Is This Still China?

"Zombie fridge: fall, fall, fall, good, stop, everyone's brains can be stored here, this zombie will take good care of them (｡•̀ᴗ-)."

"Ape Flying, the latest intelligence from the Land of Whirlpools says Uzushio Village has been attacked! Should we send people to help?" The bespectacled man looked at the middle-aged man sitting in the chair and spoke in a grave voice.

"Help? How? Who are we supposed to send? After Teacher Tobirama died, Konoha has been beset by troubles both within and without, and the village is already in a precarious position. Even Kagami was killed in battle, and Danzo has lost... We've only just managed to heal the wounds left by the Second Shinobi World War and stabilize Konoha for the time being. Who do we even have to send? You? Or are you suggesting we start a second war?!" The middle-aged woman beside the bespectacled man frowned and scolded him.

"En, you're too naive. Even Shamon of Sunagakure has personally entered the fray with Monzaemon and the others. Unless all four of us go to help, there's no way we can save Uzushio Village. And we can't leave our rear undefended for the sake of one ally. The other four great nations are all watching us like hawks."

At that moment, a man with bandages wrapped around his head, covering his entire right eye, spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Are we really going to abandon Uzushio Village? It's Lady Mito's..." The chubby man hesitated.

"Shut up! Konoha belongs to all of us, not just one person! We must put Konoha's interests first! Sending a large force or a huge number of top fighters to help is out of the question!" Before the chubby man could finish, the bandaged man cut him off.

"Sigh... Sarutobi, do you think so too?" Although Torifu Akimichi knew the decision had already been made, he still couldn't quite give up. He had a bad feeling about this. Abandoning an ally today might well be the reason that ally betrayed them in the future.

"..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen had been silent for a long time. He looked from one companion's face to another, then finally set down his pipe and exhaled a puff of smoke.

"Just as Danzo said, we can't save Uzushio Village. I've also discussed it with Lady Mito, and she... understands our position too. Torifu, there's no need to bring up the rescue again. I'll send every Anbu unit we can spare to meet the surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan. Let's leave it at that..."

Seeing the helpless, despondent look on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face, Torifu Akimichi felt resigned as well. That's right. He's the man known as the Shinobi Hero. If there were any other way, who would want to watch an ally be wiped out and its people forced to live as wanderers?

Torifu Akimichi unclenched his fist, his fingertips white from gripping it so tightly, and left the Hokage Office with a downcast expression. Once outside the Hokage Building, he looked toward the Senju Clan compound, then east, and finally let out a long sigh before walking away in dismay.

"Qi Luna! Qi Luna! Are you all right?"

Qin Le's head was spinning. She heard a girl calling out anxiously beside her, her voice trembling slightly, perhaps with grief. Her eyes were full of tears.

I just went downstairs to throw out the trash. How did I get hit by a car? Am I dead? Is someone taking me to the underworld? Why does the soul reaper have a little girl's voice?

Qin Le struggled to open her eyes and saw a tousle-haired redheaded girl looking down at her with concern.

"I... I'm fine." Qin Le was full of questions, but replied instinctively.

"Thank goodness, you're finally awake. I was terrified when you got blown away by the Explosive Tag tied to that Kunai." As she spoke, the girl carefully helped Qin Le sit up. Only then did Qin Le realize she was on a chaotic battlefield. Shouts and sobbing filled the air, and bodies lay strewn across the ground, the earth stained red with blood.

Wait, where am I? What kind of freak accident brought me here? Is this even China?

"What's going on?" Qin Le asked in horror.

The girl's tears began to fall again. "Uzushio Village has been attacked. Everyone's dead..." Qin Le's heart jolted as she remembered what she had heard about the events unfolding. Just then, an enemy charged toward them. The girl shouted, "Look out!"

Qin Le tried to fight back on instinct, but found her body wouldn't obey her. Come on, people, who gets this? I've crossed into another world, and the first thing I face is the threat of my clan being wiped out. I can't even fight! What the heck!

Just as the enemy's blade was about to fall, a figure suddenly appeared and stood in front of them. Several golden chains sprang from his back, piercing the enemy in an instant. Blood sprayed over all three of them, staining their red hair and making it look even more vivid.

Qin Le looked up. Though terrified, she felt a spark of hope, because she remembered who this man was: the leader of Uzushio Village, the current head of the Uzumaki Clan, Kushina's father, and her uncle—Uzumaki Reishi!

"Uncle/Father!" Qin Le and Kushina cried out together. Uzumaki Reishi turned back, relief and determination flashing in his eyes. "Kushina, take Qi Luna and get out of here. I'll hold them off!" Kushina didn't want to leave him, but she knew there was no time to hesitate. She nodded firmly, helped Qin Le up, and ran.

But there were too many enemies. They hadn't gone far before another group surrounded them. Kushina shielded Qin Le, then pulled a training Kunai from her ninja pouch and gripped it in both hands, holding it in front of herself. Her hands trembled with fear, but she was ready to fight to the death.

"Pfft, hahaha! You little brats from Uzushio Village can't even get your hands on a decent weapon? That's hilarious!" A ninja wearing a brown vest and a bandage around his head mocked Kushina.

"What a brave little girl. You're much better than the coward behind you, who doesn't even dare to fight back," another similarly dressed ninja sneered.

The taunts made Qin Le furious. Only then, after fully integrating the memories of her two lives, did she remember who she was: Uzumaki Qi Luna, the greatest genius of her generation in the Uzumaki Clan! And now, the blood of the Uzumaki Clan was calling upon her to fight! She took a deep breath, forced herself through the discomfort, and stepped out from behind Kushina.

"Don't get cocky, you Sunagakure scum! I'm Qi Luna of the Uzumaki Clan. Remember that!" Qin Le shouted, swiftly forming Hand Seals.

The Sunagakure ninjas stared at her in surprise for a moment, then burst into laughter. "You think a little brat like you can fight back?"

But in the next instant, Qi Luna spat a massive torrent of water at them. "Water Style: Water Trumpet Technique!"

Faced with the rushing torrent, the Sunagakure ninjas had no choice but to evade. They used the Body Flicker Technique to escape the water's path, clearing a way for Qi Luna to get away.

While the enemy was in disarray, Qi Luna grabbed Kushina and kept running. They darted this way and that across the chaotic battlefield, searching for a chance to escape. In the distance, Uzumaki Reishi was locked in a fierce battle with Shamon. His golden chains shone brilliantly, protecting their last hope.