The next morning, Aoki Tsuki and Konan set off from the Land of Hot Water.
It took three days to reach the vicinity of Kusagakure in the Land of Grass, Konoha Land of Grass Iwagakure during the Third Shinobi World War.
Although the war between the two great powers has ended, Kusagakure is still embroiled in conflicts with neighboring countries, and the village is mostly populated by wounded soldiers who have returned to recuperate.
The two successfully infiltrated the small village, Aoki Tsuki quickly detected their target using his senses.
In a small, dilapidated house in the northwest corner of the village, a little girl with red hair is standing inside waiting for her mother.
"Is this the child?" Konan asked.
"Hmm, with such vibrant red hair, her bloodline is top-tier even within the Uzumaki Clan; her potential is limitless."
Mito Uzumaki and Kushina Uzumaki also have this hair color.
At this moment, in a medical facility in the village—strictly speaking, just a tent—a woman sat there, looking haggard, while wounded ninjas lined up outside to bite her.
This blood pack is so useful that no medical ninja can compare; it's practically a treasure.
However, the people of Kusagakure didn't care whether she lived or died; they only considered her a medicine person.
"Gulp... gulp..."
An injured man bit a woman's arm and drank two mouthfuls of water; his injuries healed at a visible speed.
"Haha... even the Chakra has been restored, that's great."
The man left the tent without looking back, not even saying thank you, and then another person came in.
Even the Uzumaki Clan, known for their tenacious vitality, couldn't withstand such destruction.
"She'll die if this continues, Karin..."
Yurika was secretly worried about her daughter's fate. She feared that after she died, Karin would also be used as a blood bag by the people of Kusagakure, since she was still so young.
Having finally finished treating all the wounded, Yurika was about to get up when everything went black, and she collapsed to the ground.
"Hmph, has your body reached its limit? Looks like you're useless now!"
A burly man appeared at the tent entrance, saying expressionlessly, "Your daughter must have inherited your physique, right?"
" Karin... you can't do this..."
Upon hearing that Kusagakure was indeed going to let her daughter take over her job, she struggled to get up, but she was too weak and couldn't stand up no matter how hard she tried.
They were immediately plunged into despair.
You promised me back then...
"Hmph, don't forget that it was the village that took you and your mother, who had nowhere else to go, and provided you with shelter and food, while our people are fighting for this country."
Bloodshed and sacrifice are constant; to live in the village, one must make contributions.
After speaking, the man turned and left the tent, Yurika to fend for herself.
Treatment? That's impossible. The village's medical resources are extremely scarce and precious; we can't waste them on an outsider.
" Karin..." Yurika called softly, as the dizziness returned.
Just then, two people walked into the tent, and she immediately felt a warm and vibrant energy surge into her body from her back.
Although she had treated many people with her blood, this was the first time she had experienced being treated.
A moment later, Yurika's spirits improved noticeably, and she regained her strength. When she opened her eyes, she found a man and a woman standing in front of her, looking at her.
Thank you all...
Although she didn't know what the other person's purpose was in saving her, the kind-hearted Yurika still expressed her gratitude.
"It's too early to say thank you now," Aoki Tsuki said.
Yurika, deeply aware of the cruelty of the Shinobi World, wasn't surprised. "I wonder if there's anything I can do to help? Please let me know."
"Haha... you're pretty quick-witted."
Aoki Tsuki was very satisfied with Yurika's attitude.
"There is indeed something we need your help with. It's a long-term job, and we need you and your daughter to leave here with us."
"What are you going to do?" Yurika asked.
This is a very important issue. Some people enjoy capturing members of the Uzumaki Clan to conduct various Kinjutsu experiments, which is even more terrifying than staying here.
If that's the case, she'd rather stay here and die.
"There is a patient who needs long-term treatment, and perhaps your presence can improve his condition. But rest assured, we will provide a better living environment and treatment than here."
Furthermore, our village is free from war, and even if someone is injured, there are dedicated medical ninjas. You only need to serve one person.
"Oh, your daughter can also receive a proper education in our village and become an excellent ninja like other children. Think about it carefully."
It looks like a multiple-choice question, but there are actually no other options.
I said that simply to make Yurika feel better.
"Okay, I'll go with you, but this place..." Yurika was a little worried; Kusagakure might not be willing to let her go.
"Leave the rest to me."
Next, Aoki Tsuki and Konan took Yurika back to her small house in Kusagakure, picked up Karin, packed their luggage, and headed towards the village entrance.
