"Iwagakure? Why are you taking our shinobi? Do you intend to start a war?"
The shadow clone, disguised with a Transformation Jutsu as an Iwa shinobi, sneered: "Your village's shinobi? Since when did the Uzumaki clan become ninja of Kusagakure? Are you joking?"
By now, the Kusagakure ninja had completely surrounded them. Yet, to the squad leader's confusion, the other side didn't seem in any rush to break out.
Was it because this was just a small ninja village, so they felt no threat at all?
"The Land of Whirlpools has already fallen. These two members of the Uzumaki clan sought asylum in Kusagakure. Both of them signed proof of allegiance."
As he spoke, the Kusagakure leader glanced at the shadow clone.
"Besides, the Iwagakure behind you seems to have no connection to the Uzumaki at all."
The clone shook his head slightly.
"The Uzumaki clan's unique constitution is a power any village would covet. Kusagakure's strength simply isn't enough to shoulder that burden."
This remark made the surrounding Kusagakure ninja glare in fury. Though it was true their village was only a small one in the Land of Grass, years ago, they had nearly risen to power once.
Such words were humiliating; how could they not be enraged?
The Kusagakure leader looked at the two red-haired women behind the clone and spoke in a deep tone: "
When you first entered our village, you made a promise. Now… do you intend to go back on it?"
The Shadow clone of Uzumaki Ran lifted her head slightly. "I've always honored my promise. But your exploitation of this body has left me with no hope of survival.
"My own death doesn't matter, but once I die, with the way you've treated me, my daughter will clearly become my replacement… only to end up dead as well!"
Her words had barely finished when shouts of anger burst out from the surrounding Kusagakure ninja.
"Damn it! Outsiders can never be trusted!"
"They begged us to take them in, and now they want to betray us!"
"They must pay the price! Kusagakure will not be humiliated!"
"It's just one Iwa-nin! Kill him! As long as we deny it, Iwa won't dare start a war!"
"I heard Kumogakure just lost their Fourth Raikage recently. If war breaks out, this might even be Kusagakure's chance to rise!"
"So what if it's Iwagakure?! We're not so easily bullied!"
"Captain! Kill them!"
…
Amidst the uproar, the Kusagakure squad leader frowned.
The four jōnin beside him, who had been silent until now, exchanged glances. In each other's eyes, they saw firm resolve.
They knew very well that Kusagakure could never defeat Iwagakure. It would be suicide.
But right now, there was only one enemy before them. No signs of backup.
In that case… perhaps this was a fight they could win.
The shadow clone scratched his head. By now, his true body must've already gone quite a distance.
"Why do you think I'm still here because you've trapped me?"
With those words, he clapped his hands together
"What was the sign for Light–Weight Rock Technique again? Can't remember."
Then he randomly wove a few hand signs and shouted:
"Earth Release: Light–Weight Rock Technique!"
The instant his voice fell, the clone vanished.
"He's gone!"
A cry of alarm, then, a spray of blood erupted.
"How is this possible?! That fast?!"
The slaughter began. Any Kusagakure ninja who tried to weave signs had their throat slit in the next second.
A jōnin muttered grimly:
"That's Iwagakure's secret jutsu; it reduces gravity's pull on the body. At that speed, it's not impossible."
The four jōnin locked their eyes onto the flicker of cold steel, trying to catch his movements. If they could restrain him, even at great cost, his speed would mean nothing.
If only they could touch him…
But by the time over a dozen chūnin had already fallen, they realized they hadn't been able to track him at all.
Clang!
A kunai intercepted one strike. Under the pressing force, the clone grinned.
"So you can only track me at the last moment? Then… what about this?"
One-handed, he wove signs at random.
"Earth Release: Heavy Rock Technique!"
In an instant, monstrous strength surged.
Boom!
The short blade drove downward with crushing force, piercing through a chest in a burst of blood.
"We've got him!"
The remaining three jōnin rushed in, black curse seals glowing on their hands, the infamous Kusagakure binding technique.
But the next moment, the clone vanished again.
"Earth Style: Light–Weight Rock Technique!"
His voice echoed from behind them. The jōnin scattered quickly, stunned at his hand-sign speed.
So fast?! He had switched jutsu in just an instant, regaining his impossible speed.
Swish!
Another slash. Another spray of blood.
Then, the short blade pierced through another jōnin's chest.
"How… even faster…?"
The corpse collapsed.
The last surviving jōnin glared, eyes hard, at the figure calmly pulling his blade free.
"Who are you?! You're no Iwa-nin! The seals for Heavy Rock Technique aren't like that! And though I've never seen the Light–Weight Rock Technique, it's clearly fake!"
The clone scratched his head.
"Guess you caught on? But fortunately, that guy I knocked out is still alive. As long as I kill you too, no one will know I wasn't Iwa-nin."
The Kusagakure jōnin's eyes widened.
"You… you're from Kumogakure? With speed like that, "
The clone chuckled.
"Ah, you noticed? My purpose is to collect other villages' secret arts and bloodlines. Yes, I'm from Kumo."
But the jōnin shook his head.
"No. Kumogakure wouldn't act now, not after losing their Fourth Raikage. Wait… Uzumaki… you're from Kono- "
His words froze as three tomoe spun into his vision. His body locked in genjutsu, the world around him collapsing into a dark abyss.
He shouted desperately within the illusion:
"You're a Konoha ninja! You're after the Uzumaki survivors!"
