Chapter 35: Uzumaki Guardian Ninja
“It’s me, Fox.”
Hearing the familiar voice behind him, Yoru felt relieved.
He didn’t turn around, lowering his head as if talking to himself:
“Yuka, Kushina Uzumaki has already been taken away by Clan Head Senju Rinki. You don’t need to worry about Kushina Uzumaki’s safety.
The Uzumaki Clan’s Scroll of Seals is now also in Clan Head Senju Rinki’s hands.
Anbu received news that Mist Ninja are plotting to seize the Vortex Elder’s Sealed Scroll.
The Land of Waves is too close to the Land of Fire and the Land of Water, very dangerous. You should go, leave here as soon as possible.
Go to other countries in the north. It might not be safe there either, but not as dangerous as the Land of Waves.”
There was a long silence behind him.
Yuka slowly asked: “Fox, in the Uzumaki Clan Annihilation, what role did Konoha Anbu exactly play?”
Yoru also fell into a long silence.
He didn’t know how to say it. This pitiful ninja clan annihilation had extremely complex reasons.
Second Hokage Senju Tobirama’s death, Konoha weakening, the Uzumaki Clan seeking self-preservation by sealing the Three-Tails, conflicting with Konoha’s Nine-Tails sealing candidate, ultimately leading to all three great ninja villages developing murderous intent.
Sympathy was one thing, but he didn’t want to cause complications here.
“It’s not certain yet. I’m investigating.”
Yuka threw out a scroll and said:
“Fox, this is my summoning scroll. It contains a Contract Seal and Summoning Jutsu.
I want to share the summoning of the Long Spear Egret ninja beast group with you, to make it convenient for us to pass information.”
Yoru caught the scroll and carefully hid it away.
Later, the scroll could be sent back to Uzumaki Yuka via Long Spear Egret.
Long Spear Egret couldn’t be used in front of people. Learning two sealing jutsu—one Contract Seal, one Summoning Jutsu—was a gain.
By a twist of fate, the investment in Uzumaki Yuka had yielded good returns.
“Yuka, don’t contact Kushina Uzumaki for now. There will be eyes everywhere around her. Anyone who contacts her will be discovered by Konoha Anbu.” Yoru said:
“Go. Many enemies will soon appear in the Land of Whirlpools.”
“Take care, Fox.”
“Take care, Yuka.”
A faint rustling of leaves came from behind.
Among the Land of Whirlpools daimyo’s guardian ninja were Whirlpool Ninja. If they wanted to escape, they should have their own channels. Besides, Yatagarasu could also take quite a few people away.
Not long after, a group of people came from afar—it was Yak Squad.
The squad split into several directions and entered the woods.
Kurozaru had his arm severed, his strength reduced, so he walked at the end with Yoru.
A brief but intense battle occurred in the forest.
Both sides tacitly avoided large-scale ninjutsu, using only taijutsu.
Hippopotamus Squad killed the Mist Ninja and captured one captain.
There were faint muffled grunts in the woods. Hippopotamus Squad Leader personally interrogated that Mist Ninja captain.
Half an hour later, Hippopotamus Squad Leader wiped the blood from his hands with leaves and gathered the captains, saying:
“The interrogation was effective. The Mist Ninja have found the key figure: the Land of Whirlpools daimyo’s Guardian Ninja Captain.
After the Uzumaki Remnants arrived in the Land of Whirlpools, they mainly relied on the Guardian Ninja Captain’s protection.
That Guardian Ninja Captain is an Uzumaki Clan jonin. Kyoto originally had quite a few Uzumaki Clan members, and they all hid away.
The Guardian Ninja Captain must die. Only then can we force them to hand over the Sealed Scroll.”
Many missions from the Land of Waves were given to Hidden Whirlpool Village, which was also a point of great dissatisfaction for Konoha.
Some Whirlpool Ninja who had been stationed long-term in the Land of Whirlpools, especially couples who were both Whirlpool Ninja, had settled there.
Hippopotamus Squad Leader said:
“Eight Uzumaki female ninja escaped from Hidden Whirlpool Village. According to intelligence Anbu obtained from Hidden Whirlpool Village, the Whirlpool Ninja who were permanent residents in the Land of Waves or happened to be on missions there during the clan annihilation numbered
56 Whirlpool Ninja—Mist Ninja killed 3, at most 53 remain.
What we need to do is find the Guardian Ninja Captain before the Mist Ninja do.”
