The worries were finally coming to an end (two-in-one)

In the days after reading the mission files, Takahashi Yū visited the families of the Undying Squad's fallen members one after another. Apart from the final payment he set aside for the carpenter, he spent the rest of his money arranging livelihoods for his teammates' families so they could support themselves. Some households had only elderly people and children left, and he gave them substantial sums as well, enough to support the elderly for the rest of their lives and the children until adulthood.

He also had Mizuki register their names and told them they could come to him if anything happened.

Today was the last day of Year 39. Takahashi Yū planned to visit the Aburame and Inuzuka clan compounds. Although he did not need to worry about compensation for teammates from major clans, he still had to pay them a visit.

He walked down the street with Mizuki, and the villagers all made way for him, leaving a broad path.

He himself saw nothing unusual about it, but Mizuki was furious, and her impression of Konoha worsened a little more.

Unlike the Ino-Shika-Cho and the Sarutobi Clan, both the Aburame Clan and the Inuzuka Clan lived far from central Konoha. It was not because they had joined Konoha late, but because the Inuzuka Clan was too noisy and the Aburame Clan needed a natural environment too much. Putting them in central Konoha would only restrict them.

Takahashi Yū reached the wall around the Aburame Clan Compound. Before he could knock, he saw a dense black cloud buzzing out of the compound and into the woods behind it.

There was a brief panic inside, but it quickly quieted down, and someone opened the compound gates.

The Aburame Clan Head stood inside, still wearing that same dashing trench coat. He adjusted his black sunglasses, looking somewhat helpless.

"You came..."

"I came."

"You shouldn't have come..."

"I still had to!"

"Sigh..."

The usually unruffled Aburame Clan Head actually sighed.

"Come in, Takahashi."

Takahashi Yū stepped through the gates of the Aburame Clan Compound with Mizuki and followed the clan head deeper inside.

Takahashi Yū scratched his head. Why were they so different from the Aburame Clan in the original story, who barely had any presence? Although every one of them wore their ancestral trench coats, they were all silently "welcoming" him along the roadside, while some comforted crying children.

Noticing his confusion, the Aburame Clan Head said helplessly:

"You scared all their insects away, Takahashi... Could you give us some advance notice next time?"

Hearing such a plaintive complaint from the normally aloof Aburame Clan Head, Takahashi Yū could only laugh awkwardly.

The Aburame Clan Head knew why he had come and led him into his home. A woman without a trench coat smiled as she poured tea for the two of them.

With a radiant smile, she cheerfully told Takahashi Yū to visit often. Presumably, she too usually suffered from the insects' "torment."

Still, marrying into the Aburame Clan really took courage. After all, nobody knew how many insects and eggs an Aburame ninja carried on their body.

The Aburame Clan Head lowered his coat zipper slightly, revealing his usually hidden lips. Well, he was actually quite handsome!

If the Aburame men were not handsome, their clan might have died out long ago.

He sipped the tea his wife had poured. The Aburame Clan Head was never much of a talker-or rather, none of the Aburame Clan were. Spending every day playing with insects, it would have been stranger if they enjoyed conversation.

All the shinobi clans knew Takahashi Yū had been "handing out money" around Konoha these past few days.

"Tomoya had no family, Takahashi. I'm afraid you've come for nothing," the clan head said bluntly.

Takahashi Yū drained his hot tea and sighed as well.

"I'm sorry I couldn't bring Tomoya back," he told the clan head. He had said sorry so many times these past few days. Each apology represented a vibrant life, and there were even many teammates for whom he could not offer so much as an apology.

"It's all right, Takahashi. That boy Tomoya volunteered for the 'Takahashi Yū Company.' You needn't blame yourself. It was all in service to Konoha."

Those words only made Takahashi Yū feel worse. "Undying Squad" was rather ironic for the teammates who had already died.

Setting down his teacup, Takahashi Yū said goodbye to the Aburame Clan Head and headed for the gates with Mizuki.

An upright man who values bonds and loyalty. Unfortunately, he's the natural bane of our Aburame Clan.

The clan head remained at the table, thinking silently, while his wife reluctantly saw Takahashi Yū partway out.

"Clan Head, how much longer are you going to sit there?"

The sudden voice startled the Aburame Clan Head.

He turned to find his courtyard full of "mysterious trench-coat men."

"When did you all come in?" he shouted.

"We're waiting for you to come into the woods and find our insects."

"Even the breeding females were scared away. Now we have to search for them ourselves, bit by bit. Honestly..."

"We need to hurry. The children worked so hard raising their insects, and they'd barely had them before this happened. They're practically crying themselves unconscious."

The mysterious trench-coated men and women all talked over one another in the courtyard.

"Then go find them! Why are you waiting for me?" The clan head waved both hands, silencing their discussion.

