After parting ways in the Land of Waves, Yagami and Uzumaki Yuka hadn't seen each other again.
Yagami was busy with his Anbu missions, while Yuka was constantly on the run with her clansmen.
"Long time no see," Yagami said. "Yuka, did you do as I told you and warn Young Nawaki about the danger?"
The last time, he had only sent a scroll revealing the truth behind the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan.
But in this timeline, Yagami added something even more crucial—there was someone targeting Senju Nawaki.
He wanted to make sure Nawaki survived this time.
"I did. I not only left behind the truth about our clan's downfall, but also a warning." Yuka looked at him and asked softly,
"Fox, do you really think the Anbu of the Hidden Leaf would harm Nawaki?
He's the heir of the Senju Clan—a genius of the Leaf."
Yagami nodded slightly.
"Don't underestimate the determination of the Leaf's higher-ups.
They are shinobi with unusually hardened hearts, willing to use any means to achieve their goals.
If the truth is exposed, the Senju Clan will inevitably clash with the Leaf's leadership.
That would be the greatest disaster the village could face.
Given how deeply the Senju value family, a falling-out is almost guaranteed.
When that happens, the Leaf will tear itself apart from within during the next Great Ninja War.
Right now, the Leaf is only fighting the Hidden Stone Village.
But once internal conflict breaks out, the Hidden Cloud, Hidden Sand, and Hidden Mist Villages will all pounce to tear the Leaf apart."
He paused, then added,
"The Leaf has been strictly monitoring Lady Mito, Princess Kushina, and the entire Senju Clan.
One of my current Anbu assignments is surveillance of the Senju compound.
When we were in the Land of Waves, I warned you not to contact the Senju Clan for now.
I wanted to wait until things settled down before making any moves.
Senju Haku discovered the truth and tried to report it to the clan elders—but the Anbu caught him early."
Yuka lowered her head, her voice full of sorrow.
"I ran into Cousin Haku by chance in the Land of Grass. He was shocked to see that I was still alive.
When he questioned me, I told him part of the truth. Haku was smart—he immediately guessed what had happened.
He couldn't believe it, and he was worried about the Leaf's internal split. He said he'd handle it carefully after returning.
The higher-ups don't cherish the Leaf, yet Cousin Haku risked everything to protect it.
Why is it that kind people are always the ones who suffer?
In the end, he was discovered by the Anbu and sacrificed himself just to send one last message.
I should thank you too, Fox. You risked your life to help us from within."
In the power games of the Hidden Leaf, the ones who loved the village the most were always the easiest for the higher-ups to manipulate.
It was people like Orochimaru—those who didn't care much about the village—that the higher-ups couldn't control.
They even turned a blind eye when he experimented on Leaf children.
The Senju Clan was the Leaf's weakness—its soft underbelly.
A man with no parents, no children, no attachments… someone like that is truly terrifying.
Even the cruelest villains hesitate to provoke such a person.
A man with nothing to lose walks barefoot among those in shoes.
Rain began to pour from the sky.
The two of them found a hollow in a tree and slipped inside.
"Yuka," Yagami asked, "how many of the Uzumaki are left?"
"Thirty-two."
Hearing that number, Yagami fell silent.
The once-great Uzumaki Clan—reduced to just thirty-two people.
"Why choose the Land of Rain?"
"The Land of Rain is a battleground for four sides," Yuka explained.
"The Hidden Sand, Hidden Stone, the Leaf, and Hanzo of the Rain Village—plus rebel groups opposing him.
It's total chaos here.
And the more chaotic it is, the easier it is for us to hide.
We used to be in the Land of Grass, but that's under the Hidden Stone's control. They monitor every village closely.
After our location was exposed, the Grass Village captured one of our kin—Uzumaki Kaon, who's skilled in medical ninjutsu.
I tried to rescue her, but I failed. It was during that attempt that I ran into Cousin Haku."
Yagami guessed that Uzumaki Kaon was likely the mother of Uzumaki Karin from the original story.
He said, "Once I get the chance, I'll inform Young Master Nawaki. He might be able to rescue Uzumaki Kaon."
He added silently in his heart, If Nawaki manages to survive…
Yuka had been under immense pressure for a long time, almost breaking apart.
If not for Cousin Haku and the Fox's help, she might not have made it this far.
Now that she was face-to-face with him again, it felt comforting—familiar.
Outside, the rain continued to patter.
Inside the hollow, Yuka pressed her lips gently against Yagami's neck, then quickly stripped off her clothes. Soon, the small space filled with warmth and heavy breathing.
"Fox… your body's gotten so much stronger," Yuka murmured breathlessly.
She thought to herself, His Senju bloodline is growing more powerful with every passing day.
An hour later, Yagami couldn't help but sigh.
The Uzumaki Clan truly had incredible stamina.
No wonder the Senju had always intermarried with the Uzumaki—it was the only way to find equals.
"Yuka," he said afterward, "the Nine-Tails' transfer seal will happen soon. I came to gather information about it. From what you know, what kind of technique could affect the seal?"
"I've always thought the sealing ceremony wouldn't go smoothly," he continued. "I'm worried about Lady Mito and Princess Kushina."
As Yuka dressed, she replied,
"A jutsu that could affect the Nine-Tails' seal?
There's only one that comes to mind—the Contract Seal Release. It's a secret technique of the Uzumaki Clan and rarely taught outside the family.
Other than that, the only thing that could influence the Nine-Tails' seal isn't a sealing technique at all—it's the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan."
Yagami nodded thoughtfully.
"The Uzumaki's Book of Seals is in the hands of Clan Leader Senju Rinki, so there's little risk of Contract Seal Release leaking.
That means we must stay wary of the Uchiha.
The Senju and Uchiha have a blood feud. If the Uchiha see a chance, they might exploit it and interfere with the Nine-Tails' seal.
Yuka, keep your people hidden.
Lady Mito is old now. Since the battle at Mount Niuhe, she's barely conscious for more than a few hours each day.
Once Princess Kushina grows up, things will finally turn for the better."
Yuka nodded. "I understand. We'll wait for her."
Yagami stepped out of the hollow and vanished into the rain with a single Body Flicker.
Leaning against the wooden wall, Yuka felt the lingering warmth he left behind.
He's right, she thought. Once Princess Kushina grows up, everything will get better.
She returned to the rain-soaked forest where the remnants of the Uzumaki were hiding.
They had built treehouses there, struggling to survive.
Three children, twenty-six women, and three men—
That was all that remained of the once-proud Uzumaki Clan.
By tradition, women were supposed to take their husband's surname after marriage.
But among the surviving Uzumaki, they had made a pact—none of them would change their names. Their children would carry the Uzumaki name as well.
The Uzumaki Clan could not be allowed to vanish. They were the final embers of their people.
As she thought about it, Yuka smiled faintly. The Fox's Senju bloodline is exceptional. If only I could bear his child…
"Honestly," she murmured with a small laugh, "only twice in an hour? I should've kept him a bit longer…"
A woman passing by with a child caught her smiling.
"Yuka, what's got you in such a good mood?"
"Oh, nothing," Yuka chuckled, playfully tousling the boy's hair. "How's Nagato doing? Has he been eating properly?"
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