Earlier morning, the rumors swept through the Konoha marketplace and training grounds, traveling faster than a messenger hawk.
Citizens gathered in tight circles, their voices a low hum of disbelief and anxiety. The disappearance of the village's strongest protectors left a vacuum that everyone felt.
"Is this real? Lord Yoichi and our top talents deserted?! How's this possible?"
"The higher-ups must be kidding us..."
"We need to get to the bottom of this!"
Hiruzen attempted to contain the information to stabilize internal peace. However, Danzo along with Homura and Koharu acted quickly instead.
These elders utilized personal networks and loyal associates to spread news of the insubordination.
The objective was to frame the departure as a betrayal of the Leaf's laws.
And it didn't take too long to really hit the citizens.
Inquisitiveness and perplexity permeated the minds of the common citizens. People looked over their shoulders, wondering if the walls remained safe.
In contrast, the high-tier clans remained skeptical.
Understanding the nuances of power, these leaders doubted the official narrative. Heads of the Hyuga and Uchiha compounds watched the gates with narrowed eyes, waiting for a more reliable truth.
In the Nara clan's verdant forestry, the air felt cooler under the thick canopy of trees.
The clan head watched a deer graze in the distance before turning to his son.
"What do you think about this, Shikaku?"
Shikaku lay on a bed of soft moss, hands tucked behind his head. A twig rested in the corner of his mouth as he stared at the shifting clouds.
His eyes rolled slightly at the question.
"This is such a pain in the ass..." Shikaku said.
At five years old, Shikaku possessed an exceptional awareness of the village's pulse. This sharp intuition prompted his father to seek the boy's opinion.
"They wouldn't betray us, Dad. Not the village," Shikaku replied after a long silence.
"Why do you think so?" his father calmly asked.
Think of it as an examination to his son's insight of politics since he's going to be the future clan head.
"They worked hard to protect us and finish missions in the past. Lord Yoichi brought out these tiresome techniques to make us stronger, and the three students of Hokage-sama never lagged behind in my accord. So why now? Why betray the village when Konoha remains in an alerted state?"
Shikaku sat up, the twig in his mouth shifting.
"Regardless, something must be happening behind the scenes. Lord Yoichi and Danzo-sama are regularly at odds. Maybe the camps started to have a quarrel and the situation escalated."
The young Nara looked back at the sky, his expression weary beyond his years. "All of it consists of assumptions in front of the truth, Dad. Who knows what follows next."
His father remained silent, impressed by the boy's ability to see the friction between the martial factions and the administrative council.
...
...
...
"So what do we do next?" Jiraiya asked, wiping the sweat from his face.
"You said this land would be a bloodbath soon. When will that happen? It looks peaceful here.
Orochimaru scanned the walls. "Silence comes before the strike. Peace is a mask."
Tsunade walked beside Yoichi. Seeing the Uzumaki crest everywhere made her feel a heavy sense of duty. The villagers went about their day, not knowing the danger Yoichi had remembered.
"The storm starts when other nations decide the Uzumaki are too strong to exist," Yoichi said.
The gate guards tensed at the sight of four Konoha shinobi. They saw the Senju princess and the firm look on Yoichi's face. The guards lowered their spears and signaled for the group to enter.
Eight hours ago, the pursuit began at right before Danzo ordered. Masked Root and ANBU operatives tried to block the path, but the group moved with unprecedented speed.
The power of Innate Realm drove Yoichi and the three blitzing through the woods as ghostly blurs.
The result? Elite shinobi were left behind easily.
The group walked through the vibrant streets of Uzushiogakure. Laughter echoed from the marketplaces, and children played near the fountains.
The people lived with a sense of happiness and joy that filled the air.
Tsunade and Yoichi moved side by side, enjoying the warmth of the sun. The tension from the Hokage's office faded as they observed the peaceful life of the Uzumaki. Tsunade smiled, her hand occasionally brushing against Yoichi's as they navigated the crowd.
"The seals here are truly something else," Orochimaru remarked, looking at a gate that shimmered with protective energy.
"The food smells better," Jiraiya countered, nodding toward a nearby stall.
The group about anything and everything, keeping the mood light. Yet, They remained unaware of the eyes watching them from the highest building in the village.
"See? I knew he'd bring friends. You lost the bet, Natsumi," Sumiko said. She leaned back with a cheerful smile, watching the figures in the distance.
Natsumi huffed, her flamboyant clothes fluttering in the wind. "Forget the bet! I didn't think he actually had friends, not after how Sensei acted." She turned a sharp look toward her companion. "Did you use your scouts, Sumiko? There's no way you just guessed."
"Please. I simply used my head," Sumiko replied, taking a graceful sip of tea.
Natsumi glared, crossing her arms in annoyance.
"That's enough," the red-haired man sat between them, his voice steady. He looked at the tea on the table before meeting the eyes of the elder standing behind them. "We have actual work to do."
"Shut up, Ryoma!" both women snapped at once.
Ashina Uzumaki watched the bickering with a nostalgic heart. The youthful energy of the Murakami leaders brought back memories of his own younger days.
To his eyes, this clan felt like a bottomless abyss.
