one breath.

"Everything is going very well. Kushina and Minato are fine."

They had already reached the door to Mito's bedroom, and Kawakaze hurriedly opened it.

As soon as Mito lay down on the bed, Tsunade and the others crowded in. The room wasn't very big, making it feel especially cramped today.

"Stand back, you're blocking the light."

Mito probably didn't want to see so many sorrowful faces surrounding her. Everyone consciously stepped aside, leaving only Tsunade and Nawaki sitting by her bed.

"Grandma's life was worth living. You are all good children and have bright futures."

"Originally, I was most worried about Nawaki. That boy is spoiled, but fortunately, there is Kawakaze."

Mito glanced at Kawakaze, truly satisfied with her grandson-in-law.

"It's his own hard work. I didn't do anything," Kawakaze said, patting Nawaki on the shoulder. His smile was still as strained as ever.

"Your grandfather didn't get to see you marry and start a family, but your grandmother did. When I tell him, he'll definitely be jealous to death," Mito said with a small laugh.

"Grandma~"

Tsunade and the others sobbed uncontrollably, calling out to her.

"Don't cry. Everything will be fine from now on."

Mito's eyes began to lose focus, her life force fading.

"Grandma~ Grandma~"

Tsunade and Misaki both reached out, forcibly channeling chakra to keep her alive.

"What's the point? I can see Hashirama coming to get me. If you don't want to part with your grandmother, then I'll stay with you a little longer."

Mito's eyes regained a faint light, but there was no joy in them.

"Hurry up and go."

Just then, a noise came from outside the door. It was Nayuki's voice. She pushed Ginji inside.

"Great-Grandma!" freeweɓnøvel.com

Ginji rushed to the bedside, ignoring Kawakaze and Tsunade entirely.

"Ouch, my dear grandson."

Mito forced herself to stay strong, her wrinkled hands reaching out toward Ginji's face. But she no longer had the strength. Before she could touch him, her hand began to fall.

Ginji grabbed it, pressing it to his face.

"Great-Grandma, you haven't seen Ginji grow up yet!"

His tears and snot mixed together, staining Mito's hands.

"Great-Grandma won't be able to see Ginji grow up. Your Great-Grandpa is here again. I'm leaving. You all have to be good~"

With those final words, a faint smile remained on Mito's lips as she closed her eyes and stopped breathing.

"Grandma~"

Tsunade and Misaki refused to accept reality, still increasing their chakra output.

"Enough~ Let Grandma rest in peace."

Kawakaze grabbed Tsunade's hand, forcibly pulling her away from Mito's body.

Misaki collapsed helplessly to the ground, only to be pulled up again by Nawaki.

"Wowo~ From now on, when I go home, I won't hear Grandma's voice anymore.."

Tsunade broke free from Kawakaze's grasp, hugged Ginji tightly, and cried heartbreakingly.

"You have to be strong. Have you prepared everything?"

Kawakaze wiped his tears. He was now the eldest in the family.

"It's ready."

Nawaki nodded, his eyes red from crying. The funeral materials Hizashi had ordered a few days earlier were already in the side courtyard.

"Let's spend some time with Grandma one last time."

Kawakaze looked up at the roof, the sound of weeping filling the air.

...

Kawakaze oversaw all the arrangements for Mito's funeral.

He spared no expense in inviting a monk from the Fire Temple to pray for her.

Everyone of status in Konoha came to pay their respects—not just out of reverence for the Hokage but for Mito herself.

Three days later, Mito was laid to rest.

Her grave was built beside Hashirama's, allowing them to rest together in spirit. As for the idea of exhuming Hashirama and burying them together in the truest sense, Kawakaze didn't even dare to entertain the thought.

With the final handful of soil, Mito's life came to its quiet end.

The woman who had watched over Konoha since its birth was now at rest beneath the earth, destined to witness the village's future from afar.

Kawakaze and the rest of the family bowed their heads in deep respect.

Perhaps their tears had all dried up, for no one wept anymore—except for Ginji.

"Let's go. If you miss Grandma, you can always come visit."

As they left, the sunlight remained as warm as ever.