Kushina Uzumaki

In the pit, an old man sat leaning against the wall, barely clinging to life.

His hair and beard were completely white, and his clothes were tattered and stained with blood. Yet the distinctive swirl pattern of the Uzumaki Clan was still faintly recognizable.

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

She looked about five or six years old, and her little face was filthy.

Her dark eyes filled with terror when she saw someone enter.

But after glancing at the old man beside her, she struggled to her feet and shielded him with her body.

She gripped a kunai in both hands, a hint of defiance in her expression.

"W-what... what are you going to do?" she demanded, her voice trembling.

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

His murky gaze swept back and forth over Yusuke and Kushina, finally settling on the Konoha Forehead Protector.

The old man's mouth twitched, and he let out an almost inaudible chuckle, thick with scorn.

"Konoha... Heh. You finally... came."

"Come to pick up the last... scraps?"

His voice was hoarse, each word seemingly taking all the strength he had left.

Yusuke watched him in silence, offering no defense. The old man was right; any words would ring hollow.

The old man looked at the little girl protecting him, and his gaze softened. Finally, he let out a long sigh, as if surrendering.

His hand trembled as it reached into his clothes, fumbling for something.

It was an ancient-looking key made of an unusual material. The Uzumaki Clan crest and several strange patterns were engraved on it.

He beckoned Yusuke over.

Then, using the last of his strength, he pressed the key into Yusuke's hand. His bony fingers clamped tightly around Yusuke's wrist, their grip surprisingly strong.

"Child... Uzumaki... bloodline..." His eyes locked onto Kushina. "Take her... to Konoha... find... Lady Mito... This is the Treasure Vault key... in exchange..."

Yusuke took the key. It was icy to the touch, and he could sense an unusual chakra fluctuation within it. It must have been sealing some kind of chakra.

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

At those words, the old man's tense body suddenly relaxed. The last light in his eyes went out, and his arm fell limply to his side.

He slumped against the crumbling wall, his breath gone. Seeing him like that, the little girl was reminded of all the loved ones who had died over the past few days.

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

Yusuke put away the key, then bent down and closed the old man's staring eyes.

He turned and looked toward Hyuga Aya in the corner.

Almost as soon as Yusuke turned around, Hyuga Aya leaped backward, putting nearly ten meters between them.

She held her kunai across her chest, her pale eyes full of wariness and tension.

Her breathing was slightly ragged, her whole body taut like a startled cat.

Yusuke stopped moving. He looked at Hyuga Aya, who was acting as if she faced a mortal threat. First he was taken aback, then he understood.

The key—the key to the Uzumaki Clan's hidden vault.

The information was shocking enough to tempt anyone, and dangerous enough to get someone killed.

She was afraid he would silence her as a potential leak to keep the secret.

"Weren't you pretty bold when you went off alone to investigate the seal?"

"Now you're scared?"

Yusuke's voice held a hint of amusement. He spread his hands to show he meant no harm.

Hyuga Aya pressed her lips together and said nothing, her gaze still sharp.

"I told you, as long as you keep your promise, I won't attack you."

"That was the last time. I don't want to see you acting on your own again."

Yusuke's smile faded. His tone was calm, but carried undeniable weight.

Hyuga Aya stared into Yusuke's eyes, seemingly judging whether he meant what he said.

After a few seconds, her tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and she lowered her kunai a little.

She nodded and said coolly, "Understood."

The tension eased somewhat.

Yusuke paid her no further attention and walked over to the little red-haired girl.

The girl immediately tensed, still clutching her kunai as her body trembled faintly.

But when she saw out of the corner of her eye that the old man had peacefully closed his eyes, some of the terror left her gaze. Bewilderment and grief took its place.

Yusuke crouched down, took some jerky and a canteen from his ninja pouch, and offered them to her. "Have something to eat."

The girl hesitated, looking from Yusuke to the food in his hand. In the end, her hunger overcame her fear.

She took the jerky and ate it in small bites. After drinking a few sips of water, some color returned to her pale face.

When she had finished eating, Yusuke spoke gently. "What's your name?"

The little girl raised her head and looked at Yusuke with her dark eyes. Her voice was still choked with sobs, but much clearer now. "Kushina... Kushina Uzumaki."

Yusuke's hand paused as he was about to put his things away.

He looked over the frail girl again: red hair, an Uzumaki, named Kushina.

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

He never expected to meet her here, or under these circumstances.

He tamped down his emotions and regained his composure.

"Kushina, don't be afraid. We're shinobi from Konoha."

"Come with us. I'll take you to Konoha and bring you to Mito Uzumaki."

"Going by your family relationship, you should call her Grandma."

He pointed to the Forehead Protectors on his and Hyuga Aya's heads.

Kushina looked at the Konoha Forehead Protectors, her expression complicated. A faint glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes, but she was mostly unsettled after everything that had happened.

She asked softly, "Really?"

"Really. Come on, this place isn't safe." Yusuke stood and held out his hand to her.

Kushina looked at his outstretched hand, then glanced back at the old man's body. Tears welled in her eyes.

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

Her little hand was cold and trembling faintly.

Yusuke closed his hand around hers and gestured to Hyuga Aya. "Clean up the traces. We'll leave as soon as we can. Go's probably getting impatient."

Inuzuka Go: Thanks for remembering I'm here.

Hyuga Aya nodded silently and quickly dealt with the traces of the fight and the bodies.

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

Especially the place where Yusuke had put away that ancient scroll.

"The Uzumaki Clan's hidden vault key. What an incredible discovery."

But Yusuke had already cowed her. There was something unfathomable beneath his calm demeanor.

Yusuke led Kushina along, feeling the faint tremor in her palm as he quickly considered his options.

"Take Kushina back, meet Mito Uzumaki, and gain the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu. Sounds good."

But the sight of the Root shinobi fighting Cloud Village moments ago had made him realize something.

"Is that old geezer Danzo also coveting the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu?"

"But I got to it first. I wonder how that old geezer will look when he flies into a rage."

"Still, I need to watch out in case that old geezer makes a move on short notice."