"What if we run into wild beasts without our insects?"

The mysterious trench-coated men and women turned their gazes in unison toward their beloved clan head.

The Aburame Clan Head pointed a trembling finger at himself. "Me?!"

"Yes!"

The Aburame Clan Head no longer wanted to point out that they were all ninja and could fight without insects. His pride as an Aburame stopped him from saying it.

"Fine... Let's go."

His back seemed bent under life's burdens. Well, he was the clan head.

Unaware of the inhuman torment awaiting the Aburame Clan Head behind him, Takahashi Yū headed toward the Inuzuka Clan with Mizuki, feeling glum.

"Lord Takahashi Yū, cheer up. Are you going to visit the Inuzuka Clan with that long face? They might think you've come looking for trouble," Mizuki consoled him softly at his side.

"Sigh... Don't call me 'Lord.'" Takahashi Yū patted his cheeks and composed his expression.

Mizuki was no longer as reserved as before and had begun showing some of the liveliness appropriate to her age.

A chorus of barking told them they were nearing Inuzuka territory. But as Takahashi Yū approached, the dogs fell completely silent and tucked their tails as though facing a natural predator.

The Inuzuka Clan's grounds were large. After all, the dogs needed room to romp.

The dogs' strange behavior drew the Inuzuka ninja's attention, and they spoke quietly with the dogs beside them.

Soon, a ninja with face paint rode a large black dog over to Takahashi Yū.

"Lord Takahashi Yū, our clan head is waiting for you. Please follow me."

Takahashi Yū nodded and prepared to follow the Inuzuka ninja with Mizuki.

"Kuromaru! Kuromaru!" The Inuzuka ninja squeezed the large dog beneath him with his legs.

Come on, move.

Takahashi Yū looked at the ninja now carrying the large black dog on his back and felt a little awkward.

"Sorry about this. I can't quite control it..."

Takahashi Yū had already locked down his murderous intent fluctuation as tightly as possible. Perhaps Kuromaru had come too close, or perhaps the dog's senses were too keen. Either way, his legs had gone too weak to stand.

He had ridden the dog here, and now the dog was riding him back. As expected of the Inuzuka Clan! True equality between man and dog.

"Ha-ha."

A vein bulged on the Inuzuka ninja's forehead as he laughed awkwardly. Damn you, Kuromaru. Just wait until we get back.

After leading Takahashi Yū to the clan head's house, the dog-carrying ninja promptly fled. He had utterly embarrassed the Inuzuka Clan.

When the Inuzuka Clan Head told him that Inuzuka Ayako had no family either, Takahashi Yū became thoroughly dejected.

"Then... what about Rimaru?" he asked gloomily.

This time, the Inuzuka Clan Head was genuinely surprised. His expression softened completely, and he did not even mention how Takahashi Yū had scared the puppies into wetting themselves. Here was someone who treated dogs as companions too! He was not alone in his beliefs!

He sighed. "Rimaru did leave offspring, but the pup has no talent for becoming a ninja dog and has been living in the Inuzuka Clan's backyard."

"Then could you entrust the pup to me? I have a farm," Takahashi Yū asked expectantly.

The Inuzuka Clan Head did not refuse. He led them through his back door into the clan's backyard. The back doors of every Inuzuka household opened onto this enormous "yard."

He exchanged a few words with his beloved dog, who walked off trembling.

As expected of the clan head's dog, it could still walk. Better than Kuromaru!

Before long, the dog returned carrying a reddish-furred puppy in its mouth, and both trembled at Takahashi Yū's feet.

"This is Rimaru's offspring, just over a year old. There's no chakra in this pup's body, so becoming a ninja dog isn't an option... But Takahashi, with that aura of yours, won't keeping a dog be a little difficult?"

The Inuzuka Clan Head propped up his chin and looked Takahashi Yū up and down.

Takahashi Yū waved a hand. A minor problem.

He took out a sealing scroll and had Mizuki help undo a seal marked with the character "Ri."

A large handful of white fur appeared in his hand. It was Rimaru's fur.

Takahashi Yū had taken the scroll containing his teammates' bodily remains from Ayano and kept it on his person.

He held out his hand for Rimaru's child to sniff. Not being a ninja dog, the pup had no sensory abilities and was probably only afraid of the traces of murderous intent Takahashi Yū unconsciously leaked. The mother's scent should help the pup overcome that fear. All it needed was time to adjust.

Once the puppy's resistance visibly lessened, Takahashi Yū scooped the pup up and settled the little dog on his forearm.

"Does this pup have a name?"

"No. We all raise these dogs together. Generally, only ninja dog partners get names, to make things easier in combat." The Inuzuka Clan Head watched Takahashi Yū thoughtfully.

"Then I'll call you Simba!"

