You, Too, Are an Uzumaki?

Two people had died not long after the fighting began, and the Grass Ninja pursuing them were instantly taken aback!

They had thought a few petty thieves had slipped into their home, never imagining they'd run into a gang of ruthless bandits.

The blow brought out the Grass Ninja's instinct to bully the weak and fear the strong.

Many stopped chasing altogether. Others shouted bravely on the surface but dragged their feet, making no real effort to pursue.

Xiaonan seized the opportunity to spread her paper wings, lift Uzamaki Kayo and the two less agile members of the team, and fly swiftly away.

Meanwhile, Shiba Seika, Nagato, Kenjiro, and another Akatsuki Organization Chunin, Masuda Ikki, stayed behind to hold off the Grass Ninja.

Shiba Seika suggested, "Head deeper into the mountains, away from open ground. Use the rugged terrain to break up their pursuing force, then look for a chance to take out the ones chasing us most aggressively!"

Masuda Ikki looked a little timid. He was just an ordinary Chunin from a small ninja village.

"Can we really pull that off? There are more than twenty people chasing us."

That was after Shiba Seika had swiftly killed two of them and frightened some of the Grass Ninja into backing off.

There had been even more people chasing them at first!

Shiba Seika said, "Don't be afraid. We still have Nagato as our ace."

Kenjiro frowned. "But Leader Yahiko said Nagato should never use that power if he can help it. If it's exposed, he'll be in grave danger!"

Kenjiro was genuinely loyal to their leader, Yahiko. He would even have been willing to sacrifice himself to protect Nagato's secret.

But Shiba Seika cut him off dismissively. "Why are you so stuck in your ways? If you're worried about exposure, just kill all the witnesses. And if you're still concerned, dispose of the bodies too!"

Kenjiro was at a loss for words.

That suggestion was so Seika.

But this time, to Kenjiro's surprise, even Nagato spoke up in support of Shiba Seika.

"I'll do what I can when necessary. You decide when the time is right, Seika."

Even now, Nagato still believed that everything that had happened tonight was his fault alone.

He had stubbornly followed them here in secret;

He had dragged everyone into danger by trying to save his own blood relative.

It never occurred to him that this was all part of Shiba Seika's plan. Instead, he felt indebted to Seika for risking his life to save him, and guilty for having put him in danger.

So he was willing to go against Yahiko's instructions to repay the favor!

Shiba Seika smiled faintly, then nodded solemnly. "Leave it to me!"

At the same time, the Grass Ninja from Kusagakure who were pursuing them were also hurriedly discussing their plan.

One man shouted angrily, "What are you doing? Why are you dragging your feet? Hurry up and catch that little Rain Ninja brat!

"If we don't get that Uzumaki woman back quickly, this will blow up, and we'll all be in trouble!"

Kusagakure had secretly taken Uzamaki Kayo captive, and they were afraid the truth would get out.

They weren't worried about being condemned for their inhumanity. They were afraid the Great Shinobi Villages would use it as an excuse to come and plunder them.

When the Land of Whirlpools fell, all the other Three Great Shinobi Villages besides Konoha and the distant Sunagakure had been involved, openly or behind the scenes.

But the spoils they gained afterward hadn't satisfied them.

That was the root cause of the Uzumaki Clan's tragic fate in the Shinobi World: the perpetrators hadn't gotten as much as they wanted, so they had continued hunting the surviving Uzumaki orphans in secret.

Meanwhile, Konoha, the clan's supposed ally and savior, had taken Kushina and then washed its hands of the matter.

The Grass Ninja couldn't stand up to those three thugs, and they couldn't turn to Konoha for help, so they had no choice but to hide Kayo in secret.

If the truth came out, it would leave them facing serious trouble. That was why the clearheaded Kusagakure leadership was so anxious.

But there was nothing he could do about it.

Someone beside him immediately snapped, "Why are you yelling so loudly? If you're so capable, go do it yourself! You handle that Rain Ninja brat with the sword, and we'll make sure to capture everyone else!"

The Kusagakure leader who'd been snapped at fell silent, his face flushed red.

The Grass Ninja Shiba Seika had cut down with a seamless series of sword strikes only seconds earlier had been a Jonin in the village, with strength on par with the people directing the pursuit now.

If Shiba Seika could cut him down, he could cut them down too.

So, for all their arguing and bickering, nobody was willing to test Seika's blade for real.

As the pursuit continued, several Grass Ninja Jonin looked at one another, but none of them spoke.

Finally, one of them couldn't take the awkward silence anymore and stepped forward. "I'll deal with that kid with the sword. You go capture the others as quickly as you can!"

Everyone else let out a long sigh of relief.

The Grass Ninja who volunteered to pursue Nagato strode off with a spring in their step, looking almost a little pleased.

If Shiba Seika had seen them, he would have given their courage a hearty thumbs-up!

Soon, amid the rugged mountain forest, Shiba Seika faced the Kusagakure Jonin who had come after him.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

His opponent opened with a display of the confidence he had in his abilities!

This Grass Ninja specialized in Wind Release and was adept at controlling distance in battle, giving him a significant advantage against opponents who excelled at Taijutsu or Kenjutsu.

The violent gale tore through branches and swept up leaves and dust, leaving devastation in its wake.

Shiba Seika leapt through the treetops. After dodging the first blast of wind, he was just about to counterattack when another wave of wind blades came straight at him.

"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"

His opponent was dead set on keeping him from getting close!

Shiba Seika wasn't in a hurry. He pretended to be driven back, continuing to leap and weave through the forest as he looked for suitable terrain for the fight.

He wasn't aiming to take down one or two Grass Ninja. He wanted to work with Nagato and bury everyone who had chased them tonight!

The Grass Ninja who had confidently pursued them still had no idea what kind of terrifying opponent they were chasing!

But his opponent mistook Shiba Seika's caution for helplessness.

"Hmph! So much for that!"

The Wind Release specialist sneered triumphantly. Even he couldn't tell whether his taunt was aimed at Shiba Seika or at his own companions, whose courage had been broken.

Ninja could all move quickly. One side pursued while the other fled, and soon they had disappeared deep into the forest.

Just as Shiba Seika had expected, as time passed, the Grass Ninja pursuing them gradually became separated in the rugged mountain terrain.

The weaker, younger Grass Ninja at the back had already fallen far behind.

Not long after, Shiba Seika finally found the perfect place for the decisive battle he had been searching for!

"Under that waterfall! Nagato, go there and use your ability!"

As he gave the order, he stopped holding back, wheeled around without hesitation, and charged at the Grass Ninja who had been chasing him.

Not one of them would be allowed to escape tonight!

The pursuing Grass Ninja Jonin had no idea that the enemy ahead had already decided to kill him. He continued on instinct, forming Hand Seals and using his jutsu.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

He thought Shiba Seika would dodge with another desperate leap, letting him control the distance and repeatedly harass him with hit-and-run attacks.

But this time, Shiba Seika neither dodged nor flinched. He plunged straight into the gale without even blinking!

"What?!"

Horrified, the Jonin watched Shiba Seika—his clothes in tatters and his body covered in cuts—charge through the Wind Release as if nothing had happened. Seika advanced with a sword in one hand, while raising his other hand and bringing his wrist to his mouth to bite down.

The familiar motion instantly cleared the Grass Ninja's mind. He cried out in horror.

"How is this possible?! Are you an Uzum—"

He wanted to demand, Are you an Uzumaki too?!

But he never got to finish.

Shiba Seika had endured the storm and taken serious injuries to get through it. Now his blade was at the Grass Ninja's throat!