Then, on his shoulder, a second head slowly rose.
"Uchiha… Yun!"
Horror filled him. This man, the one who killed the Fourth Raikage of Kumo, was actually their target tonight?!
They had walked into death itself.
"When someone learns too much, they're silenced quickly. After the war with Kumo, Konoha doesn't want too much attention. Too much strength only draws all enemies onto you. The time isn't right yet."
The time isn't right yet?
That question echoed in his mind as the jōnin fell lifeless.
The clone drew out his blade again, glanced at the one unconscious survivor, then vanished with his two other clones, heading toward the Land of Earth.
Land of Fire, inside a small town.
"Now that we're within Fire Country, things will be fine. Let's get a bath and some rest, we'll continue tomorrow."
Yun entered a hot springs inn, the red-haired Uzumaki mother and daughter following cautiously. With Kusagakure gone, Ran knew this boy was their only hope.
After a hot bath and a good meal, Yun leaned back, watching them.
Little Karin devoured the food eagerly. Ran didn't stop her. Poison meant nothing before his ability.
"Ask whatever you want," Yun said. "We've got time."
Ran thought for a moment, then spoke:
"Why did Konoha remember us now? Just because of… that clan member?"
Yun smiled warmly at Karin, whose messy face startled her into choking. After the water calmed her, he answered:
"I think Konoha only recently got your intel. Even if they knew earlier, Kushina, your clan member, might've been powerless."
"But now, I'm sure your life in Konoha will be far better than in Kusagakure. With her personality, no one will dare touch you."
Ran blinked. "Kushina… the Fourth Hokage's wife? Is she really that powerful?"
Yun chuckled. "She's a perfect jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. And politically, the Fourth Hokage now holds nearly absolute power."
"So… do you understand?"
Ran's gaze grew serious. A Jinchūriki? She recalled stories of Lady Mito, the Uzumaki who wed the First Hokage. But Jinchūriki elsewhere lived in suffering. Would Kushina be different?
Yun shook his head.
"You'll see for yourself soon enough. Just know, I'll be on your side."
Three days later, outside Konoha's gates.
Rustling, six hidden presences.
Ran whispered, "Six ahead. One is very strong."
Yun grinned.
"The Third Hokage, called the Professor. He's no weakling."
Figures leapt down. Five ANBU masked shinobi, and Sarutobi Hiruzen at their head.
"Uchiha Yun. Leaving the village without orders, tricking Izumo and Kotetsu with genjutsu, you know the consequences."
Yun scratched his head.
"Genjutsu? I only chatted with them. If they fell for it, not my fault!"
Hiruzen's gaze hardened.
"You used Sharingan to make them think you hadn't left. Even if the illusion broke quickly, how do you explain leaving without permission?"
Yun tossed a scroll to him.
"My mission scroll. Maybe Izumo and Kotetsu forgot to log it. Or didn't see me leave."
Hiruzen opened it and froze. The scroll fell from his hand.
"Kusagakure… Uzumaki survivors?"
Anger flickered in his eyes.
"The war with Kumo just ended. Though we won, all the great nations now fear us even more. And you risk reigniting war, for two Uzumaki children?!"
Yun tilted his head.
"You, called the Professor, why so afraid of war? Shouldn't Konoha protect its allies? The Uzumaki were always our comrades."
Hiruzen snapped:
"The Land of Whirlpools is gone. Whether they're truly Uzumaki is uncertain. And Konoha's alliance was with that land. That country no longer exists!"
Before Yun could reply, Ran's voice trembled:
"Among them… one has a terrifying chakra. Is she my clan member?"
Golden light flashed. A man appeared before Yun.
"Lord Third. I… am the Hokage."
Namikaze Minato's words froze Hiruzen in place.
"Minato… do you realize the consequences of this?"
Minato shook his head.
"War won't come so easily. Kusagakure isn't Kumo. And Konoha never fears war."
As Hiruzen brooded, Kushina rushed in. Her eyes widened at the red hair behind Yun.
In an instant, she clasped Ran's hands, speechless with emotion. Then she turned to little Karin, scooping her up.
"Your daughter? She's about my son's age, they'll be great friends!"
She hugged Ran tight, chattering: "Maybe they'll even be married one day! My son's really handsome, looks just like his dad. How old is she? What's her name? Next year she should join the Academy with my boy, they'll be childhood sweethearts!"
Ran was stunned. Karin blinked in confusion. 'Did I just get engaged?!'
Finally Ran managed, "My name is Ran Uzumaki. This is my daughter, Karin. She's nearly five and a half."
Kushina nodded and turned to Karin, "I'm Aunt Kushina. Remember that, if anyone bullies you in Konoha, tell them my name. Next year you'll join school with my little Naruto!"
Karin nodded blankly, still clutching her mother's sleeve.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen spoke again, grave:
"Uchiha Yun's mission was fabricated. Once this girl becomes a shinobi, Kusagakure will know. Minato, how will you explain it?"
Minato shook his head.
"No need. Our alliance with the Uzumaki means we owe Kusagakure nothing. Yun was right, peace is forged through strength. Since our victory over Kumo, none will dare attack us. If Kusagakure resists, they'll be destroyed."
Hiruzen sighed.
"Power blinds as much as it protects. Even victorious wars demand sacrifice. Konoha's strength inspires fear as much as respect. Minato, as Fourth Hokage, be certain of your path."
With that, he turned, leaving with his ANBU.
"You'll regret this, Minato."
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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