After nearly two months, the epidemic outbreak in the Land of Rain this season was finally contained. Even though there were still sick people, there wouldn't be a large-scale outbreak like before; they only needed to take medicine.
Thus, after a final confirmation, the Konoha medical team decided to pack up and return to Konoha Village.
Just like the medical team during the last ninja war, the people of the Land of Rain were very grateful to the Konoha medical team. Upon learning that they were about to leave, they felt very reluctant and didn't want them to go.
Senju Risa, as the person in charge, stepped forward to explain that they were, after all, people of Konoha Village, with their own homes, and it was impossible for them to stay in a foreign land for long.
Even though they could understand their position, the people of the Land of Rain were still reluctant to part, perhaps also worrying that after the medical team left, there would be no one to treat the epidemic.
Someone raised this question, and Senju Risa had already made preparations for the follow-up.
She told the people of the Land of Rain that Konoha Village intended to cooperate with Amegakure to establish a medical branch. Although no Konoha medical ninja would serve there, the Konoha Medical Department would provide medicines and treatment plans for the epidemic.
A branch composed solely of ordinary people would be sufficient to take on the responsibility, so even if the medical team left, the people of the Land of Rain would not have to worry.
With that said, no matter how reluctant the people of the Land of Rain were, there was nothing they could do.
To express their gratitude, the people of the Land of Rain brought out some household items as a thank-you gift to the medical team. Although they weren't valuable, they represented the people's heartfelt intentions.
Ise and Fuso also rushed over to see Tsunade and the others off. Ise's illness earlier wasn't severe, so he recovered quickly.
At the same time, the couple had interacted with Tsunade and the others multiple times and gradually became familiar. Ever since Senju Risa sent the report to Konoha Village, the order from Konoha Village was to deepen relations with Fuso's family and try to bring them back to Konoha Village.
Some people from the Land of Whirlpools had already sent their family's bloodline out, possibly wanting to find another way out besides Konoha Village.
This kind of thinking was understandable, but since Konoha Village knew about it, they wouldn't let a descendant of the Uzumaki clan be lost outside.
Moreover, Fumori Masaki knew that Fuso was Nagato's mother, and Nagato in the original story was also a person with a tragic background.
He wanted to create a comfortable environment for the future Nagato—even though he might not be the same Nagato as in the original story—and Konoha Village was undoubtedly safer than the Land of Rain.
"Tsunade!" Fuso saw Tsunade and the others not far away, smiled, waved, and ran over with her husband, saying, "We came to see you off."
"Thank you, Sister Fuso." Tsunade's address was very intimate. It's easier for women to form close bonds, and perhaps it was also due to their blood relation. Fuso also felt very close to Tsunade, and soon they were calling each other'sister.'
"I'm really reluctant to see you all go. It's a pity you're from Konoha Village; we probably won't be able to meet again in the future." Fuso glanced at her husband, who was talking to Hatake Sakumo, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, then continued to speak to Tsunade, her tone full of regret.
Because Senju Risa had already stated clearly that there would be no Konoha ninja serving in the hospital to be established in the Land of Rain in the future.
After all, it was in another country, far from the ninja village, and it was impossible for precious medical ninjas to reside there permanently.
Furthermore, the medicines and plans for dealing with the epidemic had already been completed, and only ordinary people were needed to implement them. Unless a brand new epidemic broke out, there would be no need for the medical team to come again.
"Yes, I'm also quite reluctant to part with you, sister." Tsunade nodded slightly, smiling, and said, "If you don't mind, sister, you could come and settle in Konoha with us."
"Ah, wouldn't that be inappropriate? I'm from the Land of Rain. Your village probably wouldn't allow citizens from other countries to just move in, would it?" Fuso looked troubled.
"No, it wouldn't be a problem. If it's you, sister, the village would definitely be willing to accept you." Tsunade beckoned to Fuso, signaling her to lean closer, and whispered in her ear, "You're from the Uzumaki clan, aren't you, sister?"
Fuso's expression stiffened slightly, and there was some surprise in her eyes. She hadn't expected Tsunade to recognize her.
Although she had the traditional red hair of the Uzumaki clan, not everyone with red hair was necessarily from the Uzumaki clan, yet the other party was so certain.
If she were in front of people from other ninja villages, Fuso might have to consider how to escape, as the Uzumaki clan's kekkei genkai was relatively rare, and the Land of Whirlpools protected its family bloodline well.
