The narrow hallway wound its way through twists and turns. Uzumaki Kushina and her two companions, led by an attendant, walked for about two minutes before arriving at the guest room of the Uzumaki Trade Association.
"Please enter; the president is inside," the attendant said. After delivering the message, he stepped back with small, measured steps, his refined manners leaving Uzumaki Kushina quite surprised.
"So, this is what it's like to live in the capital of the Land of Fire?"
Though luxurious and comfortable, Kushina felt out of place in such an opulent setting. Compared to the grandeur of these courtyards, she much preferred the small, homey houses of Konoha Village.
"Kushina-sama," one of the ANBU women accompanying her said, attempting to offer some reassurance.
"I understand," Kushina replied, taking a deep breath. She then pulled open the door and stepped inside.
The guest room was spacious, but the figure that immediately caught Kushina's eye was a red-haired woman seated in the middle of the room. There was no mistaking the familiarity of their shared bloodline—it was a feeling only Uzumaki clan members could experience.
"Kushina-hime," the woman said, studying the ninja who had just entered. There was a faintly familiar look about her face, and through her sensory ability, the Kagura Mind's Eye, the woman discerned the unmistakable chakra of the Uzumaki clan. Yet beneath that familiar aura was something sinister—a dark and hateful chakra, deeply hidden but not imperceptible.
Kushina, on the other hand, harbored no such mixed feelings. Seeing a fellow clanswoman filled her heart with joy.
"You must be Ayaka, Uncle Rin's daughter! I'm Uzumaki Kushina. We met years ago at the clan's shrine, remember?"
Ayaka Uzumaki nodded slightly. She had long been aware of Kushina's existence and could vaguely recall childhood memories of her.
Kushina had been a princess of the Land of Whirlpools, but the Uzumaki clan was unlike the Hyuga clan in terms of hierarchy. Relations within the Uzumaki family were genuinely close, devoid of any class divisions. Though Kushina was called a princess, she had never carried herself with the airs of nobility within the clan.
Her title as a princess stemmed only from her lineage—she was the granddaughter of the Uzumaki clan leader, who also happened to be the daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools. But this title carried little weight outside her homeland, especially since the country had been destroyed. Many of the great nations didn't even recognize it.
"It's been a long time, Kushina-hime. I'm Ayaka Uzumaki."
"Yes, over ten years, I think. Ever since I was sent to Konoha, I haven't seen any of my childhood friends," Kushina said warmly, moving closer to Ayaka. Her face beamed with excitement. "I never thought I'd get to meet you again. This is such a pleasant surprise! By the way, Ayaka, how did you end up here in the Land of Fire's capital? And you even founded the Uzumaki Trade Association, not to mention that ninja game—it's amazing!"
Ayaka quickly interrupted Kushina's enthusiastic chatter. "Let's sit and talk, Kushina-hime. By the way, have you had dinner yet?"
At Ayaka's mention of food, Kushina realized she was indeed quite hungry. Though she had eaten snacks earlier, hours of walking around had left her famished.
Seeing her reaction, Ayaka immediately had dinner prepared and served for three. The four figures standing on the rooftops outside were ignored; since they chose not to reveal themselves, Ayaka felt no obligation to acknowledge them. If they had ill intentions, her guardian, Number 18, would deal with them.
When dinner was brought in, Kushina wasted no time indulging, while the two ANBU women accompanying her didn't touch their chopsticks. Once Kushina had finished eating, the attendants promptly cleared the table.
"You're living like a true princess, Ayaka," Kushina said enviously, watching the servants at work.
"I was just fortunate to meet someone who helped me. Without him, I might not even be alive now," Ayaka replied, thinking of Hyuga Mirai. Though his demeanor had been cold when he saved her, she had felt an unparalleled sense of safety.
"I'm just glad you're alright," Kushina said. After a brief pause, her expression turned hesitant as she struggled to find the right words.
She had come to invite Ayaka to join Konoha, but seeing Ayaka's comfortable life here made her reluctant to ask. How could she propose that Ayaka leave this prosperity to endure the "hard life" in Konoha?
Still, the thought of Ayaka's exceptional medical skills spurred Kushina on. If Ayaka joined Konoha, she could save countless lives.
"Ayaka, I came here to ask something important of you," Kushina finally said.
"Is it really important, Kushina-hime?" Ayaka gestured for the attendants to leave, then turned to her guest.
"It is," Kushina said, glancing at her ANBU guards. "Could you two step outside for a moment? I'd like to speak with Ayaka alone."
"Kushina-sama—"
"It's alright. Wait for me outside." Kushina's firm tone left the ANBU with no choice but to comply.
Once they were alone, Kushina spoke earnestly. "Ayaka, I'd like to invite you to join Konoha. I've heard about your incredible medical abilities. If you join us, you could save so many lives."
"Why should I join Konoha? I can save lives right here," Ayaka replied calmly.
"But Konoha's ninja are sacrificing their lives for peace, to protect this nation—"
"And the merchants and civilians of the Land of Fire? They pay taxes to support this country. Those taxes fund Konoha's military efforts. By that logic, aren't they contributing just as much to the nation's cause?"
Kushina faltered, but quickly tried again. "But Konoha's ninja are crucial. Without them, the nation would fall to its enemies—"
"Kushina-hime, do you even remember your own surname?" Ayaka suddenly raised her voice, her tone sharp with anger.
Her frustration was undeniable. The destruction of the Land of Whirlpools wasn't ancient history. Ayaka had only recently escaped a life of begging and wandering. Why was Kushina, a fellow clanswoman, asking her to join Konoha instead of inquiring about the Uzumaki clan's survivors or her struggles over the years?
Compared to Ayaka's harsh experiences, Kushina's life in Konoha had been sheltered. Under the guidance of Uzumaki Mito and supported by the Third Hokage, she had even found love. Perhaps, in her early years in Konoha, Kushina had often thought of her homeland. But after a decade of life focused on her dream of becoming Hokage, those memories had faded.
"Ayaka, I—" Kushina began, guilt evident in her voice, but Ayaka interrupted.
"Kushina-hime, I am an Uzumaki. The Uzumaki Trade Association exists to remind me of that. One day, I will rebuild the Land of Whirlpools."
Kushina grew anxious and tried to dissuade her. "Ayaka, that's not something you can achieve on your own—"
"If you've said what you came to say, let's end this conversation here," Ayaka cut her off coldly. She clapped her hands, signaling the return of the attendants.
"Escort Kushina-hime to her quarters," Ayaka ordered.
"Ayaka—"
Kushina wanted to plead further, but the attendants stepped between them, blocking her view of Ayaka. Left with no choice, she followed them out.
Only after Kushina was gone did Ayaka exhale deeply.
Her earlier anger had been genuine, but much of it had been an act. Many of the words she had spoken weren't even her own.
(End of Chapter)
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