Homecoming

Morning.

Konan sensed that something was off. She blinked her sparkling eyes. "Brother Amang, Sister Fusang, what's wrong with you two?"

Something feels strange.

"That's my mom."

However.

Nagato's weak protest was ignored by everyone.

Fusang immediately gave an awkward smile and shook her head, but she did not say anything else. She patted Konan's head. "Are you awake?" Then she looked at Nagato and Konan. "If you're awake, eat first! We'll be leaving soon."

"Leaving?"

Nagato also noticed the luggage in the living room. His little face froze slightly. "Mom, are we leaving this place?"

"Yes, Nagato!" Fusang nodded, patted Nagato's head as well, then crouched down and looked at him with a smile. "Mom is taking Nagato somewhere else to start over. There's no war there, and no bad people. Once we get there, Nagato will be able to make lots of friends. You won't have to hide at home anymore, and you won't have to go hungry either!"

Although she did not know whether the Land of Grass was truly as that ninja had described it, what other choice did she have now?

Either she stayed here with Nagato until more ninja came, or... she chose to trust him and see for herself!

Besides, she had never believed that a ninja would take away a widow and her child because he wanted something from them.

After all, they were not ninja!

Unless... their Uzumaki Clan identity had been discovered!

But if it had been discovered, they would not be able to escape anyway!

Therefore, she could only leave with hopes for a better life.

And if they stayed here... there was not enough food. Even if they did not leave, they would not know where to find food.

As for last night's misunderstanding... she had already forgotten it!!!

That was right!

Forgotten!

It was too embarrassing!

But before long, when she thought of her family... she sighed wistfully again.

After she spoke.

Nagato froze for a moment, then seemed to understand something. He did not ask why and simply nodded.

Although Dad had only died yesterday, after so many years of war, people died every day. They had long since prepared themselves for it, and they could not remain drowned in grief forever.

Life had to go on!

If there was another place... without war or hunger, and Mom was there too, then that was not so bad.

He suppressed his reluctance, nodded, and said with a smile, "Wherever Mom goes, I'll go! I'll protect Mom!"

"Then eat breakfast first! Only after we fill our stomachs will we have the strength to leave!" Fusang smiled upon hearing Nagato's words. "We should thank Lord Mang for the food! He'll be taking us away next!"

"Thank you, Lord Mang!"

"..."

Amang smiled and rubbed Nagato's head, then shook his own. "Eat! We'll leave once we're done!"

After quickly finishing breakfast, they prepared to set off. Of course, before leaving... they went to Nagato's father's grave.

Konan also picked a flower and placed it there as a blessing, earning a quiet thank-you from Nagato.

"Well then..." Kusana looked at his little team, waved a hand grandly, and sighed with feeling before saying with a smile, "Let's go!"

First, get them out, then come back!

Once he found Yahiko, he would go home!

Meanwhile.

Perhaps because the war had reached its most critical point, Konoha's main force had already pushed deep into the Land of Rain.

And it was said to be personally led by the three disciples of the Strongest Hokage, the Third Hokage, who was known as the Hero of Shinobi!

Although the Strongest Hokage had not acted personally, they were still the students of the Strongest Hokage. Even the granddaughter of the God of Shinobi was among them.

It was easy to imagine... they had to be powerful ninja.

In just one night, the entire Land of Rain had become even quieter. The markets that had once still shown some signs of life were now shut tight as well.

Immediately.

Upon receiving the news, Amegakure swiftly responded. Even the Rain Ninja Village Leader personally headed to Konoha's front line.

Even Kusana had not expected the war to change so quickly!

Even Konoha's Sannin... no, they should not be called the Sannin yet. Jiraiya and the others had actually advanced this quickly.

After all, the battle between Konoha's Sannin and the demigod happened only after they met the three little ones, after Little One, the dog Nagato raised, was sacrificed, and after ninja threw Explosive Tags.

Therefore, he had thought he would have to wait another two or three months. He had not expected it to happen so soon!

Could it be because the Land of Grass had suddenly entered the war?

But.

Kusagakure had not sent any troops at all!

Could Mujie, that shameless bastard, have done something again?

Just then.

Kusana, who had been deep in thought, seemed to sense something. His eyes narrowed, and he stopped immediately, stepping in front of Konan and the other two. He frowned slightly as he stared ahead.

Fusang and the others seemed to understand something as well. They quickly stopped and stood quietly behind him.

"Lord Amang..."

Before she could finish.

