"Overnight, our home became a ruin." Mina's voice trembled. "Most of our people were killed, and the survivors scattered in every direction."
Naruto clenched his fists. He had never imagined his mother's clan had suffered such a devastating destruction.
"Kushina was only ten at the time. Leaf shinobi rescued her," Mina continued. "I fled to the Land of Hot Water with my parents, but they later died of illness, leaving me alone."
"You've been here all these years?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes. The Land of Hot Water is relatively safe, and people here don't ask too many questions." Mina gave a bitter smile. "But I've been waiting all this time for the day I could return to my homeland."
A flame kindled in Naruto's eyes. "Aunt Mina, that chance has come! We're going to rebuild the Land of Whirlpools. Will you come back?"
"Rebuild the Land of Whirlpools?" Mina stared at him in disbelief. "How could that be possible?"
Sasuke briefly explained the plan to rebuild the country. When Mina heard it, she jumped to her feet, overcome with emotion.
"Really? You're really going to rebuild our home?" Tears welled up in her eyes again. "Of course I'll go back! Even dying there would be better than wandering around out here!"
"You won't die." Naruto patted her shoulder. "I promise."
Mina wiped her tears. "Wait here. I'll pack my things. And I know where a few other clan members are. We can go find them together."
And so, their group gained another member. Mina closed her inn and joined them on their journey to find their fellow clanspeople.
Their next stop was a small town near the border of the Land of Wind. According to Mina, a man named Uzumaki ran a weapons shop there.
"Uncle Uzumaki has a very strange