The Only Way Out

The Only Way Out

Within Konoha Ninja Village, Mito Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, perfectly demonstrated what it meant for a married daughter to be like water poured away.

"Princess, Kirigakure is coming. We need help."

The young Uzumaki Clan ninja, En Uzumaki, bore several wounds as he looked sorrowfully at Mito Uzumaki.

He had been here for over ten days, and only today had he finally managed to see Mito Uzumaki.

Even this meeting had only come after he could no longer endure the "cold violence" and resorted to actual force.

"En, I'm old. I can barely move anymore. I can't help you.

"When Hashirama was alive, he had already helped too much. I can no longer ask Konoha to take action.

"You know Konoha's situation as well. There are fewer than five thousand combat-capable shinobi in the entire village now. How could we possibly withstand Kirigakure?"

Mito Uzumaki wore a helpless expression.

"But...?"

En Uzumaki opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing.

He had wanted to say that the Land of Whirlpools had always been proud of Mito Uzumaki. During the First Ninja World War, out of gratitude for Hashirama Senju's kindness, they had helped Konoha intercept Kirigakure.

Now that they needed help, this was the attitude of their own princess.

Back then, it had been their princess herself who sent the letter.

They had always believed that their princess still remembered her family back home.

"Yes, I understand, Princess. I'll take my people and leave Konoha at once.

"That is my root. I must take responsibility for it."

En Uzumaki gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

He was not a fool. Since he had been sent to Konoha as an envoy, he could not be a fool.

He had already understood Konoha's and Mito Uzumaki's intentions. Whether publicly or privately, Mito Uzumaki could not leave Konoha, and neither could Konoha act.

Watching En Uzumaki leave, Mito Uzumaki revealed a complicated expression.

She knew that En Uzumaki's departure meant that all ties between her and the Uzumaki Clan had been severed.

"To die peacefully of old age... My life is nearing its end. It's just Kushina who will suffer."

As an elderly woman, Mito Uzumaki quickly adjusted her state of mind.

Kushina had been well protected and, from beginning to end, had never known of En Uzumaki's arrival.

En Uzumaki had not met Kushina either.

In the Land of Whirlpools, Hidden Whirlpool Village indeed treated them to fine food and drink as Masahiko Uzumaki had instructed.

Within three days, Ebizo had also met with the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools, a burly middle-aged Uzumaki man.

From him, Ebizo obtained a batch of quite capable craftsmen.

This was also the only thing that had put Ebizo in a good mood over the past three days.

"Sir, the Land of Whirlpools craftsmen we 'hired' have already boarded the ship bound for the Land of Wind. Lord Suke is personally receiving them."

As Ebizo sat in his room deep in thought, a Sand Shinobi suddenly appeared and reported.

"Good, I understand. Does what you observed match what the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools said?"

Ebizo asked another question.

"Yes, exactly. After the daimyo explained the situation, these Land of Whirlpools residents did not mind going to our Land of Wind to work in the slightest."

The Sand Shinobi spoke in surprise.

He himself had been shocked. He was one of Ebizo's trusted men and a core force under the Kazekage's faction.

He was also aware of certain classified intelligence.

He naturally knew about Ebizo's conversation with the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools.

He still remembered the daimyo's calmness when he arrived, as well as the words he had spoken.

The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools had meant something very simple: however many people the Land of Wind could take in, he would provide that many.

As for Kirigakure, he did not believe they would treat the people of the Land of Whirlpools well.

As for Konoha, he did not even want to wait for news. After experiencing the First Ninja World War, he had never held any hope for Konoha or Mito Uzumaki.

"He's a capable man. What a pity he has already resolved himself to die."

Ebizo sighed.

Whenever he thought of that Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools, he could not help but feel regret.

The Sand Shinobi valued talent. Ebizo, even more so, valued talented people with intelligence who could clearly see the situation.

That Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools was exactly the kind of talent they valued.

Inside the ancestral hall of Whirlpool Village, Masahiko Uzumaki knelt in formal attire.

"Kid, if you're here, come out. There's no need to skulk around."

Masahiko Uzumaki, who had been praying with his eyes closed for his ancestors to tell him which path to take, suddenly opened his eyes and snapped coldly.

"Uncle Masahiko, you're still going strong in your old age. I thought I'd concealed myself quite well."

A red-haired middle-aged man stepped out of the shadows, smiling as he spoke.

Masahiko Uzumaki snorted and resumed praying.

"You brat, why aren't you being the daimyo? What are you doing here? Looking to die?"

"I came here to die alongside the place where I was born."

By the moonlight overhead, the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools spoke sorrowfully.

"You're the daimyo of a nation. Would Kirigakure dare to kill you?"

Masahiko Uzumaki asked in shock.

"Why wouldn't they? The agreements between shinobi and nations were set by the Five Great Nations.

Kirigakure wants the Sealing Technique, the Land of Water wants territory, and the daimyo and the Mizukage want accomplishments.

What could possibly be impossible?"

The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools saw things clearly. He did not think the Land of Water had gone too far. If he had been in their position, he would have done the same.

Perhaps he would have been even more ruthless.

"Uncle Masahiko, send the young people of the clan away. Send them to the Land of Wind. As for the older generation, let them stay here and die with us."

The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools did not give Masahiko Uzumaki a chance to react or speak, continuing on his own.

"Yan hasn't returned yet. Konoha still hasn't given us an answer. And why can't we go to Konoha? The princess is there."

Masahiko Uzumaki was still deceiving himself, lashing out in embarrassment and anger.

"You aren't stupid. On the contrary, you're very smart. Unfortunately, you're too stubborn. You use that stubbornness to restrain your own thoughts."

The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools shook his head and laughed mockingly.

Under the moonlight, the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools' laughter made Masahiko Uzumaki's expression grow increasingly ugly.

"You should stay here and continue repenting. I'll arrange what comes next."

The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools shot Masahiko Uzumaki a disdainful glance, then walked out of the ancestral hall. He nodded to the Four Middle-aged Whirlpool Shinobi outside and instructed them.

"Guard this place well. You can judge the timing yourselves. Don't let Uncle Masahiko out too early."

"Yes, Daimyo."

The four Whirlpool shinobi answered in unison.

Then, the four took their positions at the corners of the ancestral hall and jointly erected a barrier, sealing Masahiko Uzumaki inside.

After finishing all this, the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools headed toward Whirlpool Village's council hall.

Having arranged for Masahiko Uzumaki, he still had others to arrange for.

*Konoha and the Land of Fire are completely unreliable. Mito Uzumaki won't do either—being able to take care of Kushina would already be an impressive feat for her.

Damn it, Hiruzen Sarutobi has none of the Third Kazekage's magnanimity. If he did, Konoha might not have been such a bad option.*

As he walked, the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools thought angrily.

The Uzumaki Clan still had a foundation in Konoha, but unfortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi lacked the magnanimity to swallow such a great prize. As for the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, there was even less to say.

For the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools, the only path left now was Sunagakure, represented by Yunqing.