Kushina Uzumaki

In the crater, an old man sat propped against the wall, his breath fading.

His hair and beard were stark white, and his clothes were tattered and stained with blood, yet the swirling pattern unique to the Uzumaki Clan was still faintly discernible.

Beside him, a red-haired girl huddled into a ball.

The girl looked to be about five or six years old, her small face smeared with dirt.

Upon seeing someone enter, her pitch-black eyes filled with terror.

However, after glancing at the old man beside her, she struggled to stand, shielding him behind her.

She gripped a kunai tightly in both hands, a trace of stubbornness in her stance.

"What... what do you want?" she questioned, her voice trembling.

Hearing someone enter, the old man slowly opened his clouded eyes.

His dim gaze swept back and forth across the faces of Yusuke and Kushina, finally settling on the Konoha forehead protectors.

The corners of the old man's mouth twitched, emitting a nearly silent sneer heavy with mockery.

"Konoha, heh, you've finally... arrived."

"Here to pick up the final... scraps?"

His voice was hoarse, each word seemingly requiring every ounce of his remaining strength.

Yusuke watched him in silence, offering no defense, for the truth was plain and any words would only ring hollow.

The old man looked at the little girl shielding him, his gaze softening before he let out a long sigh, as if finally yielding.

His hand trembled as he reached into his robes, fumbling to pull something out.

It was an antique key, crafted from a unique material and engraved with the Uzumaki Clan crest along with several strange markings.

He beckoned for Yusuke to come closer.

Then, using his final reserves of strength, he shoved the key into Yusuke's hand, his withered fingers gripping Yusuke's wrist with astonishing force.

"Child... the bloodline... of the Uzumaki..." His eyes locked onto Kushina. "Take her... to Konoha... find... Lady Mito... this is the key to the vault... an exchange..."

Yusuke took the key; it felt cold to the touch, and he could sense a peculiar chakra fluctuation emanating from it, likely sealing some form of power within.

He glanced at the terrified, bewildered little girl and nodded. "I promise."

Upon hearing these words, the old man's tense body suddenly went limp, the last spark of light in his eyes extinguished, and his arm fell lifelessly to his side.

He slumped against the ruins, devoid of breath; seeing the old man's state, the little girl was instantly reminded of the relatives she had watched die over the past few days.

She threw herself onto the old man and burst into uncontrollable sobs.

Yusuke tucked the key away and leaned down to close the old man's wide-staring eyes.

He turned and looked toward Hyuga Aya in the corner.

Almost the instant Yusuke turned, Hyuga Aya retreated violently, putting nearly ten meters of distance between them in a flash.

She held her kunai across her chest, her pure white eyes filled with vigilance and tension.

Her breathing was slightly rapid, her muscles coiled like a startled cat.

Yusuke froze, watching Hyuga Aya's defensive posture; he was taken aback for a moment before he understood.

The key—the key to the secret vault of the Uzumaki Clan.

This information was too shocking, enough to tempt anyone and enough to invite a lethal disaster.

She feared that to ensure secrecy, he would immediately eliminate her as a potential leak.

"You weren't so timid when you were acting on your own to investigate the seal, were you?"

"Know fear now, do you?"

Yusuke's tone carried a hint of amusement as he spread his hands to signal he held no hostility.

Hyuga Aya pressed her lips together, offering no reply, her gaze remaining sharp.

"I said that as long as you follow our agreement, I will not move against you."

"This is the last time; I do not wish to see you acting on your own again."

Yusuke dropped his smile, his tone calm but carrying an unquestionable weight.

Hyuga Aya stared intently into Yusuke's eyes, seemingly judging the sincerity of his words.

A few seconds later, her tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and she lowered her kunai a fraction.

She nodded, her voice cold as she replied, "I understand."

The tense atmosphere eased slightly.

Yusuke stopped looking at her and turned to walk toward the little red-haired girl.

The girl became alert instantly, still clutching her kunai tightly, her body shivering slightly.

But as her peripheral vision caught the sight of the old man's peacefully closed eyes, the terror in her gaze diminished, replaced by a sense of hollow confusion and grief.

Yusuke crouched down, took some dried meat and a canteen from his ninja tool pouch, and handed them over: "Eat something."

The little girl hesitated, looking at Yusuke and then at the food in his hand; in the end, hunger overcame her fear.

She took the dried meat and began to eat in small bites. After drinking a few sips of water, a hint of color returned to her pale face.

Once she finished eating, Yusuke spoke gently: "What is your name?"

The little girl looked up, her pitch-black eyes fixed on Yusuke. Her voice was still choked with emotion, but it was much clearer: "Kushina... Kushina Uzumaki."

Yusuke's hand, which was about to pack up his things, paused slightly.

He re-examined the thin, small girl before him: red hair, Uzumaki Clan, named Kushina.

So it was her—the future second Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the mother of Uzumaki Naruto.

He never expected to meet her here, and in such a manner.

He suppressed the waves in his heart and returned his expression to normal.

"Kushina, don't be afraid. We are ninjas from Konoha."

"Come with us, and I will take you to Konoha to find Lady Mito."

"According to your lineage, you should call her grandmother."

He pointed to the forehead protectors worn by himself and Hyuga Aya.

Kushina looked at the Konoha forehead protectors, her eyes complex. There was a faint glimmer of hope, but it was overshadowed by the unease following such a massive upheaval.

She asked in a small voice: "Is it true?"

"It is. Let's go, it's not safe here." Yusuke stood up and reached out his hand to her.

Kushina looked at Yusuke's outstretched hand, then back at the old man's remains, tears welling up in her eyes.

But she quickly wiped them away, reached out her small hand, and placed it in Yusuke's palm.

Her small hand was ice-cold and still trembling slightly.

Yusuke gripped her small hand tightly and signaled to Hyuga Aya: "Clean up the traces. We need to leave as soon as possible; Inuzuka Go might be getting impatient."

Inuzuka Go: Thanks for remembering I exist.

Hyuga Aya nodded silently and began to quickly dispose of the signs of the fight and the corpses.

Her movements were clean and efficient, but the corner of her eye never left Yusuke and the girl named Kushina.

Especially the spot where Yusuke had stowed away that ancient scroll.

The key to the secret treasury of the Uzumaki Clan, what an astonishing discovery.

However, she had already been subdued by Yusuke; the things hidden beneath his calm demeanor made her feel he was unfathomable.

Yusuke led Kushina away, feeling the slight trembling from her palm, and calculated rapidly in his mind.

Bringing Kushina back, meeting Lady Mito, and obtaining the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki Clan—that sounds good.

But the scene of the clash between the Root ninjas and Cloud Village had given him a sudden realization.

Is that old man Danzo also coveting the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki Clan?

But I've taken the first step. I'd really like to see that old guy throw a tantrum.

Still, I must be wary of that old man launching a surprise attack.