Other ninja villages might very well not let go of such a rare descendant.
However, Fuso knew that the Land of Whirlpools and Konoha Village had a good relationship. In any case, Konoha Village would not harm her.
Moreover, she had always thought Tsunade was a good child; otherwise, she wouldn't have interacted with Tsunade for so long.
She felt that the reason for her exposure might have been due to revealing flaws during their many days of interaction.
"Yes, that's right, I am from the Uzumaki clan." Fuso pondered for a moment, looked around to confirm no one was eavesdropping, and then whispered to Tsunade, "I am."
"Don't worry, sister, I am also a descendant of the Uzumaki clan, although in some sense, I should be considered from the Senju clan," Tsunade said with a smile.
"From the Senju clan... Could it be that you are the granddaughter of Lady Mito and the First Hokage?" Fuso was greatly surprised by this, and immediately thought of the Uzumaki princess who married into the Senju clan.
"Yes, I am Grandma Mito's eldest granddaughter." Tsunade nodded.
"No wonder I felt so close to you the first time I saw you. So, you're my kin." Fuso's face lit up with joy, and her gaze towards Tsunade became even softer. Then she asked curiously, "How did you know I was from the Uzumaki clan?"
"It seems you haven't had much ninja training, sister. You expose too much in your daily life. Of course, it's also because I've been paying attention to you for a long time," Tsunade smiled.
"And just now, you revealed something else: ordinary people don't know the rules of ninja villages, that they wouldn't easily allow people from other countries to move in. Only those who understand ninja village rules would know this."
"I see." Fuso suddenly understood and said, "Fortunately, I met you Konoha ninja. If it were from other ninja villages, I really wouldn't know what to do."
"Hehe, how about it, Sister Fuso? Why don't you come back to Konoha Village with us? With this connection, Teacher Fumori Masaki will definitely agree to your staying," Tsunade said earnestly.
"Go to Konoha Village, huh?" Fuso was genuinely tempted. She knew Konoha Village was a very good place, and if she could really go there, it would definitely be better than staying in the harsh environment of the Land of Rain.
"The reason you came here, sister, must have been arranged by your family." Seeing Fuso's slight hesitation, Tsunade struck while the iron was hot, saying, "If I'm not mistaken, your family's purpose should be to continue the bloodline. In that case, where you continue it doesn't matter; it might as well be in the village."
The reason Fuso left her family was that the family elders were worried about the future of the Land of Whirlpools.
The short-sightedness of the clan members had not allowed for deeper ties between the two countries. If another ninja war were to break out, Konoha Village might not necessarily be able to protect the Land of Whirlpools.
Therefore, the family elders had used a series of methods to send out those with lower status in the family.
At that time, Fuso didn't know why her family didn't send her to Konoha Village. She simply came to the Land of Rain according to the family's arrangements, settled down here, and then met her current husband, forming a family.
In her heart, both Konoha Village and the Land of Rain were places where she could live. After all, the Land of Rain was not her hometown.
Fuso pursed her lips, considered it carefully, and then nodded to Tsunade, saying, "I'll discuss it with Ise."
With that, she turned and walked towards Ise.
Ise saw his wife approaching with a serious expression and was slightly surprised. Before he could ask why, Fuso whispered, "I have something to tell you."
Ise scratched his head and followed his wife to the side, while Hatake Sakumo and the others saw Tsunade wink, knowing that the matter was likely to succeed, and their expressions relaxed.
Previously, they hadn't known about the village's concerns regarding the Land of Whirlpools. After receiving the new orders, Senju Risa told them the whole story and entrusted them with the task of bringing Fuso back to Konoha Village.
They all believed that Ise and Fuso would agree. Fuso was originally far from home, having come to the Land of Rain to continue the bloodline.
As Tsunade said, where you continue it doesn't matter, and Konoha Village was even safer. As for Ise, although he was a native-born resident of the Land of Rain, he was ultimately just an ordinary citizen.
He didn't have such a deep concept of home and country, and the pressure of survival was still paramount. If he knew he could live in Konoha Village, he might not be unmoved.
Sure enough, Ise only struggled internally for a moment about leaving his homeland. The desire to live in Konoha Village quickly overcame these struggles.
He still didn't know Fuso's identity; he only knew that Konoha Village was willing to accept their family, so what was there to hesitate about?