That wasn't just talk.
Before, if the higher-ups had no grounds to send Senju Yukika to the battlefield, now they had all the reason they needed.
You were the one who told the Raikage, "See you on the battlefield."
All those bold, impassioned words of yours were based on the assumption that the Hidden Cloud Village was an enemy of Konoha.
So now?
It was only a matter of time before the higher-ups made their move.
There was no longer any avoiding it—Senju Yukika was going to the battlefield.
From Mito's perspective, this was deeply troubling.
Even if he truly wanted to restore the Senju Clan, once he'd gained some influence, the usual approach would've been to ask the upper ranks for resources, then gradually gather the scattered clansmen back together.
That would've been the steady, calculated path.
"The battlefield…"
Yukika looked up at the sky. "I have to go."
Why?
Mito frowned.
"That bastard Danzo's already gone to the Land of Rain."
"And from what I've gathered, a huge number of our Senju clansmen are being assembled at that front."
"Those are the same people who followed Grandfather's orders to integrate into Konoha—now being sent out by the upper ranks under all kinds of excuses."
"Tsunade can't handle it alone. If I don't go, they'll all die—horribly."
Clansmen… on the battlefield.
They would die.
Mito understood—no war was without casualties.
But she also knew what Yukika meant.
This wasn't a matter of standard losses.
He was talking about total annihilation.
"Of course, that's not my only reason."
Yukika smiled faintly. He had plenty of reasons to head to the front lines.
First of all, that "gift" he promised Danzo? That wasn't an empty threat. He intended to step-by-step ruin Danzo's reputation, make him infamous, and brand Hiruzen Sarutobi as the senile, incompetent leader he was.
That was what the upper ranks owed them.
Second, the Senju clansmen on the battlefield needed to be gathered and unified. They needed to see the true face of the current leadership—so they could finally stand behind him with conviction.
Only then could the internal struggles of the Senju be resolved. Only then could the clan survive this war.
But none of that would happen overnight.
The Second Great Ninja War would drag on for a long time. And Yukika had time—enough time to truly redeem his clan.
As for the third reason?
It had to do with Yukika himself.
He needed battle to sharpen his skills.
He needed the pressure, the intensity, the edge of life and death—to force himself to grow at top speed.
To surpass the First Hokage? Yukika wasn't joking.
Staying in the village, progress was too slow.
Fighting was his true path.
And once it started? He couldn't stop.
On his way back to Konoha from the Land of Lightning, he activated his battle state and entered into a state of slaughter. In just a few days, his template strength had already risen to 10 percent!
New breakthroughs brought new powers—like the black wings he used that night to soar into the sky with Kushina.
Only on the battlefield could he transform into the true Black-Winged Demon.
Men… Mito shook her head as she listened.
She truly didn't understand. Both Yukika's great-uncle Hashirama and his grandfather Tobirama had been lovers of peace.
So how had the Senju given birth to a battle-hungry maniac like this?
Still, if he was going to the front lines to gain military achievements…
A thought struck her, and Mito's expression grew strange.
"Do you… want to become Hokage?"
"Pfft!"
Yukika nearly burst out laughing. "Why would something like that come out of your mouth, Grandma Mito?"
"Why would I follow the same path as Grandfather and Great-Uncle?"
"They already proved that building the Hidden Villages was a mistake. So why would I keep feeding into that mistake?"
"Or is it that… our Senju Clan can't survive without Konoha?"
Quite the opposite, Yukika.
You've chosen the path I least wanted you to take.
Mito fell silent.
"Let's talk about that another day. Maybe I'll change my mind someday."
After a pause, Yukika walked up to Mito with a sincere look on his face.
"Please, wait patiently for that day to come, Grandma."
"Leave the battlefield to me. The clansmen in the village… I leave them in your hands."
Mito gently patted his head, her eyes soft and kind.
"Take care of yourself. This old body of mine can hang on a little longer."
"Even if I'm not around, judging by how close you and Kushina are… when the time comes—"
Kushina.
Mito didn't finish her sentence, but Yukika understood what she meant.
Even if she passed away, as long as Yukika and Kushina had a good relationship—maybe even became family—then the Nine-Tails would become Yukika's greatest support.
But…
"Kushina, huh? That girl's suffered enough."
Yukika smiled casually.
"So… I'll be the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki instead."
As soon as Yukika finished speaking, Mito froze.
Even Yugito, who had been massaging her shoulders, froze mid-motion.
He…
He wanted to become a jinchūriki? Voluntarily?