A Face Full of Silence

[You have completed a special order.

[Konan's Order: "I want to eat my fill~"]

]

Seeing the generous rewards and the complete Ninjutsu scroll, [Secret Technique: Paper Style], Kusana was stunned.

He hadn't expected to be able to complete a special order.

After all, compared to the ordinary orders he received three times a day, special orders were quite rare. For instance, in all the time he'd been here, this was only the third one he'd encountered.

[Kushina Kana's Order: "I want a warm home!" (Completed!)]

[Black Zetsu's Order: "See Mom one more time." (Not completed!)]

Except for Kana's and the one he just finished, Black Zetsu's was still pending. However, the rewards from these two instances were quite substantial.

So, one could imagine the implications.

Of course, it was also possible that special orders were obtained from special individuals. He had been in the Land of Grass the entire time and hadn't encountered many characters from the story, which was why he'd encountered so few special missions!

As for Black Zetsu...

Once, when he went out to submit his work, he encountered a strange fellow buying drawing paper and brushes. The guy even asked the shop owner if he had any exquisite illustrations of feces. Since he didn't have any money on him...

The owner immediately mistook him for someone causing trouble and kicked him out on the spot.

At the time, he felt that fellow looked quite familiar, so he bought the guy some brushes and drawing paper.

Then.

As he was leaving, a cloaked figure suddenly appeared in the wilderness and snatched that weirdo away. At that moment, he immediately understood... he must have encountered the great filial son of the Ninja World and the Uzumaki-faced White Zetsu!

Of course, he never saw them again after that.

Speaking of which, the Kannabi Bridge was located within the Land of Grass, so Madara was probably still underground in the Land of Grass, tending to the Divine Tree.

As for Black Zetsu's mission...

This scam of a mission was impossible to complete right now!

Was his mother someone who could be easily met?

He figured it would probably only be completable during the Fourth Great Ninja War, so he had left the mission hanging without paying it any mind.

After Konan had eaten her fill, Kusana directly took her to the location indicated by the intelligence report!

Speaking of which.

Running into Konan on the way was also an accident!

He had originally planned to check on Nagato's home first. After all, both Konan and Yahiko were orphans, wandering around, and it was quite difficult to find two orphans in a short period.

It was said that Konan and the other two met around the age of ten, and not long after, they encountered Jiraiya and the others, who had just earned the title of Sannin.

But who would have thought...

He encountered a fainted Konan on the road first!

It seemed the three children hadn't met each other yet. He wondered if Nagato's parents had been harmed yet!

He believed that Kana would be very happy if she saw that he still had family members when the time came!

The next day.

They arrived at Nagato's home.

Just as he had thought... Nagato hadn't left yet!

However.

He seemed to have arrived too late!

When they found Nagato's house, the front door was wide open.

You must know.

This was on the other side of the Land of Rain, very close to the battlefield of Konoha, so the war had affected this area quite severely, and many people had already left.

Those who remained basically kept their doors shut tight!

As for the front door being wide open...

There was only one possibility!

An invasion has occurred!

Kusana immediately understood what was happening and rushed inside.

However.

It was too late.

By the time he burst in, Nagato's father was already lying on the ground. Only Nagato and his mother, Fusang, were saved!

Uzumaki clan members in hiding in the Land of Rain!

Finally.

Considering the ongoing war, with the help of him and Konan, Nagato and his mother, suppressing their grief, quickly buried the body.

Kusana felt a pang of regret. He had planned to take the entire family with him!

After all, the Land of Grass was in dire need of people right now!

But he was a step too late!

After disposing of the Konoha ninja's body, it was getting late. Considering there were three civilians, Kusana could only stay at Nagato's house for the night.

Furthermore, since Nagato's family was in mourning, it wasn't appropriate to ask them to move at such a time!

After a simple dinner, the two children also went to rest. After all, one had traveled a long distance, and the other had just experienced the grief of losing his father. Thus, Konan and Nagato were exhausted.