While the Senju and Uchiha were famous for their wars, the Murakami stayed in absolute secrecy.
Many people in the past wanted to probe on this clan yet nobody came back. Thanks to this strong deterrence, not even a single clan dare to analyze them further as the Murakami Clan faded into the ears and eyes of the common shinobi.
But now, Ashina felt particularly confused.
The Murakami clan usually stayed hidden.
For them to be here, sitting and drinking tea, was truly a rare event.
"I still find it hard to believe you are here," Ashina said. "I wonder what are the purpose of this visit? Seeing you in the open makes me think something is wrong."
He watched Sumiko and Natsumi. They looked like young shinobi, but Ashina knew their strength.
If they can remain this young, then perhaps their force must be not to be reckoned with.
"The Great Villages are moving, Ashina," Ryoma said simply. "Our scouts have heard them. They are forming massive troops, and they are all aiming for your clan's sealing secrets."
Ashina's eyes widened, and he gripped the railing.
A cold sweat broke out on his brow, but he quickly straightened his back.
His shock turned into a cold stubbornness.
The Uzumaki had lived here in isolation to avoid the endless wars of the continent.
"This is our home," Ashina stated, his voice growing firm. "We built this land to keep our lineage safe from that bloodbath. I won't back down. If they want our heads, they will have to fight every wave and every seal we have."
"Now, now," Ryoma said, holding up a hand to calm him. "You don't have to be worried about it. We'll help you and your clan as much as possible to avoid this bloodbath from happening."
Then, he glanced toward the street where the newcomers were walking. A small smile appeared on his face as he watched the group.
"Besides, that kid is here now," Ryoma added.
"He and those friends he brought might be very helpful in these defensive maneuvers..."
Yoichi? Is that the fellow from Konoha?
He felt a sense of relief about the Murakami's support.
Still, he couldn't help but wonder about the young Uchiha down there.
It was strange for the Murakami to put so much faith in someone he barely knew.
After the meeting reached its conclusion, Ryoma along with Natsumi and Sumiko left the meeting room. The three of them wanted to meet Yoichi, but the duty of preparing for a war called to them first.
Ryoma glanced back at the village one last time.
Show me how you dance again, Uchiha Yoichi.
The group dissappeared like a wistful smoke.
"Bring the Uchiha boy and his companions to me at once," Ashina commanded.
The ninja bowed and vanished in a flicker.
He wondered about their true motives.
Why would a member of the Uchiha and the students of the Hokage come here now?
...
So this is Ashina Uzumaki... He looks so old.
Yoichi thought as his group came in front of Ashina, who was thoroughly scanning them.
"I appreciate your prompt arrival," Ashina said, gesturing to the seats.
"Traveling this far during such restless times is no small matter. I want to hear your reasons for coming to our islands."
The silence in the room felt heavy until...
"Lord Ashina, the Uzumaki clan is in immediate danger," Yoichi said, his voice steady.
"The Great Villages are moving. You need help right now if you want your people to survive."
Ashina felt a jolt of shock. His face was calm, but his mind raced. He wondered how this outsider knew what the Murakami had just told him.
"You know things you should not," Ashina replied. "How did you find this out? I must ask if your words are even true."
Jiraiya shifted and opened his mouth to speak.
But before he could say a word, Tsunade grabbed his arm. She whispered for him to stop, and he went quiet.
Yoichi looked the old man in the eye.
He did not blink.
"Does it matter?"
"When the villages attack, there will be no saving grace if we are conceited. If you wait for proof, it will be too late."
Ashina looked at Yoichi for a long moment.
He knew he could not turn away any strength.
"You are right," Ashina said. "When we face the Great Villages, any help counts. We cannot afford to wait for proof."
He stood up and looked toward the window.
The safety of his people was more important than his doubt. Ashina felt the weight of the coming war on his shoulders.
"I accept your aid," he stated. "My shinobi will show you to your rooms. Rest now. We will talk about the defense at dawn."
He gave a sharp nod to dismiss them.
Yoichi and his group bowed and left the office.
"That was a bold move," Jiraiya remarked, his voice low. "Talking to the Uzumaki Patriarch like that takes guts. You basically told him his wisdom wasn't enough."
Orochimaru let out a dry, thin chuckle.
"It was efficient," he added. "Fear is a much faster motivator than a long explanation. You handled him well, Yoichi."
On the other hand, Tsunade felt a surge of pride and affection. Her heart beat a little faster as she realized how much she admired his resolve.
As the group walked down the hall, a young girl with bright red hair jogged past them toward Ashina's office. She was barely five years old, her face full of life and excitement as she hurried along.
The group kept moving, but Yoichi slowed his pace.
Yoichi felt a sudden, sharp familiarity as he watched her.
He realized he was looking at Uzumaki Kushina.
"Is something wrong?" Jiraiya asked, noticing the pause.
Yoichi didn't answer right away.
Seeing her so small and innocent made the coming war feel even more personal. In his mind, such children shouldn't experience things occurred to him.
"It's nothing..." Yoichi gently smiled.
Soon enough, the group made into their own respective quarters. Yoichi and Tsunade merely hugged each other, savoring their harmonious time amidst the serene atmosphere of Uzushiogakure.
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