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As the Second Great Ninja War began in earnest, Yuta was bidding farewell to the Uzumaki clan head and his remaining group.
Three days had passed since the Mizukage's attack, and everyone had been resting in the Land of Whirlpools during this time.
Gazing at the massive warship docked at the pier, the Uzumaki clan head was filled with awe, quickly followed by deep despair. How could his small Land of Whirlpools withstand the Land of Water, which possessed such formidable naval power?
Moreover, the Land of Whirlpools' next adversary would not only be the Land of Water. Other forces would not relinquish their pursuit of the Uzumaki clan's secrets regarding tailed beast control. This time, they had relied on Yuta's extraordinary strength to overcome the crisis, but what about the next time? The next conflict might very well be their final stand in their ancestral homeland.
After all the Uzumaki clan members heading to Konohagakure boarded the warship, Yuta looked at the worried old man before him and offered his counsel once more:
"Uzumaki-danchō, please do not reconsider. If you decide to relocate to Konohagakure as a collective, I will personally ensure your safe passage."
The Uzumaki clan head offered a helpless smile and shook his head.
"Do not attempt to dissuade me further, Yuta-sama. I am prepared to sacrifice my life for my clan. My only hope is that you will care for the clan members who are journeying to Konohagakure. For that, I would be eternally grateful. My remaining time is short, and I shall not trouble my sister."
Hearing this resolute declaration, Yuta ceased his attempts at persuasion. As the head of the Uzumaki clan, his relocation to Konohagakure, while undoubtedly welcomed by the Sandaime Hokage out of respect for Mito, would inevitably create a complex dynamic.
Without a leader, the Uzumaki clan would likely be absorbed and integrated into Konohagakure more readily, assimilating into the village more quickly. With him as their leader, the Uzumaki clan might maintain their distinct identity, as ingrained habits possess a powerful inertia.
Watching the Land of Whirlpools recede into the distance, Yuta couldn't help but sigh. He felt their current strength was still insufficient. Had he possessed the power of Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara, he would have been actively shaping the world long ago, without the need for such cautious maneuvering.
"Child, what are your intentions regarding me?" Hanzō, lying on the deck at this time, looked at the sky with a resigned expression.
He had briefly contemplated suicide earlier, but after Yuta had informed him of the current precarious situation of Amegakure, he had abandoned the idea. The entire Land of Rain depended solely on him. His death would spell its doom.
"How dare I presume to decide the fate of Hanzō-sama? These are matters that fall under the Hokage's jurisdiction. I have no authority to determine your disposition." With these words, Yuta turned his attention elsewhere. Hanzō was now merely a prisoner, and his future was a matter for Konohagakure's leadership to decide.
"What were our losses this time?" Yuta asked a ninja from the Senju clan.
"Captain, in the engagement with the Mist Ninja, we suffered two fatalities, one serious injury, and the rest are unharmed," the ninja replied.
"Very well, that is an acceptable exchange. I will do my utmost to negotiate with the Hokage regarding the arrangements for the funerals of our fallen comrades. Have you completed the count of the Uzumaki clan members we are escorting?"
"Yes! The tally is complete. We have extracted a total of forty-six members of the Uzumaki clan, including thirty-one children under the age of ten, fourteen women, and one adult man."
"Understood. Instruct everyone to remain vigilant and not to lower their guard until we reach Konohagakure."
"Yes!"
This outcome is significantly better than the original accounts, where only Kushina Uzumaki was rescued. At least now, there was a strong possibility that the Hokage's heir would not need to rely solely on the Uzumaki surname to ensure the continuation of the clan's bloodline.
Yuta turned and entered the cabin, intending to check on the rescued Uzumaki.
As soon as he stepped inside, he was stopped by a small girl.
"Hey, it's Kushina! What can I do for you?"
The one who stopped Yuta was Uzumaki Kushina, the granddaughter of the Uzumaki clan head and the mother of the future protagonist. At that time, she was still a four-year-old child.
Kushina looked up at the smiling man before her, and asked Yuta with a maturity beyond her years: "We won't be able to go back, will we? We won't see Grandpa and Mom and Dad anymore, right?"
As she finished speaking, her voice grew hoarse, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Looking at Kushina's tear-filled red eyes, Yuta slowly squatted down, met her gaze, and said gently, "Your grandfather and your parents have important responsibilities. You need to be a good girl from now on and not cause them any worry, okay?"
"Will I be able to see them again in the future?" Kushina asked, her voice filled with longing.
Yuta didn't know how to answer her question truthfully. He couldn't bring himself to tell her to give up hope, to say that her family was already gone.
Observing Yuta's silence, Kushina could no longer restrain the tears that had been brimming in her eyes, and they streamed down her face.
Yet, with remarkable composure for her age, she didn't cry out loud. She wiped away her tears with her small hands and bowed to Yuta. She instinctively understood that the fate of herself and her remaining people rested in the hands of the man before her, and so she treated Yuta with profound respect.
Looking at the sensible Kushina, Yuta sighed. Just as he stood up, a woman from the Uzumaki clan hurried over. Her eyes lit up when she saw Yuta.
"Yuta-sama, Taku (the adult man from the Uzumaki clan) found an unusually large box while packing his belongings. He didn't dare to open it without permission and asked me to request that you come and take a look."
Yuta immediately followed the woman, and Kushina trailed behind them, her curiosity piqued.
"What is the matter? Didn't you notice it before boarding the ship?" Upon entering, Yuta saw that all the Uzumaki clan members had gathered. They were clustered around a large box in the center, pointing, whispering, and none claiming ownership.
When Taku saw Yuta enter, he quickly stopped the hushed arguments among the clan members, stepped out of the small crowd, and explained to Yuta: "The luggage was brought aboard by individuals arranged by the clan head; we were unaware of the specifics. Who would have imagined there would be an extra box, and no one has claimed it until now."
"What could be inside?" Yuta approached the box and examined it closely, discerning no immediate danger from its exterior.
"We do not know. We decided to wait for Yuta-sama to come and inspect it with us," Taku replied, shaking his head to indicate his ignorance of the box's contents.
"Everyone, please step back a little. I will open it and take a look," Yuta instructed, asking them to create some distance to avoid potential harm from anything dangerous within the box.
Just as Yuta was about to pry the box open with his tantō, Kushina, who had followed him, quickly stopped him.
"Hey! Isn't that my box? This box was part of my mother's dowry. How did it end up here? Uncle, could you please let me try to open it?"
Hearing Kushina's words, a collective sigh of relief rippled through the group. At least it didn't appear to be a trap set by their enemies.
"Then please be careful," Yuta said gently. For this remarkably mature little girl, he didn't mind granting her small requests.
"Thank you, Uncle," Kushina said, bowing to Yuta before walking to the box and fumbling with its latch for a moment.
"Kacha!" The box sprang open.
"It's Mom! It's Mom!" Kushina exclaimed in joyful surprise upon seeing the contents of the box.
As everyone peered forward, they saw a woman lying peacefully within, her entire body seemingly encased in intricate seals. She appeared to be sleeping soundly.
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The Japanese naming will change in a few chapters. I had already done a few chapters before getting a response from you guys about the use of Japanese naming for jutsu.
Support me with your powerstones, and I will drown you with extra chapters...