Tied Together, Learning the Yin Seal, Brave Kakuzu's Encounter

"Senior, was doing this really worth it?"

Within Uzushiogakure.

As Takenaka Kaguya's words fell, Ashina Uzumaki across from him nodded without hesitation and answered seriously, "It was worth it.

Heh heh, this old man knows what is troubling you, Takenaka. Perhaps in your view, since you have already promised this old man that you would step in if our village faced a crisis in the future, there is no need to tie you to our village any further.

But in this old man's eyes, as long as you are tied to our village, any price is worth paying.

With a powerhouse like you watching over us, this old man need not worry that anyone would dare lay a hand on Uzushiogakure for the next fifty or sixty years.

Heh heh, of course, you may also think that this old man simply thinks very, very highly of you—highly enough to believe that you can reach Hashirama's level.

Now you understand, don't you?"

With Ashina Uzumaki having made himself so clear, Takenaka Kaguya was no fool. How could he not understand?

In Ashina Uzumaki's eyes, Takenaka Kaguya would grow into a supreme powerhouse comparable to Hashirama Senju.

With Hashirama Senju stationed in Konohagakure, who would dare bare their fangs?

Though Fuinjutsu was the foundation of Uzushiogakure, what could possibly be unworthy about trading it for a supreme powerhouse comparable to Hashirama Senju?

"I have seen your sincerity, Senior. Since you have said this much, refusing would truly mean I did not know what was good for me." Takenaka Kaguya gave a bitter smile and ultimately chose to accept.

Between people, sincerity had always been answered with sincerity. In Takenaka Kaguya's view, Ashina Uzumaki's sincerity left him unable to refuse.

For another, because of Mito Uzumaki and the debt of gratitude he owed Uzushiogakure, he would not stand by and watch Uzushiogakure be destroyed as it had been in the original story of Naruto.

Lastly, he also wanted to see just how lively the Shinobi World would become with the Uzumaki Clan around.

"Hahaha, good, good, good! Takenaka, from now on, we are one of our own."

Across from him, Ashina Uzumaki was extremely happy, even excited.

Seeing this, Takenaka Kaguya smiled as well.

Not long afterward, Ashina Uzumaki arranged for Takenaka Kaguya to rest, then happily left.

A short while later, Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki entered. The smiles on their faces made it clear that they already knew the contents of his conversation with Ashina Uzumaki.

"Takenaka, Uzushiogakure will be in your care from now on." Mito Uzumaki said with a warm smile.

At her side, Hashirama Senju laughed heartily. "If I had known you would agree, Takenaka, I would have formally invited you when you first arrived in Konoha.

Whatever Uncle Ashina can give you, Konoha can give you too."

"Heh heh, Sister, don't worry. Uzushiogakure is your hometown, and I will watch over it.

As for joining Konoha, Brother Hashirama, forget it. After all, I did not show mercy to Konoha's ninja on the battlefield. Even now, my hands are stained with the blood of many Konoha ninja." Takenaka Kaguya said to the couple.

Hearing this, Hashirama Senju expressed his understanding. He lightly patted Takenaka Kaguya's shoulder and said, "It is all in the past. Meeting on the battlefield meant a fight to the death. That was perfectly normal.

Oh, right, Takenaka. This time, when we came to the Land of Whirlpools, the head of the Hyuga Clan asked us to bring you a letter. He said he wished to visit you personally."

As he spoke, Hashirama Senju took out a scroll and handed it over.

After receiving it, Takenaka Kaguya opened it and gave it a quick read. It was a letter of visitation personally written by Eiko Hyuga, the current head of the Hyuga Clan. It described the relationship between the Hyuga Clan and the Kaguya Clan, as well as the Hyuga Main Family and branch family members Takenaka Kaguya had killed on the battlefield.

In short, the general meaning was that the Hyuga Clan wished to continue its previously harmonious relationship with the Kaguya Clan and did not want past events to worsen the relationship between the two clans.

After reading it, Takenaka Kaguya put away the scroll and looked at Hashirama Senju. "Brother Hashirama, after you return, please help me pass a message to Clan Head Eiko Hyuga. Tell him that I have left the Kaguya Clan and no longer have any relationship with it.

If he wishes to restore relations between the Hyuga Clan and the Kaguya Clan, he can write another letter to the current head of the Kaguya Clan.

If he merely wishes to ease relations with me, he may come to Half-Moon Island. I will welcome his arrival there."

"Alright. Once I return, I will personally relay it to him." Hashirama Senju nodded with a smile.

He had already held a favorable impression of Takenaka Kaguya. Otherwise, he would not have let him leave on the battlefield back then. After spending time together later, he discovered that Takenaka Kaguya did not hold a bad impression of Konoha either.

Now that Takenaka Kaguya was on good terms with Uzushiogakure and was willing to reconcile with the Hyuga Clan, he might not necessarily fail to completely lean toward Konoha in the future.

"Then I'll trouble you, Brother Hashirama."

"It is no trouble at all."

Afterward, the three sat down and chatted for a while before Mito Uzumaki sent Hashirama Senju away and began teaching Takenaka Kaguya the Yin Seal.

"Takenaka, this is the ninjutsu scroll for the Yin Seal. Take a look first." Mito Uzumaki said with a smile as she handed over the scroll.

"Alright, thank you, Sister."

Takenaka Kaguya accepted the scroll and opened it, only to find that he could not understand it.

Though Fuinjutsu was also a type of ninjutsu, it differed from other ninjutsu and could be regarded as a branch of ninjutsu.

The Uzumaki Clan's more famous Fuinjutsu included the Four-Symbols Seal, the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, and the Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Their power was formidable. Even the strongest ninja, if caught off guard by them, would basically have no chance to turn the tables.

However, Takenaka Kaguya had never come into contact with Fuinjutsu before. Therefore, it was only natural that he could not understand this S-rank Yin Seal at first glance.

"Heh heh, Takenaka, it is fine if you do not understand it. Sister believes that with your talent, you will learn it very quickly.

How about this? Sister will first teach you the most basic principles of Sealing Jutsu, then slowly teach you how to cultivate the Yin Seal." Seeing his bewildered expression, Mito Uzumaki immediately comforted him with a smile.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Sister. I will study seriously." Takenaka Kaguya nodded with a smile.

Thus, one taught while the other learned, and time passed swiftly.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. During that time, Hashirama Senju returned to Konoha once. When he came back, he mentioned a special name—Kakuzu of Takigakure!

And from Hashirama Senju's account, Kakuzu truly had some nerve.

It turned out that Takigakure was dissatisfied that Hashirama Senju had only allocated one Seven-Tails to their village, so their higher-ups discussed giving Konoha a taste of their strength.

Thus, they sent their strongest man, Kakuzu, to Konohagakure to assassinate Hashirama Senju.

However, how could Kakuzu possibly succeed by charging into Konoha alone?

By coincidence, Hashirama Senju had returned to handle some matters. Kakuzu ended up finding one of Hashirama's Wood Style Clones, and after a fierce battle, he finally defeated Hashirama's clone.

Just when he thought he had succeeded and believed Hashirama Senju was nothing special, he discovered that the opponent he had exhausted every effort to defeat was merely one of Hashirama's clones.

So Kakuzu fled.

But Tobirama Senju would not let it go. He led men to Takigakure to settle the score with them.

Konoha arrived in overwhelming force. How could Takigakure possibly be a match for them? Therefore, Takigakure's higher-ups imprisoned Kakuzu.

Takenaka Kaguya could not help thinking to himself, Heh heh, I have to say, Kakuzu really was not bragging. I thought he had only thrown a kunai from far away before running off!