Little Nagato

Uchiha Kō left the place where the execution had taken place and breathed in the damp air. Had he wanted to kill them? Yes. But why hadn't he?

First, because of his surname: Uchiha. Second, because everything he said and did reflected on Lady Tsunade, and he couldn't bring shame upon her. Third, with everyone watching, what would the Senju think if Uchiha Kō was willing to kill even his own clan members?

Thinking of this, Uchiha Kō took a deep breath. Then he looked toward the house that Uchiha Ryūichi and Uchiha Yamazaki had tried to enter earlier.

He slowly walked up to the door and knocked.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Who is it?" a middle-aged man called from inside.

"It's me, Uchiha Kō, the commander of this unit. One of the ninjas from a neighboring unit acted recklessly just now and frightened you. I'm here to apologize on their behalf. Those two ninjas have already been dealt with," Uchiha Kō said sincerely.

The door creaked open, and a middle-aged, red-haired man stepped outside. He looked at Uchiha Kō's sincere expression and slightly bowed posture.

He hurriedly helped Uchiha Kō straighten up. "My lord, what are you talking about? I've lived for over thirty years, and you're the first ninja—and this is the first unit—I've ever seen like this."

"No, big brother. I can't speak for other units, but wherever ours goes, we treat the people this way. We never take so much as a needle or thread from them, and we protect their safety, too," Uchiha Kō said.

Just then, a woman came to the doorway holding a child of about five. She might not have done so if they were other ninjas, but after seeing and hearing how this Konoha unit behaved, she couldn't help wanting to see who was in command.

When Uchiha Kō saw the woman approaching with a red-haired child in her arms, he smiled at once. "Big brother, this must be your wife and child, right? She looks so gentle and virtuous, and your child is so clever."

The red-haired man didn't answer. He glanced at his wife and son and smiled warmly. "Yes. Having a wife and son like them is a blessing."

With that, he put an arm around his wife and ruffled the red-haired child's hair. The child stared wide-eyed at Uchiha Kō. He was very sensitive to good and evil.

He could sense that this ninja was different from the others and meant their family no harm.

Uchiha Kō took a closer look, and his pupils shrank. "The Rinnegan?"

The couple exchanged a glance. Then the woman asked, "My lord, Nagato's eyes have always been like this. Do you know what causes it?"

So this really was Uzumaki Nagato. Uchiha Kō couldn't help feeling excited. This was the future big boss! And yet right now, he looked so adorably innocent.

After a brief pause, Uchiha Kō nodded. "I know a little. Have you ever heard of the Sage of Six Paths?" He looked at the couple.

The red-haired man nodded. "I've heard of him. Our clan records mention the Sage of Six Paths, but only in passing."

"Little Nagato's eyes are the Rinnegan, the same kind of eyes the Sage of Six Paths had," Uchiha Kō said calmly.

At first, the red-haired man and his wife were excited. But then, as if they had thought of something, their faces turned pale. They looked at each other and nodded.

"My lord, may I ask you for a favor?" The red-haired man immediately knelt, and his wife knelt with him.

Little Nagato looked confused. He didn't understand why his parents were kneeling, but he was a well-behaved child and knelt beside them, too. Unlike his parents, who kept their heads bowed, he held his head up and stared at Uchiha Kō curiously.

Uchiha Kō hurriedly helped the couple up. "Big brother, sister-in-law, what are you doing? Please get up!"

But the middle-aged red-haired man and his wife stayed where they were, showing no intention of rising.

"Big brother, tell me what it is first," Uchiha Kō said. He had a guess, but he couldn't be sure.

"My lord, I want to ask you to take our child to live in Konoha. The Land of Rain is too dangerous. Besides, we understand one thing: a man is innocent until he possesses a treasure, and then it brings him trouble. Only Konoha can give this child a safe place to grow up. So I, Uzumaki Namida, beg you to take our child with you!" Tears streamed down Uzumaki Namida's face.

Uchiha Kō thought it over, but didn't make a decision right away. Instead, he helped the couple and their child to their feet. "How about this? I'll go ask our unit's commander first. You go back inside and wait for my news."

With that, Uchiha Kō turned and headed toward Tsunade. The family watched him go, still dazed.

Tsunade had just finished dealing with the two Uchiha and was about to return to rest when Uchiha Kō came up to her. Her eyes lit up. "Kō, did your walk clear your head?"

Uchiha Kō didn't answer. Instead, he took Tsunade by the arm. "Lady Tsunade, could you come with me for a moment? There are too many people around."

"You!" Tsunade blushed. This was the first time a man had touched her arm. But Uchiha Kō looked so serious that she didn't make an issue of it. She obediently followed him aside, figuring it must be something important.

When they reached the house, Uchiha Kō knocked again. This time, the door opened quickly. The family looked at Uchiha Kō and the new kunoichi with him and suddenly realized that this woman must be the unit's commander!

They hurriedly knelt and repeated their request.

Uchiha Kō sighed. "Lady Tsunade, this family is descended from the Uzumaki Clan. They had no choice but to come to the Land of Rain because of the war. They don't want their child, Uzumaki Nagato, to suffer through the horrors of war, too."

When Tsunade heard that they were from the Uzumaki Clan, she couldn't help thinking of her grandmother. She nodded. "Kō, I'll send twenty people to escort the family to Konoha."

Uchiha Kō smiled faintly. "Why don't you thank Lady Tsunade for her kindness?"

Uzumaki Namida came to his senses. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade!" He even kowtowed three times.

Tsunade smiled. "My grandmother's name is Uzumaki Mito. She has no relatives in Konoha, so your arrival will surely make her happy."

At this point, Tsunade didn't yet know that Konoha had already taken in many members of the Uzumaki Clan. Only a small number who couldn't bear to leave their homeland had remained in the Land of Whirlpools.

"Lady Mito! The Uzumaki princess from the Warring States Period! Lady Mito!" Uzumaki Namida exclaimed excitedly. He put his arms around his wife. "Lady Mito is renowned for her virtue. Now we can rest easy!"

Tsunade smiled. "Big brother, sister-in-law, wait here for now. I'll send someone to escort you in about five minutes!"

Uzumaki Namida bowed again. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade! Thank you, Lord Kō!"

Uchiha Kō hurriedly waved his hand, indicating that all the credit belonged to Lady Tsunade. Then he and Tsunade headed back toward the camp.