Eventually, the patrol officers discovered their whereabouts and came up to question Yurika.
Where are you going? And who are they?
"We are her long-lost relatives, and we've come to bring her back to her maternal home."
Upon hearing this, the Kusagakure immediately launched an attack. Did they think they were blind? No one in the Uzumaki Clan has blue hair.
"You guys started it..."
Aoki Tsuki used his Body Flicker Technique in conjunction with his Taijutsu to take down these weaklings in the blink of an eye.
However, the commotion alerted others, and more people immediately gathered around.
Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique
A white mist quickly enveloped the village entrance, and for a moment the people of Kusagakure dared not make any rash moves. However, a burly figure rushed straight over.
It's the man who was talking to Yurika in the tent just now.
"Don't even think about causing trouble in Kusagakure!"
Thud...
Before he could even see clearly, he was kicked in the stomach and sent flying backward.
By the time he struggled to his feet, the thick fog had dissipated, and he had already lost all trace of the other person.
"Hateful...!"
He clenched his fists in anger; the small village was utterly powerless against a powerful enemy.
This sense of humiliation tormented everyone who wanted to lead the village to become stronger.
In the jungle, Konan carried Karin, while Aoki Tsuki carried Yurika.
Yurika light and airy, like a paper doll; maybe her body has been hollowed out.
After half a day, we entered the Land of Rain, where there was basically no more danger, so we switched to walking.
Aoki Tsuki produced two straw hats from somewhere and placed them on Karin and Yurika's heads, saying, "It rains a lot in our Land of Rain, so remember to bring straw hats when you go out in the future."
"Thank you, I understand," Yurika said gratefully.
If she gets caught in the rain for an extended period, given her frail health, she may fall ill.
Karin looked at Aoki Tsuki with curiosity. During the movement, the world seemed to flash before her eyes, an experience she had never had before.
She also noticed that the uncle told them to wear straw hats but didn't wear one himself.
The raindrops falling on him didn't wet his clothes; instead, they were repelled and slid off by a force—it was amazing.
The other woman was even stranger. She was holding an umbrella, her face was pale, and she was cold all over, making people afraid to approach her. She barely spoke the whole way.
Even when they do speak, it's just a brief "hmm," and that's it.
Karin thought to herself, 'Two strange people.'
As an outsider in Kusagakure, she and her mother were ostracized by the villagers, and she spent most of her time hiding in her small house.
Aside from her mother, she has not had any normal communication with anyone else.
After several days, the group finally arrived at a steel forest, where every building was covered with a dense network of drainage pipes.
As soon as I entered the village, I smelled a strong rusty smell, and the occasional passerby was hurrying along with their head down.
We arrived at a steamed bun shop in front of Shibuki Bridge.
Glug...
Karin secretly swallowed; these buns looked delicious.
"Oh... Little Tsuki is back?" Grandma Chiki greeted her happily.
She watched Aoki Tsuki grow from a little kid into a highly sought-after figure in Amegakure, and her family's steamed buns also saw a surge in sales.
"Haha... just got back from vacation."
Aoki Tsuki reached out and took two steamed buns, placing one in Karin's hand and the Yurika's.
The two were exhausted and hungry from their long journey, so they didn't care about anything else and started eating.
"Grandma Chiki, pack me two bags of steamed buns."
"Okay, everyone in the village knows my steamed buns are the best. I'm so busy these days, I'm getting old."
Whether she was complaining or showing off, she quickly packed a bag of steamed buns, her hands and feet moving with surprising speed.
Aoki Tsuki took them and placed them in Konan's Yurika's hands respectively.
"From now on, you two will stay with Konan. She will arrange accommodations for you. If you have any other questions, you can come find me here."
He pointed to the gift shop next door, "Welcome to buy gifts from my shop, bye-bye!"
"Bye-Bye!"
Karin waved her little hand enthusiastically; she had a very good impression of this uncle she had only known for a few days.
Yurika bowed to Aoki Tsuki once again to express her gratitude. Having been tormented by a cruel life, she had an unusual sensitivity to this seemingly unintentional care.
'What a gentle man.'
"Let's go," Konan called out, leading the mother and daughter further into the village.
By the time everything was arranged, it was already evening.
Back at my place in the West District, I tidied up a bit and heated up the steamed buns that had gone cold.
I ate two myself, and put the rest in a box to send to Nagato.