The great battle lasted three days and three nights, and Qi Luna spent all three days and nights hiding with Kushina. The flames of war ravaged Uzushio Village mercilessly. Every explosion and every clash of battle struck their hearts like a heavy hammer. Qi Luna held Kushina's hand tightly, her eyes full of vigilance and resolve, as they darted through the ruins, dodging the raging fires and their pursuers.
By the time the flames in Uzushio Village had gradually died out, the air still reeked of smoke. A deathly silence settled over everything, broken only by the occasional crackle of smoldering embers. That was when Konoha's Anbu finally found them.
During this time, Qi Luna had considered looking for an opportunity to reclaim the Uzumaki Clan's most important inheritance. But she and Kushina were only Genin. They had no chance of getting close to the Mask Storage Hall.
The Anbu wore purplish-gray vests and masks depicting all kinds of animals. Even so, they couldn't hide their sorrow and pity for Uzushio Village.
Qi Luna looked at these Konoha Ninja, strangers who nevertheless seemed faintly familiar, her eyes heavy with exhaustion and confusion. Kushina hid behind her, a look of fear and bewilderment on her little face.
"Come back to Konoha with us," the Anbu leader said softly. Qi Luna nodded in silence. She knew that Uzushio Village was gone. They had lost their home, and Konoha might be the only place left for them.
Besides, they seemed to have no choice. Uzumaki Mito was nearly sixty, and Konoha needed a new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. As members of the same clan as Uzumaki Mito, they would be the best candidates. Konoha wouldn't let them go!
Escorted by the Anbu, Qi Luna and Kushina set off for Konoha. Looking back, they saw that the once beautiful, peaceful Uzushio Village had become a field of ruins. The flames had gone out, but the pain was branded deep in their hearts. The future was uncertain, but Qi Luna clasped Kushina's hand tightly and silently vowed to keep them both alive—and restore the Uzumaki Clan to glory!
On the journey, Qi Luna and Kushina barely spoke. They simply followed the Anbu in silence. The scenery kept changing, but their hearts remained among the ruins. At last, Konoha came into view. Its towering walls and bustling streets stood in stark contrast to the devastation of Uzushio Village.
After entering the village, they were taken to the Hokage Office. The Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked at the two young girls before him. Their eyes were resolute despite their youth, and he was filled with emotion. "From today on, this will be your home," he said gently.
"Thank you for taking us in, and thank you, Third, for helping us." Qi Luna and Kushina nodded. Though they still longed for their homeland, they understood that they had to start over here.
Before transmigrating, Qi Luna had been a slacker, but she had also been a longtime Naruto fan. She knew that Konoha had made the right decision, even if it had been forced to abandon its ally. She had no reason to blame them. But now that her own clan had been wiped out, she couldn't stop herself from resenting Konoha's leaders.
Even if they had only made a show of mobilizing their main forces, the enemy might have hesitated, giving Uzushio Village a chance to catch its breath. It might not have been enough to avert the village's destruction, but perhaps more of the Uzumaki Clan could have survived!
But Konoha simply didn't want the Uzumaki bloodline spreading widely throughout the Ninja World. It didn't want the other four great ninja villages to have stable Jinchūriki of their own. It didn't want anything to happen that went against Konoha's interests...
Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Qi Luna and Kushina with their heads bowed and assumed they were still grieving over the destruction of their village. Thinking nothing of it, he continued, "You can live with Lady Mito from now on. Lady Mito is eager to meet you, and you—"
"I understand, Lord Hokage." Qi Luna took Kushina's hand, and together they bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Then they followed him to the Senju Clan Compound.
Hiruzen Sarutobi greeted Uzumaki Mito respectfully. Mito gave a small nod, then bent down and gently gathered the two girls into her arms. "Children, you've suffered so much," she said softly. Her gentle yet steady voice immediately eased the unease in Qi Luna and Kushina's hearts.
From the moment they first saw her, Qi Luna and Kushina had felt enveloped by a powerful, warm presence. Uzumaki Mito wore a dignified, old-fashioned robe. Though strands of white were mixed into her hair, her bright eyes held the wisdom and composure of a lifetime. A faint smile played on her face, seeming to melt away all unease and tension.
Now that Mito had embraced her, Kushina could no longer hold back her emotions. Grief poured out with her tears. "Grandma Mito, everyone's dead. My father, my mother, my second uncle, everyone in the village... Waaaaah..."
Mito looked at the two girls in her arms and thought of her own clanspeople. Her heart was breaking, too. She kept murmuring words of comfort to Kushina and Qi Luna, as if trying to console herself as much as them.
(Fun fact: The Uzumaki Clan came from the Land of Fire, and Uzumaki Mito married Hashirama before Konoha was founded, so Uzushio Village wasn't Mito's hometown.)
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't disturb them further. He quietly turned and left the Senju Clan Compound.
When he returned to the Hokage Office, all the members of the Second's guard unit had gathered there except Torifu Akimichi, who had resigned from every important position other than that of a jōnin.
"Sarutobi, I'm sure you've gotten the accurate reports. The Second Kazekage of Sunagakure, Shamon, and Monzaemon both died in Uzushio Village. Sunagakure is at its weakest now. Give me three thousand ninja, and I guarantee I can take the village and show the Ninja World Konoha's strength once more!" Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could even sit down, Shimura Danzō seized the floor and put forward his proposal—his ambition, really.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stumbled, nearly missing his chair. The corner of his mouth twitched. It was clear he had absolutely no faith in Shimura Danzō's proposal.
"Sunagakure isn't without a successor. Shamon's student, Sanosuke, is so powerful that even I can't claim I'd beat him for certain. Besides, Sunagakure still has at least four thousand ninja. With Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure circling like wolves, starting a war now would be unwise." Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and rejected Shimura Danzō's proposal.
"That's right, Danzō. We've only just begun to recover. Our top priority should be absorbing and studying the many precious scrolls and Sealing Jutsu scrolls brought back from the Land of Whirlpools, and turning them into Konoha's strength—not recklessly starting conflicts. That wouldn't serve our interests," Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura urged.
Damn Sarutobi. Is he saying I'm weaker than him? And those two fools, too—they're so delighted at the prospect of dividing up the Uzumaki inheritance that they can't see a step ahead! Useless. No, worse than useless—the two of them!
"Hmph!" Shimura Danzō struck his cane hard against the floor and gave a cold snort. "Shortsighted fools! I have my reasons. You only see the peace in front of you, not the threat looming in the distance!" He glared at them, his eyes full of indignation and resentment.
"Danzō, don't act rashly," Hiruzen Sarutobi said sternly. "Konoha needs time to recover. Starting a war blindly will only put us in danger."
Shimura Danzō trembled with anger. Clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth and said, "Sarutobi, you'll regret this!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi rose to his feet and braced both hands on the desk. "Danzō, I'm the Hokage!"
Shimura Danzō's face turned livid. He spun around and strode out, slamming the door behind him. The sound of his cane striking the floor rang out particularly loudly.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged glances and shook their heads helplessly. Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples, his heart heavy with worry.
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