Fugaku's sudden appearance caught the Land of Whirlpools Daimyo by surprise. He had already prepared himself for his country's destruction.
Only when disaster struck did the daimyo realize that everything else was hollow. Strength was the only thing that mattered. When it truly counted, their vaunted Sealing Jutsu was of little use.
As for their ties with Konoha, those had weakened considerably after the First Hokage died. By the time the Second Hokage died and the Third Hokage took office, the relationship was nothing like it had once been.
Mito Uzumaki alone had kept the last connection alive. Sending Kushina Uzumaki to Konoha had been the Land of Whirlpools' first step toward rebuilding that relationship.
No one had expected the blow to come so quickly. The daimyo understood the situation, too. Though he still harbored some resentment toward Konoha, it was too late for that now.
What mattered most was preserving the Uzumaki Clan's legacy. Complaining would only waste time.
"Some children of the Land of Whirlpools are still hidden in a secret chamber beneath the palace. I'd planned to do what I could and leave the rest to fate. Now they have a chance to go to Konoha and build new lives there. Come with me."
The daimyo left the room and led Fugaku to an inconspicuous building in the palace. From outside, it looked no different from the others, if anything a little shabby.
Inside, the daimyo formed hand signs and undid the Sealing Jutsu in the room, revealing a passage that led straight underground.
"The Land of Whirlpools truly has no equal in Sealing Jutsu. Even I only sensed a faint fluctuation. Without a careful search, finding the entrance and breaking the seal would be difficult."
Pride flashed across the daimyo's face, then quickly faded.
"At a