Uzumaki Guardian Ninja

"It's me, Fox."

Hearing the familiar voice behind him, Yagami relaxed.

He did not turn around. Lowering his head as if speaking to himself, he said:

"Yuka, Princess Kushina has already been taken away by Clan Head Senju Rin. You don't need to worry about her safety.

The Uzumaki Clan's Scroll of Seals is also in Clan Head Senju Rin's hands now.

ANBU has received intelligence that the Mist Ninja intend to seize the Uzumaki Elder's Sealing Scroll.

The Land of Waves is too close to the Land of Fire and the Land of Water. It's very dangerous. Leave. Get out of here as soon as possible.

Other countries to the north may not be safe either, but they aren't as dangerous as the Land of Waves."

A long silence followed behind him.

Yuka slowly asked, "Fox, what role exactly did Konoha ANBU play in the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan?"

Yagami also fell silent for a long time.

He did not know how to explain it. The reasons behind this pitiable ninja clan's destruction were extremely complicated.

The Second Hokage Tobirama Senju had died, Konoha had weakened, and the Uzumaki Clan had sought a means of self-preservation by sealing the Three-Tails. That conflicted with Konoha's choice of a seal bearer for the Nine-Tails, ultimately driving all three great ninja villages to murderous intent.

Sympathy was sympathy, but he did not want to stir up unnecessary trouble here.

"It's not certain yet. I'm investigating."

Yuka threw over a scroll and said:

"Fox, this is my Summoning Scroll. It contains the Contract Seal and Summoning Jutsu.

I want to share the White Spear Heron ninja beast clan's summons with you, so we can exchange information more conveniently."

Yagami caught the scroll and carefully hid it away.

Later, the scroll could be carried back to Uzumaki Yuka by a White Spear Heron.

The White Spear Herons could not be used in public. Learning two Sealing Jutsu—one Contract Seal and one Summoning Jutsu—was a profit.

By a twist of fate, his investment in Uzumaki Yuka had yielded a decent return.

"Yuka, don't contact Princess Kushina for now. She'll be surrounded by watchers. Anyone who approaches her will be discovered by Konoha ANBU," Yagami said.

"Go. The Land of Whirlpools will soon be swarming with enemies."

"Take care, Fox."

"Take care, Yuka."

A faint rustle of leaves came from behind him.

There were Uzumaki Ninja among the Land of Whirlpools Daimyo's Guardian Ninja. If they wanted to escape, they should have their own channels. Besides, the Yatagarasu could carry away quite a few people.

Before long, a group arrived in the distance. It was the Yak Bull Squad.

The squad split up and entered the forest from several directions.

Kurozaru had lost an arm and his strength had declined, so he walked at the rear with Yagami.

A brief but fierce battle broke out in the forest.

Both sides tacitly avoided using large-scale ninjutsu, relying only on taijutsu.

The Hippo Squad killed the Mist Ninja and captured a Squad Commander.

Faint muffled groans sounded in the woods as the Hippo Squad Captain personally interrogated the captured Mist Ninja commander.

Half an hour later, the Hippo Squad Captain wiped the blood from his hands with leaves and gathered the commanders.

"The interrogation went well. The Mist Ninja have found a key figure—the Land of Whirlpools Daimyo's Guardian Ninja Captain.

After the Uzumaki Remnants came to the Land of Whirlpools, they mainly relied on the Guardian Ninja Captain's protection.

That Guardian Ninja Captain is an Uzumaki Clan jonin. Kyoto Y originally had quite a few Uzumaki clansmen, and they have all gone into hiding.

The Guardian Ninja Captain must die. Only then can we force them to hand over the Sealing Scroll."

Many missions from the Land of Waves had been assigned to Uzu Hidden Village, which was also a major source of Konoha's dissatisfaction.

Some Uzumaki Ninja had been stationed in the Land of Whirlpools year-round, especially couples where both husband and wife were Uzumaki Ninja, and had settled here permanently.

The Hippo Squad Captain said:

"Eight female Uzumaki Ninja escaped from Uzu Hidden Village. According to the intelligence ANBU obtained from Uzu Hidden Village, there were forty-eight Uzumaki Ninja who either lived permanently in the Land of Waves or happened to be carrying out missions here when their clan was destroyed.

Fifty-six Uzumaki Ninja. The Mist Ninja killed three, so at most fifty-three remain.

