The Inertia of Historical Wheels

Leaving the clan hall and walking on the flagstone path, Katsuki couldn't help but recall the Great Elder's aged yet valiant expression.

The Uzumaki Clan's fiery temper was as renowned as their powerful Fuinjutsu. He could tell the Great Elder was prepared to die, and his heart grew heavy, gaining a clearer understanding of this chaotic era.

"Katsuki, what do you think Konohagakure will be like? I asked that White Fang guy, and he just said it was a lively place! So boring..." Kushina looked quite dejected. Leaving the land she grew up in to travel to an unfamiliar place she'd never been to, the young girl couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension.

"It's okay, sister, I'll protect you. No matter where we go, I'll be with you," Katsuki said with conviction, his dark eyes reflecting the young girl's smiling face.

Kushina smiled happily and reached out to ruffle Katsuki's hair. "You're so sweet-talking, too bad there's no reward."

However, with that distraction, the young girl's mood brightened considerably. The Uzumaki Clan's thick skin seemed to be passed down through their bloodline; sadness came quickly and left just as fast.

Katsuki, however, was filled with worry. Although they were about to leave the village and head to Konoha, he had a nagging feeling that things wouldn't proceed so smoothly.

The unpredictable future wasn't truly frightening. What was frightening was knowing the future, knowing a great disaster was coming, but not knowing when it would strike, especially when that future concerned one's own survival.

With the departure from the village just hours away, and him and his sister soon to be under the protection of Konoha ninja on their way to Konohagakure, these few hours suddenly felt agonizing.

"Boom!"

A muffled thunderous explosion came from the eastern sky. However, looking up, the sky was as clear and blue as glass, and an unknown seabird flapped its wings, drawing an elegant arc through the air.

"Boom! Boom..."

The dull rumbling sounded again. This time, Katsuki was certain it wasn't thunder, but the sound of Explosive Tags detonating. When the siblings had trained in throwing Shuriken, they had learned how to handle these deadly weapons and were not unfamiliar with the deafening sound.

"Katsuki, hurry, go find the Great Elder." Kushina reacted even faster than Katsuki. Her sense of responsibility as an older sister spurred her into action. She picked up her packed bag, grabbed Katsuki, and bolted out the door, rushing towards the clan hall.

Kushina's face was filled with anxiety. The intermittent booming explosions made her increasingly nervous. In contrast, Katsuki was much calmer. Compared to the fear of a knife hanging over one's head, waiting to fall at any moment, there was a greater sense of calm when it finally did.

The siblings ran wildly down the road.

Inside the clan hall, the Great Elder had sensed the Mist Ninja invasion the moment it began. The Uzumaki Clan's sensory abilities were also top-tier in the Ninja World.

"It's finally started..."

The Great Elder untied his loose, bulky robe, revealing a black combat suit worn underneath. A short sword was sheathed at his waist. He had been prepared for battle at any moment during this period.

"Crack!"

A bone-cracking sound echoed as the Great Elder's short sword impaled a Mist Ninja who had emerged from the ground. He pried open the unlucky fellow's skull, the top of which was directly sliced off, spilling red and white brain matter everywhere.

It wasn't that the Uzumaki Clan wasn't prepared. The Mist Ninja, skilled in water combat, had actually used Earth Release to infiltrate the island, something he hadn't anticipated. Shouts of battle instantly erupted in various corners of Uzushio Village, Explosive Tags detonated with a roar, and crimson fireworks bloomed, black smoke twisting in the air like giant pythons.

"Old man, die!"

Two more Mist Ninja burst through the door, shouting loudly and charging forward with their swords, their auras fierce.

The Mist Ninja were the most brutal among the Five Great Ninja Villages. The Land of Water, a great nation of islands, was different from the other four. It had never been interested in the Great Ninja Wars, preferring internal conflict and having no time for diplomacy.

Through countless acts of slaughter, the Land of Water had produced the fiercest, most cruel, and cold-blooded ninja, with individual combat prowess unmatched by the other Four Great Nations.

The Uzumaki Clan had experienced the brutality of the Mist Ninja firsthand. These cold-blooded butchers from the islands knew no fear in battle. When they got carried away, they would even strike their own allies. That madness was deeply ingrained in the very bones of every Mist Ninja.

At least, every Mist Ninja the Great Elder had ever seen in his life were butchers who took pleasure in killing. For such individuals, the old man felt the best course of action was to send them back to the womb for a remake. Taking a deep breath, he gripped his short sword and met the two Mist Ninja.

The flowers of slaughter bloomed in the blood-red light!

The Mist Ninja's surprise attack had not only caught the Uzumaki Clan off guard, but the Konoha ninja were also bewildered. When did these cold-blooded butchers start burrowing like the marmots to the north?

Silver-white sword light flashed, accompanied by a crackling thunderous sound. Sakumo decapitated these Mist Ninja as if they were chickens, their heads rolling on the ground like coconuts falling from a tree.

"What are you all standing around for? Go find the Uzumaki siblings."

Sakumo's good temper was only for his own people. Once on the battlefield, he transformed into the nightmare of his enemies. The enemies of Konoha trembled at the mere mention of White Fang's name!

Leading two squads of his subordinates, Sakumo rushed out with a heavy heart. Fortunately, one of his subordinates was an elite from the Yamanaka Clan with incredibly powerful long-range sensory abilities, allowing them to pinpoint Kushina and Katsuki's location. This prevented them from rushing around like headless flies.

On the gravel path, Kushina and Katsuki stood back-to-back, gripping their cold Kunai, warily watching five sinister-looking Mist Ninja in front of and behind them.

Katsuki inwardly cursed his bad luck. They hadn't run far before being cornered by these Mist Ninja who had emerged from underground. Looking at these cold-blooded butchers, his heart sank. Shouts of battle echoed throughout the island, indicating that the invading Mist Ninja were more than just these five.

"Sister, try to stall for time until the Great Elder and the Konoha ninja arrive." Katsuki lowered his voice. Kushina tilted her head slightly, her back bumping against Katsuki's, signaling that she understood.

However, before he could say anything, the Mist Ninja attacked.

The five Mist Ninja were all elites, having been through countless trials by fire and blood. They were no match for a rookie like Katsuki who had never been on a battlefield. However, the Mist Ninja did not aim for a killing blow. After all, these individuals still remembered their mission: to capture the young Uzumaki children and bring them back to the village.

In other words, they needed them alive.

A Mist Ninja with a long scar across his face snorted coldly. He disliked this troublesome mission of capturing targets alive, but given that it was a personal order from the Lord Mizukage, he would take these two brats back.