Hidden Whirlpool Village was truly pitiful. All their intelligence was shared with Konoha, and Konoha knew everything about the Whirlpool Ninja in the Land of Waves, down to the exact number.
They didn’t even know they had been sold out.
Kurozaru Squad Leader said:
“Hippopotamus, I think what’s important now is to sever the Land of Waves’ support for the Whirlpool Ninja.
Go straight to meet the Land of Waves daimyo, promise to take on the daimyo’s defense, and make the daimyo abandon the Whirlpool Ninja.”
Hippopotamus’s eyes lit up, then he said with doubt:
“Negotiations at the national level would at least require Foreign Affairs Advisor Lord Mito Mon’en to handle, right? If we go, will the Land of Waves daimyo agree?”
Kurozaru said:
“The daimyo doesn’t need to fully agree. We just need to explain the Uzumaki Clan Annihilation to him clearly, so he stops fully supporting the Uzumaki Guardian Ninja Captain.
The daimyo has 12 guardian ninja, 8 of whom are Whirlpool Ninja. The remaining 4 are all Konoha ninja.
4 guardian ninja, plus us, are enough to make the Land of Waves lean toward Konoha.
With the Uzumaki Clan Annihilation, the Land of Waves’ mission quota must not be given to Mist Village.”
Hippopotamus nodded repeatedly.
The two squad leaders made a decision: Kurozaru would enter the daimyo’s Tenshu Castle to persuade the daimyo.
Kurozaru only brought Yoru and met Konoha’s guardian ninja outside Tenshu Castle.
“Shanzhong Jiali jonin, I am Anbu Squad Leader Kurozaru, here to inquire about the situation of the Uzumaki Guardian Ninja.”
Shanzhong Jiali had light golden hair. He said:
“It’s truly lamentable. Such a powerful ninja clan like the Uzumaki Clan was annihilated under the joint attack of Mist Ninja and Cloud Ninja.
We in Konoha received the news too late. By the time we reached the Land of Whirlpools border, the Uzumaki Clan had already been annihilated.
The 8 Uzumaki Guardian Ninja have no heart for guard duty and often disappear.
At first, they asked for leave from the daimyo, but later they just vanished without a trace.
The daimyo is very dissatisfied about this and has talked to me twice. I’ve already notified the village to negotiate with the daimyo as soon as possible, send new guardian ninja, and replace the Uzumaki Guardian Ninja back to the village.
Let them return to Konoha Village. Intelligence says the Whirlpool Princess is in Konoha, right? They can slowly develop, and perhaps the Uzumaki Clan can become a small ninja clan in Konoha.”
Yoru thought to himself that Konoha’s ordinary ninja knew nothing about what Anbu had done.
The Uzumaki Clan could never become a small ninja clan in Konoha. What Konoha wanted was for Uzumaki Kushina to wholeheartedly become Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Uzumaki Mito was one thing—she was the First Hokage’s wife.
But if the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had a ninja clan in their heart, how could Konoha High Command feel at ease?
Kurozaru didn’t comment on Shanzhong Jiali’s suggestion, but said:
“After the Uzumaki Clan Annihilation, Anbu received news that the Uzumaki Clan is plotting revenge.
The Uzumaki Clan still holds the status of Konoha ally. Their revenge might cause the Land of Waves daimyo to side with Mist Village.
Sympathizing with the Uzumaki Clan is one thing; the Land of Waves’ mission quota is another.
Shanzhong jonin, Anbu’s intention is to drive the Uzumaki Guardian Ninja away from the Land of Waves daimyo, so they don’t influence the daimyo.”
Shanzhong Jiali frowned. He heard some implications. Anbu’s attitude toward the Uzumaki Clan didn’t seem very supportive.
Did the village not support the Uzumaki Clan’s revenge?
Shanzhong Jiali suddenly said: “Wait, you are… I think I’ve heard your voice in the clan before.”
“Yes, Brother Jiali, it’s me.”
Shanzhong Jiali glanced at Yoru’s Fox Mask but didn’t point out Kurozaru’s name.
“Your left arm?”
“It’s not important anymore.”
Shanzhong Jiali thought for a moment, then said: “I understand. I get Anbu’s meaning. Tell me to what extent I need to go, and I’ll make the plan.”