A soft, sinister voice rang out. "You actually discovered the three of us! It seems you're quite a capable ninja!"

Three figures appeared before them, dressed in Konoha jonin combat uniforms. One had white hair, one blond hair, and one had long black hair with a smiling face.

"I told you we should have attacked directly! Jiraiya, you're too naive. This is a battlefield now!"

"He has children with him! The three behind him look like ordinary people!"

"There are no ordinary people on a battlefield!"

"Whatever!" Tsunade said impatiently. "Dan is still waiting for us!"

After she spoke.

The three frowned as they looked at Kusana. "Amegakure ninja?"

"No!" Kusana's eyelids twitched. He had not expected to encounter these three here. He hurriedly shook his head and said, "I'm Konoha's ally!"

"Konoha's ally?" Orochimaru looked at Kusana with amusement. "I don't recall the Land of Rain being allied with Konoha—"

However.

Before he could finish.

Kusana silently removed the Amegakure forehead protector from his forehead and replaced it with a Kusagakure one. Then he said seriously, "Actually, I'm really a Kusagakure ninja!"

The three: ...

They silently stared at the forehead protector, then their mouths twitched in unison.

You could do that?

Could ninja forehead protectors be switched around so casually?!

They had long heard that Kusagakure ninja were opportunistic and shameless!

Seeing it today...

It truly lived up to the rumors!

At that moment... they believed that he really was a Kusagakure ninja!

After all, ninja from ordinary villages would at most transform their appearance. They would never openly switch ninja forehead protectors like this!

He did not even bother using a Transformation Jutsu!

But.

Why was he traveling with three ordinary people?

"These are relatives of my secretary in the Land of Rain!" Kusana said with a smile. "Since the Land of Rain is at war now and everything is in chaos, I was asked to take them away!"

"Relatives?" Tsunade frowned. Then she glanced at them again. When she saw that they really were ordinary people, she curled her lips. "Yesterday, your Land of Grass representative said he found his long-lost son and took people deep into the Land of Rain. Today, someone else says he's looking for relatives! Why are you Kusagakure people all running to the Land of Rain?"

"..."

Mujie?

His long-lost son?

Could it be Yahiko?

Kusana froze, then said with a sigh, "The Land of Grass was destroyed before, after all. We all fled here as refugees back then!"

After he spoke.

Tsunade froze slightly. She thought of the Uzumaki Clan... and immediately looked toward that red hair.

The Uzumaki Clan had also scattered throughout the shinobi world after their country was destroyed.

However.

Because of the fear surrounding the Uzumaki Clan's power, even after the Land of Eddies had been wiped out, the various clans of the shinobi world still refused to stop hunting them down.

Tsunade sighed emotionally, though her tone remained impatient. "In that case... hurry up and leave! This place will become a battlefield soon!"

"Thank you!" Kusana waved his hand and led the still-frightened three forward. Smiling at the future Konoha's Sannin, he said, "The Land of Grass is hospitable, the scenery is beautiful, and the prices are fair! If the three of you come, every purchase gets twenty percent off! Come visit when you have time!"

"This guy..." Tsunade's face darkened. Orochimaru watched Kusana's retreating back with an amused expression. "Just as expected of a Land of Grass ninja!"

At a time like this, he was actually inviting people to tour the Land of Grass?

What was there to do in that tiny country?

"I heard Kusagakure has produced a remarkable fellow!" Orochimaru licked his lips and narrowed his eyes. "He's supposedly extremely strong, suppressed the civil unrest in the Land of Grass, and rebuilt the country! Honestly, I'm rather curious who he is. To have such ability!"

"Why do you care so much?" Tsunade said impatiently. "We have more important matters now. Once we finish here, we need to go to Dan!" She then looked at Jiraiya, who was still frowning and staring ahead. "Jiraiya, what's wrong?"

"I... nothing!" Jiraiya came back to his senses and shook his head.

Those eyes...

Forget it!

He raised a hand and made a ridiculous pose with a grin. "Leave it to Jiraiya to end this war!"

Now was not the time to think about other things.

Ending this war was more important!

Meanwhile.

Elsewhere.

Before they had even traveled halfway, they spotted Kusagakure ninja who had secretly infiltrated the area. Mujie was among them in particular. When he saw Mujie nod at him, Kusana knew...

The Land of Grass's first Stealing the Sky and Changing the Sun Plan.

Had ended perfectly!

He immediately looked at the three behind him and swept out his hand. "Let's go! We're going home!"