His earlier gloom swept away, Takahashi Yū lifted the puppy high. So what if Simba had no chakra? Once Simba grew up and had a murderous aura seed, the dog would be even more advanced than a ninja dog.

Takahashi Yū went straight home with Mizuki and Simba.

At last, one weight was off his mind.

Now he only had to wait for Ryūhei to fully regain consciousness and successfully undergo the eye transplant, and this could finally come to a close.

Several more days passed, and Konoha entered Year 40. But with the war ongoing, there was little festive atmosphere in the village.

Takahashi Yū's birthday had been marked with only a quick meal together. Ryūhei was still in the hospital, and he was in no mood to celebrate.

The manor on the farm was finished, and over the past few days, Takahashi Yū and Mizuki had been moving furniture into it bit by bit.

Pop!

The sound of a beer bottle opening was as pleasing as ever.

Takahashi Yū lay on his familiar sofa, though the ceiling and the large house were unfamiliar.

Stars already hung across the sky. He had just seen his friends off, and the combined housewarming and birthday party was over.

Mizuki was clearing the dining table, which could seat dozens, while Simba wrestled with a chew bone in a corner of the living room. The pup was now accustomed to Takahashi Yū's presence and could count as the farm's loyal dog.

Uzumaki Shui Ling had also taken the two little ones upstairs to rest.

Takahashi Yū sipped his richly malty beer, marveling that life was finally getting on track. Yamanaka Ayano had sent word that Ryūhei's mental world had begun showing normal fluctuations. He was close to waking up.

The farm's manor was complete. Only the warehouse and the wooden fence around the farm remained. Oh! And the torii gate the carpenter was throwing in.

Everything was moving in a good direction.

While Takahashi Yū lazily enjoyed life, Uzumaki Shui Ling, who had taken the two little ones upstairs, came clattering down.

"Takahashi Yū, I faintly sensed Kushina's presence inside the farm..."

The sealing jutsu master sounded very unsure of herself.

"I shouldn't have sensed it wrong. It only appeared for an instant, in the woods up there. The Mind's Eye of the Kagura wouldn't make a mistake, but then it disappeared. Could I just be thinking about her too much? Am I going senile...?"

"Old woman, didn't you see how devoted she was to Konoha? I told you to respect other people's fates..." Takahashi Yū stopped and set his bottle on the table.

If he remembered correctly, Kushina really had been kidnapped-by Kumo ninja, right inside Konoha!

Yes, before that old hag Mito had died, Kumogakure had kidnapped Kushina for her special chakra, which made her suited to becoming a Jinchūriki. Nobody noticed, and in the end, that blond Minato Namikaze rescued her. He had not only saved her, but won her heart as well.

Takahashi Yū held his chin, recalled the details carefully, and told Shui Ling:

"Go upstairs and watch the children. Mizuki and I will go out and take a look."

Uzumaki Shui Ling nodded to Mizuki as well. Mizuki had awakened the abilities she was supposed to-the Mind's Eye of the Kagura and Adamantine Sealing Chains-though their range and power fell short of an old woman with decades of accumulated experience. Seeing his owner leave, Simba dropped his toy bone and dashed after Takahashi Yū.

Minato Namikaze might save her, but you actually sneaked through my farm. You're paying a toll!

The two of them and the dog headed toward the woods on the upper part of the farm. Mizuki maintained her hand seals all the way; she still could not use the Mind's Eye of the Kagura without them.

They had already entered the dense woods, but Mizuki still found nothing.

She could not help looking at Takahashi Yū. He was at a loss too. He had no sensory abilities, but he trusted Uzumaki Shui Ling and his own memory.

"Woof, woof, woof." Simba suddenly barked at Takahashi Yū's feet, circling nonstop.

Takahashi Yū's eyes lit up. Right, they had a dog!

"Good dog! Simba, did you smell a stranger?" Takahashi crouched and rubbed Simba's head.

You can bypass Konoha's barrier and even block the Uzumaki Clan's senses. Impressive!

But did you deal with Kushina's scent? Well?

"Woof, woof, woof." Simba was so frantic he almost seemed ready to speak. Tugging at Takahashi Yū's shoe, the pup kept tilting his head to signal him.

"Okay!"

Takahashi Yū and Mizuki followed Simba as the pup trotted along, nose low, sniffing everywhere.

A lead was all they needed.

Takahashi Yū remembered that in the original story, Kushina had left strands of her hair along the way as markers, hoping someone would rescue her. She had even pessimistically thought that nobody would care because she was an outsider.

She was simply too young. A prospective Jinchūriki was probably on the Third Hokage's daily spying list. This kidnapping, with its grand beginning and weak ending, felt more like an opportunity created for Minato to deepen Kushina's bond with Konoha.

But Takahashi Yū wanted to say that he was absolutely stealing this win!