Nawaki immediately patted his chest. "Don't worry, Sensei! You can go on your mission without a care. I'll take good care of my junior brothers." He just didn't know if he would still have the same reaction when he heard about Minato's living conditions.
At that moment, Hashirama asked, "A long-distance mission? Haven't you not been on a mission for a long time? Why are you suddenly so busy now?"
Mito was also curious. "Did you come here today to talk about this?"
Torifu smiled and looked at Tobirama, who immediately avoided his gaze.
"No, Sensei, Mito-sama. Tobirama-sama saw that I was too idle recently and sent me to the Land of Whirlpools."
"It's a place where I don't know anyone, so I figured I had to come and ask you for some information, Mito-sama."
Mito was even more confused. "The Land of Whirlpools? What are you going there for? Has something happened in the Land of Whirlpools?"
Just as Mito finished her sentence, a sound came from outside the living room.
"Come in, Kushina. This matter concerns your grandfather, so come and listen."
Tobirama, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke, calling in Kushina, who was eavesdropping outside the door. Kushina, with her fists clenched and her head down, walked to Mito's side.
Mito immediately embraced her. "What's wrong, my little princess? Are you homesick?"
Seeing this, Torifu realized that Tobirama hadn't told his Sensei and Mito-sama about what had happened in the Land of Whirlpools yet. He looked at Tobirama, and this time, Tobirama finally nodded. Torifu then spoke boldly.
"It's like this, Sensei, Mito-sama. The Land of Whirlpools is currently..."
Torifu explained the entire story from beginning to end. Mito's expression went from confusion to shock, and finally, to solemnity. She never expected that her brother would encounter something like this in his old age. The Uzumaki Clan, which had always been so united, shouldn't have something like this happen to them.
Kushina had been sent out just before Uzumaki Ashina went missing. This was why she had arrived so hastily and with only one bodyguard escorting her. After hearing Torifu's explanation, Kushina lay on Mito's shoulder and started to cry. It seemed the situation in the Land of Whirlpools was far worse than they had imagined.
Hashirama's brows were also furrowed at this moment. "I can't believe brother Ashina is missing. As his ally, the Hidden Leaf Village must send aid." He then looked at Torifu. "If I were still Hokage, I would also send you. Don't be too hard on Tobirama."
Torifu waved his hand. "Don't worry, Sensei. Since I've already accepted the mission, I'll definitely complete it properly."
But who liked to work? A person who was resting happily was suddenly sent on a mission to a small island at sea. Anyone would get emotional!
Hashirama nodded after hearing this. Uzumaki Ashina's disappearance worried him greatly. After all, that old man was much older than him. The Land of Whirlpools was a tiny place. Where could he possibly be hiding?
Kushina gradually stopped sobbing with the comfort of Mito and Tsunade.
"Great-Grandma, can this big brother... save my grand...pa?"
Mito wiped Kushina's tears and said gently, "Don't you worry. He's a shinobi who's now even more powerful than I am and your Great-Grandpa. He can definitely save your grandfather."
Hashirama immediately wanted to argue, but he was silenced by a single look from Mito. She then said softly, "If you know anything, tell this big brother so he can save your grandpa as soon as possible."
Kushina nodded, her small eyes a little swollen from crying. "I don't really know much. All I know is that before Grandpa took me away, he met with my eldest and second uncles, and then he hurriedly fled the Daimyō's residence with me."
"At the beach, he had a bodyguard take me away on a boat, and then I saw my second uncle chasing after us with a large group of people. After a flash of light, Grandpa disappeared."
After telling everything she saw, Kushina lowered her head. "Great-Grandma, Grandpa won't die, will he..."
Mito stroked Kushina's hair. "Don't worry. Your grandpa is very capable. This little storm won't be able to defeat him."
Torifu had gained some information, but he felt the situation was becoming even more confusing. The eldest and second princes had met with Uzumaki Ashina, which meant they might have been allied. But in the end, only the second prince gave chase, and then Uzumaki Ashina disappeared. It was impossible to determine which prince was good and which was a traitor. They couldn't even start the mission once they reached the island.
"Kushina, what number is your father in the family?"
"Seven."
Torifu nodded. Out of the nine princes, the eighth prince was killed, but no one knew who the killer was. However, Uzumaki Ashina sent Kushina away in the end. Could this mean he trusted the seventh prince?
Even so, he couldn't easily trust anyone once they reached the Land of Whirlpools. He would have to judge with his own heart. Uzumaki Ashina sending Kushina away didn't mean that her father was a good person.
This evening, Torifu had originally planned to ask about Uzumaki Ashina, but now he realized it might not be of much use. The man had just vanished in a flash of light. How could they find him? After talking about such a heavy topic, no one was in the mood to eat.
After taking a few bites, Torifu prepared to go home. All he got from the night was more confusion and not much useful information.
Before he left, Mito grabbed Torifu. "My brother is a very cautious and a very careful man, so what Kushina said about him disappearing in a flash of light might be some kind of secret life-saving jutsu he used."
"I suggest you find him first. That way, many things will be resolved easily."
Torifu nodded after hearing this. The Land of Whirlpools wasn't a big place. As long as Uzumaki Ashina hadn't left the country, it shouldn't be too difficult to find him.
"Don't worry, Mito-sama. This time, Hiruzen and the others are going with me. We'll definitely save Ashina-sama."
Mito patted Torifu's shoulder. "I've always had faith in you. This is truly a hassle for you. I can't believe my brother is still so good at finding trouble in his old age."
Torifu shook his head. "Mito-sama, sometimes trouble finds you."
Mito didn't quite understand what Torifu meant, but since he had already said he would save her brother, she didn't nag him any further. She rarely asked Torifu for anything, but this time, it concerned her brother, so she had no choice but to ask for his help.
After saying goodbye to his elders, Torifu returned to his clan grounds. He would talk to Hiruzen and the others about the details tomorrow, and the day after, they would set off for the Land of Whirlpools. This was the first time he had ever gone on a mission with so little information. He had no useful clues and no idea how to determine if the mission was successful.
...
chapter end
....
TN: Hypothesis: Readers who enjoy a chapter will leave a power stone. Let's test this theory. For science!