At this moment.

Only Kusana and Fusang were in the living room.

Perhaps due to the recent loss of her husband, Fusang's face was filled with exhaustion and sorrow.

Especially now...

The war had not ended, and with her status... how would they, a widowed mother and her child, survive in this chaotic world?

She was filled with uncertainty about the present and the future.

She had been wearing a faint smile while preparing dinner earlier, but after the children fell asleep and night gradually descended... Fusang could no longer suppress her grief.

Kusana noticed and, after a moment of thought, walked over. "Mrs. Fusang!"

"I'm sorry! Ninja-sama!" Seeing someone approach, Fusang quickly wiped the tears from her face, forcing a smile onto her weary features.

A forced smile.

She was grateful to this ninja who had suddenly appeared with a child and saved her and Nagato.

However.

Her and Nagato's identities... these were absolutely not to be discovered by other ninjas.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you!"

"It's alright!" Kusana sat down directly opposite Fusang. Considering the current situation in the Land of Rain... the final battle was about to begin.

Once Jiraiya's squad advanced into the Land of Rain, the final battle before the war's end would erupt, and anything could happen.

Especially since he had to escort three people back to the Land of Grass through the battlefield, and then find Yahiko... to establish the three pillars of the Akatsuki Organization!

Therefore, he had quite a lot on his plate.

His original plan was... first find Nagato, then find Yahiko and Konan. If Nagato's family was still there, he would take them all. If not, he would persuade Nagato to leave.

So, to be safe, they had to evacuate as soon as possible!

Otherwise.

It would be troublesome if something unexpected happened!

Since Nagato's mother was still here, Kusana decided to talk to her sooner rather than later.

He figured that if his mother wanted to relocate, Nagato wouldn't refuse.

Kusana clasped his hands in front of his chin, and in the dim light, he looked at her with a somber expression.

This sight immediately made Fusang tense up. She looked at the ninja with worry and confusion.

Why was he suddenly so serious?

Had their identity as Uzumaki survivors been discovered?

As she was wondering, Kusana, with a serious expression, spoke directly, "Mrs. Fusang, you wouldn't want your son to live in this war-torn country, would you!"

After he spoke.

Kusana waited for Fusang to sadly nod and cry, "No!", and then he would say, "Then why not go to the Land of Grass."

However.

He had guessed the beginning, but not the end.

As he wondered, "Why isn't she speaking yet?", Fusang's face flushed and paled. Finally, as if she had realized something, her eyes turned red, and her voice trembled slightly as she said, "I understand!"

The words fell.

She stood up, trembling, and placed her hands on her collar.

"???"

This immediately stunned Kusana, who quickly stopped her. "Ma'am, what are you doing? No! You've misunderstood!"

He quickly pulled out a document. "What I meant was... would you like to move to a different country? The Land of Grass is recruiting talent. If you handle the immigration procedures now, it's simple, convenient, and fast. We'll even give you a fast track! Once you arrive in the Land of Grass... not only will you be assigned a job, but accommodation will be provided, and your family members and children can attend school for free!"

He said in a tempting tone, "If you apply tonight, you can be in the Land of Grass tomorrow. What are you still considering?"

However.

The words fell.

Mrs. Fusang: ...

Her hands stiffened slightly, her face a mask of silence.

Note: If you don't understand, please read the later explanation.

Madara and Zetsu never really managed Nagato. At this time, Nagato was just a vessel. Once he awakened the Rinnegan, Madara wouldn't need to rely on him anymore, only paying him slight attention. Even later, Obito didn't manage him either. They only wanted the Akatsuki Organization to capture the Nine-Tails. If Yahiko hadn't refused to let Obito join, Obito probably wouldn't have paid Yahiko any mind. Even when Nagato attacked Konoha, they didn't intervene. Obito and Madara's goals were always clear: he was just a vessel for the eyes, to be taken when necessary. He was always on the verge of death.