Kakashi certainly was fast. It took him only three days to find the Uzumaki mother and daughter in the Land of Grass.
Although something unexpected happened along the way and caused a bit of trouble, in a weak country like the Land of Grass, Kakashi and the Thunderbolt Eagle alone could have slaughtered all of Kusagakure.
Sitting on the Thunderbolt Eagle, Karin Uzumaki and her mother looked at Kakashi ahead of them with a hint of worry on their faces.
Soon, after half a day, the Thunderbolt Eagle carried Kakashi back to the outskirts of the Land of Water.
Two figures appeared in the thick mist. Kakashi nodded to them, and they immediately vanished.
"Come on. The Land of Water will be your home from now on. You don't need to worry about any danger."
After leading the two into the Land of Water, Kakashi reached the outer walls of the Sea Capital without any obstruction along the way.
The two people at the entrance saw Kakashi and gave slight nods in greeting, then continued dutifully guarding the city gates.
At the sight, the mother and daughter huddled close together as Kakashi led them to the entrance of the presidential building.
Yuzuru happened to walk out just then.
"Mr. President, I've brought them back."
Kakashi spoke immediately.
"What are your names?"
Yuzuru asked as he looked at the mother and daughter.
"Sir, my name is Mie Uzumaki. This is my daughter, Karin Uzumaki. Please don't hurt her."
Looking at the frightened faces of the mother and daughter before him, Yuzuru felt somewhat helpless. He then told him, "Once you've gotten them citizen ID cards, have Ao arrange housing for them near the hospital. Give them the same treatment as the bloodline clans. Let them owe the living subsidy expenses for now and repay them once they start working. After that, take them to the hospital to get acquainted with Rin, then have Rin teach them medical ninjutsu and the relevant knowledge."
"The hospital?"
Kakashi froze for a moment. The Uzumaki Clan learning medical ninjutsu? What kind of move was that?
Their enormous chakra reserves and supreme sealing jutsu seemed better than medical ninjutsu no matter how he looked at it, didn't they?
"Their constitutions are unusual. In a certain sense, they're even more impressive than Kushina. After all, Kushina can't rapidly heal someone's injuries and replenish their chakra just by letting them bite her."
Hearing this, Kakashi looked at the mother and daughter beside him in shock.
At the same time, upon hearing Yuzuru's words, the mother and daughter's eyes filled with despair.
Their greatest secret had still been discovered.
"Don't misunderstand. I wouldn't do something so inhumane. This is the Sea Capital, not a ninja village."
"Secondly, even if you want to learn the Uzumaki Clan's traditional knowledge, I don't have it available right now. Besides, your gentle disposition isn't suited to learning those things. Your daughter, on the other hand, might become an excellent military medic and take a position at the military hospital."
In just a few words, Yuzuru had more or less arranged what came next for them, and Kakashi also caught on.
"Understood. I'll take them to get their identification first, then."
"All right."
Yuzuru nodded and was just about to head home to rest when Mie Uzumaki unexpectedly called out to stop him.
"Sir, may I ask if you know Miss Kushina?"
"I do. She taught me quite a few sealing jutsu."
Yuzuru nodded slightly.
Upon hearing this, Mie Uzumaki's eyes lit up.
"She's in Konoha now. You'll be able to see her again before long. When the time comes, if you want to learn sealing jutsu, ask her to teach you. It's always easier to talk things over with members of your own clan."
With that, Yuzuru left without looking back.
Kakashi turned sideways and said, "Mrs. Mie, let's go. The Sea Capital and the Land of Water aren't like other countries. The concept of ninja no longer exists here. Here, everyone shares the same identity: citizens of the Land of Water. You don't need to worry about anyone hurting you, either. The Sea Capital's laws are very strict."
"I haven't asked your name yet, sir."
Mie Uzumaki asked as she looked at Kakashi, who was as young as Yuzuru.
"Kakashi Hatake."
"Hatake?"
Hearing that surname, Mie Uzumaki froze.
"Yes, that samurai clan. But that's all in the past now. I'm no longer a Konoha ninja, either. I'm the Sea Capital's deputy army commander."
Kakashi shook his head slightly as he spoke.
"Is that so?"
For the first time, Mie Uzumaki felt shocked. What exactly had happened here to make a Konoha ninja leave Konoha and willingly stay in the Land of Water?
Along the way, Kakashi smoothly helped Mie and Karin obtain their identification, resolved their housing and living arrangements, and introduced these two descendants of the Uzumaki Clan to Rin.
Perhaps because of Kushina, Rin was very friendly toward the mother and daughter, and they soon grew familiar with one another.
"By the way, the Uzumaki Clan's residence is right next door to your house, so sorry for the trouble, but please look after them."
Kakashi said to Rin.
"Is that so? All right, leave it to me."
Rin smiled and nodded.
"I'll head out, then. There's still work at military headquarters."
"All right."
After saying goodbye to Rin, Kakashi returned to the military headquarters building. As expected, Mei Terumi was still working.
Although most matters had settled down by now, the internal division of responsibilities and staffing issues within the military remained the biggest headaches.
They lacked not only higher-ranking soldiers but ordinary soldiers as well.
Nearly every department was understaffed. So many tasks made Mei Terumi wish she could split one person into two. For now, she could only handle things herself, and there was an overwhelming amount to do.
"You're back. Here, these are the reports on the Sea Capital Guard and the border troops, along with reports on the garrisons in the major cities and towns, plus details on police infrastructure and personnel. We're far too short-handed."
At the sight of the stack of documents more than half a meter high, cold sweat could not help seeping from Kakashi's forehead.
"What about the bloodline clans? How are things going there?"
Kakashi sat down at his desk and forced himself into work mode.
"I've checked them all. The Yuki Clan has two jonin, the Hozuki Clan has two jonin and six chunin, and the Chinoike Clan currently has only one jonin. The others haven't passed the assessment. They haven't even finished memorizing the Sea Capital's laws yet."
Mei Terumi took out a sheet of paper and blew it over to Kakashi with chakra.
After reading the names on it, Kakashi could not help remarking, "As expected of the bloodline clans. Not a single weakling among them."
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
Mei Terumi looked at him with a faint, ambiguous smile.
Kakashi froze for a moment, then suddenly realized that they'd all been damn well forced into it.
With the Blood Mist Policy, combined with deliberate persecution and killings by the previous Mizukage, it wasn't that the bloodline clans had no weak members. Their weaker clansmen were already dead.
Mei Terumi, standing before him, was even the sole survivor of her clan.
"Ahem, that was a poor choice of words."
Kakashi smiled somewhat awkwardly.
Mei Terumi didn't take it to heart, either. She had only been teasing him casually.
"By the way, Kakashi, what does Yuzuru usually like?"
Hearing Mei Terumi's question, Kakashi gave her an odd look. "What does Yuzuru like? Hmm, the Akimichi Clan's barbecue? Hanging out with girls?"
"Hm? Hanging out with girls? Did Yuzuru often hang out with girls before?"
Mei Terumi immediately noticed something amiss.
"More or less. Kurenai and Yuzuru have known each other since childhood. They often went shopping and bought snacks together, and they skipped school, too."
Kakashi answered honestly.
Upon hearing this, Mei Terumi immediately felt a sense of crisis.
No!
I finally found a man I liked. How could I let someone snatch him away?
Although it seemed she was the one who came later, wasn't there a saying about latecomers overtaking those ahead?
I have to win him over now!
Kakashi naturally noticed the change in Mei Terumi and thought, Sorry, Yuzuru. Your big brother here is looking out for your love life, too!