She simply didn't know how to talk to the deadly serious Uzumaki. The tense atmosphere was so thick you could cut it with a knife, pressing down on the younger kunoichi with every passing moment.
The only remaining relative could make her interlocutor feel insignificant with a single glance, while outwardly remaining within the bounds of propriety.
"Since you've suddenly lost your tongue, I'll tell you where to start," Mito broke the silence with an almost inaudible sigh, clearly reading the kunoichi sitting opposite her like an open book. "Well-mannered people apologize for their bad behavior."
"I behaved unworthily, I beg your forgiveness," Tsuna carefully got up from the bed and bowed deeply, remembering the rules of decorum that the woman sitting opposite her had drummed into her.
"See, Tsuna-chan, it's not that difficult," commented Mito. 'Now, perhaps you would like to tell us what prompted you not only to return to the village, but also to demand your 'rightful' place as head of the Senju clan? Especially considering the statements you made a few years ago that you would never set foot in Konoha again."
"I just decided that enough time had passed to mourn the dead, and now it's time for me to continue my grandfather's work..." Without batting an eye, Iryonin began to lie, fortunately, all her physiological reactions were under control, but the murderous intent that had built up inside her forced her to stop.
"Tsunade, do I look like an idiot who would believe this nonsense?" Princess Uzumaki slowly straightened up, staring intently at her flesh and blood. "Just a couple of weeks ago, you were happily wandering around gambling establishments and drinking sake by the liter, and now suddenly your conscience and sense of responsibility have awakened?
The young kunoichi was about to respond, but an imperious wave of the hand silenced her.
"Or do you think no one knows about Homura Mitokado's message, which made you rush straight here?" The red-haired beauty narrowed her eyes.
"How do you...?"
"It doesn't matter! What did that cocky boy offer you and want from you?"
"I was supposed to join the race for the position of Hokage after Sensei's reign ended and lead the clan out of the coalition, ceasing to support the triple alliance and Sakumo Hatake," Tsunade stopped holding back — it didn't matter now anyway — "he promised me complete control over the hospital, activation of the iryonin training program, support in the position of Hokage, artificial conception techniques using the genetic material of a member of the destroyed clan, and a technique that would allow her to see Dan and Nawaki again.
At the last word, her voice faltered slightly.
"Stupid girl, Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei (Summoning: Impure Resurrection), that vile technique created by Tobirama, is gathering dust in the clan's vault, and if someone had been looking after the clan's affairs like a true heir, outsiders wouldn't be trying to sell it to you," Uzumaki sighed heavily, rubbing her forehead wearily. "Yes, apart from a conception technique whose effectiveness still needs to be tested, the whole thing was not worth the trouble! You have completely ruined what little reputation you had left in the clan, and you can forget about becoming the head of the Senju in the near future."
"Created by Tobirama-ji?" The iryonin looked up in surprise, ignoring the rest. "Why don't I know about her?"
"Exactly, his technique allows him to temporarily summon dead people by sacrificing the living," Uzumaki snorted. "Naturally, they don't shout about it from the rooftops, and even among themselves they speak with caution. Besides the clan, it must also be in the Hokage Library, so Homura was being sly when he offered it as a reward."
"I... I can get it?" Tsunade looked at her hopefully. "To see Dan and Nawaki again and say goodbye?"
Despite her ostensible removal from the clan's affairs, Mito had enormous influence over the Senju and could easily gain access to the clan's collected jutsu at will.
"We'll see how you behave," the first Hokage's wife relaxed a little, understanding her granddaughter's motivation. "Now tell me about that pregnancy technique."
Mito knew firsthand about her infertility and, as a woman, understood perfectly all the despair and desire to cling to even the most illusory hope.
"Mitokado didn't say much," the slime summoner shrugged, "only that with her help, it is possible to grow a fetus artificially, without fertilization, based only on the cells of two people, but the chances of failure are extremely high — a third of the attempts die at the formation stage, and half of the remaining ones turn out to be children with all kinds of deformities and a short life span, which with my skills won't be a problem.
"Like implanting the embryo into yourself, monitoring and correcting all stages of growth," Uzumaki nodded understandingly.
"That was my plan, but now..." Senju looked downcast.
"I'll think about how to get her from Homura, but for now," Mito stood up and waved to her granddaughter, heading for the door, "let's go, I'm not the only one who needs to apologize."
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