Uzumaki Yuka hurried a few steps forward, stopping behind one of the Uzumaki Clan's elders.
"Elder, I've been thinking… there's something really strange about tonight. The scout teams we sent to both the Land of Waves and the coast of the Land of Whirlpools were wiped out at the same time. Not a single piece of intel came back.
"There's only one explanation — the Hidden Mist and Hidden Cloud received accurate information and killed every one of our scouts.
"That means either there's a spy in our village leaking intel… or the Hidden Leaf deliberately gave them the information!"
The old elder's eyes had been clouded by age, but upon hearing Yuka's words, they suddenly regained clarity.
Too many strange things had been happening around Eddy Village lately — and it had all started after Shimura Danzō's arrival.
Once Danzō came, he made two unreasonable requests: first, that Princess Kushina be sent to the Hidden Leaf; and second, that the Leaf be allowed to share the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques.
Both requests were rejected by the clan head. Kushina was supposed to become Eddy's Jinchūriki. Lady Mito had guarded Konoha for decades, and in the end, Eddy Village got nothing in return.
As for sharing the sealing arts — that was out of the question.
Later, Danzō claimed that the Leaf's Anbu needed to investigate the Hidden Cloud's activities in the Land of Waves and asked to borrow the Uzumaki scouting map so their teams could coordinate.
If… if it really was the Leaf…
The thought was unbearable. The elder's whole body turned cold.
"No… maybe there's still another explanation. Perhaps there's a spy in our village! Or someone betrayed us!"
That was all the elder could say — all she could allow herself to believe.
Princess Kushina was on her way to the Hidden Leaf right now. She was the future of the Uzumaki Clan — their only hope.
Among all of Eddy's shinobi, Kushina's talent was the greatest. She was the one who could truly inherit and expand their sealing arts.
As long as the Uzumaki sealing arts survived, their clan would one day rise again.
Yuka didn't understand why the elder insisted Leaf was innocent. She hesitated, then asked softly,
"Elder… should we test them somehow?
"I could redirect my White Heron Spear's flight path. Should I still have it head toward the Leaf?
"Think about it — the Leaf has far better intelligence networks than we do, yet they failed to detect the Hidden Mist and Hidden Cloud's massive troop movements. That's suspicious enough already.
"And now, all of Leaf's Anbu are chasing after Princess Kushina. They haven't lifted a finger to help us.
"What if…"
The elder had been firm about sending Princess Kushina safely to the Hidden Leaf, but Yuka's words made her uneasy.
She too wanted to know the truth.
"Yuka, try it. Redirect your White Heron Spear. Don't bring it back — but don't have it fly directly to Leaf either."
"Understood."
Yuka summoned her contracted creature — a long-spear-shaped white heron, about the length of her arm. It darted into the night sky, carrying her command.
Half an hour later, as Yuka continued fleeing, her expression suddenly froze.
"Elder… my White Heron Spear is dead."
The elder closed her eyes in pain.
After she'd changed its course, Konoha's Anbu had killed the summoned creature.
Danzō's Wind Release was strong enough to destroy flying summons with ease.
"Elder… are we still heading for the Land of Fire?"
The elder hesitated only a moment before making her decision.
"Yuka, listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
Yuka nodded quickly.
"We can't go to the Land of Fire anymore.
"I'll choose eight Uzumaki clan members — you'll lead them.
"The rest, myself included, will stay behind and buy you time.
"You must escape, go somewhere safe.
"Whatever happens, find a way to contact Kushina, who was taken to Konoha.
"She doesn't know anything — not the truth behind our clan's destruction.
"But be cautious. Hidden Leaf will never allow her to meet another Uzumaki."
"She cannot become their tool without even realizing it. The Uzumaki Clan must not vanish so miserably — not under the combined assault of the three great villages.
"Lord Tobirama died for his six disciples. And those very disciples destroyed everything he built."
The elder's voice trembled.
"Leaf used to be an open village — allies with us and with the Hidden Waterfall. But now… weakened, they've grown cold and ruthless.
"Yuka, you're just as important as Princess Kushina. Beware of the Anbu. The truth behind the Uzumaki Clan's fall… it's in your hands now."
Tears streamed down Yuka's cheeks.
The elder pulled out a scroll and pressed it into her hands.
"The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Tome was taken to Konoha with Princess Kushina. This is my personal research — a record of my sealing techniques. Consider it part of our legacy.
"Yuka, you're not even twenty yet, but this burden now falls on you.
"I hope you'll lead our clan through this crisis, just as our proud ancestors once did.
"Head for the Land of Waves. There are still allied shinobi there — and several Uzumaki on missions. Join them and plan your next move.
"Uzumaki Kaon, our best medical kunoichi, will go with you. She won't be staying with me."
Kaon's bloodline granted her a special ability — if someone bit her arm, their wounds would heal rapidly.
The elder selected eight kunoichi, placing Yuka in charge. Their mission: cross the sea and escape to the Land of Waves.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a puff of smoke, a giant Yatagarasu appeared in the sky above them.
"Elder, if the Yatagarasu is here… what about Princess Kushina?"
"Don't worry. Danzō won't let her come to harm. She's alone — he'll protect her. Now go. Climb onto the Yatagarasu's back and leave!"
The elder stayed behind with the remaining shinobi, turning to face the approaching Mist-nin.
Captain Black Ape of the Hidden Mist frowned. Ignoring the elder, he signaled his squad to circle wide, avoiding the Uzumaki remnants and heading straight for the Yatagarasu.
The bird and Yuka must be carrying something crucial. Otherwise, the elder wouldn't be sacrificing herself to buy time.
She was about to fight to the death — so they had to keep their distance.
As they looped around, Yagami, one of Black Ape's men, glanced back.
That old woman — hair white streaked with red — was forming hand seals.
Chakra surged violently around her, warping the air.
Hundreds of chakra chains burst from her abdomen in an instant.
Half the Mist-nin in front of her were impaled where they stood.
Those chains radiated immense sealing power — any Mist-nin struck couldn't move at all. Those merely brushed by them slowed drastically, struggling even to raise a kunai.
The remaining Uzumaki kunoichi threw kunai and explosive tags, finishing off the immobilized enemies.
In less than ten seconds, over a hundred Mist-nin were dead.
Then the golden chains weakened, snapping one by one as her chakra dissipated.
Yagami swallowed hard. If he hadn't stayed back, he'd be dead already.
The elder collapsed, eyes to the sky. Her once-red hair had turned completely white.
The twenty or so surviving Mist-nin hesitated, too afraid to advance.
Only after three full minutes, once they were sure she was dead, did they move in cautiously.
The remaining Uzumaki were slaughtered.
The elder's body was carried away by the Mist for dissection and intel analysis.
Captain Black Ape didn't even look back. He knew neither side would leave this place alive.
After pursuing the Yatagarasu for several minutes, he finally shook his head.
"We can't catch it. It's heading roughly toward the Land of Waves.
"Fox, go find Captain Yellow Dog. Report what happened here."
"The Yatagarasu carried eight Uzumaki kunoichi — including Elder's chosen successor, Uzumaki Yuka, and their healer, Uzumaki Kaon.
"There are still surviving Uzumaki in the Land of Waves. The Daimyo's personal guards include several of them."
"Captain Yellow Dog must decide quickly. Send a pursuit force — we must wipe out the remaining Uzumaki!"
He quickly scribbled a coded message on a scroll, handed it over, and watched as Yagami sprinted off toward the Land of Fire.
***
welp couldn't make the goal
ssme this week 69 stones = bonus
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