What we need to do is find the Guardian Ninja Captain before the Mist Ninja do."

Uzu Hidden Village was truly pitiful. They shared all their intelligence with Konoha, and Konoha knew every detail about the Uzumaki Ninja in the Land of Waves, down to the exact number.

They had been sold out without even knowing it.

The Black Gorilla Squad Commander said:

"Hippo, I think what matters now is cutting off the Land of Waves' support for the Uzumaki Ninja.

We should go straight to meet the Land of Waves Daimyo, promise to take responsibility for his security, and make him abandon the Uzumaki Ninja."

Hippo's eyes lit up, but then he asked doubtfully:

"For negotiations at the national level, wouldn't we at least need Foreign Affairs Advisor Mitokado Homura to handle them? If we go, will the Land of Waves Daimyo accept it?"

Kurozaru said:

"We don't need the Daimyo's complete approval. We only need to make the Uzumaki Clan's destruction clear to him, so that he no longer gives his full support to the Uzumaki Guardian Ninja Captain.

The Daimyo has twelve Guardian Ninja. Eight are Uzumaki Ninja, while the remaining four are all Konoha Ninja.

Four Guardian Ninja, plus us, are enough to make the Land of Waves lean toward Konoha.

With the Uzumaki Clan destroyed, the Land of Waves' share of missions absolutely cannot be handed over to Kirigakure."

Hippo nodded repeatedly.

The two squad commanders made their decision. Kurozaru would enter the Daimyo's Tenshu Castle and persuade the Daimyo.

Kurozaru brought only Yagami and met Konoha's Guardian Ninja outside Tenshu Castle.

"Jonin Yamanaka Karyu, I'm ANBU Squad Commander Kurozaru. I've come to ask about the situation with the Uzumaki Guardian Ninja."

Yamanaka Karyu had light golden hair. He said:

"It truly is regrettable. Such a powerful ninja clan as the Uzumaki Clan was actually wiped out by the combined assault of the Mist Ninja and Cloud Ninja.

Konoha received the news too late. By the time we reached the Land of Whirlpools' border, the Uzumaki Clan had already been destroyed.

The eight Uzumaki Guardian Ninja have no heart for their guard duties and often disappear.

At first, they asked the Daimyo for leave. Later, they simply vanished and could not be found.

The Daimyo is greatly displeased by this and has spoken with me twice. I have already notified the village to negotiate with the Daimyo as soon as possible, send new Guardian Ninja, and replace the Uzumaki Guardian Ninja so they can return to the village.

Let them return to Konoha. Didn't the intelligence say the Uzumaki Princess is in Konoha? Given time, perhaps the Uzumaki Clan can become one of Konoha's smaller ninja clans."

Yagami thought to himself that ordinary Konoha Ninja had no idea what ANBU had done.

The Uzumaki Clan could never become a small ninja clan of Konoha. What Konoha wanted was for Uzumaki Kushina to wholeheartedly serve Konoha as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Uzumaki Mito was different. She had been the First Hokage's wife.

If the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki held another ninja clan in her heart, how could Konoha's upper ranks rest easy?

Kurozaru did not comment on Yamanaka Karyu's suggestion. Instead, he said:

"After the Uzumaki Clan was destroyed, ANBU received intelligence that they are plotting revenge.

The Uzumaki Clan still bears the identity of Konoha's ally. Their revenge may cause the Land of Waves Daimyo to side with Kirigakure.

Sympathizing with the Uzumaki Clan is one matter. The Land of Waves' share of missions is another.

Jonin Karyu, ANBU's intention is to drive the Uzumaki Guardian Ninja away from the Land of Waves Daimyo's side and prevent them from influencing him."

Yamanaka Karyu frowned. He could hear the implication in those words. ANBU's attitude toward the Uzumaki Clan did not seem particularly supportive.

Could it be that the village did not support the Uzumaki Clan's revenge?

Yamanaka Karyu suddenly said, "Wait, you are... I heard your voice within the clan before."

"Yes, Brother Karyu. It's me."

Yamanaka Karyu glanced at Yagami's fox mask but did not call out Kurozaru's name.

"Your left arm?"

"It doesn't matter anymore."

After thinking for a moment, Yamanaka Karyu said, "I understand. I understand what ANBU means. Tell me how far you want this taken, and I'll make the plan."